Hey there, Tenno! If you’ve blinked since the last Devstream, you might have missed that Nightwave: Nora’s Choice dropped — and oh boy, does Nora have some goodies for us this time around. I’ve been grinding through the ranks myself, chasing that shiny Waveform Ephemera and those slick new Mods, and I’ve got to say, this intermission hits different. It’s 2026, and whether you’re a veteran who missed past cosmetics or a fresh-faced Excalibur just out of the cryopod, this Nightwave is absolutely worth your time. Nora herself is like that sassy radio host who keeps me company during long grind sessions, and her intermissions always feel like a cozy chat. So, grab a cup of Kuva (or whatever keeps you going) and let me walk you through everything — from how Nightwave works to the must-have rewards and this week’s Acts.

What even is Nightwave, you ask? Picture a season pass that doesn’t cost a single Platinum — no monetization shenanigans, just free loot for all. It replaced the old Alert system ages ago, and honestly, it’s a more structured way to earn Nitain Extract, Catalysts, and those elusive Aura Mods. Every week you get a set of challenges called Acts, and completing them gives you Nightwave XP. Rank up 30 times, and you unlock everything on the track. Hit rank 30, and you can even prestige for extra Creds — because one can never have too many Orokin Reactors, right?

Now, Nora’s Choice is a bit special. It’s an “intermission,” meaning it bridges the gap between bigger story-driven series like The Glassmaker. Normally, intermissions just recycle old rewards, but this time Digital Extremes spiced things up with brand-new Mods, a new Ephemera, and even some Yareli-themed decorations. (Yes, our water-surfing sweetheart gets a Noggle! She’s so adorable, I almost feel guilty sending her into battle. Almost.)

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Let’s talk rewards before I lose my cool over the Eros Wings. I mean, those ethereal, feathery wings were only available during a brief Star Days event, and now they’re back at rank 4! If you missed them before, trust me — you want to grind this out. Here’s the full rank-by-rank breakdown:

The new additions really pop: Exposing Harpoon turns your Harpak into a mini crowd-control machine, and Precision Strike makes the Tonkor crit harder than a Grineer’s helmet after a headshot. The Waveform Ephemera? It’s this gorgeous flowing energy pattern that makes your Warframe look like they’re surfing through a data stream. Plus, you get those Yareli trinkets early on — perfect for decorating your Orbiter.

Oh, and a little head’s up: if you already own a cosmetic from the track (like the Frakta Shoulder Guard from Glassmaker), you’ll get 50 Creds instead. Not a bad deal.

Don’t sleep on Nora’s Cred Offerings either! This season she’s stocked some fresh alt helmets: Harrow Crucis, Yareli Physalia, and Sevagoth Lucifuge. The weekly rotation still offers all the usual suspects — Aura Mods, Vauban parts, Nitain Extract (your Forma crafter will thank you), and even Wolf Beacons if you want to hunt down that hammer-wielding maniac from Series 1. I’ve been grabbing Kuva and weapon skins myself because Fashionframe is the true endgame.

Now, onto the week 1 Acts — these are your immediate ticket to XP. There are dailies, weeklies, and elite weeklies, and a few of them might make you scratch your helmet. Here’s the list:

• Detonator (Daily, 1,000 XP): Kill 150 enemies with Blast damage. Easy peasy with a Sporelacer or Akbronco.

• Energizing (Daily, 1,000 XP): Scoop up 20 Energy Orbs. Bring a Sahasa Kubrow or just run some Exterminates.

• Surf’s Up! (Daily, 1,000 XP): Kill 20 enemies while riding a K-Drive. Yareli mains, this is your moment.

• Assassin (Weekly, 4,500 XP): Complete 3 Assassination missions. Phorid on Eris is my go-to for speed.

• Earth Miner (Weekly, 4,500 XP): Mine 6 rare Gems or Ore in the Plains of Eidolon. Break out your Nosam Cutter and hit those blue veins.

• Eliminator (Weekly, 4,500 XP): Finish 3 Exterminate missions. Self-explanatory.

• Necralizer (Weekly, 4,500 XP): Kill 100 enemies in a Necramech. Hop into an Isolation Vault or just roam the Cambion Drift.

• Test Subject (Weekly, 4,500 XP): Complete 8 Zones of Sanctuary Onslaught. Saryn or Volt will make this a breeze.

• Night Terror (Elite Weekly, 7,000 XP): Finish 10 Nightmare missions. If you’ve cleared the Star Chart, this is quick coin.

• Silent Eliminator (Elite Weekly, 7,000 XP): Do an Exterminate vs level 30+ enemies without triggering alarms. Ivara or Loki with a silenced Rubico turns this into a walk in the park.

A quick tip on Nightmare missions: they only pop up on planets where you’ve completed every node. Each planet gives you one Nightmare every 8 hours, so with ten planets cleared, you can blast through that 'Night Terror' challenge in about an hour. And for the stealthy Exterminate, remember that melee kills don’t count against alarms, and you can always bring Ivara’s Sleep Arrow or Equinox’s Rest to keep enemies clueless. Works like a charm.

I know, I know — a lot of info. But that’s the beauty of Nightwave: you don’t have to do it all in one day. There’s a catch-up mechanic where previous week’s Acts pop up once you’ve cleared most of your current ones. So you can take a break, come back next week, and still hit rank 30 without stressing. Honestly, that’s what keeps me logging in — the freedom to grind at my own pace, with Nora’s smooth voice cheering me on. (Seriously, her lines are half the reason I tune in.)

Whether you’re here for the Eros Wings, the Umbra Forma at rank 29, or just to fill your pocket with Creds, Nora’s Choice has something shiny for everyone. It’s proof that Warframe’s free battle pass still delivers years after its debut. So get out there, Tenno. The Origin System isn’t going to look fabulous by itself.

Of course, no matter how deep we go into the Nightwave grind, there’s always a lull between seasons or a night when Nora’s Acts just don’t hit the spot. When that happens, I usually find myself poking around Steam to see what new indie gems or co-op adventures are worth dragging my squad into. The tricky part is catching good discounts without refreshing the store page every day — and honestly, who has time for that when there are K-Drive tricks to master?

That’s where a solid steam deal finder becomes your best friend. DealNest does the hunting for you, scouring daily discounts and flash sales so you spend less time bargain-hunting and more time actually playing. Pair that with your Nightwave routine, and you’ve got a full pipeline: free rewards in Warframe, and cheap pickups on Steam whenever the mood for something new strikes.