In Dune Awakening, PvP is a key part of your adventure in the game. Be it at the end game in dedicated PvP zones or during specific PvP encounters that happen across the world.
PvP is an important part of Dune Awakening, but thankfully for some, it’s never required. That said, it is a key part of the end game and the dynamic flow of the game that you can choose to take part in.
PvP is also a very important part of how Guild progression works, though, thankfully, it was confirmed by Funcom that it is also not required. Many Guild progression quests are PvP-focused, however, they also have a number of crafting and gathering-based progress tasks.
In this article, we’ll go over PvP, how it works, and how you can avoid it if you want to.
Content
PvP Zone Combat - The Deep Desert
The Deep Desert is where most of the PvP happens in the game. It's this huge open area with no loading screens, so everything feels connected and seamless, and it’s been built to support hundreds of players at once. It’s not just a random place to fight either, the whole thing revolves around the fight for resources, especially spice.
Spice blooms pop up out there fairly often, and when they do, it’s going to become a hive of activity. That’s when you get these massive clashes between guilds and smaller groups, all trying to take control. It’s unpredictable and messy in the best way, and since dying in the Deep Desert means you drop some of your loot, there’s always a risk. If you’re not careful or if your group gets outplayed, you could lose some of your best gear, but if you come out on top, it can really pay off.
Bring out the big guns
You’ll need more than just ground combat when it comes to doing battle in PvP. Vehicles bring an added layer to both PvP and PvE fights, and that changes things quite a bit. You can move quicker, launch faster raids or use them to hold a position if you’re under pressure. The game lets you do mounted combat as well, so you can shoot or fight while moving, which adds another layer to the fights. It’s chaotic, but in a fun way, especially when it’s a group fight with vehicles flying across the dunes and spice erupting in the middle of it.
This combat will take place on the ground and in the air, so make sure you’ve got the best vehicle with you, and maybe get some points into those Planetologist skill trees.
Guild Wars, Too
There’s a political side to PvP, too, as the game looks to play on one of the main tenets of what makes the world of Dune what it is. One of the big systems in the game is the Right of Salvage, which is something that gets voted on by players in the Landsraad. If it passes, it lets full-loot PvP happen in certain zones for a limited time. It basically cranks the danger up and opens the door for full-on Guild Wars, where you’re not just fighting for resources, but control.
Guilds are a key part of the game in Dune, though notably they play a huge part in the later periods of the game. They can try to hold territory, protect caravans, or launch attacks on enemy outposts. It’s properly organised warfare, but with limits.
Your base, at least, is always protected from PvP damage. So no one’s going to come along and destroy everything you’ve built while you’re offline. That kind of stuff just isn’t allowed, which helps keep things fair.
Reputation and Consequences
One key thing about PvP is that your actions have consequences. If you go around killing players outside of PvP zones or ignore faction rules, it can come back to bite you. The Reputation System tracks what you do, and if you get a bad name with certain NPCs or factions, they might cut you off. That could mean no access to vendors or locked quests, and in some cases, entire areas might be off-limits. On the flip side, if you stay in line and build up your rep, you can unlock new missions and rewards and even gain more influence in the Landsraad political stuff.
So it’s not just about who you fight, it’s also about when and why. The game really pushes you to think about the consequences of your actions.
PvP is Optional
The best part is that none of this is required. PvE players can still progress without ever fighting other players. You can stick to crafting, trading, exploring, or just helping the economy move. That playstyle is fully supported, and it’s a nice plus to see the two parts be separated.
But if you do enjoy PvP, then the game gives you all the tools to focus on it, whether it’s combat, strategy, or politics. It’s not better or worse than PvE, it’s just different. And in Dune Awakening, both paths seem like they can lead to the same level of success, just in different ways.
Arrakis is dangerous, but it’s also full of opportunity. If you want to fight for power, you can. Just be ready for someone else who wants it just as much.
