Build it. Volnus Prime is a top-tier hammer, boasting the fastest attack speed in its class. Its main weakness is its low critical multiplier, which limits its damage ceiling compared to other melee weapons.
Gains 100% additional radial slam attack damage when wielded by Gara or Gara Prime.
Volnus Prime is the primed variant of the Volnus, offering significant improvements to its base damage, critical chance, critical multiplier, and status chance. It was released alongside Gara Prime and Astilla Prime.
This hammer stands out for its exceptionally fast attack speed, tying with its base version as the quickest in the hammer category. It primarily deals Slash damage, making it effective against health.
Volnus Prime comes with two innate Madurai polarities, providing a good starting point for modding. Its signature weapon bonus with Gara or Gara Prime enhances its radial slam attack damage.
How to get the Volnus Prime
- The Volnus 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.
- Handle: Meso V7, Neo V10, Axi V11 (vaulted relics; the rare slot in Meso V7, Neo V10).
- Head: Lith P6, Lith Z3, Meso B5, Axi B5, Axi C7 and 3 more (vaulted relics).
- Blueprint: Lith G5, Lith H6, Lith H7, Lith S11, Meso Z4 and 3 more (vaulted relics).
- 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 | Melee |
|---|---|
| Mastery Rank | 14 |
| Attack Speed | 1.2 |
| Range | 2.9 m |
| Blocking Angle | 50° |
| Combo Duration | 5 s |
| Follow Through | 0.6 |
| Wind Up | 1.1 s |
| Slam Attack | 750 |
| Heavy Attack | 1500 |
| Critical Chance | 20% |
| Critical Multiplier | 1.8x |
| Status Chance | 34% |
| Set Price | 29p on warframe.market (48h average) |
| Riven Disposition | (1.3) |
| Damage | 250 total |
|---|---|
| Impact | 55 |
| Puncture | 80 |
| Slash | 115 |
Volnus Prime has a riven disposition of 1.3, which is on the higher side. This allows for powerful Riven mods to significantly boost its performance, potentially compensating for some of its lower base stats.
Builds
Given its high status chance and decent critical chance, a hybrid build focusing on both status effects and critical damage is ideal. Prioritize mods that increase attack speed and elemental damage to maximize its damage output and proc frequency. The innate Slash damage is a strong foundation for a bleed-focused build.
Melee
Melee
Melee
Melee
Melee
Melee
Melee
Melee| Mod | Why it’s here |
|---|---|
| Condition Overload | +80% Melee Damage per Status Type affecting the target |
| Blood Rush | +40% Critical Chance stacks with Combo Multiplier |
| Weeping Wounds | +40% Status Chance per Combo Multiplier |
| Organ Shatter | +90% Critical Damage |
| Berserker Fury | On Melee Kill: +35% Attack Speed for 10s. Stacks up to 2x. |
| Primed Reach | +3 Range |
| Primed Fever Strike | +165% Toxin |
| Shocking Touch | +90% Electricity |
Melee Influence when the build carries an Electricity source (an Electricity proc spreads every elemental status to enemies nearby). Melee Crescendo for Heavy Attack builds. Arcane Fury or Arcane Strike as the cheap fallback.
Reviewed September 2026.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Highest attack speed among hammers
- High status chance
- Primarily deals Slash damage
- Good Riven disposition
- Signature weapon bonus with Gara/Gara Prime
Cons
- Low critical multiplier
- Vaulted, making acquisition more challenging
- Hammers can be slow without attack speed mods
Volnus Prime is a formidable melee weapon, particularly for players who enjoy high attack speed and status-focused builds. Its innate Slash damage and signature bonus with Gara make it a strong contender in the hammer category. While its critical multiplier is a drawback, careful modding and a good Riven can raise its performance significantly.