Welcome back! If this is your first time on Arrakis or if you want to improve your skills, Dune: Awakening is filled with hidden systems and subtle mechanics that the game never fully covers. During server downtimes, players are inventively using that time to study these 20 essential tips and tricks from critical questlines to sophisticated resource gathering and late-game survival strategies.

• Always Track the Fman Main Quest
• Check Character Status and Environmental Threats
• Gathering Resources: Disable Holtzman Shield
• Spice Blows Also Occur at Early Areas
• You can View Crafting Costs and Stats In The Research Menu Beforehand
• Prioritize Upgrading Machinery Based On Focus Area
• Maximize Efficiency When Collecting Blood
• Death By Sandworm Doesn't Mean Game Over
• Stay Away From Quicksand Areas
• Recover Inventory After PvE Deaths
• Use Fast Travel with Ornithopter Pilots
• Loot Enemy Outpost Machinery
• Smart Shopping at Trade Posts
• Bank Your Valuables Before Long Breaks
• Follow the Tutorial (Journey) System
• Unlock Multiple Class Talent Trees
• Don't Overbuild Your First Base
• Identify All Area Interests with Survey Probes
• Streamlined Base Organization through Quick Deposit
• Adequate Power Provisioning in your Base
• Summary: Survive, Progress, and Conquer Arrakis

↖ Always Track the Fman Main Quest

Fman questline, the main story of the game, should be your top priority. It unlocks crucial functionalities like thumpers, advanced tech, and base upgrades.

How to check: Press J to open your journal and view the Fman section. Complete all 10 trials—tracking via T helps map navigation. Follow these tips closely or core progression will be locked!

↖ Check Character Status and Environmental Threats

Press T to check your character status. This window displays:

• Separate PvE/PvP zone indicators
• Heat/radiation levels
• Current protective measures (shields, heat bias)
• Day/night cycle indicator

Dew plants yield maximum water at dawn: Look for a blue tint signaling dew plant peak. Industrial dew collectors are extremely efficient at this time—critical for mid to late game survival.

↖ Gathering Resources: Disable Holtzman Shield

When gathering flower sand and spice, remember to deactivate your Holtzman shield with H.

Why. The noise of the shield draws sandworms as fast as they can move.

Then speed to the middle of the patch, stop your bike, and stand still to grant motionless worm attention lines.

Hands off collection is quieter and far safer. Actions with pauses are no repetive noise.

↖ Spice Blows Also Occur at Early Areas

Spice eruptions occur in shallow regions too! They can be found even in Haga Basin

Gathering these is enough to craft up to tier 6 items without going into the most dangerous areas of the game. You can get hundreds of spice from collecting.

↖ You can View Crafting Costs and Stats In The Research Menu Beforehand

You can use Left Alt to switch between material costs and item stats on schematics. As a reminder, hovering over a schematic also shows its repair costs.

Plan upgrades and repairs strategically to maximize efficiency.

Note: Only players who have unlocked the schematic can repair items.

↖ Prioritize Upgrading Machinery Based On Focus Area

Focus on upgrading fabricators and refiners as higher grade machines are much better. An example is medium blood refiners as they double the water yield when compared to small blood refiners.

Choose your upgrade order based on current area of focus, be it, water, spice, or metals.

↖ Maximize Efficiency When Collecting Blood

Medium blood bags and drinker weapons (CPO's Drinker) allow you to collect blood twice from downed foes.

This helps improve water production and progression.

↖ Death By Sandworm Doesn't Mean Game Over

While you lose all items with you, getting consumed by a sandworm gives you a one-time opportunity to reclaim a key item from the Guide at a designated area.

Claimable items include but are not limited to: Sandbikes.

Warning: Only standard replacements will be given so if you had upgraded parts on your MK1 sandbike, those won't be returned.

↖ Stay Away From Quicksand Areas

Quicksand zones are both difficult to locate as well as extremely dangerous.

Before a sandworm catches you, escape is nearly impossible.

Always pay attention to your map and avoid dubious areas.

↖ Recover Inventory After PvE Deaths

Dying to some enemies only causes you to lose a portion of your inventory.

To regain lost items, you need to interact with the skull hologram at the death location which will be marked on your map.

↖ Use Fast Travel with Ornithopter Pilots

Fast Travel can be accessed by talking to ornithopter pilots at major trade posts for a fee of 700 Dune: Awakening Solari per trip in Haga Basin.

This is perfect for resource runs and crafting expeditions.

Saves time during collection trips for materials needed for advanced vehicles.

↖ Loot Enemy Outpost Machinery

Inside enemy bases and test stations, look for high-end materials such as:

Complex machinery, cobbled paste, industrial pumps and others.

These are vital for late-game tech such as ornithopters.

↖ Smart Shopping at Trade Posts

Rare materials are sometimes sold at trade posts, particularly the Crossroads.

Trade posts, as mentioned before, contain crossroad where purchase overpriced materials.

↖ Bank Your Valuables Before Long Breaks

Both player hubs feature a bank with 30 slots for items and currency.

Store essential resources, schematics, and materials here to avoid losing them due to base decay or tax lapse.

Pay your base taxes every 11 in-game days to avoid destruction!

↖ Follow the Tutorial (Journey) System

The game's journey system walks you through the main gameplay elements.

Complete these tasks for rewards and to unlock important systems.

↖ Unlock Multiple Class Talent Trees

Find and complete quests with the designated class trainers to unlock additional talent trees.

You can combine trees to gain more active/passive skills and progress freely.

↖ Don't Overbuild Your First Base

Do not overbuild your first mobile shelter as this will become obsolete after a while.

Only construct what is needed—relocate all crucial items before progressing to different regions.

↖ Identify All Area Interests with Survey Probes

Find an elevated position, use a survey probe, and all relevant points of interest will be revealed in the area.

↖ Streamlined Base Organization through Quick Deposit

The Quick Deposit option allows for automatic item sorting into specific containers, ensuring effortless precision when it comes to inventory management.

↖ Adequate Power Provisioning in your Base

Establish a sufficient amount power stations stocked with resources to defend your base while remaining fully operational —especially before stepping away from the game.

↖ Summary: Survive, Progress, and Conquer Arrakis

The learning curve of Dune: Awakening is quite sharp. However, with these 20 expert tips and hidden tricks, you won't struggle with the unforgiving sands of Arrakis. Advancing through the Central story mission, keeping an eye on your sandworm as well as quicksand and resource management, and always improving your equipment and base upgrade smartly, all aids in your success. Utilize efficient teleportation for fast travel.