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Dune: Awakening features five distinct character classes, each equipped with a unique skill tree filled with abilities tailored for different scenarios. You will kick off your journey by selecting from one of four initial class choices, with a fifth class that becomes available as you progress. This early decision is critical, as it will determine your dialogue options and some gameplay elements throughout your adventures on Arrakis. Thankfully, while your starting class shapes your capabilities, you’re encouraged to explore skills from other classes as you advance.
Even though Dune: Awakening unfolds in an alternate timeline, it retains all the essential “classes” recognized in the lore, designed around iconic character types from the novels, with some visual influences from film adaptations. The five classes include Swordmaster, Mentat, Bene Gesserit, Trooper, and Planetologist. To maximize your effectiveness in various situations, it’s beneficial to blend skills from multiple classes as you progress.
Swordmaster: Masters of Close-Quarters Combat
Swordmasters Specialize in The Blade, The Will, & The Way
The Swordmaster class excels in melee combat and focuses on techniques from the Ginaz School of swordsmanship. This expertise represents the highest level of combat skill in the Known Universe, employing intricate methods to overcome Holtzman Shields and defeat opponents with blades. Like all classes in Dune: Awakening, the Swordmaster offers three distinct specializations, each mapped to its own skill tree: The Blade, The Will, and The Way.
Skills in the Blade specialization bolster offensive capabilities, enhancing damage with bladed weapons and introducing unique moves like Eye of the Storm, a whirlwind attack. The Will specialization focuses on defensive strategies, boosting health and damage reduction effects. Finally, The Way specialization helps manage stamina more effectively during and outside of combat. While combat may feel somewhat lacking during the Beta phase, the Swordmaster class possesses tremendous potential.
Mentat: Harness Technology as a Human Computer
Mentats’ Skill Trees Include Mental Calculus, Assassination, & Tactician
Mentats function as human computers, capable of processing data at incredible speeds and focusing on strategic planning and encounter management, like setting traps and identifying enemy weaknesses. The Order of Mentats is a “secretive and insular organization” from the lore that is often underrepresented in screen adaptations, making this class particularly appealing for fans of the novels.
Each class begins with a unique ability, such as the Mentat’s Sentinel, “a dart projector that utilizes motion detection to cover a wide field.”
Mentats can choose from the Mental Calculus, Assassination, and Tactician skill trees. The Mental Calculus tree improves your ranged accuracy and helps exploit enemy weaknesses. The Assassination tree includes skills for eliminating targets using poison and a special Hunter-Seeker ability, which can take down foes quietly. The Tactician tree focuses on support and crowd control, enhancing battlefield dynamics during larger fights.
Bene Gesserit: Join the Sisterhood & Master the Weirding Way
Bene Gesserits Specialize in The Weirding Way, The Voice, & Body Control
Arguably the most iconic class in Dune: Awakening, the Bene Gesserits are integral to the overarching narrative. You don’t have to play as a female character to join this Sisterhood and harness Bene Gesserit abilities, and it’s highly advisable to incorporate this class into your playstyle. The Bene Gesserit class embodies some of Dune’s most significant concepts, highlighting The Weirding Way and The Voice. Players can control minds and manipulate enemies while enhancing survival skills.
“Manipulate foes into your grasp and strike when their defenses are down.”
The Weirding Way specialization offers unique skills like Bindu Dodge, a passive ability activated after parrying that allows you to evade projectiles for a brief moment. The Voice specialization lets you command enemies toward you for an attack when they are vulnerable. The Body Control tree provides various health and survival benefits invaluable in combat and while navigating the vast deserts of Arrakis.
Trooper: Master Firearms & Battlefield Strategies
Troopers Embrace Gunnery, Suspensor Training, & Tactical Tech Skill Trees
Troopers are focused gunnery specialists within Dune: Awakening, honing skills tailored for ranged weaponry including rifles, scatterguns, and heavier arms like missile launchers and lasguns, which can be crafted after acquiring the needed schematics. Trained in the Great Houses of the Landsraad, part of Dune’s rich lore before the Butlerian Jihad, Troopers deliver strong ranged capabilities. They possess versatile skills fit for both exploration and significant battles, starting with a Suspensor Belt to enable extraordinary abilities.
Focusing on the Gunnery skill tree enhances your proficiency with ranged weapons, increasing damage for various firearms. The Suspensor Training tree provides unique abilities from the Suspensor Belt, allowing mid-air maneuvers and anti-gravity fields. Lastly, the Tactical Tech tree centers on explosives, utilities, and helpful combat items like grenades. Troopers are well-suited for intense combat situations and heavy weapon use, although they remain viable in close combat as well.
Planetologist: A Unique Class Designed for Exploration
Planetologists Emphasize Science, Exploration, & Mechanics
One of the most innovative classes in Dune: Awakening is the Planetologist. This class is tailored for enhanced research abilities and exploration speed. Sent to Arrakis for terraforming, Planetologists are trained to endure the harsh desert conditions. Though you can’t choose this class at the beginning, it’s wise to explore its skill trees to boost your research and exploration skills, enhancing vehicular navigation across Arrakis.
The Planetologist is not available during character creation and must be unlocked as the story progresses.
Investing in the Science tree provides improved yields and resource management, while the Explorer skill tree enhances scanning and movement techniques. The Mechanic tree enhances your ability to maintain vehicles and utilize specialized mining techniques. No matter your play style, the Planetologist skills will significantly boost your chances of survival, especially in the deep desert.
In summary, Dune: Awakening offers a diverse array of classes catering to various gameplay styles, and the ability to allocate skill points across different trees allows for a multitude of strategies. While focusing solely on your starting class’s skill tree may be the easiest approach, diversifying your abilities will provide you with comprehensive advantages as you work to awaken the Sleeper.
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