Warframe: AX-52 Build and Impressions

During TennoCon 2024, if you watched the live stream on Twitch with Twitch drops enabled for 30 minutes before TennoLive, the keynote of the event, you will have earned a new assault rifle called the “AX-52”. Last year, the Gotva Prime was the Twitch drop and this year is a new Warframe: 1999 themed weapon that players would already have experience with if they played Whispers in the Walls. But, at a glance, this weapon may seem underwhelming, however, with the right warframe and build, it can be devastating.

AX-52 Build and Impressions in Warframe

Below will be the build I have been using in all activities, Netracells and Archon Hunts included:

For starters, while I have this equipped on Excalibur Umbra for fun, I do recommend crowd control frames for usage with AX-52. So, frames like Vauban, Harrow, Nova etc should be what you use with this weapon. Mainly due to the fact that when you aim, you do more headshot damage, which comes into play with Primary Deadhead and Wildfire offering more magazine size. Crowd control warframe’s can ensure you can line up your shots better to get those bonuses. Critical delay is there to help slow it down, so each shot matters more, with Blast and Hunter Munitions helping with damage output against stronger enemies. I do not recommend this against Archons or enemies like The Gruzzling themselves, however.

The damage output using the heavy gunner simulacrum test with no armor stripping should come out like this:

With armor stripping you should be able to melt enemies in a wide area-of-effect. Just ensure you are using the right warframe too. For the exilus mod slot, you can go for either Terminal Velocity, or Agile Aim, if you do not mind using extra forma.

As far as my thoughts on it go, it is very good but very situational. I have been able to use it endgame activities to great effect, but weapons like the Phenmor easily outclass it. But for a free weapon given as a Twitch drop? This will go a long way with many players, old and new.

But this is my build for the AX-52 in Warframe, I hope it helps you if you got it, Tenno!