Warframe is getting one of its most unusual frame concepts yet with Orion and Sirius, the new duo Warframe arriving with the Jade Shadows: Constellations update. Instead of being two completely separate releases, Sirius and Orion function as a two-in-one Warframe, letting players swap between both brothers during combat while using their own unique abilities, weapons, visuals, and playstyles.
Design Director Pablo Alonso recently explained how the duo frame system works, giving players a clearer idea of what makes Orion and Sirius different from past Warframes. While Warframe has already experimented with stance changes, clones, summons, and dual identity themes before, Sirius and Orion seem to push that idea much further by making both characters active parts of the same kit.
Orion and Sirius Are Warframe’s 65th Frame
Sirius and Orion are being treated as Warframe’s 65th Warframe, even though the concept is built around two characters. Players are not simply getting two individual Warframes at the same time. Instead, Digital Extremes is designing them as a connected pair who share one frame slot while still feeling like two distinct fighters.
The story setup also leans into that duality. Sirius and Orion are brothers, but they are not exactly on the same page. Their relationship is built around conflict, rivalry, and forced cooperation, which fits directly into how they play. Players will be able to switch between them, use both kits, and take advantage of their different strengths depending on the situation.
How Swapping Between Orion and Sirius Works
The main hook of Orion and Sirius is the ability to swap between the two during missions. Pablo Alonso explained that the team wanted the swap to feel smooth, fast, and natural, which is important because the entire frame depends on quickly moving between both brothers during combat.
The swap system is not just a cosmetic gimmick. Each brother has his own abilities, meaning the player has access to a wider kit than usual. Sirius brings one side of the kit, while Orion brings the other. This gives the duo frame a larger mechanical identity than a traditional Warframe, since players will need to understand how each ability works on its own and how both brothers interact with each other.
According to the Devstream breakdown, the team started with Wukong’s Celestial Twin tech as part of the foundation for the duo system. However, Alonso also made it clear that the actual implementation was much more complicated than simply building another clone-style ability.
Sirius and Orion Have Separate Customization
One of the most interesting details is that Sirius and Orion can be customized separately. Players will be able to change their appearances independently, which should make fashion frame fans very happy. Digital Extremes even noted that players can make Sirius look like Orion and Orion look like Sirius if they want to mix things up.
Color channels, attachments, syandanas, helmets, skins, and weapon pairings all matter. By giving both brothers their own visual identity, Digital Extremes is letting players treat the duo frame like two characters while still keeping them mechanically connected.
Their signature scythes also reflect that split identity. Orion comes with Wrath, while Sirius comes with Pride. Their swaddles can also become syandanas, with Sirius receiving one wing and Orion receiving the other. Once both are crafted, players can combine them into the Jade’s Victory syandana, giving the duo frames an extra layer of thematic reward.
Sirius Abilities Focus on Heat, Damage, and Control
Sirius appears to bring a more aggressive and ranged side to the duo frame. His first ability, Coronal Ejection, lets him throw his scythe forward before it returns like a boomerang. Enemies hit by the attack are set on fire, and pickups along the path are collected as the scythe travels.
The fire effect also gives him a strong damage identity, especially when paired with other tools that benefit from Heat status.
Sirius also has Jade Stars, which summon unstable stars above the brothers. These stars increase the damage dealt, but they can be consumed when using abilities. This makes Sirius feel like the offensive half of the kit, rewarding players who build momentum and time their casts properly.
Orion Brings Armor Strip, Defense, and Black Hole Utility
Orion’s side of the kit seems more focused on heavy impact, defense, and battlefield manipulation. His first ability, Gravitic Slash, is a sweeping scythe attack that can significantly cut enemy armor. In Warframe, armor strips are always valuable, especially in higher-level content where enemy durability can quickly become a problem.
Orion also has Astral Shell, a defensive ability that creates a decoy when the player takes damage. The decoy pulls enemy attention away, giving players a way to survive pressure while repositioning or setting up the next part of the combo.
His most interesting ability so far is Event Horizon, which summons a black hole that grows stronger and lasts longer as it kills enemies. This ability also has direct synergy with both brothers. Sirius can use Coronal Ejection to pull the black hole toward the player, while Orion can use Gravitic Slash to push it away. That gives players a surprising amount of control over where the ability goes, turning it into more than just a simple area damage tool.
Celestial Clash Brings Both Brothers Together
The duo frame’s ultimate ability is called Celestial Clash, and as the name suggests, it brings Sirius and Orion together in a more dramatic way. While the full depth of the ability will likely become clearer once players get their hands on time with the frame, the idea fits the rest of the design perfectly.
Sirius and Orion are not just two characters sharing a kit. Their abilities are built to interact with each other. That is what makes the frame stand out. The player is not only swapping because one brother has a different button. The real depth comes from understanding when to use Sirius, when to use Orion, and how their abilities can shape the battlefield together.
Sirius and Orion Could Be One of Warframe’s Most Ambitious Designs
Warframe has no shortage of creative frame ideas, but Sirius and Orion feel ambitious even by Digital Extremes’ usual standards. A two-in-one Warframe with separate customization, separate weapons, eight ability variants, and active synergy between both characters is a major step up from a simple stance swap.
The fact that Pablo described the tech as difficult also says a lot about how much work went into making the duo frame feel right. If the swap is fast enough and the ability interactions feel meaningful, Sirius and Orion could become one of the most unique releases in the game’s recent history.
There is also a lot of build potential here. Players may lean into Sirius for Heat damage and offensive setups, Orion for armor strip and survivability, or hybrid builds that focus on constantly swapping to take advantage of both sides. Since Warframe players often find unexpected synergies after release, the duo frame could open up some very creative builds once the community starts testing it properly.
Orion and Sirius Release With Jade Shadows: Constellations
Sirius and Orion are expected to arrive with the Jade Shadows: Constellations update on June 17. The update will continue the Jade Shadows storyline and also bring new Railjack content tied to the post-quest experience.
Players will be able to earn the duo through the Jade Shadows: Constellations questline, with their parts becoming available through new Railjack missions afterward. That should give the update a stronger progression path, especially for players who have been waiting for more Railjack content.
Sirius and Orion are shaping up to be much more than a flashy gimmick. The duo frame system gives Warframe a new kind of character fantasy, one built around two brothers who clash, cooperate, and constantly trade places in battle. With separate customization, unique scythes, shared syandana rewards, and abilities that directly interact with each other, this could be one of the most mechanically interesting Warframes Digital Extremes has released in years.
If the swapping feels as smooth as Pablo Alonso described, Sirius and Orion could become a standout addition for players who enjoy active, high skill, synergy-heavy frames. Warframe has always been at its best when it lets players experiment, and this duo frame looks like it was designed exactly for that.
