Build it. The Hystrix Prime cycles Toxin, Heat, Electricity or Cold quills with a guaranteed proc of the chosen element, on a 28 percent crit 2.2x base, which makes it the best primer that also kills. The 16 round magazine at 7 fire rate is the only complaint. Vaulted, so trade or wait.
Alternate Fire cycles between Toxin, Heat, Electricity, or Cold elemental quills. Quills apply a guaranteed proc of the selected element. On kill, bodies follow the quill, damaging enemies and pinning corpses.
The Hystrix Prime is the primed version of the Hystrix quill gun, offering improved damage, critical chance, status chance, and a slightly faster reload speed. It was released alongside Khora Prime and Dual Keres Prime.
This secondary weapon features a unique alternate fire mode that cycles through four elemental quill types: Toxin, Heat, Electricity, and Cold. Each selected quill guarantees a status proc of its respective element, making it an excellent utility weapon for applying multiple status effects.
When wielded by Khora or Khora Prime, the Hystrix Prime gains an 8% chance to instantly reload on headshots, enhancing its synergy with the Warframe.
How to get the Hystrix Prime
- The Hystrix Prime is vaulted: its relics no longer drop in missions. Open relics you already own, buy them for Aya when Prime Resurgence lists it, or buy the parts for platinum.
- Blueprint: Neo C5, Neo K6, Axi B7, Axi G10, Axi K9 (vaulted relics).
- Barrel: Lith N14, Lith S15, Meso K6, Meso R5, Meso W3 and 3 more (vaulted relics).
- Receiver: Lith H6, Lith H8, Lith H9, Meso H3, Meso H6 and 1 more (vaulted relics; the rare slot in Lith H6, Lith H8).
- Run the fissure tier that matches each relic, refine the rare part’s relic to Radiant, and pick the best of the four results with a squad.
- Build the parts, then the weapon: 12 hours each, or rush with platinum.
Check the Relic finder for live odds per refinement; the set price on this page is what the built set trades for on warframe.market.
Stats
| Class | Secondary |
|---|---|
| Mastery Rank | 12 |
| Trigger | AUTO |
| Noise | Alarming |
| Fire Rate | 7 |
| Accuracy | 14.3 |
| Magazine | 16 |
| Reload | 1.6 s |
| Critical Chance | 28% |
| Critical Multiplier | 2.2x |
| Status Chance | 20% |
| Set Price | 34p on warframe.market (48h average) |
| Riven Disposition | (1) |
| Damage | 46 total |
|---|---|
| Impact | 2.8 |
| Puncture | 39.6 |
| Slash | 3.7 |
The Hystrix Prime boasts a high critical chance of 28% and an above-average critical multiplier of 2.2x. Its status chance is 20%. The weapon has a riven disposition of 1.0, indicating it receives standard Riven mod bonuses.
Builds
Crit primer: Primed Pistol Gambit and Primed Target Cracker on the 28 percent base, Barrel Diffusion, Galvanized Diffusion and Lethal Torrent for quills per trigger pull, Pistol Pestilence and Frostbite for Viral on top of whichever quill element you cycle to.
Pistol
Pistol
Pistol
Pistol
Pistol
Pistol
Pistol
Pistol| Mod | Why it’s here |
|---|---|
| Hornet Strike | +220% Damage |
| Barrel Diffusion | +120% Multishot |
| Lethal Torrent | +60% Fire Rate; +60% Multishot |
| Primed Pistol Gambit | +187% Critical Chance |
| Primed Target Cracker | +110% Critical Damage |
| Galvanized Diffusion | +110% Multishot; On Kill: +30% Multishot for 20s. Stacks up to 4x. |
| Pistol Pestilence | +60% Toxin; +60% Status Chance |
| Frostbite | +60% Cold; +60% Status Chance |
Secondary Merciless is the pick: stacking damage on kills with faster reloads. Secondary Encumber for a status build (a chance at a second random proc), Secondary Deadhead if you land headshots.
Reviewed September 2026.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- High critical chance and above average critical multiplier.
- Unique elemental cycling with guaranteed status procs for all four primary elements.
- Excellent primer for Condition Overload and Galvanized Shot builds.
- High fire rate.
- Fairly quick reload speed.
Cons
- Low base status chance (though compensated by guaranteed procs).
- Small magazine size leads to frequent reloading.
- Projectiles have travel time.
- Elemental mods of different types do not combine with quill elements.
The Hystrix Prime stands out as a versatile secondary weapon, primarily due to its unique elemental cycling mechanic. Its ability to apply guaranteed status effects of Toxin, Heat, Electricity, and Cold makes it an invaluable tool for priming enemies for high damage output from other weapons. While its small magazine size can be a drawback, its strengths in critical performance and status utility solidify its place as a strong contender in many loadouts.