How to Get Steel in Dune Awakening:Unlock MK3 Tech

In Dune: Awakening's open beta (9–12 May 2025), steel is a vital material for crafting MK3 equipment and vehicles such as the buggy. However, it's not supposed to be accessible due to restricted areas like Jabal Eifrit Al-Janub.This guide revealed a clever workaround that allows players to farm steel by grinding buried treasures in Haga Basin South. This extends beta playtime by 20–25 hours. This guide details the effective, albeit time-consuming, method of obtaining steel, crafting advanced technology and maximising your beta experience. For more survival tips on Arrakis, consider bookmarking MMOJUGG.

Steel Ingots are an advanced material used for MK3-level gear, weapons, and vehicles, marking a significant progression milestone in Dune: Awakening. In the full game, which is launching on 10 June 2025, steel is crafted using carbon ore from Jabal Eifrit. However, this area is inaccessible in the beta. The workaround involves farming buried treasures for carbon, which, combined with iron, yields steel in a Smelter. This unlocks:

MK3 Equipment: - Stronger armour (e.g. House Atreides Armour MK3)

- Weapons (e.g. Aren's Vengeance Rifle)

Vehicles: The buggy, which enhances mobility compared to the sandbike in the beta.

Tech Progression: Access to higher-tier crafting stations and base upgrades.

Note: This method is time-consuming and not recommended for the full game, where Carbon Ore is easier to mine directly. However, it's ideal for Beta players who want to push beyond the 20–25 hour content limit.

Here's how to farm steel in Dune: Awakening Open Beta:

Requirements: Unlock the sandbike schematic via the tech tree (this requires intel points, which can be obtained from contracts or outposts) and gather resources such as copper, micro sandwich fabric and salvaged metal. Craft it at a vehicle fabricator in your base.

The sandbike's front-mounted scanner is essential for locating buried treasures in the open desert.

Tip: Build a central base in Haga Basin South, near the Griffin Trade Post, to gain easy access to the sand dunes and resources.

Requirements: Unlock the Static Compactor schematic (tech tree, likely under utility tools) and craft it using salvaged metal and other basic materials at a fabricator.

The Static Compactor digs up buried treasure containers, which contain carbon and other materials.

Tip: Check the Exchange at Arrakeen or Harko Village for pre-crafted compactors if you lack the schematic. Make sure you have one in your inventory before you head out.

Scan for Buried Treasures:

Location: Ride your sand bike across the open desert in the Haga Basin South area, avoiding the rocky plateaus or 'desert islands' where the scanner highlights irrelevant resources such as granite.

Method: Activate the sand bike's scanner (bound to a key, e.g. right-click) while moving. Look out for a specific icon indicating buried treasure, such as a distinct marker or a glowing container outline.

Avoid vibrating areas (drum sand) to prevent sandworm attacks, which will wipe your inventory. Stick to stable sand or retreat to rocks if the threat meter turns red.

Scan at night to avoid heatstroke, but watch out for patrol ships that deploy force fields and troops.

Tip: scanning is random, so cover wide areas. Treasures may cluster near sandworm emergence points (this is unconfirmed, but has been noted on Reddit).

Action: When a treasure icon appears, approach the location and use the Static Compactor (equip and fire — likely a left-click) to unearth a container.

Carbon: The key ingredient for steel (low yield, roughly 4 carbon per Steel Ingot).

Etherite/Orthite: Used for advanced materials such as Cobalt Paste.

Random Materials: Copper, spice or micro sandwich fabric, depending on the location.

Tip: Store non-essential loot in your base to avoid losing it to sandworms or PvP deaths in red zones.

Requirements: In a smelter (unlocked via the tech tree and crafted at the base), combine:

Carbon: Approximately 4 units per steel ingot (exact ratio may vary; beta yields are low).

Iron: mined from iron ore nodes in Haga Basin South using a Cutteray MK1 or MK2.

Process: Place the required resources in the smelter, select the steel ingot recipe and wait for the crafting process to finish.

Tip: Iron is abundant near rocky outcrops; use the Cutteray's analysis mode to target weak points for higher yields.

Applications: Craft MK3 weapons, armour or the buggy at the relevant stations (e.g. weapon or vehicle fabricator).

Weapons: Upgrade to an MA Pistol MK3 or Aren's Vengeance for increased damage.

Vehicles: Build a buggy for faster travel and better storage to enhance beta exploration.

Tip: Prioritise tech tree unlocks for MK3 schematics to maximise the utility of steel before the beta ends on 12 May.

Team up: Farm with two to three guildmates to cover more ground and share carbon hauls, as yields are low (less than four carbon per container). Coordinate via Discord for efficiency.

Use a sandbike: Scanning on foot is too slow, so the speed of the sandbike is essential for covering large desert areas.

Avoid PvP Zones Unless Prepared: Red PvP zones offer faster loot chest respawns (20 minutes versus 40–45 minutes in PvE), but dying will drop your inventory items (though not your gear). Store carbon frequently to minimise losses.

Stock Supplies: Carry blood sacks (from blood purifiers) and bandages to counter dehydration and injuries. Mining and scanning are time-consuming, so avoid interruptions.

Check for Clusters: If you find one treasure, scan the area as they may spawn in groups, especially near worm activity (unconfirmed).

Grindy Process: Low carbon yields make this method tedious, requiring hours of scanning and digging. It is only viable for dedicated beta players who want to advance their technology.

Beta Limitations: Jabal Eifrit Al-Janub, the main source of Carbon Ore, is locked, meaning players have to rely on random treasure drops. In the full game, mining carbon ore directly is far easier.

Sandworm Risk: Scanning in open sand risks worm attacks, wiping your inventory (including carbon). Always have a rocky retreat nearby.

Potential Nerfs: Funcom may patch this workaround if it is unintended, though the short duration of the beta (ending 12 May) makes this unlikely. Monitor @DuneAwakening on X for updates.

This steel-farming method extends the 20–25 hours of content in the beta by unlocking MK3 tech, which lets you:

Test Advanced Gear: - Experiment with high-tier weapons and armour that are unavailable to most beta players.

Build a Buggy: Explore Haga Basin South and Vermilious Gap more quickly and access distant outposts such as Imperial Testing Station #10.

Prepare for Launch: Familiarize yourself with crafting and vehicle mechanics, giving you a head start on June 10.

Community Sentiment: Reddit posts confirm that this method works, with players reporting success after one hour of farming, yielding enough carbon to make a few steel ingots. However, some describe it as 'tedious' compared to mining in the full game. X posts show excitement for beta progression but no specific mention of this trick, suggesting it's a niche strategy.

Use a sandbike's scanner in Haga Basin South's open desert to find buried treasures, then dig them up with a Static Compactor to collect carbon and other materials.

Yes, if you want to extend your playtime and test MK3 technology or buggies, but it's time-consuming. In the full game, mining Carbon Ore in Jabal Eifrit is easier.

Combine approximately 4 carbon (from treasures) and iron (from ore nodes) in a smelter. Exact ratios may vary due to low beta yields.

Yes, sandworm deaths will wipe your inventory and PvP deaths in red zones will drop your inventory items (but not your gear). Store carbon in your base frequently.

It's less efficient as Carbon Ore can be mined directly in Jabal Eifrit. Only use this method for beta progression.

Grinding steel in Dune: Awakening's open beta offers a challenging yet rewarding way to unlock MK3 technology and extend your playtime. Scan the sands, dig up carbon and craft your way to buggies and better gear before the beta ends on 12 May. Be wary of worms and keep an eye on Funcom's updates for potential changes at launch. Dive into Haga Basin and take control of Arrakis early! Head to MMOJUGG for more guides on how to dominate the desert.