Building Amps & Understanding Damage
Amps are modular weapons for your Operator that are crucial for taking down Eidolons and higher-level content. Understanding how damage is calculated will help you build an Amp that fits your goals without wasting resources.
1. How Amp Damage is Calculated
Each Amp is built using a Prism (primary fire), Scaffold (secondary fire), and Brace (stat bonuses). Amp damage is determined by the Prism and Scaffold base damage, your current Focus School bonuses, and Void Strike stacks if applicable.
Damage calculation generally follows:
- Base Damage: Prism + Scaffold damage values.
- Multipliers: Void Strike, Amp Arcanes, Focus School buffs (like Madurai’s Void Strike).
- Critical Chance and Damage: Affects output but relies on the specific Prism/Scaffold used.
- Void Damage Type: Amps deal Void damage, which is effective against Sentient shields and Eidolon shields.
2. Choosing Your Amp Parts
If you are building your first Amp, consider starting with the 1-7-3 (Raplak Prism, Phahd Scaffold, Lohrin Brace). This combination offers excellent crowd-clearing capabilities with the Phahd Scaffold's ricocheting disc while providing long-range precision with the Raplak Prism. It's a fun, versatile build that performs well in general missions and Sanctuary Onslaught. For Eidolon hunting later, you can explore higher damage-focused setups like the 2-2-3 (Shwaak Prism, Shraksun Scaffold, Lohrin Brace) once you are ready.
3. Focus Schools Matter
Madurai’s Void Strike significantly increases Amp damage when stacks are charged, allowing one-shot breaks on Eidolon shields with optimized Amps. Zenurik offers energy regeneration, which is useful for general gameplay but does not boost Amp damage directly. Align your Focus School with your Amp goals.
4. Using the Amp Builder
WF Tools offers an Amp Builder that lets you experiment with different combinations and see stats clearly before committing resources. This tool helps you plan your Eidolon or general-purpose Amp builds efficiently, ensuring you get the best performance for your goals.
5. Don’t Rush
Building an Amp takes time. Use your starter Amp to farm Quills Standing, unlock parts gradually, and experiment with different builds to find what feels best for you.
Understanding how Amp damage works and planning your builds will make your Warframe journey smoother, especially when tackling high-value content like Eidolon hunts.