The unforgiving deserts of Arrakis may seem vast and intimidating at first, but with the right tools and a keen eye, players in Dune Awakening can uncover hidden caches buried beneath the sand. These stashes can reward explorers with Solaris, essential crafting materials, and occasionally powerful gear, depending on your luck. While the side quest “Buried Treasure” introduces this mechanic early on, it doesn’t provide enough direction. Here’s a detailed breakdown of how to efficiently locate and excavate buried treasure in Dune Awakening.
Before venturing into the desert in search of buried treasure, you must first obtain two essential Fremen tools: the Handheld Resource Scanner and the Static Compactor. These become accessible once you complete the Second Trial of Aql, part of the Vermillius Gap progression.
How to Find Buried Treasure in Dune Awakening?
The Scanner is a cartographic tool used to detect resource anomalies hidden beneath the sand, while the Compactor is responsible for unearthing the buried cache. Crafting the Scanner requires nine Iron Ingots and six EMF Generators, while the Compactor demands ten Iron Ingots and seven EMF Generators. If you find yourself lacking in materials, moisture-sealed caves scattered throughout Arrakis offer a reliable source of these Fremen-specific components.
Once your equipment is ready, head out to the open sands, especially near the borders of rocky outcrops where caches tend to be more common. Activate the Handheld Resource Scanner and begin sweeping the surrounding area. If a diamond-shaped icon appears on your HUD, you’ve located a potential buried stash.
Although caches can be discovered across many locations, success rates improve when the Sandworm activity meter is stable or low. The scanner will also detect other resource nodes such as flour sand and spice sand, which can be useful if you want to gather materials simultaneously while treasure hunting.
After identifying a buried cache, equip the Static Compactor and fire it directly at the marked location. This action compresses the sand and reveals the hidden loot. The rewards may range from Solaris and crafting items to rare gear, though you may occasionally end up with nothing more than raw ore or sparkle sand. Nonetheless, the effort can be worthwhile, especially if you’re after rare components.
It’s important to note that digging is not always guaranteed to yield valuable loot, so persistence is key. The treasure system in Dune Awakening leans on randomized outcomes, but certain areas often offer higher returns with lower risk.