When you first start playing Dune: Awakening, picking your class feels like a huge decision. However, while your starting class matters, you can learn skills from other classes as you progress in the game. This flexibility means you’re not locked into one playstyle forever. In this Dune Awakening Classes guide, I will break down everything you need to know about each class, their starting abilities, and what makes them special.
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Dune Awakening Classes Guide
In Dune Awakening, your class is called a “School of the Imperium.” Each one gives you a unique starting ability and access to specific skill trees. The character that you choose will shape how you begin your journey on Arrakis. The cool thing is that you can mix and match skills later. Want to be a sword-wielding Mentat? Go for it. A Trooper with Bene Gesserit powers? That works too.
Here are all five classes and their starting abilities in Dune Awakening:
| Class | Starting Ability | Focus | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swordmaster | Deflection | Melee combat and defense | ★★ |
| Mentat | The Sentinel | Ranged Combat and Strategy | ★★★ |
| Bene Gesserit | Compel | Manipulation and control | ★★★★ |
| Trooper | Shigawire Cable | Mid-range combat and explosives | ★ |
| Planetologist | Unknown | Resource gathering and exploration | ★★★ |
Swordmaster
Swordmasters are all about getting up close and personal. If you love melee combat and want to slice through enemies with blades, this is your class.
Starting Ability: Deflection. This defensive stance lets you deflect darts fired at you. It’s perfect for closing the gap against ranged enemies. The ability drains stamina while active, so use it wisely.
Best for: Players who want straightforward, aggressive gameplay. You will excel in PvP duels and close-quarters PvE content.
Mentat
Mentats are the thinking person’s class. You’re like a human computer, calculating the best moves and supporting your team from a distance.
Starting Ability: The Sentinel. You deploy a floating turret that shoots at enemies automatically. It’s like having a little robot friend that is always watching your back. This ability is fantastic for controlling areas and dealing consistent damage.
Best for: Patient players who like tactical gameplay. Or players who are amazing at picking off enemies from a distance.
Bene Gesserit
The Bene Gesserit class is all about manipulation and supernatural abilities. You will use The Voice to control enemies and perform incredible physical feats, just like what you see in movies.
Starting Ability: Comple. Use The Voice to force an enemy to walk toward you. It’s incredibly useful for pulling enemies out of cover or into traps. You need to “register” your targets first by looking at them.
Best for: Advanced players who want unique gameplay mechanics. You will dominate in PvP once you master the complex abilities.
Trooper
This class is your standard military class. They are well-rounded fighters with great weapons, gadgets, and mobility options.
Starting Ability: Shigawire Cable. Fire a cable that either pulls you to surfaces or staggers enemies. It’s great for getting around the map quickly or disrupting enemy positioning.
Best for: New players who want a balanced experience. You’re effective in all situations without being overwhelming to learn.
Planetologist
The Planetologist is unique because you can’t start with it. You must unlock the class by progressing through the game. This class focuses on surviving Arrakis and gathering resources efficiently.
Starting Ability: Currently unknown, but likely related to environmental scanning or resource gathering.
Best for: Players who love exploration and resource management. You are essential for long-term survival and supporting guild operations.
Three Types of Abilities in Dune Awakening
Passive Abilities
These are always active once you learn them. You don’t need to do anything special because they just work in the background. Examples include damage bonuses, health increases, and resistance improvements.
Technique Abilities
These must be equipped to work, but once equipped, they’re automatic. You can only have a limited number of techniques active at once, so choose wisely based on your playstyle. Technique abilities only take effect when they are equipped.
Active Abilities
These need to be equipped on your ability bar and manually activated during gameplay. They usually have cooldowns and stamina costs, but they’re often the most powerful skills in your arsenal.
Which Class Should You Pick?
- For beginners: Start with Trooper. It’s forgiving, versatile, and teaches you the game’s core mechanics without overwhelming complexity.
- For solo players: Go with Mentat. The Sentinel turret gives you a companion, and the class unlocks slowly as a secondary option.
- For PvP lovers: Pick Swordmaster if you want direct combat, or Bene Gesserit if you prefer mind games and advanced tactics.
- For team players: Any class works, but Mentat’s support abilities and Trooper’s versatility make them great team choices.
Your Journey on Arrakis starts with choosing a class, but it definitely doesn’t end there. Don’t stress too much about your starting choice. You will be able to experiment with other classes relatively quickly. Focus on learning your starting abilities well before branching out. Try them out and see which one clicks with how you want to experience Dune Awakening. Good luck!
