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Nov 20, 2023

Should you choose Excalibur, Mag, or Volt in Warframe's Duviri Paradox?

They're all amazing, but one of them has the edge. Warframe is admittedly one

They're all amazing, but one of them has the edge.

Warframe is admittedly one of the coolest concepts for a game out there. Come on—don't tell me you have never considered the idea of being a space ninja taking over your entire life.

That being said, Warframe is a commitment, and requires players to put in the hours in order to be good at the game, especially due to the various challenges the game has introduced over the years—one of them being the infamous quest ‘The Duviri Paradox.’

The Duviri Paradox is an alternative introductory quest brought into Warframe through Update 33.0. The quest follows the journey of the paradoxical Drifter in Duviri instead of simply starting with the regular Warframe path from the Awakening quest. For players that have started on the traditional Warframe path, The Duviri Paradox becomes available again once players have gained access to the Codex after completion of Vor's Prize.

In this quest, Warframe access is limited, and unlike the normal game, you do not have access to your regular roster and are forced to choose one of the three starter frames to proceed.

Related: How to get Enigma Gyrum in Warframe's Duviri Paradox

Confused about which starter frame to pick in The Duviri Paradox? We’ve got you covered.

Before we talk about The Duviri Paradox, let us discuss and dive deep into the three starter frames to get a better understanding of how each of them functions, even outside the context of this alternative introductory quest.

If you’re a fan of large, hefty swords, then the Excalibur would be an almost instinctual choice for you. You can cause havoc across the battlefield by running around and slicing your enemies up. You are also able to use your magic sword to blind your foes while shooting out energy slashes at them as they have no choice but to cower in defeat.

Excalibur skills and their breakdown

Excalibur: the pros and cons

Similar to Excalibur, Mag is quite a straightforward Warframe that introduces you to Caster/Nuker frames. During the early game, she can be quite frail, but Mag needs attention and investment to truly stand out. If you use her skillfully and creatively, she scales well into the later game where activities are more difficult.

Mag skills and their breakdown

Mag: the pros and cons

In the same vein as Excalibur and Mag, Volt also serves as an introduction to players—in this case, an intro into Gunslinger frames. Volt finds himself somewhere in between Mag and Excalibur, where he depends on ranged combat for damage output, but also possesses some defensive capabilities through his mobility skills. Volt is about repositioning enemies and buffing weapons to deal substantial damage all at once.

Volt skills and their breakdown

Volt: the pros and cons

While every Warframe has its use case, the most optimal one to choose specifically for the Duviri Paradox would be Mag.

Unlike the other two starter frames, Mag allows you to group up your enemies in a single spot and pick up items all with the use of one skill, Pull.

This kind of optimization is very important, especially since you do not have access to your regular Warframe roster during the Duviri Paradox quest, which means no weapons and no mods.

Related: How to get Lua Thrax Plasm in Warframe, explained

While the other two starter frames have the same kind of amazing raw damage output that Mag possesses, the latter proves itself to be the whole package, and with so many constraints for this quest, you will need a single frame that can cover as many bases as possible before you head in.

There is an area inside the Duviri underground known as The Undercroft, where the Mad King has incredibly limited sway, letting you use the Warframe you’ve chosen to your heart's content. A lot of the missions in Duviri Paradox will lead you into The Undercroft, which means you will have lots of time to make use of your Warframe during those very missions.

For older players, however, their Operators will have access to their whole weaponry and kit while inside the Undercroft, which makes Operators much more potent than the Warframe when it comes to raw damage output.

Yash is a freelance writer based in the tropical state of Goa, India. With a focus on competitive Pokémon, he also writes general guides on your favorite video games. Yash has written for sites like Dot Esports and TouchTapPlay, and has a distinct love for indie video game titles.