This is a zero-forma comprehensive [Excalibur] build for new players. You can get [Steel Charge] and Orokin reactors from Nightwave inside your orbiter. This build will carry you for the entirety of the Star Chart without any Forma and the Exilus mod is an optional preference. This build is very tanky, with an infinite efficiency Exalted Blade that allows you to run dash and slash as much as you wish.

This is the very high-damage Exalted Blade guide: https://overframe.gg/build/478266/ This weapon will allow you to clear everything DE considers to be Star Chart content, so complete this mod guide ASAP. There are two builds inside it, the one shown is Viral + Slash for those without [Chromatic Blade], and there is also a Viral + Heat version for those with [Chromatic Blade].

Build Explanation: I have ordered the mods from most important to obtain from left to right for PC or top to bottom if you are on the phone. [Steel Charge] provides lots of points and enhances Slash Dash, Radial Blind Finishers, and [Exalted Blade] damage. [Vitality] can take a while to bring to the max, so first level it to a comfortable level such as rank 6, and then begin to max the other mods. First, you need to obtain Flow to fix Excalibur's low-energy pool. Then use both [Streamline] and [Fleeting Expertise] to obtain a very low energy drain [Exalted Blade]. (Note: [Fleeting Expertise] won't work well unless you equip [Streamline] or a duration mod first.) I have used both [Intensify] and [Augur Secrets] to increase strength, it should be high because it's our damage stat. [Augur Accord] and [Fast Deflection] are mods that will give you very quick shields to tank with, you can be back to full shields during Radial Blind. Thief's Wit is an optional quality-of-life mod that you can use if you have opened your Exilus slot, it is nice as warframe requires farming some resources. In this build, duration is [Excalibur]'s dump stat, and the base range isn't bad so long as you don't go negative with it. Efficiency and strength are as high as they should be. The core of this build is that offense is the best defense. Less time spent on killing enemies is less time spent tanking damage, so if you are missing mods then you should equip more armor and shield mods. Physique, Redirection, and Steel Fiber are great mods, as are the gladiator mods from Cetus, and Health/Armor hybrid mods from Deimos. Once you unlock arcanes, then you can equip Arcane [Guardian] to solve the lack of armor mods, and Arcane Strike because it is a large DPS boost to Exalted Blade.

Mod and Arcane Drops

• Almost every mod listed inside here and in the [Exalted Blade] guide can be found by completing bounties on the Plains of Eidolon on Earth. The exceptions are [Fleeting Expertise] and other corrupted mods that belong to Orokin Vaults in the regular nodes on Deimos. Also, [Continuity] is an 8.33% chance reward of the Wave 20 Defense Mission of Lith on Earth, Tessera on Venus, Lares on Mercury, Spear on Mars, Gulliver on Phobos, or Casta on Ceres. Here is the drop table for Flow if you are interested: https://warframe.fandom.com/wiki/Flow

• [Fleeting Expertise] drops on Deimos Orokin Vaults inside the regular nodes but not inside Cambion. If you don't have [Fleeting Expertise], then for now use [Hunter Adrenaline], Equilibrium, Continuity, or Augur Message for a better energy economy. Once you obtain it, switch to Fleeting Expertise ASAP.

• [Hunter Adrenaline], [Hunter Recovery], and [Hunter Munitions] can be found during Ghoul Purge bounties which happen on the Plains of Eidolons every few weeks. You could use Hunter Adrenaline instead of Fleeting Expertise or Hunter Recovery to heal your warframe health back if you have a pet.

• It takes 17,050 endo for this [Excalibur] build which is mostly due to rank 10 [Vitality] costing 13220 endo because the rest of the mods combined take 6820 endo to max. It takes an additional 3830 endo for the [Exalted Blade], this one should be easy to complete. Overall, together they add up to ~20k, which is cheap for me, so I think new players can achieve it too.

• You can find Arcane [Guardian] and Arcane Strike by completing the Eidolon bounties found during the night at Plains of Eidolon. (You might need to ask someone to carry you. If you have the operator unlocked, then you can switch to it to survive Magnetic blasts).

• To travel faster within the Plains of Eidolon, I suggest you complete the Vox Solaris quest and equip a K-drive launcher to your gear. There is an arching launcher in the Tenno lab you can build to travel even quicker.

• You can unlock the operator mode by completing the War Within Quest. This will also allow you to visit the Quills/Onko, from him you can buy better amps and Magus Elevate which will solve your health issues across every warframe. (You can also visit Vox Solaris/Little Duck for more operator stuff.)

• If you are missing mods, then you can use flawed mods. Flawed Enemy Sense, Flow, Equilibrium, Steel Fiber, and Redirection are excellent alternatives.

• If you opened your Exilus slot by accident, then use Thief Wit. Warframes possess an innate 30m [Enemy Radar] but lack a loot radar which is crucial for farming loot. Once you have a pet then use Animal Instinct on your pet instead to clear Thief's Wit on your warframe. Also, Fetch and Vacuum are quality-of-life mods to install in every single pet too. After clearing [Thief's Wit], you can equip a [Power Drift] on your Exilus slot for the bonus strength and chance to resist knockdown, but either Handspring or Sure Footed work too. Also, Parkour mods like Rending Turn, Firewalker, or Ice Spring are quite fun to use too.

• Forma drops from opening Void Relics, and it is very easy to obtain so don't spend any plat on it. I spent my beginning plat on fashion and I don't regret it to this day. In hindsight, I should've waited for a Platinum discount that comes now and then from the login rewards.

You can ignore the essay below. It is just my personal opinion mixed with advice. It may likely overwhelm you with too much information and spoilers, so please skip it.

When you complete the Sacrifice Quest, I suggest you use this build: https://overframe.gg/build/466981/

5 Tips for Playing [Excalibur] for New Players:

1. Go to options, under customize key bindings, and add a mouse button such as mouse 1 or mouse 5 next to your melee attacks. You can also use scroll up or down. Personally, I mouse scroll when I want to increase my attack speed as there is less lag. Once you get it down, it's intuitive and won't smash your keyboard by spamming E.

2. Slash Dash can be used as mobility if you jump and do not aim at enemies. You're invulnerable during it, allowing you to regenerate health/shields and dash through lasers without interruption. You can interrupt it by moving or attacking mid-animation. It builds at a melee combo multiplier, of up to 12x which is a total of 275% bonus melee damage. You deal additional bleed damage if you have [Exalted Blade] active.

3. Radial Blind stuns cameras and enemies, making it ideal for spy missions. Enemies are vulnerable to melee finishers (True Damage) and Stealth bonus damage (+700% damage). No, you do not need to melee finish them, you can use your [Excalibur] beam. Anything deals Stealth bonus damage for the initial hit, but not melee finisher damage unless you use it. Finishers are strong because they deal it with True Damage (Ignore all armor) instead of regular attacks protected by armor. Also, you can Slide Attack during [Exalted Blade] to cast Radial Blind for half of its energy cost.

4. Radial Javelin inflicts bleed status (damage over time); it targets everyone on your screen (180 degrees). You can increase it to 269 degrees by moving slightly mid-animation. If you turn more than 270 degrees, it will go down to 180. It doesn't target enemies that are hiding behind you, walls, or obstacles.

5. [Exalted Blade] is composed of two parts, the actual Exalted Weapon, and its beam. If you attack them in melee range, you're hitting twice in one attack. You also have a passive called Swordsmanship. Swordsmanship gives swords including your Exalted Blade additional 10% attack speed and 10% damage. It works on single-handed swords, Dual Swords, Nikanas, and Rapiers. It doesn't work on zaws, gun blades, Heavy blades, daggers, etc. regardless of how swordlike or pointy they look. Exalted Blade is good on weapon-restricted missions or leveling your 0-level weapons on [Sanctuary] Onslaught.

Which Focus School is best & Operator Amps:

1. Madurai is hands down the best Focus School. Phoenix [Talons] passively increases your physical damage by 30% and works on [Exalted Blade]. Void Strike and Void Fuel are very strong skills, in particular for Eidolon Hunting. Sling Strength adds 40% Ability Strength for 20 secs and affects the [Exalted Blade] permanently if you cast it during it and keep it on. You gain +50% Casting Speed when you switch back to Warframe. The best operator amp for this school is 177 due to the Madurai Void Strike.

2. Unairu increases your survivability. Poise gives you immunity to slow, stagger, and know down for 40 seconds, and Stone Skin increases your armor by 200. It possesses Caustic Strike, the best operator skill in the game, which removes 100% armor within 8m. It also has arguably the best way bound skills with Last Gasp and Vengeance allowing you to revive yourself. It also negates operator static. The best operator amp for this school is 777 due to Unairu [Wisp].

3. Zenurik gives energy regeneration for spellcasters, solving all your energy issues across all frames. It is for this reason it is the most popular and used Focus school. Hardened Wellspring provides strength that is excellent for [Excalibur].

4. Naramon is the king of melee combo counter builds with Power Spike. Killer's [Rush] and Opening Slam pair very well with [Blood Rush] and Weeping Wounds, however, you can't equip these mods on exalted weapons :(

5. Vazarin has zero synergies with Excalibur. Take the way-bound passives, and the sling, and then get out. Leave it for the support players such as [Trinity].

6. There is no particular best amp for Zenurik, Naramon, and Vazarin. If there are, I haven't tried them. I mostly use a 177. If you are new then anything is better than a mote amp. I suggest you complete your quests and gain a Sirocco. Otherwise, aim to build a 223 and then x77.

Best Syndicates for [Excalibur]:

I would recommend you join Arbiters of Hexis or the Steel Meridians through your syndicate pledge. They give out augment mods for [Excalibur] when maxed out. Steel Meridian's [Vaykor Hek] is the best syndicate shotgun in the game. [Telos Boltor] coupled with [Hunter Munitions] and [Point Strike] is the best syndicate riffle in the game. [Telos Boltor] is better than its Prime version normally, but I would still install the Incarnon adapter on Prime. I am more partial to pledging to Arbiters of Hexis, as it allows you to max out 3 syndicates. The third is Cephalon Suda, and their [Synoid Gammacor] is the best secondary syndicate beam weapon, it also can get insanely good with an Incarnon adapter installed.

A Short Guide to 4 Syndicates:
First, you maximize Hexis, Suda, and Steel standings. Then purchase everything inside Hexis, and afterward change your pledge to Steel. After changing your pledge to Steel, ignore Hexis missions and max out Red Veil indirectly via Steel missions for a total of 4 syndicates. If you need Hexis standing, then you can indirectly gain Hexis standing by doing Chephalon missions. You can later use your extra standing to sell syndicate mods for platinum in the warframe market if you feel like it. Just be careful of going under syndicate standing and losing one of the 4. It's okay if you drop ranks as you don't have to pay the ranking up fee each time. I am a fan of the Red Veil since their crew has the best voice lines for Raijack. Their Rakta Dagger is the best Syndicate Melee Weapon out of all factions, especially since you can skip Naramon with [Covert Lethality] installed. Their [Rakta Cernos] is very good for fans of the Bow too.

Steel Path
You unlock Steel Path (New Game Plus), by completing all the planetary nodes in the game and speaking to Tenshin. In Steel Path you need to use special mechanics to survive such as Shield gating or Helminth.

• You gain the Helminth segment at level 3 standing on Deimos from Son. Helminth allows you to swap a weak warframe ability for a stronger one from another warframe. You need to feed Helminth your non-prime warframes to unlock new abilities. Therefore, don't invest forma and exilus on warframes you will feed. Do not feed [Excalibur], I regretted feeding my baby frame, especially once you used Forma and Orokin reactor on him. Orokin reactors are okay to use if you planning to play with that warframe for a long time because of its quality of life.

• Shield Gating is where you equip a Decaying Dragon Key and enough Augur mods. You gain 1.3 invulnerability when your shield is down, and it can be refreshed by filling one's shield. This mechanic is there to save you from instant death. You won't need it, as you have Slash Dash and Operator mode. However, you can experiment with it anyway by equipping a Decaying Dragon Key, removing Shield mods and efficiency mods, installing 2 more Augur mods that aren't [Augur Accord], and then using Radial Javelin. Once you get to Steel Path you can sell Grendel locators and Galvanized mods for platinum.

• You can find Flow with luck in various Excavation and Survival missions.

• You can find the blueprint for the Decaying Dragon Key inside your dojo orokin lab.

If you don't understand something such as Orokin Vaults or want to know the drop location look it up on Google, YouTube, and Q&A chat. Warframe is just the type of game requiring you to visit the wiki lol.