Harrow is one of the few Warframes still locked behind a full quest and a three-part component grind, which is exactly why "how to get Harrow" stays a top search years after his 2017 release. Here is the fast version, then the detailed farm.
Quick answer: how to get Harrow in Warframe
To get Harrow you must (1) complete the Chains of Harrow quest to earn his main blueprint, then (2) farm three component blueprints from separate activities: the Chassis drops from Void Fissure enemies, the Neuroptics from Rotation A Spy vaults on Pago (Kuva Fortress), and the Systems from Defection missions on Rotations B and C. Both the Neuroptics and Systems can also drop from Rotation C of Taveuni (Kuva Survival) on the Kuva Fortress. Once you have all four blueprints and the resources, you build the parts in the Foundry and assemble Harrow.
This guide is current as of Update 43.5: Amir's Shockwave (September 2026). Harrow's acquisition has not changed with recent updates, but drop tables can shift on any hotfix — always confirm against DE's official drop tables before a long farm.
Key takeaways
- Harrow's main blueprint is a quest reward, not a drop — you cannot buy or trade it. The component blueprints, however, are farmable and tradeable between players.
- The Systems blueprint (Defection, Rotations B/C) is the notorious grind wall — plan for it, not the Chassis.
- You need The War Within completed and one clear of Mot (Void Survival) to unlock the quest.
- The quest itself is solo-only and takes most players under an hour.
What is Harrow and is he worth farming in 2026?
Harrow is a support/buff Warframe built around shields, energy and critical-chance amplification. His kit rewards aggressive play: Condemn roots enemies and converts their numbers into overshields; Penance trades your shields for a fire-rate and lifesteal buff; Thurible stores energy that, on release, grants your squad an energy-regen buff; and Covenant converts damage blocked into a team-wide critical-chance buff scaled by how many hits you absorb.
That last ability is why Harrow still shows up in Eidolon, Profit-Taker and high-level squad content in 2026 — a well-timed Covenant is one of the strongest crit multipliers a squad can stack. He is not a beginner nuke frame, but as a second or third frame he pulls real weight in coordinated play. If you already own strong Steel Path frames and want a support piece, Harrow is a worthwhile project.
Chains of Harrow quest: requirements and how to start
Harrow's main blueprint comes only from the Chains of Harrow quest, released in Update 21.0 (June 29, 2017). Before it appears in your Codex you must:
- Complete The War Within. This is the mid-game cinematic quest that unlocks your Operator and Transference — a hard requirement, because the Chains of Harrow quest uses Transference.
- Complete one match of Mot, the Void Survival node accessed through the Sedna Junction.
DE's own Chains of Harrow FAQ confirms the trigger: "complete The War Within, and the Mot node on Void." If you meet the requirement but the quest still will not appear, DE recommends hosting and completing a mission solo to force the sync.
Once unlocked, start the quest from your Codex → Quests or the notification in the Orbiter. Chains of Harrow is solo-only and story-driven — you will visit Palladino in the Iron Wake relay, learn the story of the outcast Tenno Rell, and confront The Man in the Wall. Completing it awards the Harrow main blueprint directly to your inbox. Most players finish it in 30–60 minutes.
Where to farm each Harrow part
The quest gives you the frame's blueprint, but you still need three component blueprints. Each comes from a completely different activity — this is the part that makes new players ask for help in r/Warframe rather than just checking the wiki.
| Part | Where it drops | Best node |
|---|---|---|
| Main blueprint | Chains of Harrow quest reward | — (quest, one-time) |
| Chassis | Void Fissure enemies (any tier) | Any short Void Fissure — Capture/Exterminate |
| Neuroptics | Rotation A Spy vaults | Pago, Kuva Fortress (Spy) |
| Systems | Defection, Rotations B & C | Any Infested Salvage / Defection node |
| Neuroptics or Systems | Rotation C, ~12% each | Taveuni, Kuva Fortress (Kuva Survival) |
Source: wiki.warframe.com/w/Harrow, cross-checked against the community and DE's drop tables.
Harrow Chassis — Void Fissure enemies
The Chassis is the easy one. It drops from enemies killed inside Void Fissure missions — the ones you run to crack Relics. You do not need a specific Relic tier; any Fissure works. The practical tip: run a short Capture or Exterminate Fissure with a fast frame and clear enemies. Most players get the Chassis incidentally while farming Prime parts, so it rarely becomes a bottleneck. If you are also chasing Prime part farms, you are farming the Chassis at the same time.
Harrow Neuroptics — Pago Spy (Kuva Fortress)
The Neuroptics blueprint drops from Rotation A of the Pago Spy mission on the Kuva Fortress. In a Spy mission, "Rotation A" means clearing the first data vault without triggering the alarm (a fully undetected hack). Do all three vaults clean and you maximise your rolls per run. Spy is skill-gated rather than time-gated, so a player comfortable with vault puzzles can farm this efficiently. If stealth hacking is not your strength, the alternate node below removes the puzzle entirely.
Harrow Systems — Defection (Rotations B & C)
The Systems blueprint is the wall. It comes from Defection missions on Rotations B and C — meaning you must survive to the second and third reward rounds. Defection is a slower, escort-style mode, so each attempt takes real time and the part is not guaranteed. As one Tenno put it on Reddit: "I don't know how I got Systems… I just kept playing and eventually got all the blueprints — don't bother hunting it, it'll drive you mad." That is the honest read: budget for several rotations, and consider the Taveuni alternate below to diversify your rolls.
The shortcut: Taveuni Kuva Survival
If Spy vaults and Defection are both grating on you, Taveuni (Kuva Survival, Kuva Fortress) offers both the Neuroptics and Systems on Rotation C, at roughly 12% each per rotation. Reaching Rotation C means surviving to the 20-minute mark. Kuva Survival is a comfortable, endless mode most players already run for Kuva, so many farmers simply park here and let the parts trickle in — killing two grinds at once. Cross-reference DE's drop tables for the live percentages before committing.
Building Harrow in the Foundry
Once you own all four blueprints and their resources, build the three component parts first, then assemble the frame:
- Each component part (Chassis / Neuroptics / Systems): roughly 15,000 credits and a 12-hour build (or a 25-Platinum rush). Confirm exact costs in your Foundry — recipe numbers can change on balance passes.
- Final Harrow assembly: the standard Warframe assembly (about 25,000 credits and a 72-hour build). You need all three finished components plus resources such as Orokin Cells and a Control Module.
If you would rather skip the grind entirely, you can buy the completed Harrow from the in-game Market for Platinum (225 Platinum, DE's own shop) — this comes pre-installed with an Orokin Reactor and an inventory slot. That is the only Platinum route we recommend: buy in-game, from Digital Extremes. We do not recommend third-party Platinum or account sellers — DE's support pages state those sellers are "not legitimate," and DE's EULA prohibits secondary markets for game currency and accounts.
Can you get Harrow for Platinum from other players?
Yes — but only the component blueprints, not the main blueprint or a finished frame. The Chassis, Neuroptics and Systems blueprints are tradeable, so if a clanmate or a seller on the community market has spares, you can buy the parts with player-to-player Platinum and skip the farm. What you cannot trade is the Chains of Harrow main blueprint (a quest reward) or an assembled Harrow — you still have to run the quest yourself.
Trading in Warframe happens only in-game, at a Clan Dojo Trading Post or Maroo's Bazaar, and requires Mastery Rank 2 and 2-Factor Authentication (TennoGuard 2FA) enabled. Prices move constantly — the community reference most Tenno use is warframe.market, but it is not an official DE service, so treat it as a price guide, not a storefront. If you want a fuller breakdown of trading mechanics, see our Warframe trading guide and how to make Platinum.
FAQ
How do you unlock the Chains of Harrow quest? Complete The War Within and one match of the Mot node (Void Survival, via the Sedna Junction). The quest then appears in your Codex. It is solo-only.
Where does the Harrow Systems blueprint drop? From Defection missions on Rotations B and C. It can also drop from Rotation C of Taveuni (Kuva Survival, Kuva Fortress) at roughly 12%. Systems is the hardest of the three parts to get, so budget the most time for it.
Where do you farm the Harrow Neuroptics? Rotation A of the Pago Spy mission on the Kuva Fortress — that means clearing the first data vault undetected. It also appears on Taveuni Rotation C.
Can you buy Harrow with Platinum? You can buy the finished Harrow from the in-game Market (225 Platinum, DE's official shop), which includes a Reactor and a slot. You can also buy the tradeable component blueprints from other players via in-game trading. You cannot buy the quest-reward main blueprint. Never use third-party Platinum sellers — DE calls them "not legitimate" and its EULA bans secondary markets.
Is Harrow still good in 2026? Yes, for support and squad content. His Covenant critical-chance buff and Thurible energy regen keep him relevant in Eidolon hunts, Profit-Taker and other coordinated high-level play as of Update 43.5. He is a support pick, not a solo nuke.
How long does it take to get Harrow? The quest is under an hour. The parts vary wildly — the Chassis often comes while doing other Fissure farms, while the Systems can take several Defection or Kuva Survival rotations. Realistically, plan for a few focused sessions rather than one.
More Warframe guides
Chasing your next frame or a faster grind? These break down the highest-value Warframe farms:
- Best Warframes for Steel Path — where Harrow fits in the endgame.
- How to farm Prime parts — the same Void Fissure loop that drops Harrow's Chassis.
- How to make Platinum in Warframe — fund your builds the legitimate, in-game way.
- How to trade in Warframe — the rules before you buy any part for Platinum.
