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In this guide, we unravel the intricacies of each step, offering invaluable insights and expert tips to streamline your Kuva Lich encounters. From spawning the Kuva Lich to deciphering elusive rune sequences, equip yourself with the knowledge and tactics needed to emerge triumphant. Join us as we delve into the depths of the Kuva Lich system and emerge as seasoned hunters, ready to face any challenge that crosses our path.
Step 1: Spawning the Kuva Lich
Before diving into the intricacies of the Kuva Lich system in Warframe, ensure that you’ve completed the War Within and Rising Tide questlines to unlock the ability to participate in this process.
To spawn a Kuva Lich, head to Cassini on Saturn, which is the easiest location for this purpose. However, any Level 20+ Grineer mission (excluding Uranus and Dark Sector missions) can potentially spawn a Kuva Lich. It’s worth noting that special mission types like Void Fissure, Invasion, and Syndicate missions won’t contribute to spawning a Kuva Lich.
The Warframe you choose to use for spawning is crucial as it determines the innate damage type of the weapon you’ll acquire. Magnetic, Toxin, Heat, and Radiation are popular elements in builds, with Radiation being particularly effective against Eidolons or Archons.
In Cassini, initiate the Capture mission as usual. Once the target is captured, be alert for flickering lights indicating the arrival of an outside entity. However, you won’t receive a message from the “invader” just yet. Use this time to swiftly eliminate at least 10 Grineer enemies within a minute.
If done correctly, you’ll receive a transmission from a Kuva Guardian mentioning a “subject” or similar. If not, you likely took too long to eliminate the enemies. Extract and try again.
Upon receiving the Kuva Guardian transmission, a marker will appear on your map directing you to the Kuva Larvaling. Engage and defeat the Larvaling, which is no tougher than a normal enemy. Once subdued, you’ll receive a small amount of Kuva (around 100-300 units). Approach the Larvaling to see the weapon it’s wielding, indicating the weapon your Kuva Lich will spawn with. If you desire this weapon, interact with the Larvaling to initiate the Kuva Lich encounter. If not, simply ignore them and extract.
Ignoring a Kuva Larvaling removes its weapon from the pool. Only after all weapons have been removed or a full Kuva Lich cycle has been completed will that weapon reappear. Should you make a mistake, such as selecting the wrong Warframe for the damage bonus you want or letting the Larvaling die before finishing it off for a desired weapon, abort the mission by quitting instead of extracting. This preserves the weapon in the pool for future attempts without cycling through all the weapons again.
Here is a picture of all the Warframes and the corresponding native damage types you will end up with:
Step 2: Hunting the Kuva Lich
After successfully spawning your Kuva Lich, characterized by their random name and distinct personality, the true hunt commences. Prepare for taunting transmissions from your newly minted adversary, often referencing the elemental weapon used in their Larvaling form.
The Kuva Lich will assert control over nodes on Earth, distinguished by a red haze covering the majority of Earth nodes. Clicking on a mission node reveals the option to engage in either the Kuva Lich territory mission or any other available mission. Notably, Kuva Lich-controlled territory doesn’t appear on Assassination or Open World-centric nodes, or those deviating from standard mission types.
Participating in any mission on Earth, even outside of Kuva Lich territory, incurs atax on your rewards during extraction, so be mindful of potential losses.
Kuva Lich territory missions feature significantly higher-level enemies, ranging from Levels 55 to 75 on Earth. Inside these missions, identify Thralls marked by blue auras and unique map markers. These enemies won’t perish conventionally; instead, they are downed when their health is depleted, allowing you to perform a “Secret Mercy” to finish them off. Each executed Thrall contributes to filling a “Requiem Whisper” prompt, revealing runes essential for the Lich’s demise. However, Requiems only unveil the runes required, not their precise order.
To obtain Requiem runes,engage in Void Fissures on the Kuva Fortress, cracking special Requiem relics dropped occasionally by executing Thralls. Equip the correct runes in the correct order on your Parazon to compel the Lich to retreat, advancing to the next step.
Should you possess all three runes in the correct configuration, your Lich will flee to Saturn Proxima, signaling progress to step 3. Incorrect rune configurations prompt the Lich to escape to the next planet, gradually strengthening in the process.
Avoid running out of Lich Territory missions, as it prevents ruling out a poor rune configuration. Navigate the progression chain from Earth to Kuva Fortress, leveling up your Lich and engaging in strategic confrontations along the way.
Step 3: Concluding the Kuva Lich Encounter
With the Kuva Lich fleeing to Saturn Proxima, it’s time to pursue them using your Railjack. A special mission awaits in Saturn Proxima, accessible regardless of whether you’ve unlocked Saturn Proxima missions previously. This standard Grineer skirmish mission entails boarding a Grineer galleon to eliminate its captain—the Kuva Lich.
To board the Galleon, you must first destroy the requisite number of fighters and crewships. Once aboard, the assassination is straightforward, devoid of requiem runes or similar complexities. While Thralls populate the Galleon, eliminating them serves no purpose beyond reducing enemy numbers.
After defeating the Lich, you face the decision to convert or vanquish them. Vanquishing yields their weapon and occasionally an Ephemera visual aura. Converting allows trading the Lich to other players or employing them as defenders on your Railjack crew, although vanquishing is typically preferred.
Upon vanquishing the Lich and returning to your Railjack, the game confirms the skirmish’s completion. Despite receiving no immediate rewards, choose to abort the mission without concern.
Back aboard your orbiter, you retrieve all stolen items and receive a message in your inbox indicating the weapon awaits in the foundry. Head to the foundry to claim your hard-earned weapon.
Congratulations! Your Kuva Lich saga concludes, leaving you to savor your newfound Kuva weapon.
Kuva Lich Speedrunning Tips and Strategies
Mastering the art of Kuva Lich hunting ensures you never face a Level 5 Kuva Lich prowling the Kuva Fortress. Employ these tips for a streamlined hunt:
Strategic Planning
Control the Encounter
Adapting to the Situation
Deciphering Rune Sequences
By exercising patience and strategic foresight, you can navigate the Kuva Lich hunt without encountering the formidable Level 5 Lich. Strategically select your missions, control the encounter, and decode rune sequences with precision to achieve mastery in your Kuva Lich endeavors.
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