Top Skills to Master in Dune Awakening

In Dune Awakening, players can’t unlock all the skills right away, but there’s a variety to choose from as they develop their characters. The game features five skill trees: Swordmaster, Mentat, Bene Gesserit, Trooper, and Planetologist, each with three subtrees. Each tree focuses on different abilities, such as the Swordmaster’s melee combat prowess and the Bene Gesserit’s mind control capabilities.

To help players navigate these options, we’ve outlined the top skills for each tree and mentor type, along with instructions on unlocking new skills and what each skill tree specializes in.

The Best Skills in Dune Awakening

Here’s a rundown of the leading skills within each skill tree, providing players with early goals to work towards.

• Trooper
  • Disruptor Damage (Gunnery): Enhances damage for the game’s most common firearms.
  • Suspensor Dash (Suspensor Training): An evasive combat skill that boosts jumping ability.
  • Shigawire Claw (Tactical Tech): A hookshot that aids exploration and disorients opponents.
• Mentat
  • Exploit Weakness (Mental Calculus): Craft weak points using modified ranged attacks.
  • Stunner (Assassination): A paralysis dart that leaves enemies vulnerable for a follow-up attack or escape.
• Planetologist
  • Cutteray Mining (Scientist): Increases mining yield, useful given the Cutteray’s frequent use.
  • Mountaineer (Explorer): Reduces stamina loss while climbing, aiding exploration.
• Bene Gesserit
  • Weirding Step (Weirding Way): Crucial for melee builds, allowing swift movements behind foes.
  • Stop (The Voice): Freezes opponents, proving advantageous in many scenarios.
  • Litany Against Fear (Body Control): Offers significant defense buffs for both you and allies.
• Swordmaster
  • Blade Damage (The Blade): An essential boost for increased swordfighting damage.
  • Thrive on Danger (The Will): Provides various combat buffs when health is low.
  • Disciplined Breathing (The Way): Accelerates stamina regeneration, crucial for melee combat.
  • General Conditioning (The Way): Increases maximum stamina, complementing the previous skill.

All Skill Trees in Dune Awakening

There are five distinct skill trees in Dune Awakening, each with a unique focus:

• Trooper: Ranged combat with firearms and anti-gravity technology.
• Mentat: Specializes in sniping, stealth, and traps.
• Planetologist: Focuses on resource management and exploration.
• Bene Gesserit: Emphasizes agility, unarmed skills, and mental control.
• Swordmaster: Centers on melee combat and resilience.

It’s important to note that no skill tree is inherently better than the others; the effectiveness depends on your gear and playstyle. For instance, players interested in exploration and resource gathering might find the Planetologist more beneficial, while those keen on aggressive combat may prefer the Trooper or Swordmaster.

How to Unlock New Skills

At the start, players will have access to one skill tree based on their Mentor choice during character creation. To unlock additional trees, you must locate a Basic Trainer—an NPC skilled in that area. This trainer will unlock the tree so you can assign Skill Points to it; however, you’ll need to find an Advanced Trainer later to unlock the advanced sections of the tree.

These trainers can be found in populated areas. For example, the Basic Trooper trainer is located in the Griffin’s Reach Tradepost in Dune Awakening. Keep in mind that finding the Basic Trainer for the skill tree unlocked during character creation doesn’t provide any additional benefits.

For a detailed guide on all Trainer locations in Dune Awakening, check our accompanying map.

Trooper

Troopers are frontline combatants, specializing in ranged attacks. With advanced technology at their disposal, they excel at controlling enemies and maneuvering on the battlefield.

• Trooper Subtrees
  • Gunnery: Mastery of heavy firearms.
  • Suspensor Training: Anti-gravity tools for agility and hindering foes.
  • Tactical Tech: Grapples, grenades, and other combat utilities.

Mentat

With minds akin to supercomputers, Mentats in Dune Awakening embody stealth and agility.

• Mentat Subtrees
  • Mental Calculus: Focused on sniping and exploiting weak points.
  • Assassination: Utilizes poison and silent attacks.
  • Tactician: Deploys traps and distractions to gain an upper hand.

Planetologist

The Planetologist prioritizes exploration and resource management, ensuring safe navigation across Arrakis while avoiding dangers like sandworms.

• Planetologist Subtrees
  • Scientist: Focused on resource acquisition.
  • Explorer: Enhances mobility and climbing skills.
  • Mechanic: Offers buffs for vehicles.

Bene Gesserit

The Bene Gesserit class resembles monks, emphasizing agility, melee skills, and mind control abilities.

• Bene Gesserit Subtrees
  • Weirding Way: Focuses on speed and unarmed combat.
  • The Voice: Grants control over enemies.
  • Body Control: Enhances health regeneration and stat management.

Swordmaster

Swordmasters specialize in melee combat, excelling in wielding blades while also functioning as tanks who can withstand significant damage.

• Swordmaster Subtrees
  • The Blade: Focused on melee weapons and skills.
  • The Will: Grants defensive techniques for survival.
  • The Way: Boosts stamina and other stats for incapacitating foes.

For more insights on navigating the world of Arrakis, check out our Dune Awakening tips!