Excalibur Umbra: how he is obtained and what comes with him
Umbra is the only Warframe that cannot be farmed, bought or traded. The story hands him over whole, with a Reactor and a slot, and with mods that exist nowhere else.
What has to be done first
Umbra comes from The Sacrifice. That quest only opens after the Apostasy Prologue, which sits at the end of a long story chain, so there is no skipping ahead: quests unlock strictly in order.
Which means, for a newer player, Umbra is not a goal but a reward along the way. Rushing at him achieves nothing; he turns up when the story does.
How he is handed over
- The blueprint arrives after the first mission of the quest.
- Building becomes possible after the second mission.
- No components at all: no neuroptics, no chassis, no systems. Umbra is built from the single blueprint, and he is the only frame in the game like that.
- He cannot be used until the penultimate mission, where he arrives at rank 30 with an Orokin Reactor already installed and a Warframe slot.
Replaying the quest does not give a second blueprint. Umbra is handed over once.
The Reactor and slot together are effectively a 40 platinum gift. What a Reactor is and why it costs that is in the potato guide.
What else the quest pays
- Skiajati, Umbra's signature nikana.
- The Umbra mods, a set that comes from nowhere else.
- The Sunder helmet, a Captura scene and animation sets.
How he differs from a normal Excalibur
Not cosmetically. He has a different passive and far more armour.
| Stat | Umbra |
|---|---|
| Mastery rank | 0 |
| Health | 270, 370 at rank 30 |
| Shields | 270, 370 at rank 30 |
| Armor | 315 |
| Energy | 175, 225 at rank 30 |
The passive is the real difference: while you are out as the Operator, Umbra does not stand there, he keeps fighting on his own. He also swings 10% faster and hits 10% harder with swords.
His abilities are the usual Excalibur set: Slash Dash, Radial Howl, Radial Javelin and Exalted Blade.
Umbra mods and the Umbra polarity
The Umbra mods are stronger versions of ordinary ones, and they cost more capacity. Fitting them wants an Umbra polarity, and only Umbra Forma applies one.
Umbra Forma goes into Warframes and melee weapons only, is not sold for platinum, and is harder to come by than the ordinary kind: three for the Mastery Rank 30 test, plus Nightwave and the Steel Path store. Details in the Forma guide.
Umbra mods work on any Warframe, not just Umbra. But the full set of three eats so much capacity that it does not fit anywhere without several Forma.
Where Orikon helps
Umbra does not trade, but everything platinum goes on around him does: slots, rushes, Forma. The app prices prime parts in game, and that is the same evening of farming that covers those costs.
Common questions
How do I get Excalibur Umbra?
Finish The Sacrifice. The blueprint comes after the first mission, building after the second, and you start using him in the penultimate mission, where he arrives at rank 30.
What has to be finished before The Sacrifice?
The Apostasy Prologue, and the whole story chain before it. Quests unlock strictly in order.
What components does Umbra need?
None. He is the only Warframe built from a single blueprint, with no neuroptics, chassis or systems.
Does Umbra need a Reactor?
No, he arrives with an Orokin Reactor already installed and his own Warframe slot.
How is Umbra better than a normal Excalibur?
315 armour, well above the standard frame, and the passive: while you are the Operator, Umbra keeps fighting by himself. He is also 10% faster and 10% stronger with swords.
Can I get Umbra twice?
No. Replaying the quest does not hand out a second blueprint.
What is Umbra Forma for?
It applies the Umbra polarity, without which Umbra mods barely fit. It goes into Warframes and melee only, and is not sold for platinum.
