Few things in Dune Awakening fill one with more fear than running into a Sandworm. These giant creatures arise out of the sands of the desert, led by the faint rhythmic vibrations, fueled by an urge to explore and destroy. Sandworms can reduce players and their equipment to nothing in seconds. To survive in this harsh environment, knowing how not to get caught or how to outmaneuver these creatures is crucial.
Sandworms patrol the immense Deep Desert and other exposed sand areas. These burrowing animals detect motion and vibrations, whether caused by walking, vehicles, or activated tech, and react by boring in the direction of the movement.
Fencers start fencing off danger when a yellow warning meter pops up, showing an increasing vibration level. As the meter becomes red, thudding gets louder, and a Sandworm will strike. Death due to a Sandworm results in a complete loss of everything carried and vehicles.
How to Get Away from Sandworms in Dune Awakening?
To reduce the risk and preserve your progress, use these tried-and-true methods:
- Rocky areas and solidified ground quieten the Sandworm meter immediately. Routes skirting these areas have significantly lower vibration exposure.
- Refrain from running on open sand, as rushing increases detection chance. Use crouch-walking instead. Nevertheless, if the red meter shows up, only rapid movement towards cover will save you.
- Levitation systems and shields create rhythmic energy signatures that draw Sandworms. Disable these before traveling over sandy terrain to minimize unwanted attention.
- Skills such as Bindu Spirit leaps or Shigawire dashes can gain precious seconds, particularly if the target is nearby rocky ground. Use these in emergencies only to avoid becoming overrun.
- Ornithopters provide near-perfect safety. Airborne travel completely bypasses Sandworm detection. Ground vehicles also benefit from customization, like scanners or rocket turrets.
- Late-game Thumpers (obtainable after key story progress) deliberately create rhythmic pulses to lure worms away from valuable zones like spice fields.
Set 2–3 units downwind of your position, then clear the area quickly. Remember, the worm will eventually consume the Thumper. - Aecdotal accounts indicate that intentionally sacrificing a vehicle, such as causing its explosion, may be able to stop a Sandworm kill before the creature fully emerges. Though unconventional and expensive, it might be worth it to save valuable personal equipment.
If you still have any queries regarding Sandworms, let us know in the comments below.