Previous 1 Forma Excalibur Umbra Guide: https://overframe.gg/build/466981/
Explanation: The fact is that [Xata]'s whisper is good with Icarnon weapons, as it double dips like Roar, but unlike Roar, it can 4 dips if used with Faction mods. This build provides a powerful [Chromatic Blade], which I use to Stealthy Melee finishers on enemies with Radial [Howl]. The Stealth Damage gives an 8x multiplier, and the melee finisher gives True Damage. If used with [Xata]'s whisper it double dips into 16x damage, and if used with Faction mods it quadruple dips into 64x damage. This is enough damage that K.O.'s very tough enemies since I scale well into endurance with 247% STR.
My Personal Xata's Whisper Blade: https://overframe.gg/build/500943/
FYI: I use [Xata]'s whisper because it's understatedly powerful as explained above, but another upside is that it makes mini [Mag] bubbles. These bubbles make the [Exalted Blade] waves spin for its Duration, potentially hitting enemies multiple times. It gives a 64% Void bonus damage, which is good vs Sentient. Due to it being an additional status, I can gain an extra 80% melee damage because of the Overloaded Condition making it good versus all factions.
Disclaimer: The energy economy isn't infinite such as with my Gloom or Nourish builds, so do not run out of energy. I slide Attack during [Exalted Blade] to cast Radial [Howl] for half the energy cost, which is enough to solve my energy problems. If you still experiencing energy problems then use either an Energizing Shot, Zenurik, or a Deathcube energy regenerator.
Mod Breakdown:
Steel Charge, helps improve Radial Howl Finihser, so I am keeping it over Growing Power.
Power Drift for STR and the chance to resist knockdown, it can be replaced with Prime Sure-Footed since many incarnations are explosive.
Umbra Trio mods make me tanky and give me some Tau resistance which is good versus Sentients.
Archon Flow, for some high energy pool and the additional energy orbs.
Primed Continuity to increase the Duration of Xata's whisper and Radial Howl. It also decreases the energy cost of Exalted Blade.
[Adaptation] makes us tanky enough for Casual Steel Path. It can be replaced with Rolling Guard and Shield Gating if you are doing Endurance runs.
Chromatic Blade because I am using a Condition Overload Exalted Blade build.
The best Archon Shards are Critical Melee Damage shards. Critical damage affects void damage values too. I use 2 Ability Strength shards and 3 Melle critical shards. (Math 4)
Enjoy and have fun :)
Ignore the Math Below:
Math 1: [Growing Power] gives 25% additional damage to [Exalted Blade] and 6.5% extra damage to [Xata]'s Whisper. [Growing Power]'s Strength also affects [Chromatic Blade] Status Chance, increasing it by 11.25% which is about 5.625% additional damage. They add up to 37.125% extra damage which is less than 60% melee damage from [Steel Charge].
Math 2: [Power Drift] increases the [Exalted Blade] Damage by 15%, [Xata]'s whisper damage by 3.9%, and [Chromatic Blade] status chance by 6.75%, for a total of 25.65% additional damage. It's more bonus damage compared to the 19.35% extra damage from [Coaction Drift] affecting [Steel Charge]. Note: The increased status chance from [Chromatic Blade] increases DPS so long as Exalted Blade hasn't reached 200% status chance and the status effect deals instant damage aka electric/gas.
Math 3: With [Primed Flow] and [Streamline] will allow me to keep on [Exalted Blade] and [Xata]'s whisper for 280.5 seconds without any new energy. With Fleeting Expertise and Streamline, it will only allow me to keep them on for 255 seconds without any new energy.
Math 4: Every 10/15% Ability Strength shard increases the Xata's whisper damage by 2.6/3.9% and Exalted Blade by 10/15% too. Together it's 12.6/18.9% extra damage per strength shard. This is less damage compared to using 25/37.5% melee critical shards because the critical shards increase damage by 18/27% per shard.