- For the Infested pet, see Helminth Charger.
Helminth is a being residing in the Helminth Infirmary of the Orbiter, the door of which can only be open with 
Nidus or a Warframe with a fully matured Helminth cyst. Ordis claims that Helminth is responsible for operating the Orbiter's biological functions, and despite his disgust towards it, views Helminth as a "necessary evil". Helminth itself has no visible body, and is only encountered through its growls, whose meanings are translated through text subtitles.
It is revealed during The Sacrifice by Executor Ballas that the Helminth was created by the Orokin to convert human subjects into Infested-hybrids, giving birth to Warframes. According to Ballas' Vitruvian, when a subject is exposed to a Helminth strain, it transforms their skin into sword-steel, as well as interlinking their internal organs into untold resilience, while at the same time preventing the same infestation from destroying their mind.
Helminth Cyst
Fully grown cyst (7 days from infection)
At the center of the Helminth Infirmary is a chair that Nidus can sit on. Should the player choose to sit on the chair (in spite of Ordis's protests), a needle will inject the left side of the Nidus' neck and will release it afterwards. This will infect him with the Helminth virus, and also "awaken" Helminth in the Infirmary, triggering his communications to the Tenno. 24 hours after the injection, a small, pink, Infested cyst will start growing at the site of injection. The cyst will continue to grow in size until 7 days have passed, at which point it will be fully matured, as seen by the small tendrils sprouting from its surface. The player may drain the mature cyst to breed a new type of Companion, the Helminth Charger, from the Orbiter's Incubator Segment; a new cyst will appear 24 hours after draining it.
As long as Nidus is infected, any Warframes that come into contact with him will also contract the Helminth Virus. Players will know if they have been infected when they hear an 'injection' sound, and are briefly surrounded by a light, brown cloud. After 24 hours, the same cyst will appear on the newly infected Warframe. The now-infected Warframes can also spread the virus to other Warframes the same way as Nidus.
However, the virus can only be spread during missions, in a Clan Dojo, or in a player's Orbiter, and cannot be spread in Relays. Infected players can also spread the virus to players who have yet to complete The Glast Gambit or any of its prerequisite quests (namely The War Within).
In order to cure an infected Warframe of the virus, the player can enter any Warframe carrying a mature cyst into the Helminth Infirmary and interact with the chair and cure them of the infection. This not only removes the cyst from the Warframe, but also inoculates them against further infection. This also permanently prevents the inoculated Warframe (except Nidus) from accessing the Helminth Infirmary.
Trivia
- Although it is referred to as a virus by the community, the Helminth Virus can be more accurately described as an infectious disease. These include a majority of infectious agents including viruses, plagues, and helminths.
- The word helminth (from Greek: "intestinal worm") is a term used to superficially describe worm-like organisms, some of which are strictly parasitic or worms.
- Helminth has lines that can only be heard depending on the player's moral alignment as determined from their chosen decisions in The War Within, The Glast Gambit, and The Sacrifice quests. Currently, Helminth is the only character who acknowledges this.
- If Nidus comes close to any Infested organisms in the ship, his mutations will activate.
Quotes
On first sitting in the chair:
- "(We awaken, Master.)"
- "(I wish to serve, yet I am weak. Time heals the mind.)"
When entering the room with a Warframe:
- "(The Meridians awake. The vital pentatonic.)"
- "(Forgive me, my sting, Master.)"
- "(I am weak, Master.)"
- "(Living substances is our domain. How will we serve you.)"
- "(Feed me... Master.)"
- "(We are life, Master. But also death.)"
- "(Master.)"
- "(All that lives is coiled within us. We will consume, Master, if you wish it.)"
- "(We... breathe for you. Bleed for you. Feed for you.)"
- "(We germinate, for the Master... within the Master.)"
- "(Master, only my voice has returned.)"
- "(We are as one.)"
When speaking to the Operator:
- "(The demon is awake? How?)"
- "(We fear nothing but the Void demon)"
- (Sun alignment) "(Light shines within this demon.)"
- (Neutral alignment) "(This demon walks the shadow's edge.)"
- (Moon alignment) "(Shadows grow within this demon.)"
When removing the cyst:
- "(Why do you reject my beauty?)"
Bugs
- The player can view the cyst in its fully-matured form before the infection is seven days old when switching between
Equinox's Day and Night forms. - If the player has been infected before completing The Glast Gambit, Helminth's lines will not play at all.
- To fix this bug, simply have the mature cyst removed from Nidus's neck, leave the room, re-enter and have Nidus re-infected. Helminth will then "awaken".
- Sitting in the chair as Nidus may immediately trigger the removal of the Cyst, despite Nidus not having sat in the chair to receive the cyst in the first place. Afterwards Nidus will no longer be able to sit in the chair to receive the Cyst and will no longer be able to become infected with the Cyst through other means.
Media
Patch History
Hotfix 23.3.2 (2018-08-13)
- Fixed using the Helminth chair not aligning the camera at the start of the animation.
Update 23.0 (2018-06-15)
- Fixed fog FX from the Helminth Infirmary creeping more into the hallway than intended.
Update 22.16 (2018-03-15)
- Fixed players getting trapped in the Helminth Infirmary when visiting a player’s Orbiter.
Update 22.10 (2018-01-25)
- Fixed interacting with your Companion in the Helminth Infirmary after removing the Cyst resulting in the door locking you in.
Update 21.0 (2017-06-29)
- Fixed not being able to sit in the Helminth Infirmary chair as Nidus.
Update 20.2 (2017-04-12)
- Fixed interacting with your Kubrow/Kavat in the Helminth Infirmary causing the door to close/remain closed on you.
Hotfix 19.11.5 (2017-02-28)
- Fixed inconsistencies in visibility/scale for the Helminth Cyst while Archwing is equipped.
Hotfix 19.9.3 (2017-02-07)
- Fixed the Helminth Infirmary chair not curing your Warframe of the Cyst.
Hotfix 19.6.3 (2017-01-17)
- More performance optimizations for the Helminth Infirmary.
Hotfix 19.6.1 (2017-01-13)
- Fixed Companions closing the Helminth Infirmary door and trapping you inside.
Update 19.6 (2017-01-11)
- The Helminth Cure: As stated and shown on Devstream #85, the Helminth Cure is here. By now, a majority of Tenno have been faced with a persistent and protruding infection on numerous Warframes. For those with a fully 7-day matured Helminth Cyst, the individual permanent cure awaits you in the Helminth Infirmary. The completion of Glast Gambit is not required to have your Helminth Cyst removed, and once the cure has been administered that Warframe will not be granted access back into the room and can no longer be infected. Keep in mind that breeding a Helminth Charger requires a mature Helminth Cyst to be drained- the choice is yours!
- Fix: Fixed a script crash if you go near the Operator on your Landing Craft with the Helminth Cyst.
Hotfix 19.5.4 (2017-01-03)
- Fixed Operators having an “infection” which resulted in a crash and was not intended.
Update 19.5 (2016-12-22)
- Introduced
