In the beginning you will first have to choose your starting Warframe.
Excalibur
This fella' is the most recommended Warframe for beginners . He is easy to play with and his abilities are mainly based on close combat and melee attacks. I highly recommend this to use if you are just starting your Warframe journey. He has very good abilities from which you will definitely like the "Slash Dash". As you expected this is based on a fast forward dash and a slash which can even hit multiple enemies standing in line. "Super Jump" is the most smart move to use for this Warframe as it can get you out of trouble and you can even reload while you do the jump and its energy cost is very affordable. "Radial Blind" and "Radial Javelin" are the ones that you will use later in the game at least when you have a level higher than 15.
Excalibur
This fella' is the most recommended Warframe for beginners . He is easy to play with and his abilities are mainly based on close combat and melee attacks. I highly recommend this to use if you are just starting your Warframe journey. He has very good abilities from which you will definitely like the "Slash Dash". As you expected this is based on a fast forward dash and a slash which can even hit multiple enemies standing in line. "Super Jump" is the most smart move to use for this Warframe as it can get you out of trouble and you can even reload while you do the jump and its energy cost is very affordable. "Radial Blind" and "Radial Javelin" are the ones that you will use later in the game at least when you have a level higher than 15.
Mag
This is one Warframe based on CC (Crowd Control) abilities. Most efficient from her abilities is "Pull". This is one of the most powerful abilities that any CC Warframe can perform. "Shield Polarize" it is also a great ability which unveils its real power when is fully upgraded. What it does is drains energy from enemies based on their shield. As more shields drained the more power will release. When I use this I use it very effectively and I kill each enemy around me.
This is one Warframe based on CC (Crowd Control) abilities. Most efficient from her abilities is "Pull". This is one of the most powerful abilities that any CC Warframe can perform. "Shield Polarize" it is also a great ability which unveils its real power when is fully upgraded. What it does is drains energy from enemies based on their shield. As more shields drained the more power will release. When I use this I use it very effectively and I kill each enemy around me.
Volt
This is more like a in the middle of the battle type of Warframe. He uses "Shock" to blast a field of electricity which can make enemies dizzy and can also make damage to other enemies close to the one you hit. It does not make substantial damage and I am rarely using it for killing my enemies, but it's still a very effective ability. "Speed" is a great ability which increases the team's overall speed and he can increase like crazy his melee attack speed. "Electric Shield" and "Overload" I do not really use these ones so much. Electric Shield is better to use with range weaponry. Overload is pretty much as Shock but it will release a wave of energy which will make little damage constantly and it costs a lot of energy.
This is more like a in the middle of the battle type of Warframe. He uses "Shock" to blast a field of electricity which can make enemies dizzy and can also make damage to other enemies close to the one you hit. It does not make substantial damage and I am rarely using it for killing my enemies, but it's still a very effective ability. "Speed" is a great ability which increases the team's overall speed and he can increase like crazy his melee attack speed. "Electric Shield" and "Overload" I do not really use these ones so much. Electric Shield is better to use with range weaponry. Overload is pretty much as Shock but it will release a wave of energy which will make little damage constantly and it costs a lot of energy.