In Warframe, customization is at the core of gameplay. As Tenno progress through the star chart and collect Warframes, the need for deeper gameplay tools becomes essential. One such tool is the Helminth system an advanced feature that allows players to infuse abilities from one Warframe onto another. However, unlocking the Helminth system isn’t automatic. To access it, players first need to obtain the Helminth Segment. This segment is the key to unlocking one of Warframe’s most game-changing mechanics, and knowing how to get it is crucial for anyone looking to maximize their builds.
Understanding the Helminth System
The Helminth system is located in the Infested room of your Orbiter. Once unlocked, it enables you to subsume Warframes and transfer one of their abilities onto another. This system allows for incredible flexibility and creativity in customizing your loadout, but it is locked behind progression. The Helminth Segment is what activates this system in your ship, and acquiring it involves multiple steps that require both patience and preparation.
Requirements to Unlock the Helminth System
- Access to the Helminth Segment blueprint
- Mastery Rank 8 or higher
- Completion of the Heart of Deimos quest
- A properly upgraded Helminth Invigoration system (optional but helpful)
Before attempting to obtain the segment, make sure you meet the Mastery Rank requirement and have already completed the prerequisite quest on Deimos. Without these, you won’t be able to access the necessary resources or locations.
How to Start: Complete Heart of Deimos
The first major step in unlocking the Helminth system is to complete the Heart of Deimos questline. This quest introduces the Infested world of Deimos and grants access to its various locations, including the Necralisk hub. It’s during this quest and your early exploration of Deimos that the Helminth system becomes available as an option.
Steps to Complete Heart of Deimos
- Visit the Codex and activate the Heart of Deimos quest
- Travel to Deimos and follow the quest objectives
- Meet key NPCs like Father, Mother, and Son in the Necralisk
- Finish the storyline to unlock Deimos bounties and Syndicates
Once the quest is complete, you gain access to the Helminth Segment blueprint via the Entrati Syndicate, specifically from the character named Son.
Purchasing the Helminth Segment Blueprint
After unlocking the Entrati Syndicate in the Necralisk, you will be able to interact with Son. He is responsible for conservation missions and is also the source of the Helminth Segment blueprint. However, this blueprint is not available for free it requires standing, which is the reputation currency earned by completing various tasks on Deimos.
How to Earn Entrati Standing
- Complete bounties offered by Mother
- Perform animal conservation tasks for Son
- Exchange tokens from other family members like Daughter and Father
- Convert tags and resources into tokens and trade them in
You’ll need to reach the rank of Associate with the Entrati to unlock the Helminth Segment blueprint. This means putting in time on Deimos and working consistently on bounties and conservation activities. Once you reach the required rank, you can purchase the blueprint for standing points.
Crafting the Helminth Segment
After obtaining the blueprint from Son, the next step is crafting the segment in your Foundry. The blueprint requires a combination of Deimos-specific resources and standard materials, many of which you may already have if you’ve been active on the planet.
Typical Crafting Requirements
- 1 Helminth Segment Blueprint
- 15,000 Credits
- Scintillant (rare Deimos drop)
- Mutagen Mass
- Other Infested-based materials like Ganglion or Pustulite
Scintillant can be particularly challenging to farm as it is a rare drop found in Isolation Vaults and sometimes appears floating in select locations. Completing Isolation Vault bounties or searching specific spots with a resource booster will improve your chances of finding it.
Installing the Helminth Segment
Once the segment is built in your Foundry, it will appear in your inventory. Head to the Infested room in your Orbiter located just behind a door to the left of your Arsenal. If the door is still sealed, the system will notify you that it’s now ready to be unlocked.
Installation Steps
- Enter the Infested room in your Orbiter
- Approach the Helminth chair and interact with it
- Select Install Helminth Segment when prompted
- Wait for the installation animation and short tutorial
After installation, the Helminth system will be fully functional. From here, you can begin subsuming Warframes and experimenting with ability infusion.
What You Can Do After Unlocking
With the Helminth system unlocked, you gain access to one of Warframe’s most advanced customization tools. The system allows you to replace abilities on Warframes, offering both power and versatility in your builds.
Core Functions of the Helminth System
- Subsume Warframes: Sacrifice a Warframe to extract a transferable ability
- Infuse Abilities: Apply a learned ability to another Warframe’s ability slot
- Use Resources: Each infusion costs resources and has cooldowns
- Invigorations: Temporary buffs applied to Warframes weekly (optional system)
The Helminth system uses its own set of resources such as Bile, Pheromones, and Synthetics. These are replenished through feeding the Helminth various in-game resources and materials. Managing these resources well is key to getting the most out of the system.
Tips for Efficient Progress
Getting the Helminth Segment requires focus and some grinding, but a smart approach can save you time and resources in the long run. Below are helpful strategies to streamline the process:
- Focus early on bounties that offer Scintillant or Isolation Vaults
- Use a resource booster when farming rare Deimos materials
- Start leveling up the Entrati Syndicate as soon as possible
- Save extra Legendary cores and rare mats for crafting later
- Plan which Warframes you want to subsume and prepare duplicates
By preparing in advance, you’ll be ready to use the Helminth system effectively as soon as it’s available, giving you a significant edge in both PvE and elite missions.
The Helminth Segment in Warframe is more than just another upgrade it unlocks an entirely new layer of gameplay depth. From ability customization to Warframe theorycrafting, having access to the Helminth system changes how you approach each mission. By completing the Heart of Deimos quest, ranking up with the Entrati, and gathering the necessary resources, you can unlock this powerful feature and take full control of your arsenal. Whether you’re enhancing survivability, mobility, or damage output, the Helminth system allows you to tailor Warframes to your preferred style in ways that were never possible before. Invest the time, and the rewards will reshape your entire Warframe experience.