Facebook
Reddit
Email
Learn about Dune: Awakening starting classes and skills, explore their playstyles, and how they impact gameplay.
Dune: Awakening is an open-world survival MMO and a new game by Norwegian game developer Funcom. Your starting class and character creation are largely choices made at the initial outset of the game. This influences your starting skill trees, initial skill, and dialogue throughout the game. Dune MMORPG has invested heavily into dialouge and story with a web of skill trees to choose from.
Moreover, Dune Awakening shares a story different from the movie’s, with an alternative timeline. Expect this MMORPG to have heavy survival mechanics with a non-linear skill tree and progression system.
The Starting class choice primarily only gives players a starting point, something to launch into the game, and skills can be adjusted later.
This post has been updated for closed beta and a May 2025 Launch. We are sharing public information provided by the developers and not disclosing early access information. However, this is what you can expect at launch, and we will continue to update the post and content as more information becomes available.
What are starting classes and Why it matters in Dune Awakening?
Dune: Awakening offers a versatile combat gameplay experience, allowing players to enhance their character’s skill set in endless possibilities. The game offers four different archetypes of classes at the start from which you can choose one. Each archetype provides and follows a unique playstyle. Before players deploy on the dangerous world of Arrakis to look for Fremen, they will have to choose an archetype. This choice lies under the option of choosing a Mentor. Here are all the starting classes in Dune: Awakening.
- Swordmaster: Close-Quarters Aggression
- Bene Gesserit: Physical Mastery & Manipulation
- Mentat: Recon & Strategy
- Trooper: Offense & Demolition
As you select your starting class, you will get a respective ability. For instance, by choosing a Swordmaster class, you will get the Deflection as a starting ability. This allows you to enter a defensive stance that allows you to deflect dart attacks. In the early game, a lot of enemies use ranged weapons like dart pistols. With this ability, you can easily deflect the darts and make your way close to the opponent to strike them down. Each starting class allows and helps you survive through the early hours of the playthrough uniquely. In the end, it is all up to you whether you like to branch out your abilities or stick to a certain playstyle.
TIP: We recommend you branch out the abilities of your characters by seeking out various trainers in the open world.
READ MORE: Dune: Awakening Benchmark Tool
All Starting Classes in Dune: Awakening
In Dune: Awakening, character creation is a flexible and dynamic process that allows you to craft a unique playstyle. One of the first choices you will make is selecting a starting class, which gives you an initial ability and sets the tone for your early gameplay. However, this choice does not lock you into a specific class or archetype. The game encourages you to explore and combine abilities from different skill trees, creating a custom loadout that suits your preferences. You can find special NPCs scattered throughout the game world who will train you in various skills, helping you to adjust your abilities as you progress. As a result, you can combine Trooper abilities with Mentat and any other skill tree later on.
There are four starting classes players can choose from in Dune: Awakening
- Trooper
- Mentat
- Bene Gesserit Acolyte
- Swordmaster
Trooper
- Skill Focus: Offense and Demolition
- Training: Trooper
- Starting Ability: Shigwire Cable – Shoot a barb that attaches to a surface, launching you toward that position.
- Description: Every Great House of Landsraad fields its own standing army or House Guard, and the Backbone of these formations are career soldiers known as troopers.
Troopers are trained to handle intense combat situations, utilizing their offensive skills and demolition expertise to overcome enemies and obstacles. As a Trooper, you will excel in direct combat, using powerful weapons and explosives to dominate the battlefield. With the Shigwire Cable skill in Dune: Awaking, you will start as a damage dealer and get early advantages toward combat-focused gameplay.
House Trooper (Landsraad) in Dune
The soldiers serving the noble houses of the Landsraad, these warriors are essential for the defense and military strength of their respective houses. They are disciplined, highly trained, and loyal to their lords. House Troopers are integral to the power dynamics of the Dune universe, often engaged in conflicts and political maneuvers on behalf of their houses.
Mentat
- Skill Focus: Recon and Strategy
- Training: Recon and Strategy
- Starting Ability: Battlefield Calculation – Scan nearby enemies and objects, gaining information about them.
- Description: A secretive and insular organization, the Order of Mentats conditions their adherents to store and analyze vast amounts of data at superhuman speeds.
Mentats are part of a secretive and insular organization trained to store and analyze vast amounts of data at superhuman speeds. With a focus on recon and strategy, Mentats excel in gathering intelligence and planning complex operations. It’s possible that as a Mentat Class in Dune: Awakening, you can assess situations quickly, gaining valuable information about your surroundings and enemies, thanks to Battlefield Calculation skill – Good exploration and survival starting ability.
Mentats in Dune
This secretive order trains individuals to become human computers capable of processing and analyzing data with incredible speed and accuracy. Mentats serve as advisors and strategists, using their enhanced cognitive abilities to support their patrons. In the Dune universe, Mentats are invaluable for their intellect and analytical skills. They often hold key positions within noble houses and organizations.
Bene Gesserit Acolyte
- Skill Focus: Physical Mastery and Manipulation
- Training: Bene Gesserit
- Starting Ability: Voice: Compel – Use The Voice to force someone towards your position from afar.
- Description: A secretive and insular organization, the Order of Mentats conditions their adherents to store and analyze vast amounts of data at superhuman speeds.
In the books, The Bene Gesserit are a secretive sisterhood known for their advanced physical and mental training, often described as witches. However, in Dune: Awakening, developers confirmed that you could pick this starting class or the house training and learn the skills regardless of gender. The Bene Gesserit Acolytes are trained in physical mastery and manipulation techniques. Those powers allow them to control their bodies and influence others. As an Acolyte, you will use your skills to manipulate enemies and allies, like using The Voice to compel others to do your bidding.
Bene Gesserit in Dune
A secretive and influential sisterhood, the Bene Gesserit are known for their advanced physical and mental training. They manipulate politics and genetics from behind the scenes, striving to achieve their long-term goals. The Bene Gesserit have significant power in the Dune universe, often influencing events through their subtle yet potent interventions.
Swordmaster
- Skill Focus: Close Quarters Aggression
- Training: Swordmaster
- Starting Ability: Deflection – Enter a defensive stance to deflect dart attacks.
- Description: Revered throughout the Imperium, Swordmasters of the fallen Ginaz School still represent the pinnacle of fighting prowess in the Known Universe.
Swordmasters are experts in close-quarters combat, using their agility and precision to dominate in melee encounters. In Dune: Awakening, as a Swordmaster class, you will rely on your defensive skills and aggressive tactics to overpower opponents in hand-to-hand combat.
Swordmasters (Ginaz) in Dune
Swordmasters, elite warriors trained in the now-fallen Ginaz School, excel in exceptional combat skills. They earn reverence for their swordsmanship and close-quarters combat proficiency, often taking roles as bodyguards or military leaders. In the Dune universe, people respect and fear Swordmasters, recognizing that their fighting prowess surpasses that of ordinary soldiers.
Related Video: Dune: Awakening Direct Episode 2
Looking For More About Avowed?
Thank you for reading Dune: Awakening – Starting Classes and Skills Article. We provide the latest news and create guides for Dune, Baldur’s Gate 3, Destiny 2, and ESO. Also, watch me play games on Twitch or visit my YouTube channel!
