Ravenous
Used by Nidus
Ravenous
Gluttonous maggots swarm nearby enemies, feasting until they are hit with Virulence and burst with Infestation. The maggots benefit from Mutation and each enemy hit adds to the Mutation stack.
Introduced in Update 19.5 (2016-12-22)
Ability stats
- See in-game / wiki ability card for rank values
- See in-game / wiki ability card for rank values
- See in-game / wiki ability card for rank values
- Gluttonous maggots swarm nearby enemies, feasting until they are hit with Virulence and burst with Infestation.
Info
- Ravenous is Nidus’s ability 4.
- Gluttonous maggots swarm nearby enemies, feasting until they are hit with Virulence and burst with Infestation.
- Use it with the rest of the kit — especially Virulence, Larva — instead of casting it in isolation.
- Ability Strength, Duration, Range, and Efficiency each matter differently; check Mod Scaling below before dumping all four.
Augment
Insatiable
Ravenous Augment: Nidus has a chance for additional Mutation stacks while in the infestation. The base 60% chance increases with power st…
NidusRavenous Augment: Nidus has a chance for additional Mutation stacks while in the infestation. The base 60% chance increases with power strength, and multiple stacks are possible above 100%.
Max rank drain ~9; see rank table on the augment page.
Cast Changes
- Modifies Ravenous with: Ravenous Augment: Nidus has a chance for additional Mutation stacks while in the infestation.
- Rank up the augment to unlock the full effect values.
- Costs a mod slot (and capacity) — only equip it when the change matters for your loop.
Worth the Slot?
- Worth it when the augment’s change is central to how you play Nidus.
- Skip it if the base Ravenous already does what you need and you’d rather keep the slot for survivability or strength.
Tips & Tricks
- Read the battlefield first — cast Ravenous when it actually solves the room, not on cooldown habit.
- Pair Ravenous with movement and energy economy so you’re not stranded after a big spend.
- On Steel Path, confirm whether Ravenous still carries without strip, Viral, or a squad buff.
- If you never press 4, it’s the first Helminth candidate on Nidus.
Ability dossier · Ravenous
Synergies
- RavenousVirulence
Use Ravenous to set up Virulence, or follow Virulence with Ravenous while enemies are vulnerable.
- RavenousLarva
Use Ravenous to set up Larva, or follow Larva with Ravenous while enemies are vulnerable.
- RavenousParasitic Link
Use Ravenous to set up Parasitic Link, or follow Parasitic Link with Ravenous while enemies are vulnerable.
Mod Scaling
Strength
- Strength matters if Ravenous scales effect power; otherwise dump it for other stats.
Duration
- Duration is low priority on Ravenous unless an augment or lingering effect needs it.
Range
- Increases Ravenous’s reach, radius, or targeting distance.
Efficiency
- Ravenous costs energy each cast — Efficiency (or strong regen) keeps the loop comfortable on long missions.
Priority
Stack the stats that actually move this ability’s needle, then Efficiency for uptime.
Mission Use Cases
| Mission | How to Use It |
|---|---|
| Steel Path Survival / Defense / Disruption | Test whether Ravenous still clears or enables clear when enemies are dense and overlevelled. |
| Mobile Defense / Excavation | Use Ravenous to control or delete the swarm on the objective, then reposition. |
| Exterminate / Capture Speed Runs | Cast Ravenous only when it saves time — skip it on empty tiles. |
| Spy / Rescue / Quiet Routes | If Ravenous is loud or forces combat, save it for after the vault; if it’s stealth-friendly, use it to stay safe. |
Comparisons
- VS
Vs similar tools on other frames — Ravenous is tuned for Nidus’s loop — don’t judge it as a standalone subsume without the rest of the kit.
Virulence
Larva
Parasitic Link