Nekros Prime · Loadouts

Nekros 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 ChartSteel PathShards optional

First Corpse

Learn the frame.

Best for: Star Chart farms, first Nekros, anyone who heard 'loot frame' and crafted him

Desecrate every body. Range is loot. Terrify is a panic run-away. Shadows can wait.

Desecrate is Nekros. Range, corpses, proximity. That is the starter lesson.

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

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

Star Chart2–3 FormaModerateHigh confidenceStar ChartSteel Path

First Corpse — Star Chart

First serious version.

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

Desecrate every body. Range is loot. Terrify is a panic run-away. Shadows can wait. Primed Continuity and Primed Flow are the first real upgrade — not Blind Rage.

Desecrate is Nekros. Range, corpses, proximity. That is the starter lesson.

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

Your next step: run this until it feels easy. Then Health for Loot — Steel Path.

Steel Path3–4 FormaAdvancedMedium confidenceStar ChartSteel PathShards optional

Health for Loot — Steel Path

Your first endgame-capable version.

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

Despoil spends health per corpse, not energy. Equilibrium turns health orbs into energy anyway. This is 2026 Nekros. This is the peak you can run the day Steel Path unlocks — galvanized / arcanes, no Helminth.

Despoil plus Equilibrium is the Nekros people actually bring. Energy Desecrate is the tutorial.

Investment: 4 Forma · Reactor · 1 shard

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

Your next step: run this until it feels easy. Then Health for Loot — Optimised.

Optimised3–4 FormaEndgameMedium confidenceNetracellsArchon HuntsShards optional

Health for Loot — Optimised

Spend resources to push it.

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

Despoil spends health per corpse, not energy. Equilibrium turns health orbs into energy anyway. This is 2026 Nekros. Shards and a finished config. Tauforged is the last card.

Despoil plus Equilibrium is the Nekros people actually bring. Energy Desecrate is the tutorial.

Investment: 4 Forma · Reactor · 2 shards

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

Your next step: run this until it feels easy. Then Health for Loot — Endgame.

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

Endgame3–4 FormaEndgameMedium confidenceArbitrationsFarmingShards optional

Health for Loot — Endgame

Only if you actually need it.

Best for: Every farm: relics, resources, Arbitrations, Survival, the reason people craft Nekros

Despoil spends health per corpse, not energy. Equilibrium turns health orbs into energy anyway. This is 2026 Nekros.

Despoil plus Equilibrium is the Nekros people actually bring. Energy Desecrate is the tutorial.

Investment: 4 Forma · Reactor · 2 shards

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: 5/5 Sur
En: 4/5 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 PathFarmingShards optional

Run and Strip

Spend resources to push it.

Best for: Steel Path Grineer farms, people who want Nekros to also peel armor, Eximus-heavy tiles

Terrify armor strip plus Creeping Terrify slow. Then Desecrate the corpses. CC and loot in one kit.

Terrify is a real strip in 2026, not just a fear scream.

Investment: 4 Forma · Reactor · 2 shards · 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: 3/5 Dmg
Sur: 5/5 Sur
En: 2/5 En
Mob: 2/5 Mob
Ease: 3/5 Ease

Your next step: run this until it feels easy. Then Health for Loot — Endgame.

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

Steel Path4 FormaAdvancedMedium confidenceSurvivalShards optional

Dead Company

Your first endgame-capable version.

Best for: Long Survival, people who want Nekros to not fold, summon enjoyers

Shield of Shadows. Your summons eat a portion of the damage you take. Health Conversion plus a corpse history.

Shield of Shadows is why 4 is a tank button, not a DPS button.

Investment: 4 Forma · Reactor · 2 shards · 2 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: 2/5 En
Mob: 2/5 Mob
Ease: 4/5 Ease

Your next step: run this until it feels easy. Then Health for Loot — Optimised.

Endgame5 FormaEndgameMedium confidenceSteel PathFarmingHelminthShards optional

Grave Aura

Only if you actually need it.

Best for: Steel Path Survival farms, endurance loot, people who want Nekros to also be the CC radius

Gloom over Soul Punch. A slow / lifesteal aura while Despoil prints orbs. Terrify still strips.

Gloom Nekros is the 2026 Helminth identity. You gave up a ragdoll for a farm-safe aura.

Investment: 5 Forma · Reactor · Helminth (Gloom (Sevagoth)) · 2 shards · 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: 3/5 Sur
En: 2/5 En
Mob: 3/5 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.