In Funcom’sDune: Awakening, survival and progress boil down to smart resource management and efficient advancement. This thesis rings even more true for multiplayer enthusiasts who want to explore Arrakis with other players who might pose a threat to their survival. Due to the game’s fast-paced nature (and under the heavy influence of theDunemovies and series), it might make sense to the average Joe to beeline for theOrnithopter as the vehicle of choiceahead of other options like the Buggy after unlocking the Sandbike.
The Ornithopter has a lot going for it lore-wise in theDunefranchise, and coupled with the fact that it is currently the only airborne vehicle inDune: Awakening, it’s no surprise that players have their sights trained on it as a preferred mode of traversal. However, ignoring the Buggy is one of the worst early-game blunders players can make in the game, and here is why embracing every tier—especially this one—is essential for long-term success.
The Buggy Is One Of The Best Investments Players Can Make In Dune: Awakening
It’s tough to resist the wiles of the Ornithopter; it’s sleek, fast, and gives prized vertical mobility that drastically changeshow players traverse in Arrakis—sandworms are essentially reduced to a footnote with the vehicle. In addition to the movement mechanics, some of the vehicle’s specializations serve critical purposes. For instance, the Assault Ornithopters carry arms, and Carrier Ornithopters transport resources and large groups across the treacherous desert in short periods. These variations of the Ornithopter only increase its appeal, since players can make a choice based on their playstyles.
Given the benefits, it stands to reason that its efficiency would make it an instant favorite - and it has. Many assume that by skipping the Buggy, they will reach flight capabilities sooner, as building the Buggy is quite resource-intensive, but this assumption overlooks the crucial fact that the Buggy pays for itself almost immediately. Skipping the Buggy in the vehicle tier is not only inefficient, but it can slow down the path to the Ornithopter, ironically making the grind longer, not shorter as is presumed.
The Buggy’s Superior Mining Yields Make Progression Very Easy
A properly specced buggy transforms farming trips for players despite its relatively slow speed. It can carry several essential materials (and ore) in a fraction of the time it takes otherDune: Awakeningvehiclesto do so, while also providing a host of other benefits. For instance, the Buggy’s Cutteray addition yields significantly more resources compared to standard hand-mining tools. If players take it a little further and spec themselves as Planetologists, they can pull in 90 units of aluminum from a single node, while the Industrial Handheld Cutteray can only manage 48 units.
This bonus applies to various materials, including copper, salvage metal, granite, carbon, and fuel cells, which exhibit the largest disparity (500 fuel cells per pack, as opposed to just 90 from manual means).
Players are advised to spec themselves as Planetologists when going out to mine, as they can always respec to a combat-focused build when duty calls.
Another point in the Buggy’s favor is its innate ability to handle inventory. Inventory management is one of the more subtlechallenges inDune: Awakening, and the Buggy helps solve it. Players can transport large quantities of resources in a single run, and a single properly planned outing can net players enough resources to build an Ornithopter - paying off its cost almost immediately.
An argument against this is that the Ornithopter’s speed compensates for the opportunity cost of missing out on the Buggy’s benefits, allowing players to reachkey mining locationsquicker. However, players can circumvent the need for speed with a little strategic planning. If home bases are situated in ideal locations surrounded by mining hotspots, a Buggy has the potential to be an excellent investment. When players eventually get to higher tiers and need to get more premium materials, an Ornithopter could then prove to be more useful due to its ability to cover large distances quickly. Whatever the case, the Buggy streamlines progression inDune: Awakening, and it shouldn’t be overlooked.
