Build-A-Zaw Workshop – Warframe

A detailed guide chock-full of references on Strikes, Grips, Links, Exodia Arcanes and many builds to help find the right Zaw for you. Arguably the best weapons in the game at the moment, you’re missing out if you haven’t put the effort into forging one by now.

Intro

Once again surprised with the lack of documentation here, a clanmate and I have taken it upon ourselves to help clarify and streamline the process of crafting your personal Zaw. Melee weapons have always been the best weapons in the game (if you have the mods) and adding modular options to the weapon class has only cemented them into that spot further.

In almost every case, a Zaw is statistically superior to the other weapons of its type. Add the fact that every Strike has a 3-star Riven Disposition and can equip unique Arcane Enhancements, and your primary and secondary are sure to collect some dust. Though the grind to construct a Zaw may seem daunting, it absolutely is worth the effort to make your own.

This guide is here to help you find your perfect combination of Strike, Grip, and Link. Keep this page open as you read through to help you find your ideal Zaw.

Hok’s Anvil

A blacksmith selling his wares in exchange for Ostron standing. Here you will purchase and assemble your Zaw parts.

Speaking to Hok allows you to:

• Exchange Ostron standing for Strikes, Grips, Links and Exodia Arcanes.
• Preview Zaw builds.
• Gild your Zaws for stat boosts once they reach level 30. (Strikes do not grant Mastery until the Amp has been gilded and leveled to 30 again.)
• Donate Zaws you no longer need in exchange for Ostron standing.
• Rename Zaws and non-Zaw weapons for a 15p fee.
• Purchase a pre-built Zaw with Platinum consisting of random parts that are shuffled daily. (This can include parts exclusive to Operation: Plague Star.)

Strikes

• Name: Balla

Type: Dagger / Staff

Damage: 68 Base, 5%, 60%, 35%

Speed: +0.083

Critical Chance: 18%

Status Chance: 18%

• Name: Cyath

Type: Machete / Polearm

Damage: 72 Base, 20%, 5%, 75%

Speed: +0.000

Critical Chance: 18%

Status Chance: 18%

• Name: Dehtat

Type: Rapier / Polearm

Damage: 68 Base, 10%, 50%, 40%

Speed: +0.083

Critical Chance: 18%

Status Chance: 18%

• Name: Kronsh

Type: Machete / Polearm

Damage: 86 Base, 70%, 30%

Speed: -0.067

Critical Chance: 18%

Status Chance: 18%

• Name: Mewan

Type: Sword / Polearm

Damage: 86 Base, 25%, 35%, 40%

Speed: -0.067

Critical Chance: 18%

Status Chance: 18%

• Name: Ooltha

Type: Sword / Staff

Damage: 72 Base, 10%, 40%, 50%

Speed: +0.000

Critical Chance: 18%

Status Chance: 18%

• Name: Plague Keewar*

Type: Scythe / Staff

Damage: 79 Base, 28%, 14%, 33%, 25%

Speed: -0.033

Critical Chance: 18%

Status Chance: 22%

• Name: Plague Kripath*

Type: Rapier / Polearm

Damage: 70 Base, 14%, 36%, 21%, 29%

Speed: +0.033

Critical Chance: 22%

Status Chance: 18%

• Name: Sepfahn**

Type: Nikana / Staff

Damage: 72 Base, 10%, 25%, 65%

Speed: +0.000

Critical Chance: 20%

Status Chance: 20%

• Name: Rabvee**

Type: Machete / Hammer

Damage: 86 Base, 60%, 5%, 35%

Speed: -0.067

Critical Chance: 18%

Status Chance: 18%

• Name: Dokrahm**

Type: Scythe / Heavy Blade

Damage: 86 Base, 15%, 35%, 50%

Speed: +0.083

Critical Chance: 18%

Status Chance: 18%

* = Only purchasable from Nakak during Operation: Plague Star.
** = Added with Beasts of the Sanctuary.

Grips

The second part of your Zaw, determining a variety of stats as well as influencing the weapon type.

• Name: Peye

Type: Sword / Machete / Rapier / Dagger / Scythe / Nikana

Damage: -4

Speed: 1.000

• Name: Plague Akwin*

Type: Sword / Machete / Rapier / Dagger / Scythe / Nikana

Damage: -2

Speed: 0.950

• Name: Laka

Type: Sword / Machete / Rapier / Dagger / Scythe / Nikana

Damage: +0

Speed: 0.917

• Name: Kwath

Type: Sword / Machete / Rapier / Dagger / Scythe / Nikana

Damage: +14

Speed: 0.850

• Name: Seekalla

Type: Staff / Polearm / Heavy Blade / Hammer

Damage: -4

Speed: 1.000

• Name: Jayap

Type: Staff / Polearm / Heavy Blade / Hammer

Damage: +0

Speed: 0.917

• Name: Plague Bokwin*

Type: Staff / Polearm / Heavy Blade / Hammer

Damage: +7

Speed: 0.883

• Name: Kroostra

Type: Staff / Polearm / Heavy Blade / Hammer

Damage: +14

Speed: 0.850

• Name: Shtung**

Type: Staff / Polearm / Heavy Blade / Hammer

Damage: +28

Speed: 0.784

• Name: Korb**

Type: Sword / Machete / Dagger / Rapier / Scythe / Nikana

Damage: +28

Speed: 0.784

* = Only purchasable from Nakak during Operation: Plague Star.
** = Added with Beasts of the Sanctuary.

Links

The final piece to add to your Zaw. Determines an overwhelming variety of stats.

• Name: Ruhang

Damage Bonus: +14

Speed Chance: – 0.067

Critical Chance: N/A

Status Bonus: N/A

• Name: Jai

Damage Bonus: -4

Speed Chance: +0.083

Critical Chance: N/A

Status Bonus: N/A

• Name: Ruhang II

Damage Bonus: +28

Speed Chance: -0.133

Critical Chance: N/A

Status Bonus: N/A

• Name: Jai II

Damage Bonus: -8

Speed Chance: +0.167

Critical Chance: N/A

Status Bonus: N/A

• Name: Vargeet Ruhang

Damage Bonus: +14

Speed Chance: -0.067

Critical Chance: 7.0%

Status Bonus: -4.0%

• Name: Ekwana Ruhang

Damage Bonus: +14

Speed Chance: -0.067

Critical Chance: -4.0%

Status Bonus: 7.0%

• Name: Vargeet Jai

Damage Bonus: -4

Speed Chance: +0.083

Critical Chance: 7.0%

Status Bonus: -4.0%

• Name: Ekwana Jai

Damage Bonus: -4

Speed Chance: +0.083

Critical Chance: -4.0%

Status Bonus: 7.0%

• Name: Vargeet II Ruhang

Damage Bonus: +14

Speed Chance: -0.067

Critical Chance: 14.0%

Status Bonus: -8.0%

• Name: Ekwana II Ruhang

Damage Bonus: +14

Speed Chance: -0.067

Critical Chance: -8.0%

Status Bonus: 14.0%

• Name: Vargeet II Jai

Damage Bonus: -4

Speed Chance: +0.083

Critical Chance: 14.0%

Status Bonus: -8.0%

• Name: Ekwana II Jai

Damage Bonus: -4

Speed Chance: +0.083

Critical Chance: -8.0%

Status Bonus: 14.0%

• Name: Vargeet Ruhang II

Damage Bonus: +28

Speed Chance: -0.133

Critical Chance: 7.0%

Status Bonus: -4.0%

• Name: Ekwana Ruhang II

Damage Bonus: +28

Speed Chance: -0.133

Critical Chance: -4.0%

Status Bonus: 7.0%

• Name: Vargeet Jai II

Damage Bonus: -8

Speed Chance: +0.167

Critical Chance: 7.0%

Status Bonus: -4.0%

• Name: Ekwana Jai II

Damage Bonus: -8

Speed Chance: +0.167

Critical Chance: -4.0%

Status Bonus: 7.0%

Arcanes

Arcane Enhancements exclusively for Zaws made available from Hok after reaching the rank of Kin with the Ostrons.

• Exodia Arcanes: Brave

Criteria: CHANNEL KILL

Chance: 100%

Effect: 1.25 / 2.50 / 3.75 / 5.00 Increased energy regen

Duration/Range: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 Seconds

• Exodia Arcanes: Valor

Criteria: CRITICAL HIT

Chance: 5% / 10% / 15% / 20%

Effect: 50% / 100% / 150% / 200% Increased channeling damage

Duration/Range: 3 / 6 / 9 / 12 Seconds

• Exodia Arcanes: Might

Criteria: FINISHER

Chance: 12.5% / 25% / 37.5% / 50%

Effect: 7.5% / 15% / 22.5% / 30% Lifesteal

Duration/Range: 2 / 4 / 6 / 8 Seconds

• Exodia Arcanes: Triumph

Criteria: STATUS EFFECT

Chance: 5% / 10% / 15% / 20%

Effect: 50% / 100% / 150% / 200% Increased Channeling damage

Duration/Range: 3 / 6 / 9 / 12 Seconds

• Exodia Arcanes: Hunt

Criteria: SLAM ATTACK

Chance: 20% / 30% / 40% / 50%

Effect: Pull in nearby enemies

Duration/Range: 6m / 8m / 10m / 12m

• Exodia Arcanes: Force

Criteria: STATUS EFFECT

Chance: 5% / 10% / 15% / 20%

Effect: Burst for 80% / 100% / 120% / 150% weapon damage

Duration/Range: 5m / 6m / 7m / 8m

• Exodia Arcanes: Contagion*

Criteria: AIR ATTACK

Chance: 100%

Effect: 100% / 200% / 300% / 400% projectile damage after 30m. Only procs after a bullet/double jump.

Duration/Range: Determined by gravity.

• Exodia Arcanes: Epidemic*

Criteria: SLAM ATTACK

Chance: 100%

Effect: Projects damaging wave that suspends enemies in the air, dealing Viral damage up to 33m away. Only procs after a bullet/double jump.

Duration/Range: 1s / 2s / 3s / 4s

* = Only purchasable from Nakak during Operation: Plague Star.

Recommended Builds Pt. 1

Combinations of Strike, Grip and Link and suggested mod loadouts. Builds marked with * are best-in-class and can not (currently) be statistically surpassed by any other weapon of its type. Stats presented are after Gilding.

• Sliita

Mods:

Type: Sword

Strike: Ooltha

Grip: Laka

Link: Vargeet Ruhang

Arcane: Exodia Valor

Comparison: Krohkur

Notes: Extremely reliant on keeping your combo multiplier up, but is thankfully offset by a stance with wide sweeps and generous movement. Berserker is your designated mod to replace in the event you obtain a riven for Ooltha.

• Parang*

Mods:

Type: Machete

Strike: Cyath

Grip: Peye

Link: Ekwana II Jai

Arcane: Exodia Valor

Comparison: Gazal Machete

Notes: A fast slash status-based weapon. Buzz Kill is your designated mod to replace in the event you obtain a riven for Cyath.

• Carranza

Mods:

Type: Rapier

Strike: Dehtat

Grip: Kwath

Link: Vargeet II Jai

Arcane: Exodia Valor

Comparison: Destreza

Notes: Another slash proc weapon due to Vulpine Mask having three combos with two guaranteed slash procs minimum. It will destroy any one target. Gladiator Might is your designated mod to replace in the event you obtain a riven for Dehtat.

• Pesh-kabz*

Mods:

Type: Dagger

Strike: Balla

Grip: Laka

Link: Ekwana II Jai

Arcane: Exodia Might

Comparison: Rakta Dark Dagger

Notes: Very fast combos with multiple viral and slash procs despite it’s 35% chance, but like any dagger will mainly rely on Covert Lethality. Doing so makes it the best candidate for wearing Exodia Might, healing you on Finishers. Drifting Contact is your designated mod to replace in the event you obtain a riven for Balla.

Recommended Builds Pt. 2

• Naginata*

Mods:

Type: Staff

Strike: Ooltha

Grip: Seekalla

Link: Ekwana Jai

Arcane: Exodia Valor

Comparison: Bo Prime

Notes: A staff focusing on large bleed procs from crits with quick multi-hit attacks. The stance is used for its forward combo, the right-click combo being for AoE and movement. Buzz Kill is your designated mod to replace in the event you obtain a riven for Ooltha.

• Laesio

Mods:

Type: Polearm

Strike: Cyath

Grip: Jayap

Link: Ekwana II Ruhang

Arcane: Exodia Triumph

Comparison: Lesion

Notes: Essentially Lesion but still a bit too far off without a godly Riven roll. Primed Fury or North Wind are your designated mods to replace in the event you obtain a riven for Cyath.

• Plague Langxian*

Mods:

Type: Polearm

Strike: Plague Kripath

Grip: Plague Bokwin

Link: Ekwana II Ruhang

Arcane: Exodia Epidemic

Comparison: Guandao

Notes: A personal favorite. This Zaw is all about utility and is essentially a swiss army knife. Since forging it, I’ve used it so much I actually feel terrible my dozens of other Rivens have collected dust since. Great status, innate Viral, spin-to-winning through each room, absolutely absurd range and the Arcane is an 0-cost energy Rhino Stomp that you can spam if you’re ever in a tight spot for some reason. My trusty tool for Focus farming. If you can secure a Riven with +Range, I urge you to slot it in place of Buzz Kill.

Original Link – Continuation of discussion