Dune Awakening Tutorial: Beginner Tips to Survive Arrakis

Welcome to the unforgiving sands of Arrakis, where survival is a test of wit, skill and ingenuity. Dune: Awakening, the open-world survival MMO from Funcom, drops you into a vast, dynamic world filled with sandworms, spice, and political intrigue. Whether you're a seasoned MMO player or new to the Dune universe, this guide will take you through the starting tutorial and provide essential tips to help you go from nameless prisoner to desert legend. For more in-game insights and gear, be sure to bookmark MMOJUGG for more Dune Awakening.

Your journey begins with choosing a server. If you're playing with friends, double-check the server region in the bottom-left corner to ensure you're all on the same one. Next, you'll dive into character creation, where you can choose a default avatar or customise every detail to create a unique look. Once you have locked in your appearance, choose a name and decide if you want to lock your research menu. Locking it (recommended for newcomers) requires you to complete objectives to unlock new crafting recipes that will guide you through the early game. Veterans may prefer an unlocked menu for faster progression, but it can feel overwhelming if you miss key missions.

You'll also choose your background and mentor, which will determine your starting class and skill tree. The options are:

Swordmaster: Melee-focused, ideal for close-quarters combat.

Bene Gesserit: Master of crowd control, using 'the voice' to manipulate enemies.

Mentat: Strategic thinkers with gadgets, shields and turrets.

Trooper: Offensive powerhouses with grappling hooks and heavy weapons.

Choose a class that suits your playstyle, as it shapes your early abilities. For example, Troopers excel at aggressive combat, while Mentats provide tactical support.

The tutorial kicks off with a cinematic introduction. You're a prisoner sent to Arrakis by the Bene Gesserit to uncover the mystery of the missing Fremen. After a dramatic crash landing, you're rescued by Zantara, who guides you through the basics of survival. Here's a breakdown of the key steps:

Early on, you'll find a dead body with a frame kit, enabling crafting. Open the crafting menu (press B) and craft a scrap knife, which will automatically slot into slot 1 on your hotbar. Use it to cut through a damp seal and progress.

Water is life on Arrakis. Your water meter (bottom-left corner) starts empty. Find dew flowers scattered around the map and press E to drink their moisture, filling your water bar by a quarter. Later you'll unlock tools to harvest water for bottles, but early on these flowers are your lifeline. Keep an eye out for water stations (marked by blue lights) in ships or dungeons to fully replenish.

Harvest plant fiber from bushes by pressing E. Use it to craft bandages in the crafting menu, which go to slot 2 on your hotbar. Hold the left mouse button to apply bandages and restore health. Collect fiber whenever possible—it's essential for bandages, clothing, and armor.

To escape the starting cave, climb walls by holding Space and moving forward. Press Ctrl to release and drop, then press Space again to grab the wall. Explore thoroughly as there are hidden loot and resources everywhere.

Combat in Dune: Awakening is tactical. Equip your knife and left-click to slash. Right-click to block and time your block just as an enemy attacks to parry, staggering them for a free hit. Against shielded enemies, hold the left mouse button for a slow blade attack to penetrate their defenses. Use Alt plus a direction to dash or break out of a stagger, but remember that dashing consumes stamina. Keeping your water bar above one-third will increase your stamina, so stay hydrated.

Arrakis is brutal. During the day, stay in the shadows to avoid sunstroke, which appears as a bar in the centre of your screen. As it fills, you'll dehydrate faster and lose health. Retreat to the shade to recover. Later you'll face sandworms - stay away from open sand and use thumpers to distract them. Run to rocky terrain if the worm threat meter turns red.

The tutorial culminates in a daring escape. You'll use a cutteray (found on a prisoner's body) to harvest resources and break into a ship. Scan the resources with the right mouse button to reveal weak spots, then fire the cutter (left mouse button) along the blue vein for maximum yield. After securing a pent shield key, activate the captain's transmitter and pilot an ornithopter into a storm to evade enemies. When a sandworm appears, sprint to safety on the rocky ground.

Prioritize Water: Dehydration kills more quickly than enemies. Always look for dew flowers or water stations before exploring.

Loot Everything: Dead bodies often carry free gear, from cutters to power packs. Don't leave them behind.

Master Parrying: Timing your blocks to parry can turn fights in your favour, especially against tougher enemies.

Craft Often: Craft tools, weapons and bandages early on to stay prepared. A simple knife can save your life.

Stay Alert for Sandworms: Travelling on open sand attracts these beasts. Stick to rocky paths and use your thumpers wisely.

The Trooper is great for new players as it has straightforward attack abilities and a grappling hook that makes combat and exploration easier.

Stay in the shade during the day. When the sunstroke bar appears, find shade immediately to recover.

Your starting class will lock you into your initial skill tree, but you can eventually learn skills from other schools with enough progression (500+ hours).

Dehydration will reduce your stamina and health over time. Drink from dew flowers or water stations to stay alive.

Run into rocky terrain when the worm threat gauge turns red. Avoid open sand to stay safe.

Dune: Awakening offers a thrilling blend of survival, combat and exploration in the iconic Dune universe. With these tips, you'll be ready to conquer Arrakis and uncover the secrets of the Fremen. Keep an eye on MMOJUGG for more guides, strategies and gaming gear to enhance your experience. Stay hydrated and see you in the dunes!