Theorylytics

Scarab Swarm

Used by Inaros

Ability4
Energy25

Scarab Swarm

Summon a Scarab Swarm to attack enemies with guaranteed Corrosive Status. Damage scales with Inaros' Health. Enemies killed while immersed in the swarm summon a Swarm Kavat that fights alongside Inaros and guides the scarabs to other enemies.

Introduced in Update 18.5 (2016-03-04)

Ability stats

Strength
  • See in-game / wiki ability card for rank values
Duration
  • See in-game / wiki ability card for rank values
Range
  • See in-game / wiki ability card for rank values
Misc
  • Summon a Scarab Swarm to attack enemies with guaranteed Corrosive Status.

Info

  • Scarab Swarm is Inaros’s ability 4.
  • Summon a Scarab Swarm to attack enemies with guaranteed Corrosive Status.
  • Use it with the rest of the kit — especially Desiccation, Sandstorm — instead of casting it in isolation.
  • Ability Strength, Duration, Range, and Efficiency each matter differently; check Mod Scaling below before dumping all four.

Tips & Tricks

  • Read the battlefield first — cast Scarab Swarm when it actually solves the room, not on cooldown habit.
  • Pair Scarab Swarm with movement and energy economy so you’re not stranded after a big spend.
  • On Steel Path, confirm whether Scarab Swarm still carries without strip, Viral, or a squad buff.
  • If you never press 4, it’s the first Helminth candidate on Inaros.

Ability dossier · Scarab Swarm

Verified 2026-07-22

Synergies

  • Scarab SwarmDesiccation

    Use Scarab Swarm to set up Desiccation, or follow Desiccation with Scarab Swarm while enemies are vulnerable.

  • Scarab SwarmSandstorm

    Use Scarab Swarm to set up Sandstorm, or follow Sandstorm with Scarab Swarm while enemies are vulnerable.

  • Scarab SwarmScarab Shell

    Use Scarab Swarm to set up Scarab Shell, or follow Scarab Shell with Scarab Swarm while enemies are vulnerable.

Mod Scaling

Strength

Improves Scarab Swarm’s damage or effect potency where Strength is listed on the ability.

Duration

Extends how long Scarab Swarm’s effect lasts.

Range

Range is usually dumpable on Scarab Swarm unless you feel the hitbox is too tight.

Efficiency

Scarab Swarm 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

MissionHow to Use It
Steel Path Survival / Defense / DisruptionTest whether Scarab Swarm still clears or enables clear when enemies are dense and overlevelled.
Mobile Defense / ExcavationUse Scarab Swarm to control or delete the swarm on the objective, then reposition.
Exterminate / Capture Speed RunsCast Scarab Swarm only when it saves time — skip it on empty tiles.
Spy / Rescue / Quiet RoutesIf Scarab Swarm 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 — Scarab Swarm is tuned for Inaros’s loop — don’t judge it as a standalone subsume without the rest of the kit.

Other Inaros abilities