Theorylytics

Warframe Augment

Smoke Shadow

For Smoke Screen·Used by Ash →

9

Smoke Shadow

Also cloaks nearby allies on cast and grants a large additive critical-chance bonus while that invisibility lasts.

Ash

Augments Smoke Screen

Also cloaks nearby allies on cast and grants a large additive critical-chance bonus while that invisibility lasts.

Max rank: 15 m ally range, 12 s ally cloak duration (Duration/Range scale), +150% crit chance while invisible from Smoke Shadow.

AcquisitionSyndicate offering — Arbiters of Hexis (Maxim) or Red Veil (Exalted) for 25,000 Standing.

Verified 2026-07-22

Augment dossier · Smoke Shadow

Ability 2 · Smoke Screen

Rank Table

RankStats
Rank 0
  • 8m range
  • 3s duration
  • +60% crit chance
  • 6 drain
Rank 1
  • 10m range
  • 6s duration
  • +90% crit chance
  • 7 drain
Rank 2
  • 12m range
  • 9s duration
  • +120% crit chance
  • 8 drain
Rank 3
  • 15m range
  • 12s duration
  • +150% crit chance
  • 9 drain

Cast Changes

  • Upgrades a selfish survival button into a squad stealth + crit buff.
  • Allies must be in range at cast time; afterward they can leave the radius and keep the cloak.
  • Crit bonus is additive with Point Strike / Blood Rush-style mods, but only while invisible from this augment — other invis sources don’t grant it.
  • Multiple Ash players’ Smoke Shadow crit bonuses can stack (up to very high values in full Ash meme squads).

Worth the Slot?

  • Worth it for squads that benefit from free stealth multipliers and gun/melee crit (especially melee Blood Rush loops).
  • Strong with Teleport Rush, which can refresh Smoke Screen duration — including ally Smoke Shadow cloaks — without regrouping every cast.
  • Skip it for pure solo Ash if you need the mod slot for stretch/flow/strength and never play with allies who use the buff.

Mission Usefulness

Mission / ContextRatingWhy
Squad Survival / Defense / DisruptionExcellentTeam cloak plus crit buff shines when allies stay near objectives and fight together.
Spy / Rescue / NightmareExcellentKeeps loud teammates quiet through vaults and rescue halls. Huge quality-of-life in co-op stealth.
Steel PathStrongInvis still saves you, and the crit bonus helps melee clears while the squad is cloaked.
Mobile Defense / ExcavationStrongCast on the objective when the squad is stacked so everyone gets cloak for the next wave.
Solo PlaySituationalYou still get your own invis and crit, but half the augment’s value is the ally cloak.
Speed Exterminate With No Squad SynergyWeakIf nobody uses the crit window and you only need brief personal invis, base Smoke Screen is enough.

Tips & Tricks

  • Stand near teammates before casting so they get the cloak. They can run off afterward and keep it.
  • Pair with Teleport Rush: finishers refresh Smoke Screen, so you can keep ally cloaks alive without regrouping for every recast.
  • Use the crit window for melee or crit guns right after the cast — the bonus only applies while this invis is active.
  • In open tiles, call the cast when the squad is stacked on an objective so nobody misses the buff.

Notes

  • Ally cloak radius scales with Ability Range; cloak duration scales with Ability Duration.
  • The crit chance bonus itself is not Strength-scaled.
  • Nullifier bubbles can strip the ally cloak.

Other Ash augments