Warframe 2026: Ultimate Purgator 1 Guide - Endgame Build, Acquisition, and Gas Cloud Mastery

Hey, fellow Tenno! It's 2026, and if you're still sleeping on the Purgator 1 from the Scaldra arsenal, you are seriously missing out. I've been maining this beast in Steel Path and the new Void Cascade missions, and let me tell you, this "shotgun-that's-actually-a-rifle" is one of the most unique and satisfying weapons to master. Remember when we all thought the Incarnon weapons were the peak? The Scaldra tech brought a whole new vibe with weapons that have built-in elemental tricks and wild passives. The Purgator 1 is the king of that weird, wonderful niche. So, are you ready to turn your enemies into walking (and then exploding) gas chambers? Let's dive in!

How To Get Your Hands on the Purgator 1

First things first, you gotta build it. And no, it doesn't drop from some obscure enemy with a 0.5% chance, thank the Lotus! All the parts are bought from Minerva, who's chilling in the Hollvania mall hub. But here's the catch, you can't just waltz in there. You need to be Rank 5 with the Hex Syndicate. How do you get there? By finishing the "The Hex" story quest. Once you're in her good books, you can spend your hard-earned Hex Standing on the blueprint and components.

Here’s the shopping list and what you'll need to craft it:

Component	Credit Cost	Build Time
Purgator 1 Blueprint	20,000 Credits	12 Hours
Purgator 1 Barrel	Hex Standing	12 Hours
Purgator 1 Receiver	Hex Standing	12 Hours
Purgator 1 Stock	Hex Standing	12 Hours

All the crafting components are found in the regular Star Chart and the 1999 content zones, so you probably have most of them already. Just a bit of farming and waiting, and this beauty is yours!

What Makes The Purgator 1 So Weird and Wonderful?

Okay, let's talk stats and identity. This weapon is a walking contradiction, and I love it.

Key Stats at a Glance:

• Total Damage: 781 (Impact 351.4 / Puncture 429.6) 😲

• Critical Chance: 31%

• Critical Multiplier: 2.3x

• Status Chance: 19% per projectile

• Fire Rate: 1.5 (It's a slow, deliberate cannon)

• Magazine: 9 rounds

• Ammo Reserve: TINY (like, "better not miss" tiny)

Now, here's the weird part checklist:

✅ It fires a single, high-accuracy slug.

✅ It's classified as a Rifle, not a Shotgun. (So rifle mods only!)

✅ It has NO damage falloff. You can snipe across the map!

✅ Its ammo pool is as small as most explosive launchers. Ammo mutation mods are your friend.

But the real party trick, the reason you're here, is its passive: Kills spawn a Gas cloud on the enemy's corpse. 🤯 Think of it like a mini, on-demand Saryn Spore that triggers on death. Is the cloud damage insane? Nah, not really. But it's consistent area denial and status spreading, and with the right build, you can make it proc more often and support your squad's damage. It turns this precision weapon into a pseudo-AoE monster.

My Go-To Endgame Steel Path Build (2026 Edition)

This build is all about making every single one of those 9 shots count. We're maximizing raw damage and critical potential to ensure kills (and therefore Gas clouds) happen reliably, even against Level 200+ Steel Path heavy units. Heads will roll, and then explode.

Build Core Philosophy: Raw Damage & Critical Headshots.

Forma Required: 4x V (Madurai)

The Mod Breakdown:

1. Primary Merciless (Arcane): The bread and butter for scaling. More damage, faster reloads. Non-negotiable for endurance.

2. Semi-Rifle Cannonade: This is the controversial pick, but hear me out. It locks your fire rate, but the MASSIVE base damage boost and extra punch-through are worth it. This gun isn't about spraying; it's about calculated, powerful shots. If you can't handle the slow fire, swap it for Serration or Galvanized Aptitude.

3. Galvanized Diffusion: Gotta have that multishot. More pellets (well, slugs) = more damage and status procs.

4. Galvanized Scope + Critical Delay: Our critical chance engine. Land those headshots (which is easy with this gun's accuracy) and watch your crit chance skyrocket. Critical Delay slows us down further, but with Cannonade, we're already committed to the slow-life.

5. Vital Sense: More crit chance is useless without the damage to back it up. This gives our crits the punch they need.

6. Elemental Combo - Viral (Primed Cryo Rounds + Malignant Force): In 2026, Viral is still king for general use. The damage multiplier against health is just too good. This combo will handle 95% of the game's content.

7. Radiated Reload: The flex slot. I use this mainly for the reload speed, which helps offset Merciless's ramp-up time. The bonus Radiation damage is a nice perk, especially against the Murmur or Deimos infested.

How To Play It:

• Aim for the head! This is non-negotiable to activate Galvanized Scope.

• Manage your ammo. Use Carrier or an ammo mutation mod in the exilus slot if you find yourself running dry.

• Play around the Gas clouds. Use chokepoints. Kill an enemy at a doorway, and the cloud will damage anyone trying to pass through. It's great for area denial in defense or survival.

• Pair it with a frame that boosts critical damage or weapon damage (like Harrow, Rhino, Mirage, or the new 2026 frame, Chronos) to truly obscene levels.

Final Thoughts

The Purgator 1 isn't a brain-dead room clearer like some meta weapons. It's a weapon for players who enjoy precision, big numbers, and a unique gameplay loop. It rewards skill and positioning. In a world of AoE nukes, sometimes it's just satisfying to line up a perfect headshot and watch the target dissolve into a toxic haze. Is it the "best" weapon in 2026? Maybe not. But is it one of the most fun and distinctive? Absolutely. So, get your Hex Standing up, visit Minerva, and start crafting. Your new favorite precision gas-delivery system awaits! 🎯💀☁️