Grendel Pin Buying Guide: Warframe Enamel Pins Explained

Quick answer

The Grendel Pin is a 1.75-inch soft enamel pin priced at USD 7.50, making it an easy first pick if you want a compact, durable collectible for a jacket or lanyard. Choose it over larger pins when you prefer a subtle look; choose the 4-inch Arthur Protoframe Pin when you want a statement piece.

Warframe enamel pins turn your favorite characters and factions into small, wearable art. The Grendel Pin sits in the middle of the size range, which makes it a practical starting point for most collections. This guide walks through the real differences between the official pins, so you can pick the one that fits how you actually wear or display them.

Every pin in the current lineup uses soft enamel and a single-post backing, but size and availability rules vary. Some pins are open to everyone, while others require a specific Mastery Rank and a logged-in account. Knowing those limits before checkout saves you a frustrating return.

What the Grendel Pin actually gives you

At 1.75 inches and USD 7.50, the Grendel Pin is a compact soft enamel pin with a clean, readable design. Soft enamel means the recessed areas are filled with color and the metal ridges sit slightly above the surface, which gives the pin a tactile feel and helps it survive daily wear on a backpack or denim jacket. It is small enough to sit on a lanyard without pulling the fabric down.

The catalog lists a comparison price of USD 14.99, so the current price is a meaningful discount if you are building a set. Because the pin is 1.75 inches, it works well in groups: three or four pins of this size can share a single jacket lapel or a small pin board without crowding each other.

• Measure your intended spot before buying: 1.75 inches is roughly the width of a standard sticky note.
• Soft enamel can scratch if you stack pins loosely in a bag, so keep a spare backing or a small pouch.

How the other official pins compare

The Konzu Pin is nearly identical in size at 1.7 inches and shares the same USD 7.50 price, so the choice between Grendel and Konzu comes down to which character you want on your jacket. If you are buying for a friend, both are safe, low-commitment gifts that do not require any account verification.

The Arthur Protoframe Pin is the outlier at 4 inches. That extra size makes it a centerpiece rather than a filler pin, and it costs USD 11.50. If you want one pin to carry a whole bag or a denim jacket, the Arthur pin does that job better than the smaller options. The True Master Emblem Pin is 2 inches and costs USD 8.99, but it is limited to Mastery Rank 30 and Legendary Rank players and requires a logged-in account with manual verification.

• If you are under Mastery Rank 30, skip the True Master Emblem Pin until you rank up; it cannot be purchased otherwise.
• A 4-inch pin can overwhelm a thin lanyard, so reserve it for structured fabric like canvas or denim.

Display and care for a Warframe pin collection

Most collectors either wear pins or mount them, and the two habits call for different choices. Wearing pins means accepting that soft enamel will pick up small scratches over time, especially on the raised metal edges. A 1.75-inch pin like the Grendel Pin hides wear better than a large flat design because the color fields are smaller.

For display, a felt pin board or a cork-backed frame keeps pins upright and prevents the posts from bending. Keep the rubber or metal backings on while stored, and avoid leaving pins in direct sunlight for long periods, since printed or painted details can fade. If you rotate pins between a jacket and a board, a small magnetic backing makes the swap faster than fiddling with a butterfly clutch.

• Store pins with backings attached to protect the posts.
• Group pins by size on a board: 1.7 to 2 inch pins read as a set, while a 4-inch pin needs its own space.

Pairing pins with other Warframe merch

Pins are often the entry point into Warframe merch, but they pair naturally with larger items. The TennoCon 2023 Merch Pack includes a 7-inch Clem plush with attachable magnetic Twin Grakatas, plus a TennoCon 2023 indigo item, and it is priced at USD 30.00 against a USD 59.99 comparison price. If you want a display shelf that mixes soft and hard collectibles, a plush and a few pins cover both without taking much space.

For a desk or coffee table display, The Art of Warframe: Concept-Illustration-Design - Paperback Edition offers over 400 pages of concept art and design evolution, including a dedication to Mike "Mynki" Brennan and three loose pages of his art. It is USD 34.99 against a USD 69.99 comparison price. A pin board next to that book creates a coherent Warframe corner without needing a full shelf.

• If you are buying a gift and do not know the recipient's Mastery Rank, avoid the True Master Emblem Pin.
• The TennoCon 2023 Merch Pack is a stronger value than buying several small items separately if you want a mix of plush and apparel.

Decision rules for buying Warframe pins

• If you want a first pin under USD 10: Choose the Grendel Pin or the Konzu Pin. Both are 1.7 to 1.75 inches, soft enamel, and priced at USD 7.50, so neither requires a big commitment. Pick based on the character you like, not the specs.
• If you want one pin to carry a bag: Step up to the Arthur Protoframe Pin at 4 inches. Its size reads clearly from a distance, which smaller pins cannot do. Reserve it for canvas, denim, or a dedicated display spot.
• If you are below Mastery Rank 30: Skip the True Master Emblem Pin. It requires a logged-in account and manual verification at MR30 or above, and it is limited to one per account. Buy an open pin now and revisit this one after ranking up.
• If you are building a gift bundle: Pair a pin with the TennoCon 2023 Merch Pack, which includes a 7-inch Clem plush and a TennoCon 2023 indigo item for USD 30.00 against a USD 59.99 comparison price. Check the pack's size option before checkout so the plush matches your plan.

Product facts

• Grendel Pin: 1.75 inches, soft enamel, USD 7.50 with a USD 14.99 comparison price. A compact, low-cost pin that fits lanyards and jacket lapels without dominating the space.
• Konzu Pin: 1.7 inches, soft enamel, USD 7.50 with a USD 14.99 comparison price. Nearly the same size and price as the Grendel Pin, so the choice is purely about which character you prefer.
• Arthur Protoframe Pin: 4 inches, soft enamel, USD 11.50 with a USD 22.99 comparison price. The largest pin in the lineup, better suited to a statement placement than a crowded lanyard.
• True Master Emblem Pin: Approximately 2 inches, USD 8.99 with a USD 17.99 comparison price, limited to one purchase per account and available only to Mastery Rank 30 and Legendary Rank players after manual verification. A gated collectible: confirm your rank and log in before planning a purchase.

Who should buy which pin

Best for

• First-time Warframe pin buyers who want a low-cost, wearable collectible.
• Collectors who prefer small pins that can be grouped on a jacket or pin board.
• Gift givers who do not know the recipient's Mastery Rank.

Not for

• Shoppers who want a single large statement pin; choose the Arthur Protoframe Pin instead.
• Players below Mastery Rank 30 who want the True Master Emblem Pin; it is gated and cannot be purchased without verification.
• Anyone expecting a hard enamel or glossy finish; all listed pins are soft enamel.

The Grendel Pin is a straightforward pick at 1.75 inches and USD 7.50, especially if you are starting a Warframe pin collection or adding to a jacket. Check the size against your intended spot, confirm any rank requirements before buying a gated pin, and pair it with a plush or art book if you want a fuller display.