Conclusion: The Infested King Awaits

Before we embark on the journey to acquire Nidus, it's crucial to understand what makes him so special. Nidus is a Warframe deeply intertwined with the Infestation, drawing strength from his enemies and converting that energy into potent abilities. His core mechanic revolves around the "Mutation" stack, which significantly enhances his damage, defenses, and the effectiveness of his powers.

Nidus's abilities are:

• Larva: Nidus unleashes a parasitic larva that latches onto nearby enemies, pulling them towards it. This creates a concentrated group of foes, perfect for setting up devastating combos.
• Parasitic Link: Nidus links himself to a target enemy. While linked, Nidus gains damage reduction and a portion of the damage he takes is transferred to the linked target. If the target dies, the link is transferred to another nearby enemy.
• Virulence: Nidus unleashes a corrosive tendril that damages enemies and heals Nidus. Each enemy killed by Virulence or its subsequent effects grants Nidus a Mutation stack.
• Ravenous: Nidus unleashes a swarm of maggots that infest the ground, damaging enemies and healing Nidus. Enemies killed by the maggots also grant Mutation stacks. Furthermore, enemies caught in the swarm become vulnerable to Virulence and Parasitic Link.

The synergy between these abilities is what makes Nidus a top-tier frame. Mastering the accumulation of Mutation stacks is key to unlocking his full potential. Now, let's get to the core of the matter: how to get Nidus.

The blueprints for Nidus are not found in the typical Warframe drops or market purchases. Instead, they are rewards for completing the Infested Salvage mission on Eris. This mission type is unique and presents a significant challenge, especially for newer players.

The Jordas Golem Assassination: The Prerequisite

Before you can even attempt Infested Salvage, you must first defeat the Jordas Golem. This massive Infested boss resides on the Eris planet. The Jordas Golem assassination node is unlocked after progressing through the Eris star chart.

The Jordas Golem fight is an endurance test. It's a multi-stage battle that requires a solid understanding of Warframe combat mechanics and a well-built loadout.

Key aspects of the Jordas Golem fight:

• Infested Corpus: The arena is constantly swarmed by Infested Corpus units. You'll need to manage these adds while focusing on the boss.
• Siege Mode: The Golem has a "siege mode" where it launches projectiles. Dodging these is crucial for survival.
• Weak Points: The Golem has exposed weak points that must be targeted to deal significant damage. These often appear after specific attack patterns.
• Environmental Hazards: Be aware of the environment. The Golem can use its abilities to alter the arena, creating hazards.

Recommended Loadouts for Jordas Golem:

• Damage: High-damage weapons, particularly those with good critical chance and damage, are essential. Weapons effective against Infested are also beneficial. Consider weapons like the Soma Prime, Dread, or even beam weapons like the Ignis Wraith for crowd control.
• Survivability: A Warframe with good survivability is highly recommended. Rhino, Inaros, or even Frost (for his Snow Globe to protect against projectiles) can be excellent choices. If you're using a more fragile frame, ensure you have strong defensive mods.
• Support: Trinity's Blessing can be invaluable for keeping the team alive. Oberon's healing and status cleansing are also useful.

Successfully defeating the Jordas Golem unlocks the Infested Salvage mission node on Eris, which is where the Nidus blueprints are actually farmed.

Infested Salvage is a unique mission type where you must defend a series of Infested Catalysts from being destroyed by the Infestation. These Catalysts are vulnerable and will be targeted by Infested units. The mission progresses through several stages, and completing each stage rewards you with a chance at a Nidus component blueprint.

Mission Mechanics of Infested Salvage:

1. Catalyst Defense: At the start of each stage, several Infested Catalysts will spawn. Your primary objective is to protect them. They have a health bar, and if all of them are destroyed, the mission fails.
2. Infested Assault: Waves of Infested enemies will attack the Catalysts. These range from standard Dreg and Charger units to more dangerous variants like Ancients and Infested Spitters.
3. Catalyst Activation: After a period of defense, the Catalysts will activate, and you'll need to escort them to a designated extraction point. This escort phase is often more dangerous as the Catalysts themselves can be targeted.
4. Progression: Successfully escorting the Catalysts to extraction completes a stage and rewards you with a random item. The Nidus blueprints are among these potential rewards.

Nidus Blueprint Drop Chances:

The Nidus blueprints are distributed as follows:

• Nidus Neuroptics Blueprint: Reward for completing Stage 1.
• Nidus Chassis Blueprint: Reward for completing Stage 2.
• Nidus Systems Blueprint: Reward for completing Stage 3.
• Nidus Main Blueprint: Reward for completing Stage 4.

This means you need to complete at least four stages of Infested Salvage to have a chance at obtaining all the necessary components to build Nidus. The drop rates are not guaranteed, so you may need to run the mission multiple times.

Recommended Warframes and Loadouts for Infested Salvage:

Infested Salvage demands a blend of crowd control, area denial, and survivability.

• Crowd Control/Area Denial:

  • Vauban: His abilities like Bastille, Vortex, and Tesla Nervos are exceptionally effective at locking down large groups of enemies and preventing them from reaching the Catalysts.
  • Khora: Her Venari companion can provide healing and crowd control, and her Strangledome can trap and damage enemies, making it easier to manage the waves.
  • Limbo: While controversial, Limbo can effectively use his Rift abilities to isolate enemies and protect the Catalysts. However, coordination with your team is crucial to avoid disrupting their abilities.
  • Ember: Her Overheat and Fireball abilities can clear out smaller enemies quickly, and her World on Fire can provide passive damage.

• Survivability/Support:

  • Rhino: His Iron Skin provides excellent damage reduction, and his Roar can boost team damage.
  • Trinity: Essential for keeping the team alive with her Well of Life and Blessing abilities.
  • Inaros: His high base health and ability to self-heal make him incredibly durable.

• Weapons:

  • High-damage AoE weapons: Weapons like the Kuva Bramma, Tenet Envoy, or Ignis Wraith are excellent for clearing out large numbers of Infested.
  • Status weapons: Weapons that can apply status effects like Viral or Corrosive can significantly boost your damage output against tougher Infested units.

Tips for Efficient Farming:

• Form a Squad: Infested Salvage is much easier with a coordinated squad. Communicate with your teammates about roles and strategies.
• Focus on Catalyst Defense: Prioritize protecting the Catalysts above all else. If they fall, the mission fails.
• Utilize Cover: Use the environment to your advantage. Find cover to protect yourself and the Catalysts from incoming fire.
• Manage Enemy Types: Be aware of the different Infested units. Ancients can disrupt your abilities, and Infested Spitters can deal corrosive damage.
• Stay Mobile: Don't stay in one place for too long. Move around to cover different areas and intercept enemies.
• Bring the Right Mods: Ensure your Warframes and weapons are modded for survivability and damage. Corrosive and Viral damage are generally effective against the Infested.
• Patience is Key: The drop rates for the blueprints are not 100%. Be prepared to run the mission multiple times to acquire all the necessary components. It's a grind, but the reward is well worth it.

Once you have collected all four blueprints – Nidus Neuroptics, Nidus Chassis, Nidus Systems, and the main Nidus Blueprint – you can head to your Foundry.

Crafting Requirements:

• Nidus Neuroptics: Requires 1 Orokin Cell, 1,500 Credits, 300 Alloy Plate, and 100 Rubedo.
• Nidus Chassis: Requires 1 Orokin Cell, 1,500 Credits, 250 Ferrite Armor, and 100 Plastids.
• Nidus Systems: Requires 1 Orokin Cell, 1,500 Credits, 300 Circuit, and 100 Control Module.
• Nidus Blueprint: Requires 1 Orokin Cell, 1,000 Credits, 250 Cryotic, and 100 Salvage.

Each component takes 12 hours to build, and the completed Nidus Warframe takes 72 hours (3 days) to build. You can speed up the crafting process using Platinum if you wish.

If the grind for Nidus proves too daunting, or if you're looking for a quicker way to add him to your collection, you can always purchase him directly from the in-game Market for Platinum. Nidus typically costs 325 Platinum. This is a viable option if you have a surplus of Platinum or if you value your time more than the farming process.

Acquiring Nidus is just the first step. To truly excel with him, you need to understand how to build him and play him effectively.

Modding Nidus:

• Strength: High Power Strength is crucial for maximizing the effectiveness of his abilities, especially Virulence and Ravenous, and for increasing the damage reduction from Parasitic Link. Mods like Overextended, Intensify, and Augur Secrets are popular choices.
• Duration: While not as critical as Strength, some Duration can be beneficial for Larva and Parasitic Link.
• Efficiency: Ability Efficiency is always helpful to reduce energy costs.
• Survivability: Mods like Vitality, Steel Fiber (if using a tanky build), and Flow/Primed Flow are important for his survivability.
• Augments: The "Beserker" mod for Nidus, which grants increased attack speed on melee kills, can be very useful for faster melee combat.

Gameplay Loop:

1. Start with Larva: Deploy Larva to group enemies.
2. Build Mutation: Use Virulence and Ravenous on the grouped enemies to build your Mutation stacks. Aim to get as many stacks as possible, as they significantly boost your damage and survivability.
3. Parasitic Link: Link to a strong enemy or a tanky ally to gain damage reduction.
4. Maintain Stacks: Continue to kill enemies with Virulence or Ravenous to maintain and increase your Mutation stacks.
5. Control the Battlefield: Use your abilities to control enemy movement and deal damage.

Nidus is a Warframe that rewards strategic thinking and resource management. His ability to scale with his Mutation stacks makes him incredibly powerful in prolonged engagements.

• "Infested Salvage is too hard": While challenging, with the right Warframes, weapons, and a coordinated team, Infested Salvage becomes manageable. Focus on crowd control and protecting the Catalysts.
• "Nidus drops from Jordas Golem": This is incorrect. The Jordas Golem is a prerequisite to unlock the mission where Nidus blueprints can be farmed.
• "I can't get the last blueprint": RNG can be frustrating. If you're having persistent bad luck with drops, consider taking a break or trying a different mission for a while before returning. Sometimes, a fresh approach helps.

The journey to acquire Nidus is a testament to your dedication as a Tenno. Through the challenging Jordas Golem assassination and the relentless waves of Infested Salvage, you will hone your skills and prove your worth. The Nidus Warframe, with its unique mechanics and incredible power, is a fitting reward for your efforts. Remember to focus on crowd control, prioritize Catalyst survival, and build your squad for success. Once you have him, mastering his abilities and understanding the importance of Mutation stacks will unlock a Warframe that can dominate any battlefield. So, prepare your loadouts, gather your allies, and embark on the quest to how to get Nidus. The Infested King awaits his rightful master.