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Cryotic Farming in Warframe (2026): Excavation Runs, 100 a Dig
Every finished dig pays 100 Cryotic, so run the easiest Excavation
Last Updated on September 30, 2026
The short answer
Cryotic comes from Excavation missions. Every excavator you finish pays 100 Cryotic and the mission level does not change that, so run the lowest-level node: Everest (Earth). Bring Khora to keep the dig sites safe.
Reviewed September 29, 2026, current through Update 44 (Iceblade of Narin); node and mission types checked against the live star chart. This page is re-checked after every major patch.
| Where | Mission | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Everest (Earth) | Excavation | Levels 1-6, the usual pick |
| Kiliken (Venus) | Excavation | Levels 3-8, Corpus enemies |
| Tikal (Earth) | Dark Sector Excavation | Low-level Infested Dark Sector |
| Augustus (Mars) | Excavation | Levels 9-14, Grineer enemies |
| Hieracon (Pluto) | Dark Sector Excavation | Levels 35-45, only for strong builds |
Table of Contents
Every place it drops
Cryotic drops on: Earth, Venus, Mars, Europa, Neptune, Pluto.
The fast route
- Load Everest (Earth) with a Resource Booster on.
- Walk to a dig site marked on the minimap. An excavator drops in and starts digging.
- Kill Power Carriers and carry their Power Cells to the excavator. Four cells fill it.
- Hold the excavator until it finishes. Each finished dig pays 100 Cryotic.
- Run up to three excavators at once if your squad can defend them.
- Extract after the first dig, or stay for more.
Best farming frames
| Frame | Role | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Khora | Excavator guard | Mark an excavator with the Heal posture and Venari heals it, while Strangledome holds enemies off the site. |
| Gara | Excavator guard | Splinter Storm can wrap an excavator in damage reduction. |
| Wisp | Excavator support | Reservoirs give allies near the dig site healing over time. |
Tips that save runs
- A Resource Booster doubles the Cryotic you extract, even though the mission does not say so.
- Loyal Retriever and Resourceful Retriever double excavator earnings when they proc.
- Mission difficulty does not change the amount, so pick the lowest level node you can.
- Cetus and Orb Vallis bounties can also pay 100 to 200 Cryotic in a stage reward.
Mistakes that waste runs
- Running Hieracon for Cryotic. The payout per dig is the same as Everest.
- Ignoring Power Carriers. An excavator with no power stalls.
- Extracting after one dig when you need a stack. Each dig adds 100.
What it builds
| Item | Note |
|---|---|
| Trinity Prime Systems | 9,000 Cryotic |
| Vauban Prime Systems | 9,000 Cryotic |
| Protea Systems | 1,000 Cryotic |
| Hydroid Prime Systems | 925 Cryotic |
| Khora Prime Neuroptics | 600 Cryotic |
| Freezing Step Ephemera | 20,000 Cryotic |