Vestigial Motes are a special resource introduced in Warframe as part of the Jade Shadows update. These motes play a vital role in the progression and gameplay surrounding the new warframe Jade and associated content. As Warframe continues to evolve, understanding how to obtain specific resources becomes key to keeping up with new systems, lore, and upgrades. If you want to maximize your efficiency and unlock everything the update offers, learning how to get Vestigial Motes in Warframe is essential. This guide will help you navigate where to find them, how to farm them efficiently, and how they tie into the game’s systems.
What Are Vestigial Motes?
Item Description and Use
Vestigial Motes are a resource used in the Jade Shadows questline and related crafting mechanics. They are part of a new currency or crafting material pool introduced with this update and are required for unlocking certain progression items, possibly including Jade Warframe blueprints, augments, or lore-related artifacts.
Resource Classification
This resource is not tied to traditional planetary materials like Ferrite or Neurodes. Instead, Vestigial Motes appear to be quest-specific or tied to unique in-game activities that diverge from standard farming methods like resource nodes or enemy drops.
How to Begin Earning Vestigial Motes
Complete the Jade Shadows Quest
To gain access to Vestigial Motes, you must first begin or complete the Jade Shadows quest. This storyline introduces new mechanics, lore, and systems. Finishing or advancing in this quest is the only way to activate the systems or missions that reward Vestigial Motes.
- Check your Codex for the Jade Shadows quest under the Quests tab.
- Ensure prerequisites are met: earlier story quests or mastery rank requirements.
- Track the quest to begin and complete mission objectives as guided by the Lotus.
Unlock Access to Special Missions or Nodes
After progressing through the questline, you’ll gain access to unique missions or tilesets associated with the Shadows system. These might include new endless modes, assassination targets, or defense objectives tied to Jade’s lore. Vestigial Motes drop as rewards from these missions or are granted upon successful completion of specific phases.
Where to Farm Vestigial Motes
Shadow Missions
These missions are believed to be the core method of farming Vestigial Motes. Shadow Missions may function like Sanctuary Onslaught or Sorties, with layered difficulty and increasing rewards. The higher the level or tier, the more motes you can obtain per run.
- Tier I Missions: Lower reward pool, but faster runs ideal for casual farming.
- Tier II/III Missions: Higher difficulty, elite enemies, and better Mote output.
Resource Drop Locations
Some missions might include objectives such as collecting motes dropped by defeated enemies, locating hidden caches, or defending NPCs to completion. Keep an eye on mission rewards and enemy types, as minibosses may drop multiple motes per defeat.
Boosting Vestigial Mote Farming Efficiency
Use a Resource Booster
Resource Boosters double the number of Vestigial Motes you earn from mission rewards and drops. If available in the Market or given during events, using a Resource Booster dramatically improves your farming rate.
Play in a Squad
Warframe always rewards cooperation. In Shadow Missions, more players mean more enemy spawns and faster clears, increasing the number of Vestigial Motes earned per minute. Coordinated groups also improve survivability in higher-tier missions.
Optimize Your Warframe Loadout
Bring a Warframe designed for efficiency and survivability. Recommended options include:
- Wukong: Mobility, clone damage, and survivability for solo runs.
- Nekros: If enemy drops are a source of motes, Desecrate helps multiply rewards.
- Nova: Great for controlling enemy movement in defense-style Shadow Missions.
How Many Vestigial Motes Do You Need?
Crafting and Lore Unlocks
The number of Vestigial Motes you need will depend on your goal. If you’re crafting the Jade Warframe or unlocking Shadow-related gear, expect to spend a fair amount of motes. These may also tie into building new weapons, Sentinels, or augment mods introduced with the update.
Upgrade Systems
Some systems may allow you to spend motes on upgrades, cosmetics, or abilities. Keep checking the new NPCs or interfaces introduced after completing Jade Shadows to find what each currency is used for. Like Entrati Tokens or Vitoplast, the motes may be part of a layered system with multiple uses.
Alternative Ways to Get Vestigial Motes
Nightwave Challenges
Occasionally, limited-time events or Nightwave seasons may include Vestigial Motes as rewards. Check current challenges and season prize tracks to see if motes are offered for completing weekly tasks.
Mission Rotation Rewards
Some missions have rotation-based drops (A, B, C). For example, an endless defense mission might grant a small amount of motes on rotation A, but grant a significantly larger number on rotation C. Plan longer sessions if you’re targeting high-reward rotations.
Baro Ki’Teer and Vendors
Future updates may introduce vendors (like Baro Ki’Teer or new syndicates) who sell Vestigial Motes in exchange for ducats, credits, or rare resources. Keep an eye on new NPCs post-quest for trading opportunities.
Best Practices for Daily Farming
- Set aside 3045 minutes daily to run Shadow Missions.
- Track your progress through new vendors or crafting blueprints to avoid overspending.
- Use Warframe market tools to identify whether trading is possible for motes or related blueprints.
- Participate in community events and alerts tied to the Jade Shadows update.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Ignoring the Questline
Trying to farm Vestigial Motes without completing Jade Shadows is ineffective. The content is locked behind progression, and skipping it will waste your time.
Farming on Wrong Missions
Ensure you’re running the correct Shadow-tagged missions. Not all new missions reward motes, and some standard missions in the starchart do not drop them at all.
Neglecting Boosters
If you plan to farm consistently, consider purchasing or saving login rewards for Resource Boosters. They save hours of grind over time and are worth using during double resource weekends or alerts.
Getting Vestigial Motes in Warframe involves understanding the Jade Shadows quest and its unique mission system. Focus on completing the main questline, unlock access to Shadow Missions, and farm them using the most efficient squad and loadout combinations. Boosters, team play, and smart routing will help you earn enough Vestigial Motes to unlock everything the new content offers. Whether you’re crafting Jade or aiming to collect all lore items, these motes are your key to progress in this exciting update.