In Dune Awakening, the Deep Desert represents both danger and opportunity. It's the harshest, most unforgiving region on Arrakis-filled with PvP threats, resource-rich wrecks, spice fields, and the ever-present risk of being swallowed whole by Shai-Hulud. Yet, for the solo player, it's also the most rewarding zone in the entire game. With the right strategy, gear, and mindset, you can earn up to 7 million Solaris in under 30 minutes-and do so without relying on overpowered gear or large guilds.
This guide breaks down exactly how to do that. It's built for solo adventurers who want to maximize profit, avoid common traps, and thrive in one of the game's most competitive zones.
The Big Lie About Gear: Why Tier 6 Isn't Worth It
A lot of Deep Desert guides tell you to grind Tier 6 equipment before entering the PvP zone. That's a huge mistake.
Building Tier 6 ornithopter parts-like the wings and engine-requires a staggering 260 plastium ingots and 160 spice melange, not to mention the advanced vehicle fabricator. You could spend hours grinding all that, only to lose everything in your first PvP encounter.
Instead, aim for a Tier 4 ornithopter with a Tier 5 engine and wings. If you can afford Tier 6, great-but it's entirely optional. The difference in survival between T5 and T6 is minimal, especially since most ambushes happen while you're grounded, not flying.
Here's what you actually need:
Tles Cutter
Soft Step Boots (any level)
Compact Compactor MK5 (optional but great)
Tier 4-5 Ornithopter Scout
These are cheap, easy to replace, and more than capable of handling every profitable activity in the Deep Desert.
Finding the Essential Tools
Tles Cutter:
You can find it in two wreck locations in Shio-one large wreck in the middle and a smaller one in the corner. The big wreck is dark but enemy-free, while the small one has light resistance. If neither has loot, log out, switch siege, and check again. Remember to pack your ornithopter first, or you'll respawn at Git's Reach.
Compact Compactor MK5:
Found in the tech labs in Sector A2 and A3. These are PvE zones, so they're safe and usually unguarded. Even better, many players clear them regularly, so you can sometimes walk right through and grab the chest without a single fight.
Soft Step Boots:
Grab the permit at Testing Station 197. There are only two permits there, so chances are high you'll get one quickly. If not, just log out and switch siege to refresh the loot.
Understanding the Landsraad and Faction Tasks
Before diving into activities, it's important to understand why you're doing them.
The Landsraad (LRAD) is a faction-based system that rewards players for contributing materials, completing PvE tasks, and holding control points. You can even participate as a one-person guild, aligning yourself with any of the major houses.
Each week, you'll receive new tasks-ranging from delivering materials to defeating NPCs-to earn faction points. These points unlock high-tier rewards once enough progress is made for your chosen house.
You can also bribe house representatives (for 300 spice) to reveal tasks early, but that's not efficient for solo players. Instead, focus on completing control points and smaller objectives to climb the ranks naturally.
Activity 1: Capturing Control Points
Control points are one of the easiest solo activities in the Deep Desert-and they reward steady Landsraad progress.
Here's the trick:
You earn 10 points per minute for holding a control point.
You don't need to stay nearby to keep earning.
You'll stop earning once your faction fully captures the house or if an opposing player retakes it.
Control points are rarely defended, so they're ideal for solo players. Use the weekly updated online map (linked in most community hubs) to find unclaimed or enemy-held points. Capture one early in the week, and you can earn full faction rewards passively.
Activity 2: Shipwreck Runs
Shipwrecks are where the Deep Desert's real money is made.
Start with small wrecks (known as "smol wracks")-these often contain Tier 6 permits and valuable ship manifests.
Focus on the small side lids, as they have the highest chance of dropping Tier 6 items.
Then move on to large wrecks, which rotate weekly. Some weeks you'll get the jackpot version-enemy-free and loaded with loot. You can clear one in under a minute and earn massive plastium dust payouts (13-20 per wreck).
At current market prices, plastium dust sells for 150,000-200,000 Solaris each, meaning a good run can easily net you millions in minutes. Even if some wrecks are looted, others will still spawn lootable chests throughout the week.Activity 3: Farming Spice Fields
Spice farming is classic Dune gameplay-and incredibly lucrative when done smartly.
Don't overthink it. You don't need to stash spice on the ground or constantly hide your ornithopter. Instead:
1.Keep your scout deployed.
2.Compact 10-12 times, load up, lift slightly to reset worm aggro, then repeat.
3.Keep your altitude low and movement subtle to avoid other players.
This cycle prevents worm breaks and minimizes exposure to PvP ambushes.
If someone's already compacting a field, don't instantly flee-land nearby, say hi, and compact respectfully. Most players aren't looking for fights; they just want to leave with their spice intact.
Activity 4: Mining for Profit
Mining works similarly to spice farming but depends on how committed you are.
If you're running mixed activities, it's better to farm ore in the PvP zone using a Scout Ornithopter, then process it at a safe base near Haga Basin.
However, if you're dedicating a full session to mining, build a small base close to the PvP border and process ore onsite. The PvP zone offers dense ore clusters that can be mined incredibly fast-and unlike spice, they don't attract as many players or worms.
Activity 5: Treasure Hunting