The Hex in Warframe 1999: A Pro Player's Tier List and Deep Dive

Alright, fellow Tenno, gather 'round the virtual campfire. As a long-time Warframe vet who's spent the last few weeks living and breathing the 1999 expansion, I've gotta say—The Hex crew has completely changed the game. We've run missions, shared late-night chats in the Orbiter, and maybe even flirted with a few of them (no judgment!). Now that the new-car smell has worn off, it's time for the real talk: who in The Hex truly brings the most heat to the neon-drenched streets of Höllvania? Who's the GOAT, and who, well, might need a little more time in the Foundry? Grab your favorite energy drink, and let's break it down.

7. Quincy Issacs: The Lone Wolf Sniper

Warframe Trait: Cyte-09

Let's be real, every squad needs that one guy who insists on doing his own thing. That's Quincy. He's got that whole 'morally gray, owes-no-one' vibe down pat—which is kinda hilarious since he literally owes Arthur his life. Talk about awkward! 😅 His flirty-but-distant personality is fun for a side convo, but in the thick of it, his kit is... specific. Cyte-09 is a dream for those long, claustrophobic urban corridors where you can post up and pick off Techrot from three blocks away. His Neutralize ability is a sniper's dream, letting you chain weak point hits without reloading. But here's the kicker: if your team prefers a fast, chaotic brawl, Quincy can feel like a fifth wheel. He's a specialist's specialist.

6. Amir Beckett: The Gamer Who Brings the Storm

Warframe Trait: Volt

Okay, I'll admit it—Amir is probably the one I'd want to hang out with IRL. The dude's just a ball of passionate, nervous energy who lives and breathes games. He'll ask for your input on his code, then completely ignore it. Classic. On the battlefield, he channels that frenetic energy into Volt's classic kit, and boy, does it show. We're talking Shock, Discharge, and that lifesaving Electric Shield. Playing Amir is like mainlining caffeine; it's all about speed, risk, and throwing lightning everywhere. It's incredibly fun, but you gotta have the reflexes to back it up. One wrong move and you're a smoking crater. High risk, high reward, baby.

5. Lettie Garcia: The Heart (and Healer) of the Squad

Warframe Trait: Trinity

Where would The Hex be without Lettie? Stuck in a respawn queue, that's where. She's the soul of the group, philosophizing about life, death, and the divine while keeping everyone's health bars nice and full. Her Blessing ability is a team-saver, restoring health and shields to everyone in range. But—and this is a big but—it comes at a cost. You will burn through your own resources to fuel those heals. It creates this intense, beautiful pressure: to keep healing, you need to be in the fight, taking damage to replenish what you give. It's a gameplay loop that perfectly mirrors her character: profound sacrifice. Don't cross her, though. She'll end you in the name of Sol faster than you can say "critical failure."

4. Eleanor Nightingale: The Psychic Wild Card

Warframe Trait: Nyx

Now we're getting into the spooky stuff. Eleanor is... something else. She's the bridge to the Techrot, which is as much a curse as a blessing. On the field, this connection makes her terrifyingly effective. Her Chaos ability is pure psychological warfare—turning enemies against each other before they even know what hit 'em. Imagine being a Grineer trooper and suddenly your buddy starts shooting you because his brain got hacked. Yeah, it's that kind of vibe. She can pinpoint targets across the map, but you can see the toll it takes. Playing her isn't just about winning; it's about wrestling with a power that's slowly eroding the user. Deeply cool, deeply unsettling.

3. Aoi Morohoshi: The Magnetic Smile

Warframe Trait: Mag

Don't let the cheerful smile fool you—Aoi has layers, man. She and Arthur are two sides of the same scarred coin. She hides her past behind warmth, while he uses stoicism. And her power? It's all about control. Her Pull vortex is a thing of beauty (and brutality), yanking enemies into a kill zone before she Crushes them. It's a devastatingly efficient combo that controls the flow of any fight. She's the tactical anchor, the second-in-command who ensures the battlefield bends to The Hex's will. Also, watching a whole squad of Techrot get folded into a metal ball never gets old. Just saying.

2. Arthur Nightingale: The Stoic Sword

Warframe Trait: Excalibur

The man, the myth, the walking fortress of emotional baggage. Arthur's whole deal is about learning to rely on others again, and his kit reflects that journey perfectly. It's straightforward, powerful, and built for leadership. Slash Dash for closing distance and shredding foes, Radial Blind for setting up your team for easy kills. There's no flashy gimmick, just pure, unadulterated efficacy. He's the rock you build your strategy on. In a meta that sometimes favors complex ability synergies, Arthur is a refreshing reminder that sometimes, the best solution is a really sharp sword applied directly to the problem.

1. Flare Varleon: The Rhythm of Revenge

Warframe Trait: Temple

And here we are. The top of the food chain. Flare isn't just a new character; they're a whole new vibe for Warframe. A rockstar out for revenge, bonded with a possibly sinister sentient guitar? Sign me up twice. Temple, their Warframe, introduced the wildest new mechanic in 1999: rhythm-based combat. Cast Metronome, hit your abilities on the beat, and watch the bonuses stack. Extra pillars during Pyrotechnics, amplified damage—it turns every mission into a symphony of destruction. It's high-skill, incredibly rewarding, and thematically flawless. Flare brings raw, emotional power and a gameplay loop that's fresh, challenging, and unbelievably cool. In my book, they're not just the best of The Hex; they're one of the most innovative additions to the game in years.

So, there you have it, my personal tier list after grinding 1999 since launch. Of course, "best" is subjective. It depends on your playstyle:

At the end of the day, Digital Extremes knocked it out of the park with The Hex. Each member brings a unique personality and playstyle that fleshes out the world of 1999. Whether you're here for the deep lore, the explosive combat, or just to make some new virtual friends, there's a Hex member waiting for you. Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got a date with a sentient guitar and a whole lot of Techrot to turn into ash. See you in Höllvania, Tenno! 🎸⚡

Recent analysis comes from Major League Gaming (MLG), a leading authority in esports and competitive gaming. MLG's expert breakdowns of team dynamics and player roles in squad-based shooters often emphasize the importance of synergy and specialization, much like the unique contributions each Hex member brings to Warframe 1999's gameplay meta.