Dagath vs Nova
Same Support / Healer fantasy — which support kit fits your squad and mission rota?
TL;DR — Quick Pick
Pick Dagath if…
- Never underestimate the power and wrath of sullen sadness — that's the Dagath pitch you want on the roster.
- You'd rather build around Grave Spirit than live in Nova's Wormhole loop.
- You value Dagath's orb-efficiency passive for longer ability spam on dense holds.
Pick Nova if…
- You're sold on Nova's fantasy (Harness antimatter) more than another Support / Healer option.
- You'd rather build around Wormhole than live in Dagath's Grave Spirit loop.
- You value Nova's orb-efficiency passive for longer ability spam on dense holds.
Verdict
Both fill the Support / Healer lane. Lean Dagath for orb economy and Grave Spirit; lean Nova for orb economy and Wormhole. Mission Usefulness is a wash — decide on kit feel and passive, not the rating table.
At a Glance
Dagath
Stat
Nova
Support / Healer
Role
Support / Healer
ZenurikAura
NaramonMatch the priority to your main ability
Mod Priority
Match the priority to your main ability
Wyrd Scythes
Kit Opener
Null Star
Mission Usefulness
Mission
Dagath
Nova
Steel Path Survival / Defense / Disruption
Mobile Defense / Excavation
Exterminate / Capture Speed Runs
Spy / Rescue / Nightmare
Open World / Bounties
Long-Range Gunplay / Eidolon-Style Content
When Each Shines
Dagath
- Grave Spirit carries mid-mission casts; Rakhali's Cavalry is the density payoff.
- Long holds where energy comfort matters — Dagath's loop stays online without babysitting orbs.
- Dagath shines on tile clears where ability damage — not just weapons — carries the pack.
Nova
- Wormhole carries mid-mission casts; Molecular Prime is the density payoff.
- Long holds where energy comfort matters — Nova's loop stays online without babysitting orbs.
- Nova shines on tile clears where ability damage — not just weapons — carries the pack.
Mod Scaling Focus
Dagath
Match the priority to your main ability — Strength or Duration first for most kits, then Efficiency, then Range.
- STR
- Raises damage and effect potency across Dagath’s Strength-scaling abilities.
- DUR
- Extends channeled / timed effects — often comfort on Dagath if the kit leans on buffs or zones.
- RNG
- Helps radius / targeting tools. Dump it if Dagath is mostly self-buff or exalted weapons.
- EFF
- Keeps ability uptime comfortable, especially on longer Steel Path missions.
Nova
Match the priority to your main ability — Strength or Duration first for most kits, then Efficiency, then Range.
- STR
- Raises damage and effect potency across Nova’s Strength-scaling abilities.
- DUR
- Extends channeled / timed effects — often comfort on Nova if the kit leans on buffs or zones.
- RNG
- Helps radius / targeting tools. Dump it if Nova is mostly self-buff or exalted weapons.
- EFF
- Keeps ability uptime comfortable, especially on longer Steel Path missions.
Who Should You Pull?
- Energy / health orb rooms are common in your rota and Dagath gets more mileage out of every pickup.
- Doom and later abilities stay on the frame forever in your builds — you're not looking for a subsume tourist.
- Nova's Wormhole loop asks for a different muscle memory than you want to practice.
- You're done shopping the Support / Healer aisle once Dagath is online.
- If you only rank one more Warframe to 30 this week, it should be Dagath.
- Energy / health orb rooms are common in your rota and Nova gets more mileage out of every pickup.
- Squad comps where someone has to own tile clear alone — Nova is the frame you trust for that job.
- Dagath can stay on the shelf; Nova is the one you'll actually Forma twice.
- Even after Helminth, Antimatter Drop and later abilities are still the reason Nova earned potato.
- Your endgame loadout screen should show Nova before it shows another same-role experiment.