Player reference
Warframe terms and abbreviations explained
New players often encounter shorthand in squad chat, build videos and item guides. This glossary explains 55common gameplay and trading terms with practical context. Select a topic or search for the term you saw in game.
Reviewed November 5, 2026 · Game mechanics and terminology may change
55 terms found
Progression
- Affinity
- The experience earned by equipment and other progression systems. Leveling eligible new equipment contributes to Mastery, but the same mastered item does not normally award the same Mastery points twice.
- Mastery Rank (MR)
- Account-wide progression rank earned from unique eligible equipment and activities. It unlocks selected content and perks but is not a universal damage bonus.
- Star Chart
- The Navigation map that displays mission nodes, planets, quests, fissures and activities. Unlocking paths and Junctions grants access to additional locations and rewards.
- Junction
- A solo milestone that connects regions of the Star Chart. It has listed tasks and rewards; inspect the current screen because requirements change with updates.
- Codex
- The in-game reference and quest interface. Use its current main-quest requirements and available missions when an online guide gives an outdated progression path.
- Steel Path (SP)
- A harder Star Chart mode with tougher enemies and special rewards. Access follows required Star Chart progression and should be approached with a reliable build.
- Arbitration
- An advanced mission activity with special rules and rewards. Unlock conditions may change, so check Navigation and the official wiki rather than assuming every player can access it.
- Sortie
- A daily sequence of challenging missions with particular modifiers and rewards for eligible players. It is separate from ordinary Star Chart mission completion.
- Nightwave
- A rotating system of daily and weekly Acts, Standing, reward tiers and season-specific Cred offerings. The current in-game menu determines what is active.
- Standing
- A faction reputation currency used to advance ranks and buy selected wares. Many Syndicates have daily limits and may also require items to promote.
- Syndicate
- A faction or organization offering reputation progression and rewards. Major faction relationships and open-world vendors follow different rules.
- Focus
- A post-quest progression system with specialized schools and equipment interactions. Details can be story-sensitive, so avoid spoilers until your account unlocks it.
- Intrinsics
- Points invested in progression systems such as Railjack or Duviri to improve relevant capabilities. They are not interchangeable with ordinary Mastery points.
- Railjack
- A player-operated spacecraft used for ship-to-ship missions and certain quest requirements. Its loadout and crew systems differ from regular Warframe missions.
Equipment & builds
- Mod
- A card equipped on a compatible Warframe, weapon or companion to change statistics or add effects. Mods consume capacity and can be upgraded.
- Mod capacity
- The equipment's budget for installed Mod drain. Higher-ranked Mods often cost more capacity, which requires planning around slots, polarity and upgrades.
- Polarity
- A symbol on a Mod and equipment slot. Matching a Mod's polarity to a slot generally reduces its drain, while a mismatch may increase it.
- Forma
- A crafting upgrade commonly used to change equipment slot polarity. It usually resets ordinary item rank, so use it only when a planned build needs the change.
- Endo
- A resource used with Credits to improve Mods through Fusion. Upgrade costs can rise substantially at later ranks.
- Orokin Catalyst
- A capacity upgrade used on eligible weapons. It is often called a 'potato' in player chat, but do not confuse it with the Warframe-focused Reactor.
- Orokin Reactor
- A capacity upgrade for eligible Warframes and certain other equipment. Often nicknamed a 'potato' alongside Catalysts.
- Aura Mod
- A special Warframe Mod category placed in an Aura slot. Its capacity behavior differs from ordinary Mods, so check the slot and polarity.
- Exilus
- A special slot or adapter category used for eligible utility Mods. An Exilus upgrade does not replace the main Mod build.
- Riven Mod
- A specialized Mod with weapon-specific conditions and variable attributes. It can be optional even for difficult content and should not be assumed essential.
- Incarnon
- A weapon evolution system affecting certain eligible weapons. Access, variants and modifiers depend on game progression and current content.
- Helminth
- An Orbiter customization system that can subsume qualifying frames and enable selected ability infusions on other frames once unlocked.
- Subsume
- An irreversible Helminth action that consumes an eligible built Warframe to learn its designated ability. Keep valuable or hard-to-replace copies.
- Archon Shard
- An advanced upgrade item that changes selected Warframe statistics through eligible systems. Acquisition and fusion rules depend on progression.
- Critical Chance
- The chance that an eligible hit triggers a critical strike. Its value interacts with critical damage, weapon behavior and other effects.
- Status Chance
- The probability of applying status effects through suitable damage instances. Useful status types depend on enemy defenses and weapon mechanics.
Farming
- RNG
- Short for random-number generation; players use it to describe chance-based rewards. A listed probability does not promise a drop by a specific attempt.
- Drop table
- A list of possible rewards and their associated conditions and probabilities. Always check whether each entry is awarded on enemy kill, mission end, cache or rotation.
- Rotation A/B/C
- Labels for reward cycles in certain mission types. A stated rotation drop chance applies when that specific rotation pays out, not on every minute of play.
- Void Relic
- An item opened in the appropriate Void Fissure to earn a Prime-related reward or other contents. Its specific reward pool must include the part you want.
- Void Fissure
- A special mission where eligible relics can be opened after the player collects enough Reactant and finishes the objective.
- Reactant
- A mission pickup required to open a selected relic during a Void Fissure. The game shows the required amount; completing the objective without enough prevents opening.
- Void Traces
- A resource earned through relevant Void Fissure activities and used to refine relics. Refinement changes reward probabilities but cannot guarantee one outcome.
- Radiant Relic
- The highest standard relic refinement, often chosen to improve rare reward chances. Its trace cost and odds should be evaluated against the target part.
- Vaulted
- A commonly used label for Prime equipment or relic acquisition sources temporarily removed from ordinary current drops. Previously owned relics may still be usable.
- Ducats
- A currency typically obtained by exchanging eligible Prime items at kiosks, used with Credits for purchases from Baro Ki'Teer.
- Baro Ki'Teer
- A periodic Void Trader offering selected goods in exchange for currencies such as Ducats and Credits. Stock and visiting location rotate.
Trading
- Platinum (p)
- Warframe's premium currency; '100p' means 100 Platinum in player chat. Only permitted in-game Platinum transfers should use the supported trading interface.
- WTB
- Want To Buy: a player looking to purchase an item, usually followed by an item name and offered price.
- WTS
- Want To Sell: a player offering a specific eligible item for trade, usually followed by an asking price.
- WTT
- Want To Trade: a player proposing an exchange, often written with 'for' and the requested item.
- PC
- Price Check in Trade chat: a request for current estimated value. It can also mean personal computer in platform discussions, so read context.
- PMO
- Private Message Offer: a player asks interested buyers to message an offer instead of specifying a firm asking price.
- Trade tax
- A Credit fee charged for eligible exchanges; the amount varies by item and sometimes by the trading hub. Check the final transaction screen.
- Dojo
- A clan-owned space used for research, social activities and certain in-game trades. Trade posts may apply an additional clan tax.
- Warframe.market
- A third-party marketplace website for finding other players' listings. Quotes are offers, not verified completed sales or guaranteed availability.
Other systems
- Necramech
- A large combat machine used in some open-world and story contexts, with different equipment and upgrade requirements from a Warframe.
- Archwing
- A mobility/combat system used in space and selected missions or areas. It has dedicated equipment and Mod-related progression.
- K-Drive
- A board used for movement and some activities in certain open-world areas. It has separate handling and related progression.
- Bounty
- A multi-stage activity often associated with open-world hubs and factions. Reward pools, stages and enemy levels vary with the selected bounty.
- Void Fissure timer
- The expiry time shown for an active fissure. Current availability must be checked live; screenshots and yesterday's activity list can be stale.
Use these definitions with current game information
Game terminology is interpreted from current descriptions and familiar player usage. We do not reproduce an external wiki's pages. For exact mechanics, check the official Warframe Wiki, Warframe Support, or the in-game Codex. Looking for a specific item rather than a definition? Use our item database.
Some terms have multiple meanings depending on context; for example PC can mean a price check or the computer platform. Check the surrounding conversation before acting on a trade.