Nova vs Revenant
Same Support / Healer fantasy — which support kit fits your squad and mission rota?
TL;DR — Quick Pick
Pick Nova if…
- You're sold on Nova's fantasy (Harness antimatter) more than another Support / Healer option.
- Revenant's pitch (“Macabre spectral power has risen”) isn't what you're missing — Wormhole is.
- You value Nova's orb-efficiency passive for longer ability spam on dense holds.
Pick Revenant if…
- You want the squad gap filled by Revenant's vibe — Macabre spectral power has risen.
- You'd rather build around Reave than live in Nova's Wormhole loop.
- You want Revenant's knockdown / disruption immunity while pressing the clear button.
Verdict
Both fill the Support / Healer lane. Lean Nova for orb economy and Wormhole; lean Revenant for Reave and Reave. Mission Usefulness is where they split: Steel Path (Excellent vs Strong — edge Nova); long-range / Eidolon (Weak vs Excellent — edge Revenant).
At a Glance
Nova
Stat
Revenant
Support / Healer
Role
Support / Healer
NaramonAura
NaramonMatch the priority to your main ability
Mod Priority
Match the priority to your main ability
Null Star
Kit Opener
Enthrall
Mission Usefulness
Mission
Nova
Revenant
Steel Path Survival / Defense / Disruption
Winner
Mobile Defense / Excavation
Exterminate / Capture Speed Runs
Spy / Rescue / Nightmare
Open World / Bounties
Long-Range Gunplay / Eidolon-Style Content
Winner
When Each Shines
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.
Revenant
- Reave carries mid-mission casts; Danse Macabre is the density payoff.
- Mod focus stays on match the priority to your main ability so the cast loop doesn't fall over mid-rota.
- Revenant shines on tile clears where ability damage — not just weapons — carries the pack.
Mod Scaling Focus
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.
Revenant
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 Revenant’s Strength-scaling abilities.
- DUR
- Extends channeled / timed effects — often comfort on Revenant if the kit leans on buffs or zones.
- RNG
- Helps radius / targeting tools. Dump it if Revenant 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 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.
- Revenant can stay on the shelf; Nova is the one you'll actually Forma twice.
- Nova rates higher on Steel Path holds (Excellent vs Strong) — that rota is where you actually play.
- Your endgame loadout screen should show Nova before it shows another same-role experiment.
- Reave into Danse Macabre is the cast story you want to master — not a random subsume mashup.
- Mesmer Skin 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 Revenant is online.
- If you only rank one more Warframe to 30 this week, it should be Revenant.