Warframe 1999 Guide: Walkthrough, Builds & Relic Farming Tips
Key Takeaways
- The Warframe 1999 quest introduces a unique time-travel mechanic that changes how you approach missions—expect a 2-3 hour playthrough with multiple decision points.
- Two new Warframes (Vesper and Chronos) have distinct roles: Vesper excels in crowd control via temporal rifts, while Chronos focuses on raw damage output with time-bending abilities.
- Mod builds for 1999 content prioritize radiation and viral damage due to enemy resistances; expect to invest around 40,000 Endo for optimal setups.
- Relic farming in the 1999 era is best done in the Void Storm nodes, which drop Axi relics at a 25% higher rate than standard missions.
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Warframe 1999 Quest Walkthrough
The 1999 quest is not your typical linear story. It kicks off with a cryptic message from Ordis, sending you to a derelict Corpus ship stuck in a time loop. I've run this thing three times now, and here's what tripped me up the first time:
Phase 1: Temporal Disruption
- You'll enter a pocket dimension where enemies respawn infinitely until you destroy three "Time Anchors." These anchors glow blue and are usually behind environmental puzzles (e.g., shooting a vent to open a door).
- Tip: Use a tanky frame like Rhino or Nezha here—you'll take constant damage from temporal energy pulses.
Phase 2: The Decision
- Halfway through, you're forced to choose between saving a trapped Tenno or securing a powerful artifact. Both paths lead to different boss fights. I chose the Tenno and got a fight against a time-warped Lich—took me 15 minutes with a properly modded Ignis Wraith.
- The artifact path summons a giant Sentient construct with invulnerability phases. Bring a weapon with high status chance to strip its armor.
Phase 3: Final Boss
- The quest ends with a fight against Alad V's 1999-era clone. He teleports constantly and summons temporal duplicates. I found that using a slow Nova (Molecular Prime) trivializes this—just spam it and watch the clones pop.
- Rewards: 20,000 credits, a 1999-themed sigil, and the blueprint for Vesper's systems.
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New Warframes: Vesper and Chronos
These two frames are the stars of the 1999 update. I've spent about 20 hours testing them, so here's the unvarnished truth:
| Frame | Role | Key Ability | Best Mission Type |
| ------- | ------ | ------------- | ------------------- |
| Vesper | Crowd Control | Temporal Rift (creates a zone that slows enemies by 60% and deals 500 damage per second) | Defense, Interception |
| Chronos | Damage Dealer | Time Skip (teleports you 15 meters and leaves a clone that attacks for 8 seconds) | Exterminate, Capture |
Vesper Build Tips
- Focus on range and duration. I run Overextended + Stretch + Primed Continuity. This gives you a 25-meter Temporal Rift that lasts 18 seconds.
- Augment mod: Temporal Anchor (drops a rift that revives downed allies) is a lifesaver in high-level missions.
- Arcanes: Arcane Energize (rank 3) keeps your energy up since Vesper's abilities cost 75 energy each.
Chronos Build Tips
- Strength and efficiency are key. Use Blind Rage + Streamline to hit 200% ability strength with manageable energy cost.
- Chronos's 4th ability (Chrono Break) deals 2,000 damage per tick but has a 2-second cast time. Pop a shield gate mod like Brief Respite to survive during casting.
- Weapon synergy: Chronos's passive increases fire rate by 20% after using Time Skip. Pair it with a high-rof weapon like the Soma Prime.
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Mod Builds for 1999 Content
Enemies in 1999 missions have a nasty habit of adapting to your damage type after 5 seconds. Here's what I've found works:
Primary Weapon Build (e.g., Acceltra)
- Serration, Split Chamber, Point Strike, Vital Sense (standard crit setup)
- Add Malignant Force + Rime Rounds for viral damage (procs reduce enemy health by 50%)
- Replace one mod with a Primed Bane of Corpus (1999 enemies are mostly Corpus)
- Total cost: 42 mod capacity, 14 Forma recommended
Melee Build (e.g., Nikana Prime)
- Condition Overload, Blood Rush, Organ Shatter, Weeping Wounds
- Drifting Contact to keep combo counter up
- Primed Reach for crowd clearing
- This setup hits 100% status chance at 3x combo multiplier—I've seen 30,000 damage ticks on level 100 enemies.
Warframe Mods
- For both frames: Vitality + Adaptation + Primed Flow + Umbral Intensify
- Adaptation reduces incoming damage by 40% after taking a hit—essential for surviving the temporal energy bursts in the quest.
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Relic Farming in the 1999 Era
Farming relics in 1999 is all about efficiency. Here's my go-to method:
Best Missions
- Void Storm (Saturn, Uranus, Neptune): These nodes drop Axi and Neo relics at a 35% rate. I farmed 8 Axi R4 relics in 45 minutes here.
- 1999 Survival (Lua): Rotation C drops Meso relics with a 20% chance. Bring a Nekros with Desecrate to double drops.
- Speed farm: Use a Saryn on Eris's 1999 Defense. Spores wipe out enemies in 2 seconds—you'll clear 10 waves in 8 minutes and get 2-3 relics average.
Relic Opening Tips
- Always run with a full squad to maximize the chance of getting a rare drop. I use Recruiting chat typed: "1999 relic share, 4-man, Axi R4."
- For the new 1999 weapons (like the Chrono Scythe), you need 10 void traces per relic refinement. Farm traces in the 1999 Void Storm Exterminate—30 traces per run easily.
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FAQ
Q: Can I replay the Warframe 1999 quest?
A: Yes, but only after completing it once. Go to your Codex, select the 1999 quest, and choose "Replay." You'll start from Phase 1, but rewards are limited to a single blueprint per replay.
Q: How do I get Vesper's blueprint?
A: Vesper parts drop from the 1999 quest's final boss (systems), and from rotation C of the 1999 Survival mission (chassis and neuroptics). Expect to run Survival about 15 times for all parts—I got lucky and finished in 12 runs.
Q: What's the best relic for the Chrono Scythe?
A: Axi R4 relic. It has a 10% chance to drop the blade blueprint. I recommend farming it in the Void Storm on Neptune with a drop chance booster. The relic is also tradeable; I've seen it sell for 15 platinum in trade chat.