Steel Path already tests your builds. Hardmode Bosses exist to remind you that you are not as immortal as you think you are.
These are not new enemies — they are nightmare versions of familiar bosses, upgraded with absurd health, brutal damage, ability-locking attacks, and mechanics designed to punish lazy movement. They exist for one reason: to see if your builds actually work when the game stops holding your hand.
I’ve cleared all three Hardmode bosses solo and unlocked multiple Accolade Glyphs, and this guide explains exactly how to access them, how to survive them, and how to walk away with their exclusive rewards.
What Makes Hardmode Bosses Different
All Hardmode Bosses are only available in Steel Path, and once triggered they gain the following brutal modifiers:
- Massive health and armor scaling
- Magnetic procs that disable abilities and Operator/Drifter swaps
- Self-revives disabled
- Specters, Air Support, and Crew Calls blocked inside the arena
- Down timers shrink rapidly after each revive
In short: you cannot brute force these fights. You either control the fight — or it controls you.
All Hardmode Boss Locations & How to Trigger Them
Janus Captain Vor – Mercury
Location: Tolstoj (Assassination), Mercury
Before entering the arena, look left of the boss door for a special hacking console. Solve the symbol puzzle (same solution every run). Only then enter the arena to fight the Hardmode version.
Rewards:
- Janus Key Sumdali
- Accolade Glyphs for Atlas, Chroma, Citrine, Hildryn, Khora, Limbo
The Fragmented One – Deimos
Location: Effervo (Assassination), Deimos
Collect 60 eyes instead of 30 before activating the fight.
Rewards:
- Manus Sumdali
- Accolade Glyphs for Gauss, Jade, Mirage, Protea, Sevagoth, Vauban
H-09 Apex – 1999
Location: Victory Plaza
Find and activate two hidden terminals using the RPG call-in device before entering the arena. Two red symbols will appear on your minimap when done correctly.
Rewards:
- H-09 Apex Turret Sumdali
- Accolade Glyphs for Cyte-09, Excalibur, Mag, Nyx, Trinity, Volt
This is easily the most dangerous fight in the game right now.
Boss Survival Tips (From Actual Pain)
Janus Vor
Stay mobile. His second phase removes cover entirely and adds lightning storms. Destroy yellow orbs instantly and use his shield to block turret fire.
Fragmented One
Honestly the easiest fight. Stay airborne and glide sideways during his heavy attacks.
H-09 Apex
Absolute chaos. Constant damage floors, Eximus floods, homing attacks, and healing drones. Never stay grounded longer than necessary. Kill healing towers immediately. Void Mode your Operator when shields break.
The Build That Carried Me Through All 3
Core Mods (All Frames)
- Aerodynamic
- Aero Vantage
- Adaptation
- Aviator
- Patagium
- Arcane Nullifier
- Arcane Precision
This turns aim-gliding into near-invulnerability.
Best Weapon
Laetum (Secondary)
Overwhelming Attrition evolution
Crit + Corrosive + Heat build
This weapon deletes bosses if you stay airborne.
Companion (Do Not Skip This)
Vasca Kavat with Transfusion mod
It revives you automatically — a lifesaver when self-revives are disabled.
Why These Bosses Are Worth Doing
You unlock:
- Rare dropship Sumdalis
- 18 exclusive Accolade Glyphs
- Honoria titles
- And the satisfaction of beating Warframe at its meanest
These fights are not optional flex content — they are the ultimate test of build quality, movement control, and game knowledge.
Once you beat them, everything else in Steel Path starts to feel… manageable.
Good luck, Tenno.