The Duviri Paradox came to Warframe in March 2023 and added a ridiculous amount of new content to the game. The expansion also struggles to straddle a line between targeting new players and appeasing longtime fans.
In most ways that matter, The Duviri Paradox is entirely separate from the rest of the game. The expansion puts you in control of a brand new, customizable character known only as the Drifter, and a relatively short campaign lays out his story before dumping you into the expansion’s other game modes.
The Duviri Paradox becomes available right after completing the Vor’s Prize quest, which means it’s an option basically from the beginning of the game. That puts new players in a difficult position. It’s hard enough to get started in Warframe, and being presented with the option to essentially leave the Sol system behind right away makes it even harder to know how to get going. The Duviri Paradox is tailor-made for Warframe newcomers, and it’s actually a great place for players to cut their teeth – though there are some caveats.
A separate reality
The story of The Duviri Paradox is set in an alternate reality, and the expansion often feels like a separate game entirely. The Drifter has a set of movement and combat abilities that are completely distinct from how Warframes operate. His abilities have cooldowns instead of energy costs, and his fighting style is much more focused on targeting individual enemies and parrying incoming attacks rather than mowing through endless hordes of baddies.
The Drifter also gets a badass mecha-horse that can fly, and makes exploring the world of Duviri a blast. Warframes do pop up in Duviri’s campaign – the expansion actually teaches their controls better than the main game – but they certainly aren’t the focus. Thanks to the brief story, excellent Drifter mechanics, and crystal clear tutorials, Duviri acts as a fantastic introduction to the overall game.
The problem is that the expansion does a bad job of setting expectations for new players. Playing at the Drifter is a good deal more fun than controlling a Warframe 24/7. Duviri itself is also much more engaging to explore than many of the game’s other locations. Players who dive into Duviri early might have a rough adjustment period when returning to the main game.
Worth a bit of waiting
If and when the grind of Warframe gets a bit exhausting, The Duviri Paradox makes for an excellent diversion. The story is punchy enough to re-spark some interest in the wider world of Warframe, and the balance between Drifter battles and short Warframe diversions actually makes playing as a cyber ninja enticing all over again.
After beating the campaign, three new game modes become available. The Duviri Experience and The Lone Story both put players back in the Drifter’s shoes, but it’s possible to farm materials that can be used to upgrade equipment back in the main game. The Circuit is focused entirely on Warframes, and though it’s technically a self-contained roguelite, it rewards players who’ve already spent some time in the main game. Every run randomizes your loadout, but you’ll always have the weakest version of each piece of gear unless you’ve upgraded it in the base game.
Taken altogether The Duviri Paradox sits somewhat awkwardly beside the rest of Warframe. There’s no perfect time to start the expansion’s content, but I’d recommend playing the main game until it starts to feel a bit stale. At that point the Duviri story will give you a boost with engaging new mechanics, and the game modes that follow will give you some fresh inspiration for unlocking new Warframes and upgrading the rest of your loadout.
