Warframe Shrine Defense game mode: A complete guide

Shrine Defense is a new mission type in Warframe, introduced in the Koumei and The Five Fates update. This is a non-endless game mode that combines some elements of Interception and Mobile Defense with a boss showdown at the end. Currently, this mission is the only way to get Fate Pearls, Koumei, and her two signature weapons.

Even though it seems complex at the outset, Shrine Defense is more straightforward than some of Warframe's niche non-endless mission types like Assault. In this guide, we'll discuss everything you need to know before you dive in: all the objectives, and the fastest way to optimally beat them.

How to unlock Shrine Defense in Warframe

Shrine Defense is available to most Warframe beginners, as it is not gated behind late-game quests or faction reputation ranking. All you have to do is beat the Saya's Vigil quest, which got even easier with Warframe's Koumei and the Five Fates update.

Afterwards, you can go to Cetus and talk to Konzu and Saya. Select the "Saya's Vision" option, follow the waypoint, and interact with the shrine to enter the dream. Once you beat this tutorial version of the quest, Saya's Visions becomes available as the standalone Shrine Defense node on Earth.

Also Read: How to get Koumei in Warframe

Warframe Shrine Defense mechanics explained

Phase 1: Deliver Offerings to Shrine

The first phase is interception with extra steps (Image via Digital Extremes)

The first phase of Shrine Defense is the preparation and delivery of Offerings. There will be two objective zones on the map (A and B) that independently prepare Offerings - objects you have to pick up and carry to the Shrine.

The only catch here is that the preparation on either zone will stop if enemies enter the circle, and will only resume once you kill them or get them out of there. Once you pick up the Offering, the next batch of preparation starts immediately if there are no enemies within.

You have to deposit 5 Offerings to progress the mission to the next phase.

Depositing an Offering will confer one of six possible 30-second buffs to all Warframes:

Lyre-Worm’s Feast: Squad becomes invulnerable for 30 seconds.
Twin Kavats: Squad gains Life Steal effect for 30 seconds.
Ripples on the Deep: Squad gains Critical Chance buff for 30 seconds.
The Virtues: Squad gains Heat Damage buff for 30 seconds.
Stars of Perfection: Squad gains Sprint Speed and Parkour Velocity buffs for 30 seconds.
Eidolon’s Jaws: Squad gains Reload Rate and Fire Rate buffs for 30 seconds.

Phase 2: Lure out the Infested Oni and Defeat it

Infested Oni can be armor-stripped - and you should do it (Image via Digital Extremes)

Once you deliver 5 Offerings to the Shrine, the next phase will initiate with the objective of killing a bunch of Infested mob, similar to the end of an Interception wave. After you kill the assigned number (120 on Steel Path), the Infested Oni will spawn.

The Infested Oni is similar to Deimos Jugulus Rex in terms of damage vulnerabilities and resistances. It can also be armor-stripped with the Vastilok, so that's an option if you want to bring it down faster.

The boss has two phases. Once you take it down to zero health, it will burrow underground and retreat. You have to pick up and deliver two more Offerings to the Shrine to lure it back again.

Once you do this, you can take the Infested Oni down to zero health again, killing it for good and finishing the mission.

Also Read: All new Incarnon Genesis in Warframe Koumei and the Five Fates update

Best Warframes to take to Shrine Defense

There are no specific enemy drops exclusive to Shrine Defense mobs, so the easiest approach is to simply crowd-control them. You want to keep them out of the preparation zones, meaning any area-denial Warframe does well. Particularly, there are two Warframes we can recommend:

Frost: You can stand in a zone and spam the Snow Globe occasionally to push out the Infested. With a high enough range, the Globe will cover the whole zone, making it very easy.
Vaubaan: The best Warframe for anti-Infested area denial, Vaubaan shines in Shrine Defense even better than Interception.

With the post-rework Inaros, you can pick up enemies through sandstorms and deposit them away from the zone, but in our experience, this was inefficient if fun.

Warframe Shrine Defense rewards

You will get Fate Pearls and a random drop (Image via Digital Extremes)

Each completion of Shrine Defense gives you 14-18 Fate Pearls (20-24 in Steel Path) that you can spend at Saya's Shrine in Cetus to get Koumei parts as well as her signature weapons. In addition, you can get the following mission completion rewards:

Reward	Chance
450 Endo	Uncommon (10.00%)
Meso F5 Relic	Rare (6.43%)
Meso V9 Relic	Rare (6.43%)
Meso H7 Relic	Rare (6.43%)
Meso N17 Relic	Rare (6.43%)
Meso A7 Relic	Rare (6.43%)
Meso W4 Relic	Rare (6.43%)
Meso B9 Relic	Rare (6.43%)
Koumei Blueprint	Rare (4.09%)
Koumei Chassis Blueprint	Rare (4.09%)
Koumei Neuroptics Blueprint	Rare (4.09%)
Koumei Systems Blueprint	Rare (4.09%)
Higasa Blueprint	Rare (4.09%)
Higasa Barrel Blueprint	Rare (4.09%)
Higasa Receiver Blueprint	Rare (4.09%)
Higasa Stock Blueprint	Rare (4.09%)
Amanata Blueprint	Rare (4.09%)
Amanata Blade Blueprint	Rare (4.09%)
Amanata Handle Blueprint	Rare (4.09%)

Check out our other guides on the game:

Edited by Niladri Roy