Dune Awakening Starter Build and Class Guide: Early Game Skills, Gear & Tips

That’s where this guide comes in. We’ll hook you up with a beginner-friendly build that’s easy to use and sets you up for success, plus some pro tips to keep you going strong.

Dune Awakening: Best Starting Build for a Strong Early Game

Let’s break down a solid starting build that’s versatile and beginner-friendly. We’re focusing on the Trooper skill tree (but not picking Trooper as your starting class) and mixing in some Planetologist and Bene Gesserit skills for better resource management.

Start as a Bene Gesserit to get the ball rolling.

Why Not Start as Trooper?

You might think Trooper’s the obvious pick, but here’s the deal: you can unlock the Trooper skill tree super early in the Hagga Basin starting area. Instead of locking into Trooper, pick a class that catches your eye, then grab the Trooper skills right away by visiting their trainer. While you’re at it, you can also unlock the Planetologist skill tree early, giving you a bunch of options to play with from the start.

This way, you’ll have two or three skill trees open before you even leave the starting zone, which means more flexibility and a way easier time tackling early challenges.

Must-Have Early Game Abilities

Here’s the lowdown on the key skills to grab right away. These make exploring, fighting, and getting around way less of a hassle:

• Shigawire Claw (Trooper): Grapple to high spots so you’re not stuck climbing forever.
• Explosive Grenade (Trooper): Chuck these for big damage without needing ammo.
• Assault Seeker (Trooper): A homing missile that takes out tough enemies or groups with ease.
• Battle Hardened (Trooper Passive): Speeds up ability cooldowns so you can use your best moves more often.
• Mountaineer (Planetologist): Cuts down stamina use when climbing.
• Cutteray Mining (Planetologist): Boosts resource gathering when you mine.
• Rerouting (Planetologist): Speeds up power recharge for your tools.
• Bindu Sprint (Bene Gesserit): Great for zipping around fast or escaping danger.

Dune Awakening Trooper Class Skill Tree: Every Ability, Buff, and Upgrade Explained

Building Out Your Skills and Passives

Trooper Skills

The Trooper’s kit is perfect for beginners. The grapple makes getting around a lot less annoying by saving stamina. Grenades pack a punch, don’t need ammo, and are a lifesaver when you’re out of bullets. The homing missile is fun and makes dealing with groups or tough enemies a lot safer.

Planetologist Skills

You’ll find the Planetologist trainer early, so you can snag their best passives quick. More resources from mining means less grinding for upgrades. Mountaineer keeps you from falling off cliffs by saving stamina, and faster power recharge keeps your tools running smoothly.

Other Passives to Grab Early:

• Center of Mass (Trooper): Boosts body shot damage if your aim isn’t perfect (you’ll lose some headshot power, though).
• Suspensor Dash (Trooper): Lets you tweak your direction mid-air to avoid falls or nail tricky jumps.
• Vehicle Repair (Planetologist): Slows down wear and tear on your bike or buggy so it lasts longer.
• adolescentefficient Driver (Planetologist): Saves fuel, which is clutch for all the traveling you’ll do.

Your Go-To Loadout: Gear & Items

A good build isn’t just skills—you need the right gear on your hotbar. Here’s what to keep handy:

• Healkits: Stock up big time. You’ll take damage from fights, falls, or dehydration. They’re easy to craft, so don’t skimp.
• Cutteray: Essential for gathering rare resources. Upgrade it ASAP for better hauls.
• Melee Weapon (like a knife): Some enemies have Holtzman shields that block bullets, so you’ll need this. Master the perfect block for easy wins.
• Ranged Weapon (rifle): Pick one you like for enemies that keep their distance.
• Vehicle Backup Tool: Lets you summon or store your vehicle so it doesn’t get trashed by sandstorms or enemies.
• Dew Reaper and Literjon: Water’s life on Arrakis. Use the Dew Reaper to collect water from plants at night and the Literjon to store it. Stay hydrated! (Check out how to get water in Dune: Awakening.)
• Blood Extractor and Blood Sacks: Collect blood from enemies to turn into water for crafting.
• Holtzman Shield: Extra protection for closing in on ranged enemies.
• Suspensor Belt: Saves you from fall damage, which is a huge time-saver when exploring tall structures.
• Power Pack: Fuels most of your tools and abilities. Upgrade it whenever you can.

Essential Equipment & Armor Tips

Armor does more than just take hits—it affects heat resistance, stamina, and how often you need water.

• Scout Armor: A solid mix of protection and heatEMS resistance. Heavy armor’s tougher but makes you overheat and limits dashing, which is a pain on Arrakis.
• Stillsuit: If water’s a constant struggle, this is your pick. It’s not as tough but makes hydration way easier.

Extra Tips for a Smooth Start

To make your early Dune: Awakening experience less stressful, unlock as many skill trainers as possible before leaving the starting area. This gives you more build options and lets you try different playstyles.

Keep your gear in good shape, but know that repairing lowers max durability a bit, so don’t overdo it. Vehicles are a game-changer for fast travel and resource runs, so keep yours in top condition.

When you hit a new area, use the map probe right away to reveal key spots and save time wandering. And don’t stress about picking the “perfect” class—Dune: Awakening lets you respec and swap skills easily once you find more trainers, so you can tweak your build as you figure out what works.