The Simulacrum in Warframe offers a powerful tool for players to experiment with weapons, Warframes, and mod setups in a safe, customizable environment. Unlike regular missions, it’s not about objectives or rewards it’s about testing and fine-tuning. Many players want to know how to access the Simulacrum directly from their Orbiter without needing to go through the long route of public Relays. Fortunately, once you unlock specific conditions and items, accessing the Simulacrum becomes a quick and seamless part of your loadout planning routine.
Understanding the Simulacrum
What is the Simulacrum?
The Simulacrum is a specialized testing arena within Warframe. It allows players to spawn enemies of their choice, modify quantities, adjust behaviors, and freely test damage mechanics, status effects, crowd control, and builds. It’s commonly used by theorycrafters and casual players alike to test synergy between mods, weapons, Arcanes, and Warframe abilities. Whether you’re checking damage falloff, ability scaling, or enemy resistances, the Simulacrum is the ideal place.
Why Access It from the Orbiter?
Traditionally, players had to travel to a Relay, speak with Cephalon Simaris, and use the portal in his chamber to reach the Simulacrum. However, with upgrades and quality-of-life improvements, it’s now possible to shortcut this entire process. Being able to access the Simulacrum directly from your Orbiter saves time and allows more efficient experimentation between missions.
Requirements to Access the Simulacrum
Unlock the Simulacrum Key
Before you can access the Simulacrum from your Orbiter or anywhere else, you must purchase the Simulacrum Access Key. This is available from Cephalon Simaris, who can be found in any Relay on the Star Chart.
- Visit a Relay (any open Relay on Earth, Saturn, Pluto, etc.)
- Speak to Cephalon Simaris
- Select Browse Offerings
- Purchase theSimulacrum Access Keyfor 50,000 standing
Note: You must have sufficient standing with Simaris to make this purchase. Completing his daily scans and synthesis tasks is the fastest way to gain reputation with him.
Mastery Rank Requirement
There’s no strict Mastery Rank required for entry into the Simulacrum, but some features like spawning higher-level enemies or access to advanced tools may benefit from higher MR or reputation with Simaris. At the very least, completing the tutorial quest The New Strange is recommended to unlock Synthesis Scanner functions and begin working with Simaris.
Simulacrum Room Must Be Built
If you are part of a clan and have access to a Dojo, the Simulacrum can also be built as a room. However, this is not necessary to access it from your Orbiter. The Orbiter method uses the Simulacrum Key only.
How to Access Simulacrum from the Orbiter
Step-by-Step Instructions
Once you’ve purchased the Simulacrum Key, accessing it from your Orbiter is simple. Follow these steps:
- Open your main menu (press ESC on PC)
- Select the Arsenal tab
- Choose any Warframe or weapon to modify
- At the bottom-right, select Simulacrum option that appears next to Equip, Upgrade, etc.
This will instantly teleport you and your selected loadout into the Simulacrum testing chamber without needing to visit a Relay or speak to Simaris again. It’s efficient and allows you to test builds on the fly.
Returning to the Orbiter
After you’re finished testing, simply bring up the pause menu inside the Simulacrum and choose Leave Simulacrum. You will be returned directly to your Orbiter, making the loop seamless for loadout tweaks and back-to-back tests.
Using the Simulacrum Effectively
Spawning Enemies
Inside the Simulacrum, you can interact with the console in front of you. This allows you to:
- Choose specific enemy factions (Grineer, Corpus, Infested, etc.)
- Select enemy types (heavy gunners, eximus units, nullifiers, etc.)
- Adjust the number of enemies to spawn
- Set their level from 1 to 190+
You can spawn enemies in stasis (not active until you choose) to inspect setups before combat begins. This is useful for checking elemental resistances or armor values before engaging.
Testing Mods and Builds
One of the biggest benefits of the Simulacrum is being able to test theoretical builds. Try out hybrid crit-status setups, condition overload mechanics, damage scaling across multiple targets, or crowd control viability. You can quickly swap mods in your Arsenal and re-enter Simulacrum testing with minimal delay.
Using Warframe Abilities
Because energy regenerates automatically in the Simulacrum, it’s an ideal environment for testing ability damage, synergy between Arcanes, and focus school combinations. Many Warframes that rely on energy generation, duration, or range can be optimized here before taking them into Sorties or Steel Path missions.
Limitations of the Simulacrum
No Real Loot or Experience
The Simulacrum is purely a test environment. Kills won’t reward affinity (XP), loot, or credits. Use it only for experimentation purposes, not grinding or farming.
Enemy Behavior May Differ
Some players report that enemy AI in the Simulacrum does not behave exactly the same as in normal missions. Enemies may not use all abilities or react as aggressively. Keep this in mind when drawing conclusions from test results.
No Environmental Factors
Unlike real missions, there are no environmental hazards, objectives, or map-based features in the Simulacrum. If your build depends on such factors (like energy pads or arc traps), you’ll need to test those elsewhere.
When to Use the Simulacrum
- Before tackling high-level contentlike Arbitrations, Sorties, or Steel Path
- To test new weapon buildsafter a major Warframe or mod acquisition
- When trying out new Warframesand experimenting with power synergy
- To simulate boss damageagainst heavy units like Bombards or Nox enemies
The Simulacrum is one of Warframe’s most useful features for players seeking mastery over their builds. Unlocking and accessing it from the Orbiter streamlines the process of testing, tweaking, and refining your equipment. No longer do you need to travel through Relays or navigate multiple menus once the Simulacrum Key is yours, it’s just a few clicks away. Make it a regular part of your Warframe experience to maximize combat performance and become a true master of the Arsenal.