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“It's taking longer than I calculated.”
This page is actively being worked on and may not be completely correct. Please assist in making this page accurate. See WARFRAME Wiki:Research on ways to perform research on this game. Click here to add more info.
"The non-Prime weapons and Warframes the Tenno use are based on the Orokin technology, however they are not genuine Orokin articles." The source that says this is from 6 years ago, has this been retconned? ((Not sure how to reply to this, so writing here... The sentence itself still holds true since non prime items do not truly represent the height of Orokin tech. However, we know now that Primes as well as non-primes existed during the Orokin Era, some primes not coming before the base version. Thus, it is now wrong to conclude from the old source that the "Orokin Technology" explicitly refers to the Prime Versions themselves. Since the new knowledge changes the span of implications of the old sentence, it is a kind of retcon but not very noteworthy.))
Sgt Nef AnyoIcon
“Orokin secrets cannot remain secret forever! Start talking!”
The following article/section is conjecture. Content is subjected to change/removal as the game progresses. Please do not use this article for critical in-game information.

A Prime Warframe, weapon, Sentinel or accessory represents technology as it was during the height of the Orokin Era. A Prime Warframe will often have additional Polarity Slots compared to the non-Prime version, and Prime weapons will boast superior performance or other advantages against their counterparts. Due to its rarity, Prime technology is coveted throughout the Origin System.

The term Prime refers to any Weapon, Warframe, Sentinel, Archwing, or accessory made with Orokin technology. The non-Prime weapons and Warframes are based on the Orokin's designs but are not fully representative of the height of Orokin technology.[1][2] Primes frequently sport improved damage, more Polarity slots, or other stat changes that grant them an advantage over their non-Prime derivatives.

Prime Warframes are typically released in the Warframe's order of release that cycles between two male frames and two female frames. Each release is accompanied by two Prime weapons, or one Prime weapon and one Prime Companion (and their associated Prime weapon, if any) or Archwing.

Lore

In the current era, the Tenno[3] as well as black-market arms dealers[4] are capable of imitating the success of Orokin technology in the form of the non-Prime items, resulting in slightly weaker variations. However, the Tenno were once allowed to create some Primes of their own, examples being the BoarPrime Boar[5], DakraPrime Dakra[6], and the DualKamasPrime Kamas[7], and such knowledge is now lost. By making use of ancient blueprints that were preserved in Void Relics, many Prime items are being reclaimed by the Tenno, the strength of their craftsmanship being realized once more[8][9]; and with the rediscovery of the Void, Orokin technology is being reverse-engineered by the Corpus and the Grineer.

There is also evidence to suggest that some Primed weaponry were upgraded versions based on existing Tenno designs, acting as improved variants thanks to the use of Orokin technology[10][11]. Some of the Prime Warframes and Prime Weapons were the original designs made for the Tenno during the Orokin Era, forming an elite Vanguard of the most powerful and dangerous warriors of the Origin System[12]. Some Warframes were Primed from the beginning, while others had to earn the status.[13][14]

Primes

Warframe

Primary

Secondary

Melee

Arch-gun

Companion

Sentinel Weapon

Archwing

Extractor

Cosmetic

Emote

Prime Related

While technically not Primes, these units and items implement Orokin technology.

Artifacts

Warframes 

Weapons


Cosmetics

Miscellaneous

Fish

Hybrids

Corrupted

Main article: Corrupted

Mods

Trivia

  • Using full-model replacement or non-prime skins on items capable of equipping them will completely change the item's appearance to the model used by the skin, ex. equipping the Paris Abra Skin on the ParisPrime Paris Prime will change the weapon's model to that of the normal Paris Paris equipped with the skin.
    • In the case of Prime Warframes, any 'attachments' on the Prime Warframe (such as the pauldrons on Rhino PrimeIcon272 Rhino Prime) will be preserved, but can be toggled off if need be.
      • The helmet is a separate piece and can be swapped out at will from the arsenal for any alternate helmets (including the non-Prime version, regardless of whether or not the player has the non-primed variant).
    • As of Update 19.11 (2017-02-15), the player can apply the default skin to a primed Warframe as well as toggle Prime details on or off when using a Tennogen skin other than the Prime or default skins. However, this option is not available for skins such as Deluxe skins and Voidshells.
  • Baro Ki'Teer has unique dialog when addressing players equipped with Prime gear.

See Also

References

  1. WARFRAME - Primes & Prime Access
  2. WARFRAME - Prime Access FAQ
  3. The Tenno can only re-create non-prime versions of Orokin Era technology using the Tenno Lab.
  4. "This Orokin variation of the Ankyros is superior to its successor in every way." - AnkyrosPrime Ankyros Prime's description. This successor, the non-prime Ankyros, is currently available in the Market. “The Operator is now connected with other Tenno in the System. --The Operator may now contact black-market scumbags-- contact arms dealers.” -Ordis, During the quest Vor's Prize
  5. "One of the finest examples of Tenno craftsmanship, the Boar Prime offers a higher Fire Rate, Magazine Capacity and a much higher per-shot damage." - BoarPrime Boar Prime's description
  6. "The Dakra Prime is a Tenno forged weapon, crafted during the Time of the Orokin. It is renowned for speed, power and the ability to hit multiple targets." - DakraPrime Dakra Prime's description
  7. "The sensual lines of these golden Kamas have long been celebrated as a masterwork of Tenno weapon smithing." - DualKamasPrime Dual Kamas Prime's description
  8. "An ancient blade predating the fall of the Orokin Empire. Forged using techniques lost over the centuries, the edge remains sharper than that of any modern Nikana." - NikanaPrime Nikana Prime's description
  9. "Once thought lost to the ages, attempts to reengineer the Burston Prime never fully replicated this weapon's power and agility." - BurstonPrime Burston Prime's description
  10. "This master blade is the heavier, oversized and far more lethal version of the signature weapon of an extinct order of Tenno assassins." - KarystPrime Karyst Prime's description
  11. "A classic Tenno blade, beautifully reimagined." - PangolinPrime Pangolin Prime's description
  12. "Prime Warframes and Weapons are the original designs for the Tenno, with the full technological might of the Orokin Empire behind them. They represent Tenno armaments at their most potent, most customizable, and importantly, most dangerous. Prime Warframes formed an unbreakable Vanguard, capable of shattering enemy front lines, infiltration and battlefield manipulation on an immense scale." - https://www.warframe.com/news/prime-resurgence
  13. Some Warframes were Prime from the start. Others earned it. Ballas never told the whole truth. - Varzia (This quote appears to imply another quote from Ballas was to be retconned. However, Ballas has not made any statements implying that all Warframes were primed from the start.)
  14. A stately voice intoned her name. There stood Executor Ballas. He told her: "You have been battle- and loyalty-tested. Your companions, they were found wanting. They failed to adapt. Failed to overcome. And so they are no more. But you, Ivara. You shall live. You shall be remembered." - IvaraIcon272 Ivara's Leverian
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