Building your first Rhino

A small guide for newer players about Rhino in Warframe. This will include pointers on what mods to use for Rhino and some experimental playstyles for him. Primarily for newer players but older players may find something new to try in this guide.

Disclaimer

Before I begin with this guide I would like to state first that this is how I would build my Rhino and that it won't be agreeable to everyone.

I have created this guide using knowledge I have accumilated by playing Rhino for a lengthy amount of time, which has led him to be my most used Warframe. I've also been playing Warframe since 2014.

I do not claim to be an expert in making Warframe builds but I like to dabble and experiment with differing playstyles. Regardless of the Warframe in question.

With that out of way, let us begin.

Modding Rhino

To kick start this guide, let's look at the mods you would need to upgrade Rhino.

Aura mod

The Aura mod is really your choice. I personally prefer Steel Charge due to the extra 18 mod capacity and the extra melee damage as Rhino can be a good melee frame due to his Iron Skin letting him get in close to enemies. Energy Siphon is beneficial to keep your energy pool up although I would not rely on it completely.

The necessities

• Steel Fiber - This is kind of a given. Steel Fiber is very beneficial to Rhino. Not only due to the damage reduction to his health but also the bonus it gives to his 2nd ability, Iron Skin. I would recommend leveling this up as much as you can if you're a new player. A longer running player will most definitely have this near or completely maxed out.

• An efficiency mod of your choice - Either Streamline or Fleeting Expertise will do. As Rhino, you'll be mostly using your Iron Skin to keep yourself alive. Having enough energy to cast this is important. Especially if you run into a leech and have your energy drained while on low Iron Skin health.

• A high level power strength mod - Intensify, Transient Fortitude and Blind Rage are incredibly useful for Rhino, as they compliment all of his abilities. His Iron Skin and Roar make better use of power strength due to better survivability and damage potential. A power strength mod alongside Steel Fiber will benefit Iron Skin greatly.

Mods I'd recommend

• A duration mod of your choice - Having high duration for Rhino will benefit his crowd control (CC for short) by increasing the time his enemies are suspended in the air with his 4th ability, Rhino Stomp. His 3rd ability, Roar, also benefits with a longer buff timer, which allows more time to utilise it's damage potential.

• A survivability mod - Redirection, Vitality and Vigor are useful to have when the chips are down and you're caught without your Iron Skin. These are not required to have on Rhino in my opinion because if you're able to keep your Iron Skin up and are careful with your energy pool, you won't have to worry about being caught like a deer in the headlights.

• Rage - Let's say for example you are without your Iron Skin and have no energy to cast it. You cannot find any energy orbs and worry about taking on high level foes without the extra protection to keep you alive. This is where Rage comes in as all you need to do is take health damage a few times and you'll have enough to cast Iron Skin and wreak havoc. This is a useful backup tool to have on sorties or eximus strongholds with leeches. Taking a bit of health damage and casting Iron Skin can improve your survivability provided you are careful with how much damage you take. Running in and letting your enemies damage you a few times and running back should be enough to recast your 2nd ability if you're ever out of energy.

• Reinforcing Stomp - This mod will be tricky for new players to get a hold of due to it being a syndicate mod from the Steel Meridian and the Perrin Sequence however it is helpful to keep your Iron Skin up without having to recast it like Iron Shrapnel. At max rank, it gives you +80 Iron Skin health from every enemy affected by Rhino's 4th ability, Stomp.

• Flow - Having lots of reserve enegry is useful for Rhino as this will allow you to Stomp and Roar more often. It can be also useful for Iron Skin if you suddenly lose it as you'll be able to recast if you have enough to spare. Flow is very handy when you want a large energy pool.

Playstyles

• The Tank

Here is my Tank build for Rhino. Mine suits how I want to play Rhino as a tank. Your build should also reflect how you want to play as a tank too.



The Tank playstyle is the most commonly attributed playstyle towards Rhino and for good reason. He is able to take a lot punishment and keep on going. If a teammate goes down, Rhino can rush in and stomp then begin reviving. And if the enemies start attacking during reval, Rhino is tough enough to withstand the damage and get his teammate back up to fighting shape. Other Warframes like Frost can be useful to clear an area and revive a teammate but they normal require the expenditure of a snow globe or such to revive whilst a Rhino can keep on their Iron Skin, run in, and start reviving. They don't even need to stomp before hand and can simply tank the damage.

Rhino is seen a lot in sorties due to his high survivability. He is able to tank the damage from high level enemies, which makes him a preferred choice when running difficult missions. His Tank playstyle is good for a bit of mindless fun as well. It doesn't require much cautious play and skill to stay alive. Although being watchful of Iron Skin health and reserve energy should always be kept in mind when playing Rhino. My Tank Rhino has Reinforcing Stomp on to keep my Iron Skin health high whilst also using Streamline and Fleeting Expertise to recover the negative efficiency from Blind Rage and to be able to cast Stomp more often.

When there's a job that needs doing and you need to rely on an all round tough Warframe. Tank Rhino is your Frame.

• Hybrid Tank Rhino

My hybrid Rhino build is focused on play outside of Iron Skin whilst also keeping a level of damage resistance as that is something Rhino excels at. Utilising Rage and Vitality to receive energy when taking health damage, I am able to keep up Rhino's energy pool for CC'ing the area. Flow is used to take a larger advantage from receiving energy via Rage, allowing Rhino to store a lot of reserve energy.

This build can also help maintain survivability if I fall into a bad position and run out of energy and lose Iron Skin. Getting damaged a few times will allow me to recover energy and recast Iron Skin.

As I am lacking a bit of power strength when compared to my Tank build, I've used Armoured Agility to gain a bit of extra armour. This also further adds some damage reduction to Rhino's health by adding to his armour value, allowing me to survive longer outside of Iron Skin when recovering energy.

• Support Rhino

Support Rhino is a more team orientated build. The extra addition to power duration at the cost of efficiency is made to allow a longer buff timer for Rhino's Roar and to increase the suspension of Rhino's foes in the air with his Stomp. He retains survivability with the use of Armoured Agility and power strength mods to keep his Iron Skin strong as well as Reinforcing Stomp to CC enemies and recover Iron Skin health.

The Roar ability when cast can buff up a weapons damage significantly and help take down more armoured foes in higher levels. This also benefits your teammates as they will be able to utilise the damage bonus for themselves. A Rhino that can tank the damage but also support his team through a buff will make a good team player and leave a lot of bodies in their wake.

CC'ing is a lot more effectice with the support build. Keeping enemies controlled for longer can allow the oppurtunity to revive a fallen teammate or defend an objective longer. Rhino Stomping and targeting enemies with your weapons makes dealing with higher levels easier.

My support build is still in development and can always be improved. The same goes for my other builds. Each has room for improvement. They are tailored to how I like to play Rhino. You yourself might prefer different mods to what I have chosen. These are just general pointers into how Rhino can be played in Warframe.

Conclusion

Thank you for reading my guide on how to build Rhino. This is my first guide for Warframe so I'd appreciate any constructive feedback.

Stay tough, Rhinos

[jimeh]

Duration > Power > Efficiancy > Range, IMO. I use Narrow Minded and Blind Rage with Vitality, Redirection and the standard Continuity, Streamline, Intensify, Flow.

[theCollector™]

what about my second rhino? xD

[Annie May's Tiddays]

nah its still there, even after the buff expires. its a matter of casting iron skin before so

[Fuwa]

@Xsenitel

I was under the assumption DE had patched Rhino's Ironclad that it would remove the extra Iron Skin you get from the armor buff once the buff ends, even if Iron Skin had already been applied.

Or am i missing something?

[Aweberon]

CC Rhino me thinks would include an Overextended mod and duration with reinforcing stomp right?

[- L X I X -]

max power , just max power with iron clad for swag

[Razo]

you don't need efficiency on a normal rhino build, even if you did there's no need to go above 100% with a fleeting, all you're doing is hurting the rest of your abilities

[roybahh]

rhino drops on fossa misson (just telling u)

[Annie May's Tiddays]

i sugest using the ironclad charge mod for tank rhino. 150k+ health iron skin speaks for itself

[TroySuss]

was hoping to find something new :/ but definetely a good guide for new players, your way of explaining makes things simpler to understand