Dune: Awakening is a unique open-world survival MMO set on the unforgiving desert planet of Arrakis. Whether you're joining for a beta weekend or just starting in early access, navigating this dangerous and complex world can be overwhelming at first. Sandworms, enemy factions, punishing terrain, and the constant threat of dehydration make this more than your average survival game. But with the right guidance, you can carve out your place in this brutal world.

Here are five extremely helpful beginner tips and tricks for Dune: Awakening that will ease your early progression, help you gather crucial gear, and set you up for success in Hager Basin South and beyond.

1. Get a Free Scrap Bike in Hager Basin South

One of the best things you can do early on in Dune: Awakening is to get yourself a vehicle, and luckily, there's a way to score a free scrap bike if you know where to look. Traveling across Hager Basin South can take quite a bit of time on foot, especially when you're trying to explore points of interest and gather resources. That's where the Broken Stone station comes in.

Located in the southern midsection of Hager Basin South, Broken Stone Station is a stronghold where you can potentially pick up a scrap bike. These bikes make early-game traversal much faster, saving you time and reducing the risk of wandering into dangerous territory unprepared. If there aren't any bikes available when you arrive, hang around or revisit later—they do respawn. Look at the bottom of the stronghold to find them.

In addition to the bike, Broken Stone Station also has a few other benefits. You can gather spare intel points here and potentially discover a unique chest containing early-game loot. One weapon schematic that stands out is Aaron's Vengeance—a fantastic weapon that many players consider a favorite for the early to mid-game phase. So don't skip out on this area; the rewards are well worth the trip.

While you can craft your bike later in the game, doing so generally happens after you're already progressing past Hager Basin. Getting a bike for free early on is a major advantage and a great way to improve your mobility and looting efficiency from the start.

2. Buy Multiple Purple Liter John Schematics Early

Another valuable tip concerns gear—specifically the Liter John suit. One thing that often catches new players off guard is how the schematics work in Dune: Awakening. When you buy a schematic, you only get one use from it. That means if you want to craft a second piece of the same gear, you'll need to buy the schematic again.

For the purple Liter John suit, this is particularly important. It's one of the best early-to-midgame suits you can get your hands on, and it doesn't require overly complex materials. If you've picked up some spice copper from early locations like the first testing station or a nearby shipwreck, you should have enough to craft it. Because of its strong performance and ease of crafting, it's recommended to buy two or three schematics right away.

You can purchase these schematics at the first trade post you encounter in Hager Basin South. They're relatively inexpensive and will serve you better than some of the more standard options like the iron-tier John. This gear can last you for quite a while, especially if you're not planning on rushing into higher-tier crafting or PvP scenarios immediately.

Keep an eye out for unique chests around Hager Basin South too. They sometimes contain these schematics as loot, and exploring the region thoroughly, especially looking in high places or larger camps, can pay off with bonus gear.

3. Don't Skip PvE Camps – Intel Points and Loot Are Worth It

In Dune: Awakening, gathering intel points is crucial for unlocking new upgrades and tech in your journey. A solid way to farm these points early on is by clearing out PvE camps scattered across the map. These camps can often be cleared solo, but it's a good idea to party up with friends or other players to make things easier. The more people you bring, the quicker and safer the run becomes—and the best part is, in PvE, everyone gets their loot, includes Dune Awakening Solari and Items. Unlike in PvP, containers and rewards are not shared.

Even if someone else has cleared out the NPCs from a camp like the Imperial Testing Station, you can still enter and loot the containers inside. The loot is instanced, meaning it's available to everyone separately. You might even find schematics or other rare gear in these locations. So if you come across an empty but quiet camp, don't assume it's useless—head inside and start scavenging.

On your map, look for the icon representing three small houses grouped. This symbol indicates a PvE camp with intel point pickups. Hovering over the icon will tell you how many intel pickups are available in that location. Sometimes they're hidden in corners or less obvious places, so be thorough when exploring.

It's highly recommended to complete most, if not all, of the southern PvE camps before heading into the midsection of Hager Basin. The intel boost you'll get can make a noticeable difference as you push into harder content, like the Vmilious Gap.

4. Use a Probe Launcher to Scout and Reveal the Map

The map in Dune: Awakening is shrouded in the fog of war that resets weekly unless you take steps to reveal and maintain it. That's where the probe launcher comes in. By using probes, you can permanently reveal sections of the map and uncover key locations like labs, camps, and caves with valuable chests.

Always carry a probe launcher and a few probes in your inventory. They are cheap to craft and incredibly useful. Some regions require you to climb to higher elevations to successfully deploy a probe. If your probe fails, the game will tell you how many meters you need to ascend to get a proper reading. This makes exploring high ground not just visually appealing, but strategically useful.

Even if you're just passing through an area, take the time to shoot out a probe. Not only will this help you navigate more efficiently, but you'll also be able to plan your next moves based on revealed icons. For example, you might spot a unique chest in a cave nearby, or a lab you hadn't noticed before.

Hager Basin South is fairly forgiving in terms of elevation, so it's a good region to practice your probe launching. Later areas become more vertically demanding, so developing the habit early will serve you well throughout your journey.

5. Explore and Take Advantage of Hidden Locations

Lastly, Dune: Awakening rewards exploration in subtle and valuable ways. Besides the obvious loot and camps, there are special locations with unique items that many players miss. One such example is a hidden cave behind the Anvil Trade Post. This spot contains a big chest and is well worth checking out, especially in the early game when even a few good items can make a huge difference.

The key to finding these places is to think vertically and look for terrain features that stand out. Cliffs, natural arches, and plateaus often conceal loot or access points to hidden zones. Combined with your probe launcher, you can scout these areas more efficiently and map out high-reward zones before committing.

Many of these areas also have rare schematics, valuable trade goods, or special crafting components, so be thorough in your exploration. The world of Arrakis is vast and dangerous—but it's also filled with hidden opportunities for those brave enough to seek them.

Final Thoughts

Dune: Awakening is a challenging but deeply rewarding survival MMO. By securing fast travel with a scrap bike, investing in the right gear schematics, prioritizing PvE camps for intel and loot, making smart use of the probe launcher, and exploring every nook and cranny of the map, you can get a strong start and avoid some of the early pitfalls that frustrate new players.

MMOexp Dune Awakening Team