Nova Guide - Literal Nuke - Warframe

Nova Overview

Here's an example of Nova gameplay. Keep her first and second ability active all the time. Use 4th ability to speed up or slow down enemies. Use 3rd ability if you need a reposition or you traverse long rooms.

Nova Pros/Cons

How to get Nova?

Nova can be obtained from the Raptors boss fight on Naamah, Europa. After each attempt, one of three Nova components is guaranted to drop, however it doesn't have to be the part that you need. 

Nova Prime can be farmed through relic system or purchased from other players. For newer players, that means she needs to be traded from other players, since her relics are currently off-limit. Take note that Nova Prime is one of the more expensive Warframes. If you're planning to buy the frame, use a website called warframe.market, since it offers multiple offers so player can recognize if he's being scammed. DO NOT USE TRADE CHAT IN GAME! 

How does Nova work?

Mechanics

Nova takes advantage of two hidden in-game mechanics that elevate her performance to new levels.

Build

Here's the build: 

This build runs Nourish as a subsume over Antimatter Drop, since we play around Novas Null Stars and Molecular Prime. Wormhole is for faster movement, however they are exchangeable, it's up to personal preference. 

In Aura Mod Slot, we use Brief Respite, which requires Forma or Omni Forma. There isn't any other good alternate option, aside from Corrosive Projection, which doesn't provide any good survivability, and if you wouldn't get Shields from Brief Respite, you'd need to change the build around, which can lead to significant DMG loss.

Primed Continuity and Arcane Concentration to reach 200% Duration. Stretch adds a little bit of Range on Null Star area. Equilibrium is for Energy management, especially with Nova Passive. Blind Rage is for Null Star DMG and Nourish Energy Multiplier. Two Novas Augments to make the most out of her stars. Archon Vitality for doubling Neutron Stars Heat status procs. Adaptation and Arcane Aegis for survivability. 

This build runs 5 Tauforged Archon Shards: 2 Duration, 2 Energy Max and 1 Casting Speed. 2 Duration Archon Shards are optional, however 2 Energy Max is mandatory, since we don't run Primed Flow, and Casting Speed because we spam abilities.

In terms of Mod capacity, this is a rather expensive build, but you can cut on some of the cost. Archon Vitality can be at Rank 0, because all we care about is the second effect. Exilus Slot is often used as a threshold reach, in this case it's not needed, so you can give up this slot.

How to use it?

Cast Nourish and Null Star at the start of a mission for Damage Reduction, 4th ability effect, slow and inflicting enemies with Viral, Heat statuses. Spam Null Star whenever there are enemies. Use Molecular Prime if you need to slow enemies down, so you can kill them easily, or speed them up, when you want them to reach certain place faster, e.g. farming in Defense mission. Null Star will speed up or slow down enemies, based on which Molecular Prime you last casted. Wormhole is for fast movement and skiping long corridors.

If you play with Antimatter Drop, use shotgun as your primary weapon. This allows you to charge it up with massive damage, so it will deal even more damage.

Weapons/companions

Nova has a skillset to make any AoE or high-DMG single target weapon into a nuke (pun intended). She has her favourites, but there are a few weapons that realy outshine the competition:

Primary Weapons:

 Secondary Weapons:

Melee Weapons:

Companions:

Conclusion

Nova Prime is easily one of the most versatile and timeless Warframes in the game. Whether you want to lock down tough missions, speed up to farm resources at lightning speed, or teleport across the map in the blink of an eye, she delivers on every front. Try her out- she will become the star of your roster!

Happy hunting!