Caliban Prime · Loadouts

Caliban by progress

Progression path first. Specialist cards after. Each progression card is the peak you can run at that rung — not a second identity.

New to Warframe? Open the glossary

Progression path

Starter0–2 FormaStarterHigh confidenceStar ChartShards optional

First Brood

Learn the frame.

Best for: Star Chart, first Caliban, post-rework kit

Summon Ortholysts, spin Razor Gyre for shields, Fusion Strike when you see armor. Learn the three summon types.

The rework made Lethal Progeny the kit. Empty 3 is a fake Caliban.

Investment: 2 Forma · Reactor · 1 shard

Inventory unknown · Codex Checked 5 Sept 2026 · PC · Update 43.5

High — How strongly the Codex recommends this for its stated purpose — not a test log.

Dmg: 4/5 Dmg
Sur: 4/5 Sur
En: 3/5 En
Mob: 2/5 Mob
Ease: 5/5 Ease

Your next step: run this until it feels easy. Then First Brood — Star Chart.

Star Chart2–3 FormaModerateHigh confidenceStar ChartSteel Path

First Brood — Star Chart

First serious version.

Best for: Junctions through the Outer Terminus. Steel Path is the next card, not this one.

Summon Ortholysts, spin Razor Gyre for shields, Fusion Strike when you see armor. Learn the three summon types. Primed Continuity and Primed Flow are the first real upgrade — not Blind Rage.

The rework made Lethal Progeny the kit. Empty 3 is a fake Caliban.

Investment: 3 Forma · Reactor · 2 specialised mods

Inventory unknown · Codex Checked 5 Sept 2026 · PC · Update 43.5

High — How strongly the Codex recommends this for its stated purpose — not a test log.

Dmg: 4/5 Dmg
Sur: 4/5 Sur
En: 4/5 En
Mob: 2/5 Mob
Ease: 5/5 Ease

Your next step: run this until it feels easy. Then Razor Mortar — Steel Path.

Steel Path3–4 FormaAdvancedMedium confidenceStar ChartSteel PathShards optional

Razor Mortar — Steel Path

Your first endgame-capable version.

Best for: Steel Path Star Chart, Circuit, first Archon. Helminth is the next card.

Ortholysts with Razor Mortar. Gyre groups, they mortar, Fusion Strike strips the pile. This is the peak you can run the day Steel Path unlocks — galvanized / arcanes, no Helminth.

Razor Mortar is the Caliban augment. Ortholysts are the summon you build this around.

Investment: 4 Forma · Reactor · 1 shard · 4 specialised mods

Not yet · Codex Checked 5 Sept 2026 · PC · Update 43.5

Medium — A solid recommendation with more situational dependencies. Confidence is not verification.

Dmg: 3/5 Dmg
Sur: 3/5 Sur
En: 2/5 En
Mob: 2/5 Mob
Ease: 4/5 Ease

Your next step: run this until it feels easy. Then Razor Mortar — Optimised.

Optimised4–5 FormaEndgameMedium confidenceNetracellsArchon HuntsShards optional

Razor Mortar — Optimised

Spend resources to push it.

Best for: Netracells, Archon, EDA. You have Helminth or you don't need it.

Ortholysts with Razor Mortar. Gyre groups, they mortar, Fusion Strike strips the pile. Shards and a finished config. Tauforged is the last card.

Razor Mortar is the Caliban augment. Ortholysts are the summon you build this around.

Investment: 5 Forma · Reactor · 2 shards · 5 specialised mods

Not yet · Codex Checked 5 Sept 2026 · PC · Update 43.5

Medium — A solid recommendation with more situational dependencies. Confidence is not verification.

Dmg: 3/5 Dmg
Sur: 3/5 Sur
En: 2/5 En
Mob: 2/5 Mob
Ease: 3/5 Ease

Your next step: run this until it feels easy. Then Razor Mortar — Endgame.

Needs Helminth or shards. Open the Starter first if those are locked.

Endgame5–6 FormaEndgameMedium confidenceSteel PathShards optional

Razor Mortar — Endgame

Only if you actually need it.

Best for: endgame / endurance general, the 2025–2026 Caliban Prime identity

Ortholysts with Razor Mortar. Gyre groups, they mortar, Fusion Strike strips the pile.

Razor Mortar is the Caliban augment. Ortholysts are the summon you build this around.

Investment: 6 Forma · Reactor · 2 shards · 5 specialised mods

Not yet · Codex Checked 5 Sept 2026 · PC · Update 43.5

Medium — A solid recommendation with more situational dependencies. Confidence is not verification.

Dmg: 3/5 Dmg
Sur: 3/5 Sur
En: 2/5 En
Mob: 2/5 Mob
Ease: 2/5 Ease

Your next step: stop here unless a specialist card fits the mission.

Needs Helminth or shards. Open the Starter first if those are locked.

Specialist builds

Not part of the path

Same frame, different job. These are not missing rungs — they are optional identities once the path feels easy.

Optimised4 FormaEndgameMedium confidenceSteel PathShards optional

Tau Strip

Spend resources to push it.

Best for: Armored tiles, people who want Caliban as a walking Corrosive Projection

200% Strength Fusion Strike. A lingering strip zone. Conculysts copy the beams.

Fusion Strike is still a full strip at 200%. That did not die in the rework.

Investment: 4 Forma · Reactor · 1 shard · 3 specialised mods

Not yet · Codex Checked 5 Sept 2026 · PC · Update 43.5

Medium — A solid recommendation with more situational dependencies. Confidence is not verification.

Dmg: 5/5 Dmg
Sur: 4/5 Sur
En: 2/5 En
Mob: 2/5 Mob
Ease: 3/5 Ease

Your next step: run this until it feels easy. Then Razor Mortar — Endgame.

Needs Helminth or shards. Open the Starter first if those are locked.

Endgame5 FormaEndgameMedium confidenceDefenseHelminthShards optional

Nourished Tau

Only if you actually need it.

Best for: Energy hungry Strike spam, people who find Wrath too slow on Defense

Nourish over Sentient Wrath. Viral summons, energy, Gyre still groups.

Wrath is good CC and a damage amp. It is also slow on Defense timers.

Investment: 5 Forma · Reactor · Helminth (Nourish (Grendel)) · 1 shard · 4 specialised mods

Not yet · Codex Checked 5 Sept 2026 · PC · Update 43.5

Medium — A solid recommendation with more situational dependencies. Confidence is not verification.

Dmg: 5/5 Dmg
Sur: 2/5 Sur
En: 3/5 En
Mob: 2/5 Mob
Ease: 2/5 Ease

Your next step: stop here unless a specialist card fits the mission.

Needs Helminth or shards. Open the Starter first if those are locked.

Steel Path3 FormaAdvancedMedium confidenceSteel PathShards optional

Gyre Gate

Your first endgame-capable version.

Best for: Shield-gating fans, people who like 1 as a survivability button

Razor Gyre as a shield gate machine. Summulysts for extra shields. You are a spinning battery.

Gyre is the survivability kit. People skip it and then call Caliban squishy.

Investment: 3 Forma · Reactor · 1 shard · 3 specialised mods

Not yet · Codex Checked 5 Sept 2026 · PC · Update 43.5

Medium — A solid recommendation with more situational dependencies. Confidence is not verification.

Dmg: 4/5 Dmg
Sur: 5/5 Sur
En: 3/5 En
Mob: 2/5 Mob
Ease: 4/5 Ease

Your next step: run this until it feels easy. Then Razor Mortar — Optimised.