How to Subsume in Warframe?

Welcome to an in-depth guide on how to subsume Warframes using the Helminth system in Warframe. Subsuming is a powerful mechanic that allows you to sacrifice one Warframe to permanently unlock one of its abilities, which you can then infuse into any other Warframe you own. This system opens up creative new ways to customize your builds and tailor your playstyle. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the entire subsuming process—from unlocking the Helminth to feeding it properly, managing secretions, and ultimately infusing abilities to maximize your Warframe’s potential.

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Introduction to the Helminth System

The Helminth is a unique feature accessible in your landing craft once you reach Mastery Rank 8 and have completed the "Heart of Deimos" quest. To unlock the Helminth system, you'll need to acquire the Helminth Segment blueprint from Son in the Necralisk on Deimos, which requires Rank 3 (Associate) standing with the Entrati. Crafting and installing this segment grants access to the Helminth Infirmary on your Orbiter.

The Helminth system fundamentally changes how you approach Warframe abilities by allowing you to subsume one Warframe’s ability and infuse it into another. This means you can mix and match powers, creating highly customized Warframe builds that defy the traditional ability sets.

However, this system isn’t for beginners. To fully utilize the Helminth, you’ll need a solid understanding of Warframe’s ability kits, builds, and resource management. Additionally, the process requires considerable resources and patience, especially when it comes to leveling your Helminth and waiting for subsuming to complete.

Accessing the Helminth Room

Once you unlock the Helminth room, you’ll notice it looks mostly the same as before, but with some new interactive elements. At the back of the room, behind the chair, you’ll find the Helminth itself—a bizarre, infested creature that you can interact with. Aside from its role in subsuming and infusing abilities, the Helminth can play with your Kubros, Kavats, and even your Infested Drone in quirky ways, adding a bit of personality to the room.

Sitting in the chair in front of the Helminth opens up a new interface, which is where all the magic happens. This screen is your gateway to managing your Helminth’s level, subsuming Warframes, and infusing abilities.

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Helminth Leveling Explained

In the top-left corner of the Helminth interface, you’ll find your Helminth level, referred to as Metamorphosis Rank. Increasing this level is crucial because it unlocks more slots for subsuming Warframes and learning additional abilities. You can level up your Helminth by feeding it general resources collected during missions or by sacrificing Warframes through the subsume process.

Each level grants you more flexibility and power, including access to Helminth-specific abilities that can be infused into your Warframes. There’s no need to rush this process—take your time gathering resources and planning your subsuming strategy carefully.

Once you reach higher Metamorphosis stages, you unlock the ability to reset any Warframe abilities the Helminth has learned, using sentient resources. This is useful if you want to change your build or experiment with different ability combinations without permanently losing options.

What Does Subsuming a Warframe Mean?

Subsuming is the process of sacrificing a Warframe to the Helminth so that it can learn one of that Warframe’s abilities. This ability then becomes available to be infused into any other Warframe you own. It’s important to note that only the base, non-Prime variants of Warframes can be subsumed.

For example, if you want to subsume Mirage, you’ll need to acquire the base Mirage Warframe, which is rewarded through the Hidden Messages quest. Once built in your Foundry, you can subsume her at any level—she doesn’t need to be rank 30. To begin the process, equip Mirage in your Arsenal, enter the Helminth room, sit in the chair, and select “Subsume Warframe.” You’ll then type “CONFIRM” to finalize the sacrifice.

After confirming, Mirage will be removed from your inventory, and the Helminth will begin a 23-hour process to extract and learn her ability—Eclipse, which boosts damage or reduces incoming damage depending on lighting. You can spend 50 Platinum to rush this process, but most players just let the timer run out naturally.

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Understanding Secretions and Feeding Your Helminth

Feeding your Helminth is essential for leveling it up and infusing abilities. All Warframe resources are categorized into six different secretion types:

• Oxides

• Calx

• Biotics

• Synthetics

• Pheromones

• Bile

In the Helminth interface, these secretions appear on the right side of the screen. Clicking on each secretion filters your inventory to show which resources you can feed your Helminth under that category. Some resources have an up arrow, indicating that the Helminth craves them and will give you better returns or bonuses when fed. Conversely, a red down arrow means the resource is less desirable and will be less efficient when used.

Feeding your Helminth the right resources is key to efficient leveling and infusion. Before infusing an ability, check which secretions the Helminth requires to perform the infusion and make sure to stock up accordingly.

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Infusing Abilities into Your Warframe

Once the Helminth has learned an ability from a subsumed Warframe, you can infuse that ability into any other Warframe you own. To do this, select the Warframe you want to modify, sit in the Helminth chair, and choose the ability you want to infuse.

You must ensure your Helminth has enough energy and the necessary resources to fuel the infusion process. When ready, you can replace one of the Warframe’s existing abilities with the new ability. For example, you might replace Excalibur’s Radial Javelin with Loki’s Decoy.

One of the coolest features is the ability to assign this new infusion to a specific configuration slot. Warframes have multiple configuration slots (A, B, C, etc.), so you can have different ability setups and switch between them depending on your playstyle or mission requirements. This flexibility allows for highly personalized and strategic builds.

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Visual Effects and Customization

When you subsume a Warframe, the color of that Warframe influences the appearance of the flower that grows on your Helminth wall—a small but neat visual touch. This means if you want specific colored flowers, you can pick your Warframe colors accordingly before subsuming.

Additionally, you can name your Helminth creature by accessing the panel on the left side of the Helminth room. This adds a bit of personalization and character to your landing craft’s infested resident.

Important Notes and Tips

• Only base Warframes can be subsumed: Prime Warframes cannot be sacrificed, so plan accordingly.

• Resource management is key: Stock up on secretions that the Helminth craves to maximize efficiency.

• Patience pays off: The subsuming process takes 23 hours unless rushed with Platinum.

• Experiment with configurations: Use different ability setups for different scenarios to get the most out of your Warframes.

• Reset options: After reaching higher Metamorphosis stages, you can reset abilities learned by the Helminth using sentient resources, allowing for flexibility.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is subsuming in Warframe?

A: Subsuming is the process of sacrificing a base Warframe to the Helminth so it can permanently learn one of its preset abilities. This ability can then be infused into other Warframes you own.

Q: Can I subsume Prime Warframes?

A: No, only base Warframes (non-Prime versions) can be subsumed. Prime variants are excluded from this system.

Q: Do Warframes need to be level 30 before subsuming?

A: No, you can subsume a Warframe at any level. It does not need to be maxed out or Forma’d.

Q: How long does it take for the Helminth to learn an ability?

A: It takes 23 hours for the Helminth to fully learn the ability. You can rush this process by spending 50 Platinum.

Q: How do I unlock the Helminth system?

A: You need to complete the Heart of Deimos quest, reach Mastery Rank 8, and purchase the Helminth Segment from Son at the Necralisk (Entrati Rank 3 - Associate).

Q: Can I choose which ability is subsumed from a Warframe?

A: No, each Warframe has one specific ability that will be transferred to the Helminth when subsumed.

Q: Can I reset the abilities my Helminth has learned?

A: Yes, after reaching Metamorphosis Rank 8, you can reset learned abilities using sentient resources, which frees up ability slots for new ones.

Q: Can I apply different subsumed abilities to different configs (A/B/C)?

A: Yes, you can assign different Helminth-infused abilities to each configuration slot, allowing for varied builds on the same Warframe.

Q: What resources should I feed my Helminth?

A: Feed it resources marked with an up arrow (craving). These yield more secretions and are the most efficient for leveling and infusions.

Final Words

The Helminth system adds a whole new level of depth and customization to Warframe. By subsuming Warframes and infusing their abilities into others, you can create unique builds and playstyles that keep the game fresh and exciting. While the process requires resources, time, and a good understanding of Warframe’s mechanics, the rewards are well worth the effort.

Whether you want to surprise your friends with a Warframe wielding unexpected powers or simply want to optimize your loadout for various missions, mastering the Helminth is a game-changer. Take your time, gather your resources, and experiment with different abilities to find your perfect combination.

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