Warframe, the cooperative free-to-play third-person shooter developed by Digital Extremes, has become renowned not only for its fast-paced, parkour-inspired gameplay but also for its unfathomable depth in terms of lore, environment, and enemy diversity. Among the myriad threats that Tenno (players) face in the Origin System, one of the most compelling and challenging factions is the Infested. This pervasive menace not only represents a unique test on the battlefield but also intertwines deeply with Warframe’s lore and game mechanics, notably through the Helminth system, which was introduced with the Heart of Deimos update.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll unearth the intricacies of combating the Infested, threading through their pestilence-filled missions, mastering advanced tactics to ensure your survival, tackling formidable Infested bosses, and leveraging the Helminth system to embellish your Warframes. Whether you’re a novice Tenno embarking on your first sortie against these abominations or a veteran looking to refine your strategies, this guide will equip you with the knowledge required to prevail.

Understanding Infested Enemies#

To survive the infestation, knowledge is your first weapon. The Infested, a faction of mutated organisms unified by a singular hive mind, infects everything it touches, transforming Grineer, Corpus, and even wildlife into grotesque minions. These enemies vary greatly, from the fodder-like Chargers to the massive, towering Juggernauts.

Key to your survival is understanding the diverse cast of Infested adversaries:

• Chargers and Leapers are common foot soldiers, swiftly closing distances to engage in melee combat.
• Ancients, particularly the Healers and Disruptors, provide significant buffs to their allies while debuffing Tenno, making them priority targets in any skirmish.
• Boilers and Brood Mothers spawn additional units, complicating the battlefield with sheer numbers.
• Mutalist Ospreys spread toxic clouds, creating hazardous areas to avoid or steer through cleverly.
• Juggernauts present a formidable oppose, boasting immense resilience and deadly attacks, best tackled with coordinated team effort and firepower.

Recognizing these enemies and understanding their abilities is crucial for surviving the onslaught and turning the tide of battle in your favor.

Infested Mission Types#

Wending through the rot and ruin of Infested territories offers a range of mission types, each requiring distinct strategies:

• Survival missions test your endurance against endless waves, as you gather Life Support to prolong your foray into the heart of infestation.
• Defense challenges you to protect a vital node or ally from successive waves of enemies, making area control and crowd management pivotal.
• Excavation tasks you with guarding extractors as they mine valuable resources, demanding a balance between offense, defense, and mobility.
• Disruption, though not exclusively Infested, can feature them as adversaries, requiring you to prevent Demolysts from destroying conduits through rapid identification and elimination.

In each of these mission types, understanding the terrain and employing effective crowd control and area denial tactics are key. Utilizing Warframes and weapons adept at handling large groups, such as Saryn’s spore-based destruction, Khora’s strangle dome, or Vauban’s vortex, can dramatically increase your effectiveness.

Advanced Infested Tactics#

Beyond understanding your enemy and mission objectives, refining your approach with advanced tactics will elevate your prowess on the battlefield:

• Mod for Corrosive Damage: Infested flesh is particularly susceptible to Corrosive damage. Modding your weapons to inflict this type of damage can drastically improve your efficiency.
• Prioritize Targets: Eliminate Ancients and other support units quickly to weaken enemy ranks and make the horde more manageable.
• Utilize Crowd Control: Abilities and weapons that can stun, slow, or incapacitate large groups are immensely valuable, allowing for easier kills and providing breathing room when overwhelmed.
• Maintain Mobility: Staying on the move makes it harder for enemies to corner you and allows you to find strategic positions from which to mount your defense or attacks.

Infested Boss Fights#

Encountering the Infested on the battlefield is one thing; confronting their bosses is another beast entirely. Infested boss fights, such as the battle against Lephantis in the Orokin Derelict, demand not only firepower but also cunning and adaptability. These behemoths boast unique mechanics that can quickly dispatch the unprepared.

• Lephantis: This colossal foe consists of multiple heads, each with distinct attack patterns. Aiming for the open mouths during attack phases is key to inflicting damage.
• Jordas Golem: Engaged in Archwing mode, this battle requires maneuverability and precision as you target specific weak spots while avoiding its devastating attacks.

In both encounters, coordination with your squad, optimizing your loadout for damage output and survivability, and a deep understanding of boss mechanics are crucial for victory.

The Helminth System Explained#

Perhaps one of the most fascinating aspects of the Infested within Warframe is the Helminth system, which allows players to customize their Warframes by infusing new abilities in place of existing ones. This system opens up unprecedented levels of customization and strategic depth, enabling players to tailor their Warframes to their play style or the needs of their squad.

• Unlocking the System: Access to the Helminth system requires players to reach the rank of ‘Associate’ with the Entrati on Deimos and to have completed the Heart of Deimos quest. Upon unlocking, you’ll be introduced to the Helminth aboard your Orbiter, a living entity that can consume resources and Warframes to unlock abilities.
• Customizing Your Warframe: You can sacrifice specific Warframes to permanently unlock one of their abilities for use on other frames. Additionally, the Helminth has its own unique abilities to offer.
• Strategic Considerations: The power of the Helminth system lies in its flexibility. Want to add Rhino’s Roar to Mesa to boost her already formidable gunplay? Or perhaps grant Mirage’s Hall of Mirrors to Excalibur for increased melee devastation? The choice is yours, but choose wisely. Each ability you infuse costs resources, and infusing an ability over another permanently removes the previous one.

Leveraging the Helminth system allows for customization at a level previously unseen in Warframe, offering creative solutions to tactical problems and making your Warframe truly your own.

Conclusion#

The Infested, with their relentless hordes, unique mission challenges, imposing bosses, and the riveting Helminth system, represent one of the more complex and gripping factions in Warframe. Surviving and thriving against this menace requires a blend of knowledge, scheme, and adaptability. Whether it’s choosing the right tools for the job, optimizing your Warframe’s build through the Helminth system, or mastering the dance of combat against these ever-evolving threats, success against the Infested is as rewarding as it is challenging.

This guide aims to serve as a beacon through the darkest depths of infestation, providing you the knowledge and tactics necessary to emerge victorious. Remember, in the world of Warframe, knowledge is just as potent a weapon as any gun or blade. Arm yourselves well, Tenno.