Warframe has many weapon types, Warframes, and equipment that accommodate all play styles. It can be overwhelming for players to sift through the list, which is why knowing the best weapons of any type is always suggested. While launchers, shotguns, swords, and other weapon types can do blistering damage and feel fun for the player, good old-fashioned rifles can never be beaten.
There are many rifles in Warframe, and not all of them are created equally. While almost any weapon in the game can be viable on late-game missions provided it is modded and Forma'd enough. However, choosing the best rifles gives the player the best chances of succeeding in Warframe's Steel Path and other late-game modes.
6 Shedu
A Sentient Assault Rifle arm cannon, the Shedu is an extremely capable rifle that players should definitely give a try throughout their Mastery journey. It fires heat beams that can proc into Electricity, making it a build that can be complemented really well by an elemental damage build. It is a beginner Warframe mistake to overlook elemental damage when creating a mod build for a weapon, but the Shedu's innate elemental damage can mitigate some of this.
The Shedu requires the player to be Mastery Rank 13 and can be acquired by completing the Erra quest. Additional blueprints can be acquired by purchasing them from Cephalon Simaris for 100,000 Standing in the Syndicate.
5 Fulmin
An adaptable weapon, the Fulmin can switch between automatic and burst shotgun-esque fire that matches the damage of Warframe's best shotguns. Players can use the Fulmin in a wide variety of situations and enjoy it's high damage no matter which firing type is being used. It's a brilliant weapon to help players master speedy ninja battles that the game is known for.
Players will have to get to Mastery Rank 8 before they can use the Fulmin, but this doesn't take long and can be considered 'mid-game'. Once players have reached this Mastery Rank, they can buy the Fulmin from the market.
4 Stahlta
An Automatic Rifle of Corpus design, the Stahlta fires steel blade projectiles with high Slash damage, high critical chance, and high-status chance. It is somewhat let down by its low Impact damage, but must-use mods will get around this.
The Stahlta's main blueprint can be obtained as a possible reward drop from the Jackal. The parts for it can be obtained from the Granuum Void or traded with other players. The latter option may be best for people who don't want to wait to use the weapon.
3 Trumna
A fully automatic rifle that fires explosive bullets, the Trumna has a significance in the lore due to being Orokin made, and it feels even more significant considering its impressive stats compared to other rifles. It holds up even against Warframe's Tenet weapons, which is a good indicator of its impressiveness.
Players must reach Rank 3 with the Entrati Syndicate, where they can then purchase the weapon for 12,5000 Standing across multiple components. Players will also have to be at least Mastery Rank 13, so there may be a bit of a wait in obtaining this. There are few greater rifles in Warframe than the Trumna, so it is absolutely worth the grind.
2 Acceltra
While kind of a launcher, the Acceltra is listed among the Rifle weapon type in Sorties, so rifles is where it sits. Gauss' signature weapon, the Acceltra is one of the best weapons in the game and has special stat increases when used with Gauss. It's damage matches even Warframe's best sniper rifles.
It has very high base damage, critical chance, and a critical multiplier with a very fast fire rate. While its status chance is low and the projectiles have quite a long travel time, players can mod to circumvent some of its weaknesses. To obtain the Acceltra, players need to be at least Mastery Rank 8 and then defeat Demolished Infested on the Dark Sector mission Ur, Uranus. It has a drop chance, so players are, unfortunately, at the mercy of RNG.
1 Phenmor
Not only the best rifle in Warframe, but the Phenmor is one of the very best weapons overall. It has two types of attack - Normal and Incarnon Form. It has above-average damage primarily dealt in Slash, a massive magazine capacity, and its ability to gain fire rate over time makes it nearly perfect.
Players need to be Mastery Rank 14 and either buy the blueprint from another player or purchase it from Cavelero of the Holdfasts Syndicate for 6000 Standing. Considering its impressiveness, the Phenmor is quite easy to obtain but will just require time from the player who will need to be in the late-game stage.
Warframe was released in 2013 and is available on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox One Series X|S, and the Nintendo Switch.