Every veteran of the Origin System has their story—that one Warframe they chased tirelessly, the one that finally clicked, or the one that redefined their playstyle. For many, the journey through Warframe’s vast universe is a constant evolution of loadouts and favorites. The game’s upcoming fall update, The Vallis Undermind, promises to shake up that evolution in a major way, not only with a long-awaited rework of a classic but with the introduction of one of the most charming-yet-deadly new frames we’ve seen: Nokko, the fungus-themed Warframe.
Launching on Wednesday, October 15, The Vallis Undermind transports players back to the frozen plains of Venus, but this time, you’ll be descending into the subterranean Deepmines. This brand new zone is an interconnected network of fungus-filled caverns beneath the Orb Vallis. To get started, you’ll need to link up with a new vendor in Fortuna, the aptly named Nightcap. This new contact provides a fresh set of bounties to undertake, pulling you into the darkness to confront the Corpus threat lurking below.
The Deepmines are more than just a new tileset; they introduce a new resource, Fergoline, which is central to the lore of this update. This fungal resource is sought after by a new, ominous creature known as ‘The Prince.’ By feeding The Prince this resource, you can unlock a series of visions that allow you to explore the Deepmines’ history and unravel its secrets, adding another layer to the world-building Digital Extremes is so renowned for. Access to this new zone is granted to all Tenno who have completed the mainline quest, The New War.
The star of the update is undoubtedly Nokko, the 62nd Warframe. Described by the residents of Fortuna as the adoptive younger brother of the water-based frame Yareli, Nokko is set to become a favorite for players who prefer a blend of damage-over-time and support. His kit is a celebration of all things mycological and is packed with utilities perfect for team play.
Nokko’s abilities center around his deployed mushrooms and his unique transformation:
- Stinkbrain: This ability allows Nokko to scatter poisonous mushrooms that periodically shed spores, inflicting Viral damage (a potent mix of Cold and Toxic) and status effects on nearby enemies. This is a fantastic tool for crowd control and softening up targets.
- Brightbonnet: A rejuvenating mushroom that emits a radial pulse, granting a boost to both Nokko and his allies’ Energy and applying a temporary buff to Ability Strength. This is a powerful support tool for keeping team abilities flowing.
- Reroot: This is perhaps his most unique ability. Nokko transforms into his tiny, invulnerable Sprodling form. In this state, he heals rapidly while spreading sleep spores to put nearby enemies into a temporary slumber. This ability offers an excellent escape, self-sustain, and soft crowd control, proving that sometimes the best offense is a tactical nap.
- Sporespring: Unleashes a chaotic, bouncing mushroom that aggressively seeks out and leaps between enemies, dealing explosive damage on contact. The tactical depth here is that Sporespring is invigorated if it hits one of Nokko’s other deployed mushrooms, doubling their effect-triggering rate. This encourages players to set up their battlefield strategically.
- Vital Decay (Passive): Even in death, Nokko gets a second chance. Upon taking fatal damage, he reverts to his Sprodling form and has a limited time to scramble to the location of a previously placed mushroom. If he reaches it, he gets back into the fight; if not, he requires a standard revive. This built-in mechanic for recovery is a game-changer, especially for solo players.
For new and returning players, The Vallis Undermind is also delivering a colossal quality-of-life improvement: The Teacher quest. This cinematic mission, available right after completing Vor’s Prize, is designed to finally teach players the deep and often intimidating system of modding. Under the mentorship of the fan-favorite character Teshin, this quest will guide Tenno through customizing their loadouts to overcome specialized challenges. As someone who, let’s be honest, often relies on the “auto-mod” button, this is a monumental addition that significantly smooths out Warframe’s infamously steep learning curve. Completing The Teacher also rewards players with the new Thornbak rifle.
No major update is complete without a rework, and this time, the paladin-style frame Oberon is receiving a much-needed boost. Digital Extremes has refined his passive, streamlined his support options for improved healing, and boosted the overall damage impact of his Reckoning ability. To celebrate, players who log in between October 15 and October 21 will receive the base Oberon Warframe for free. For players who enjoy the classic support role, this update is truly a treat.
Finally, the update offers a tease of the upcoming ‘The Devil’s Triad’ content, with the reveal of the new Protoframe Roathe, voiced by the iconic René Zagger (Final Fantasy 14‘s Emet-Selch). Roathe is an Orokin Protoframe that is said to be the precursor to the ‘devilframe’ Uriel. Alongside new premium skins for Lavos and Wukong, TennoGen cosmetics, and the return of the annual Quest to Conquer Cancer charity event, The Vallis Undermind is packed with content. It’s a perfect time to dive back into the Origin System, embrace your inner “fun guy,” and experience the deep, fungal-infested horrors (and rewards!) beneath the Orb Vallis
