Theorylytics
Keratinos

Keratinos

Status Melee / Conditioner

Leave your mark with these infected claws with increased heavy attack range. Heavy attack at max combo to keep the extended range and slam radius for 3 minutes.

Role
Status Melee / Conditioner
Polarities
None
Exilus
Mastery
9
Disposition
1.05
Introduced
Update 29.0 (2020-08-25)

Stats

Ordnance Telemetry

MeleeMelee

Damage

244.0

Crit

13.0%

Crit Mult

2.1x

Status

29.0%

Damage Composition

244.0 total

Impact
79.0
Puncture
87.0
Slash
45.0
Attack Speed
0.92
Range
1.7
Combo
5.0s
Follow Through
0.8
Disposition1.05
None
  • Mastery9
  • IntroducedUpdate 29.0 (2020-08-25)
  • Market175 Platinum
  • Build Cost20,000 Credits
  • Build Time12h 0m
  • Rush25 Platinum

Weapon dossier

Verified 2026-07-23

Playstyle

Leave your mark with these infected claws with increased heavy attack range. Built as a status melee / conditioner option for squad clear and mission pressure.

Signature

Keratinos is not a signature weapon — any frame can use it without a signature passive.

When to Pick

  • You want a Melee that fits a status melee / conditioner play pattern.
  • Your loadout needs what Keratinos does well — check Mission Usefulness below before investing Forma.
  • You’re ready to Catalyze / Forma it if you plan to main it on Steel Path.

Attack Modes

  • Normal Attack

    Impact 79 · Slash 87 · Puncture 45 · Viral 33

    Crit 13% / 2.1× · Status 29% · Fire Rate 0.92

  • Slam Attack

    Impact 488

    AoE · Crit 13% / 2.1× · Status 10% · Fire Rate 0.92 · Falloff 0–6m (−50%)

  • Heavy Slam Attack

    Viral 732

    AoE · Crit 13% / 2.1× · Status 10% · Fire Rate 0.92 · Falloff 0–7m (−30%)

Attack Notes

  • Normal Attack: Impact 79.0, Slash 87.0, Puncture 45.0.
  • Slam Attack (AoE): Impact 488.0.
  • Heavy Slam Attack (AoE): Viral 732.0.

Upgrades

Permanent investments on this weapon copy — separate from the Prime variant.

  • Orokin CatalystCapacity

    Doubles mod capacity so endgame builds fit.

    Usually the first permanent upgrade on a weapon you plan to main.

  • FormaPolarity

    Adds or changes polarities so matching mods cost half capacity.

    expect multiple Forma for a hungry config.

  • Stance / Exilus (as applicable)Slot

    Unlocks utility options (Exilus on guns; melee focuses on stance polarity + utility mods).

    Install when you need ammo, handling, or QoL without sacrificing damage slots.

  • Melee Arcane AdapterArcane

    Lets you install a weapon arcane for a strong passive bonus.

    Worth it once the base mod config is already solid.

  • Riven ModRiven

    Unique rolled mod. Disposition 1.05.

    Chase clean desirable stats; skip awkward negatives on low-disposition weapons.

Mod Scaling

Multishot

Melee doesn’t use multishot — invest in range, combo, and attack speed instead.

Critical

Blood Rush + crit damage is the classic crit melee route when base crit is workable.

Elemental

Viral/Heat or Corrosive/Heat dual-stats after your damage and conditioner mods.

Fire Rate

Attack speed (Berserker Fury / Primed Fury) keeps combo stacks rising.

Priority

Damage/CO → Blood Rush / Weeping Wounds → Crit Damage → Elemental → Range/Speed QoL.

Mission Usefulness

Mission / ContextRatingWhy
Steel Path Survival / Defense / DisruptionStrongTest whether Keratinos still clears or enables clear when enemies are dense and overlevelled.
Exterminate / Capture Speed RunsStrongUse Keratinos when its fire pattern matches fast tile clears — skip if it feels awkward on empty lanes.
Mobile Defense / ExcavationStrongHold objectives by deleting approach packs with Keratinos, then reposition.
Open World / Long SightlinesSituationalLong sightlines favor hitscan/sniper/bow patterns over short falloff or melee.
Solo Boss / Single-TargetSituationalFine if Keratinos has strong single-target multipliers; otherwise bring a dedicated boss weapon.

Acquisition

Blueprint / parts commonly listed from sources like Entrati (Father), Neutral. Full drop rows are in How to Get below.

How to Get

SourceDrop rate
  • Entrati (Father), Neutral100.00%

Crafting

Build
Credits
20,000
Time
12h 0m
Rush
25 Plat
Blades×2Blueprint×1Gauntlet×2
Total resources
Blades×2Blueprint×1Gauntlet×2
Credits
20,000
Time
12h
Rush
25 Plat

Alternatives

Other options if Keratinos isn’t the right fit.

  • Ack & Brunt

    Another Melee if you want less status than Keratinos (Ack & Brunt: 10.0%).

  • Amanata

    Another Melee if you want more crit than Keratinos (Amanata: 24.0%).