PSXETraveling around Arrakis is surely fun, but sometimes it can feel like quicksand with how slow new levels come. So you might be wondering, how to level up fast in Dune Awakening and get to the endgame sooner?
This handy guide will tell you everything you need to know: which activities to focus on for maximum XP, which classes outperform others in leveling, and a few simple tips that can make a big difference. Let’s go!
How does leveling work in Dune Awakening?
If you’ve played any other MMO, leveling in Dune Awakening will feel pretty familiar. Your character’s level reflects how strong it is and how much time you’ve invested – you start at 1 and go all the way to 200. Level-ups reward your determination with all kinds of goodies, including Intel and skill points, access to new tech and zones, and so on.
To level up, you need to earn experience (XP) – a resource gained from all kinds of activities, from defeating regular mobs to finishing complex House contracts. The total amount of XP required to hit the level cap is 458,600 – that’s a lot! But there’s no rush: your road to 200 is a fun part of the game experience and shouldn’t be overlooked.
Game phases
Speaking of the course of that journey, it’s common to divide Dune’s leveling process into three stages:
- Levels 1-7: First steps and unlocking essentials
- Levels 8-100: Core progression
- Levels 101-200: Exponential challenge
Stage 1 is about getting to grips with the game’s main systems: combat, crafting, scanning, and managing water and heat for survival. Levels come fast, and before long, you’ll find yourself entering stage 2, which is steady and predictable: your character’s power grows gradually through new abilities and gear, you explore the world more freely, and each next level consistently requires 600 XP.
Things start to change after level 100. Here’s a look at how much XP some of them require:
- Level 101 – 650 XP
- 108 – 700 XP
- 125 – 821 XP
- 150 – 999 XP
- 155 – 2,212 XP
- 188 – 10,216 XP
- 200 – 13,126 XP
Does this drastically change your experience? In some ways, yes. Up to level 125, each level grants both Intel and Skill Points. After that, you only get Skill Points. Reaching 125 should be your primary milestone. But beyond that, there’s no need to chase every next level at the speed of sound. It’s fine to slow down a bit. There’ll be some level-gated content in your way, but since the game has so much to offer, you’ll hardly ever be short on things to do.
What are the best XP sources in Dune Awakening?
It’s no secret that some activities are more rewarding than others, experience-wise – so to level quickly in Dune Awakening, you need to know which of them to prioritize. We’ve packed three activities that should be on top of every power leveler’s to-do list – let’s see what they are!
Main Storyline
The vast, boundless desert of Arrakis comes to life through the stories unfurling across its dunes. The main Storyline is how you learn those stories – and participate in them! Also known as Journeys or Story Contracts, Main Quests are a reliable source of experience at any level, as well as your key to unlocking and progressing through various systems.
What makes the Main Quests so good for Dune Awakening, fast leveling, is that they often yield a massive amount of XP. They’re also reliable as they give you a clear goal and guide you toward completing it. There’s hardly ever a shortage of them, and the rewards go far beyond just experience: you also earn resources, gear, system progress, unlocks, and more.
Your first encounter with the Main Storyline happens right after character creation: the tutorial and intro quests can’t be skipped. They teach you the game’s basics and help you through your first level-ups. As your character continues to grow, you’ll unlock plenty of real-deal Journeys – some of them will help you unlock advanced systems like new tech trees, skills (mentor quests), and more. Eventually, around level 80, the stream of Story Quests slows down, and you’ll rely on them less for later progression.
House Contracts
The “House” in House Contracts refers to one of the two main factions on Arrakis: House Atreides and House Harkonnen. You pick one and take tasks from it. What sets these Contracts apart from Storyline Quests is that you can complete them repeatedly. As you level up, they scale along with you, and at higher levels, you earn more valuable rewards for the same missions.
Some of these quests reward an enormous amount of experience, up to 10,000. Of course, they take lots of time to complete and won’t be easy, but that’s certainly an attractive goal to work towards. On top of that, completing House Contracts improves your reputation with the chosen faction, unlocking more cosmetic items and powerful gear, so it’s not just about leveling.
House Contracts become especially important after around level 80, when Main Quests become less frequent. From that point on, they’ll likely be your primary source of XP all the way to level 200.
Exploration
In Dune Awakening, this word means much more than meets the eye. Unlike many other MMOs, it’s not just wandering around looking for occasional treasure chests or rare mobs, although you’ll find those too. Despite Arrakis being one vast desert, it’s anything but empty. You’ll find signs of life all across the sands, and following those tracks can lead to ambushes, shootouts, resource nodes, stranded ships, and more. And all that brings opportunities to earn experience alongside other rewards.
The stronger your character becomes, the further into the barren wilds you can safely venture. If you don’t feel like carrying on with the Storyline or if repeatable House Contracts start to feel stale, you can always find a welcome change of pace by leaving it all behind for a stroll in the desert.
The only downside of exploration as an XP source is that it’s less reliable than quests. You never know what you are going to find – and when you will, it might be a little too tough. As a result, you may spend more time than expected. The experience gained will be worth it in the end, but it’s still not perfect if you want to be fully in control of your playtime.
Best starter classes for leveling in Dune Awakening
Early leveling is noticeably affected by your choice of starter class. Some classes are more fit for early-game challenges, and your progress with them is fast and steady. Others… Not so much.
Take a look at our ranking:
- Swordmaster
- Trooper
- Mentat
- Bene Gesserit
Swordmaster and Trooper make your early-game experience smooth and low-stress. Their combat is straightforward, their sustainability is high, and their mobility is solid (though slightly less so for the Swordmaster). Overall, they are great picks for both solo and group play.
Mentat and Bene Gesserit, on the other hand, lag behind in terms of how fast they can level up in the early stages. Both have a significant learning curve. Mentat’s skills are also heavily team-focused, while Bene Gesserit combat style is tricky and less forgiving than others.
So if you’re new to the game or just want to level up an alt fast, you’d better stick to Swordmaster and Trooper as starters. Nothing will prevent you from unlocking Mentat and Gesserit’s skill trees later in the game anyway.
Tips for faster Leveling in Dune Awakening
So now you know which sources give you lots of experience and which starter classes can make your early game less of a drag. So far, so good – and you can make it even better with a few more tricks. Let’s see what can help you speed up your leveling even further.
Make use of Intel and Skill Points
As your character grows, you earn intel points and skill points – both powerful resources when used wisely. Skill points are awarded at every level and let you enhance your combat abilities, survival tools, and passive perks. Intel points, gained up to level 125, unlock new tech options and gear upgrades.
If allocated properly, those points can make your character stronger in combat, more mobile during exploration, and more versatile in general. That leads to fewer breaks, easier victories, and, ultimately, faster XP gains.
Finish Ability Caves early
Ability caves are literal caves used for class trials. Beating them gives you access to new abilities that can make both combat and navigation easier. The sooner you unlock them, the wider your toolkit will be.
You can’t do that too soon, though, since you first need to get a quest from your mentor to gain access. Just prioritize these tasks whenever they appear, and your character will benefit greatly.
Use Power Leveling services
No matter how efficient your leveling strategy is, you still need to take breaks every once in a while. But that doesn’t mean you have to stop earning XP – you can hire a professional player to keep going for you!
Take ArmadaBoost, for example – one of the most trusted game boosting stores. Their Dune Awakening Power Leveling service lets you reach any level you choose, quickly and effortlessly. You can even pick a custom starting level – the price adjusts automatically, so you never overpay.
Sure, this solution isn’t for everyone. But these days, game boosting is a normal part of gaming, and there’s nothing embarrassing about using it. After all, how else are you supposed to hit level 200 and explore late-game content if you’re a busy person and can’t play 24/7?
If safety is your top concern, just check other people’s experiences before ordering. Reputable boosting stores usually showcase their Trustpilot pages, so you can read verified customer feedback and make up your own mind if you can do business with them.
* * *
With all the knowledge you have now, it’s hard to imagine your leveling going wrong. You’ve learnt which activities yield the most XP, which classes level up fastest, and why Intel and Skill points matter – at this point, there’s little that can slow you down.
Just remember: everything is good in moderation, and the best strategies come from balancing various methods. Combine your tools wisely – story quests, House contracts, exploration, and upgrades should all work together to keep your progress efficient and steady. And if you’re not sure about something, you’ll likely find the answer here, so always feel free to revisit this Dune Awakening leveling guide!