Hey there, fellow Tenno! If you’re diving into Warframe’s The Vallis Undermind update, you’ve probably run into Nightcap, that mysterious mushroom-obsessed Solaris hiding in Fortuna’s Airlock. I’ve spent countless hours grinding through the Deepmines, collecting every fungus I could find, and I’m here to share everything I’ve learned about ranking up with Nightcap quickly and efficiently.
Trust me, this isn’t your typical syndicate grind. Nightcap’s system is completely different from what we’re used to in Warframe, and at first, I was totally confused about how it all worked. But after figuring it out, I actually find it pretty refreshing! Let me break it down for you step by step.
Who is Nightcap and Why Should You Care?
Before we dive into the ranking system, let me give you some context. Nightcap is this fascinating Solaris researcher who’s been studying the fungal ecosystem beneath the Orb Vallis. He’s not running a traditional syndicate – he’s more of a solo operator with his own unique rewards system.
I was pretty excited when I discovered that ranking up with Nightcap gives you access to:
- The new Nokko Warframe components
- The Arbucep Archgun
- Archgun Arcane Adapters
- Rare Arcane Enhancements
- Cool Deepmines-themed decorations
- And some other exclusive goodies
The best part? Unlike other syndicates, there’s NO daily cap on how much standing you can earn with Nightcap. That’s right – you can grind to your heart’s content without hitting that frustrating daily limit we all hate!
Understanding Nightcap’s Unique Ranking System
Okay, here’s where things get interesting. Nightcap doesn’t use traditional standing like other syndicates. Instead, you rank up by completing entries in his Field Guide – basically a Pokédex for Venusian fungi. I found this system pretty refreshing once I got the hang of it.
Here’s how it works:
- You collect mushrooms during Deepmines Bounties
- You analyze these mushrooms in Nightcap’s Field Guide
- Each mushroom type needs to be analyzed 3 times to be “fully researched”
- Your rank increases based on how many mushroom types you’ve fully analyzed
It’s not about the total number of mushrooms you collect – it’s about completing research on different mushroom types. This means you need variety in your collection, not just quantity.
Nightcap Rank Requirements
Let me break down exactly what you need for each rank. I’ve put this in a handy table because, honestly, I kept forgetting the requirements when I was grinding:
| Rank | Rank Name | Mushroom Types Needed | Total Mushrooms Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Unknowing | 1 | 3 (1 type × 3) |
| 2 | Curious | 2 | 6 (2 types × 3) |
| 3 | Seeker | 6 | 18 (6 types × 3) |
| 4 | Gardener | 12 | 36 (12 types × 3) |
| 5 | Steward | 16 | 48 (16 types × 3) |
Now, here’s the thing about RNG – you’ll probably need to collect way more than 48 mushrooms total because you’ll get duplicates of types you’ve already completed. But don’t worry, I’ll show you what to do with those extras later!
Finding Nightcap in Fortuna
First things first – you need to actually find Nightcap! He’s not out in the open like other syndicate leaders. To find him:
- Go to Fortuna (obviously)
- Turn left immediately when you enter the hub area
- Look for “The Airlock” – it’s a vent area that’s easy to miss
- You’ll need to have completed The New War quest to access this area
I remember running around Fortuna for like 20 minutes the first time trying to find this guy. Don’t make my mistake – just head left from the start!
Deepmines Bounties: Your Mushroom Hunting Grounds
All mushroom hunting happens in Deepmines Bounties. These are special missions you can accept from Nightcap, and they’re your primary source of mushrooms. Here’s what I’ve learned about running these efficiently:
Bounty Types
Nightcap offers three permanent Deepmines Bounties, plus a rotating Steel Path variant that changes every 2.5 hours. I usually stick with the regular bounties unless I’m feeling particularly masochistic that day.
Starting Bounties
Once you accept a bounty, a portal appears to the right of Nightcap that teleports you to the mission entrance. Pro tip: if you’ve talked to Nightcap at least once, a Sprodling (those cute little mushroom creatures) will appear near the elevator and can give you bounties too, saving you a trip back to Nightcap each time.
Mushroom Farming Strategies That Actually Work
Okay, this is the meat of the guide – how to actually farm those mushrooms efficiently. I’ve tried pretty much every method out there, and here’s what works best:
1. Use Orokin Eye Air Support
This is absolutely crucial! The Orokin Eye ability from your Parallax landing craft makes mushrooms appear on your HUD. It’s a game-changer. Here’s how I use it:
- Pop an Orokin Eye at the beginning of each mission
- Use another one when you’re about 700 meters from the entry point
- If you’re in a squad, coordinate with teammates to cover more ground
2. Team Coordination
When I’m playing with friends, we’ve found that having one dedicated mushroom collector while others focus on objectives works wonders. The mushroom hunter can zip around collecting while the rest of the team completes bounty objectives.
3. Don’t Skip Bonus Objectives
This is huge! Each bonus objective you complete in a Deepmines Bounty gives you an extra guaranteed mushroom at the end of the mission. Some of these can be tricky (looking at you, Syzygy defense), but they’re totally worth it for the extra mushroom.
4. Fast Warframes Are Your Best Friends
I’ve found that using fast Warframes makes mushroom collection so much more efficient. Here are my top picks:
- Titania: Her ability to fly makes her perfect for reaching mushrooms in hard-to-reach places
- Volt: Speed boost is obvious, but his abilities help with crowd control too
- Gauss: If you want to go fast, Gauss is your man
- Nezha: His warding halo and speed make him surprisingly effective
- Wukong: Cloud Walker lets you bypass enemies and reach mushrooms safely
- Nova: Her portals can help your team move around the map quickly
5. Mission Efficiency
Here’s a mistake I made early on: trying to fully clear every mission. Don’t do this! It’s way more efficient to complete the bounty objectives and then head back to Fortuna to start a new one. The reset gives you fresh mushroom spawns and is much faster than trying to scour every corner of an already-cleared map.
Understanding Mushroom Types and Rarity
There are 16 different mushroom types in the Field Guide, and they come in three rarity levels: Common, Uncommon, and Rare. The rarity affects how many samples you need for each analysis tier:
| Rarity | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total Needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Common | 3 | 6 | 9 | 18 |
| Uncommon | 4 | 8 | 12 | 24 |
| Rare | 5 | 10 | 15 | 30 |
Now, you might be wondering about specific mushroom names. From what I’ve found, here are some of the mushrooms you’ll encounter:
- Dull Button (Common)
- Ironwood (Common)
- Thorntooth (Common)
- Devil’s Cap (Common)
- Nonono (Uncommon/Rare)
- Violet’s Bane (Rare)
The rarer mushrooms are locked behind higher Nightcap ranks, so you won’t see them until you progress further.
What to Do With Excess Mushrooms?
You’re going to get a lot of duplicates, especially once you’ve fully analyzed certain mushroom types. Don’t just let them sit in your inventory! You can compost excess mushrooms into Fergolyte – 1 mushroom = 1 Fergolyte.
Fergolyte is super valuable because:
- You can use it to buy mushrooms from Nightcap (10 Fergolyte per mushroom)
- It’s the currency for purchasing Nightcap’s wares, including Nokko components
- You need it for feeding The Prince (but that’s a whole other guide!)
Buying Mushrooms: When and Why?
Nightcap sells mushrooms directly, but it costs 10 Fergolyte per mushroom regardless of rarity. At first, I thought this was a ripoff, and honestly, for common mushrooms, it kind of is. But there are times when buying mushrooms makes sense:
- When you’re just 1-2 mushrooms away from completing a research tier – Sometimes it’s better to just buy the last few rather than run another full bounty
- For rare mushrooms that you just can’t find – Some mushrooms like Nonono or Violet’s Bane are super rare, and buying them might be faster than grinding
- When you have excess Fergolyte – If you’re sitting on a pile of Fergolyte with nothing else to spend it on, why not?
At Rank 0, you can buy Dull Button, Ironwood, Thorntooth, and Devil’s Cap. Rarer mushrooms unlock as you progress through the ranks.
Is Rank 5 Worth It?
I get this question a lot, and honestly, it depends on your goals. Here’s my take:
Rank 4 (Gardener) gives you basically all the practical stuff:
- Nokko Warframe components
- Arbucep Archgun
- Archgun Arcane Adapters
- Most of the good Arcanes
Rank 5 (Steward) only unlocks 4 Captura Scenes from the Deepmines tileset. Unless you’re really into Captura or want the bragging rights, there’s not much practical reason to rush to Rank 5.
I personally stopped at Rank 4 initially and just let the progression happen naturally while doing bounties for other reasons. But if you’re a completionist like me, you’ll want to get that Rank 5 eventually!
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Let me save you some frustration by sharing mistakes I made when I first started:
- Not using Orokin Eye – I can’t stress this enough. It makes mushroom hunting 10x easier
- Ignoring bonus objectives – Those extra mushrooms add up quickly
- Trying to full-clear missions – It’s inefficient and frustrating
- Not composting excess mushrooms – Free Fergolyte is always good
- Forgetting to check the Field Guide between missions – You might have enough to analyze and not even realize it
My Personal Ranking Timeline
Just to give you an idea of what to expect, here’s roughly how long it took me to reach each rank:
- Rank 1: 1-2 bounties (super easy)
- Rank 2: 3-4 bounties total
- Rank 3: About 10-12 bounties
- Rank 4: 20-25 bounties
- Rank 5: 40+ bounties (this is where RNG really starts to matter)
Your mileage may vary depending on luck with mushroom drops and how efficiently you farm.
Advanced Tips for Speed Runners
If you’re like me and want to optimize everything, here are some advanced strategies:
- Squad Composition: Run with a full squad where everyone has Orokin Eye. Coordinate to cover different sections of the map.
- Bounty Selection: Some bounties have better mushroom spawn rates than others. Experiment to see which ones work best for you.
- Time of Day: I haven’t confirmed this, but some players think certain mushrooms spawn more at different times. Worth experimenting with.
- Resource Boosters: If you’re serious about grinding, consider using a resource booster to get more mushrooms per run.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I check my current Nightcap rank?
Unlike other syndicates, Nightcap doesn’t have a traditional standing bar. You need to check his Field Guide to see how many mushroom types you’ve fully analyzed. Your rank is determined by that number.
Can I rank up Nightcap without doing Deepmines Bounties?
Technically, yes – you could buy all the mushrooms from Nightcap, but that would be incredibly expensive and inefficient. Bounties are definitely the way to go.
What happens if I analyze a mushroom but don’t have enough for the next tier?
The mushrooms you used for analysis are consumed, but you keep any extras in your inventory. For example, if you have 5 of a mushroom and analyze it (using 3), you’ll still have 2 left.
Do mushrooms respawn in the same mission?
No, mushroom spawns are fixed per mission instance. That’s why it’s more efficient to start new bounties rather than trying to farm the same mission repeatedly.
Can I trade mushrooms with other players?
Unfortunately, no. Mushrooms are untradeable, so you’ll need to farm them yourself.
Final Thoughts
Ranking up Nightcap is definitely different from what we’re used to in Warframe, but I’ve grown to really enjoy the system. It feels more like exploration and research than just grinding standing numbers. Plus, the no-daily-cap thing is amazing for those of us who like to marathon grind on weekends.
Remember to be patient with the RNG aspect – some days you’ll get great mushroom drops, other days you’ll feel like you’re finding nothing. That’s just how it goes. But stick with it, use the strategies I’ve shared, and you’ll be max rank with Nightcap before you know it.
Good luck out there, Tenno! And may your mushroom hunts be fruitful!
Want more Warframe guides and tips? Check out our other articles on [webcomicsweekend.com] for everything from frame builds to weapon guides. Don’t forget to bookmark this page for future updates as The Vallis Undermind continues to evolve!