The Best Warframe Mandonel Build Guide

Alright, who’s ready to commit some war crimes? If you have the new Mandonel weapon in Warframe, introduced in Update 35, you probably already have. This radioactive Archgun, which is Qorvex‘s signature weapon, is just about ready to obliterate enemies and ruin the lives of those who survive. But first, you need a Warframe Mandonel build guide for that to happen. After all, Archguns are somewhat overkill in Warframe; they’re big, hulking weapons usually reserved for Archwing missions. If you have the Archgun Deployer, consider yourself lucky because this nuclear reactor cannon is at your disposal anytime and anywhere if you follow our Mandonel build guide.

Warframe Mandonel Build Guide | Mods & Forma Count

We’ll start off with the mods needed to build a mini-superweapon to defy the Geneva Convention (which doesn’t exist in Warframe anymore, so yay, no bureaucratic buzzkills). Like most Archgun builds in Warframe, the mods are manageable.

You don’t need anything too fancy or expensive compared to Primary, Secondary, or Melee weapons. Slot these mods in for that maximum payload.

• Primed/Rubedo-Lined Barrel – This is the most expensive mod in the Mandonel build we have, and it doesn’t even need to be if you’re not opting for the Primed variant. It’s just a straightforward damage increase.
• Automatic Trigger – The Mandonel’s fire rate is not that great for an Archgun, but you can fix that with a fire rate mod, which is pretty standard these days for most ranged builds.
• Dual Rounds – Multishot is also about as standard as damage or fire rate mods for ranged weapons.
• Contamination Casting – Toxin damage for Corrosive element.
• Charged Bullets – Electric damage, also for Corrosive element. You can also go Viral if you want by replacing this with either Hypothermic Shell or Polar Magazine. You still have Radiation damage anyway, so no need to worry about element mixing.
• Hollowed Bullets – Our Mandonel build is hybrid. That means it still relies on a healthy dose of critical damage boost, and Hollowed Bullets provides that.
• Parallax Scope – If you don’t want Hollowed Bullets to go to waste, make sure to add this critical rate increase mod.
• Modified Munitions – Last but not least, you’ll also want to boost your Status Chance. Radiation is a valuable crowd-control tool, and you’ll want to trigger it often.

There’s nothing absurd or costly here. These are just some mods you can probably farm in less than a day, even if you’re a newbie. Still, you might have to spend one or two Forma for the build. That depends on whether you have a Primed Rubedo-Lined Barrel or not.

How To Use the Mandonel Without an Archwing

Now, if you want to make the most of your Mandonel, especially since you’re already dropping Forma on it, you’ll want to take it anywhere, not just Archwing missions.

Warframe lets you do that, but it’s rather vague with its instructions, so here’s a step-by-step process.

1. First, you need to upgrade the Mandonel with a Gravimag so you can use it in ground combat. To get the Gravimag, rank up your reputation to the max in Solaris United in Fortuna, Venus.
   • Alternatively, you can acquire a Gravimag after Phase 3 of the Profit-Taker Orb Heist.
   • Another alternative is that you can obtain the Gravimag from your Clan Dojo as a blueprint.
2. After you get a Gravimag, install it through the Arsenal Upgrade section for Archguns.
3. After installing the Gravimag, you’ll then need an Archgun Deployer to call for the Archgun. There’s no other way around this; you can only acquire the Archgun Deployer after Phase 3 of the Profit-Taker Orb Heist.
4. Once you have the Archgun Deployer, equip it in your radial Gear Slot through the Arsenal. You can now call for an Archgun in every ground mission.

You also get bonus-style points for having the biggest gun in the squad.