Arrakis
Arrakis (also known by its Fremen name, Dune) is the most valuable planet in the Known Universe, and thus, the Imperium, since it is the only place where spice can be found.
Lore
[TODO: mention pan, graben, and sink terrain and fremen migration to arrakis and natives; mention Southern Hemisphere has no satellites; mystery of how the worms arrived on Arrakis]
In-Game
Arrakis is where all Sleepers begin their journey - building, exploring, and surviving.
Playable regions
There are three known playable regions on Arrakis: Hagga Basin, Deep Desert, and Polar Cap. The Player has access to the Hagga Basin and Overland maps in-game and on the wiki. The current Overland map is limited to the Northern Hemisphere of Arrakis.
Polar Cap is expected to be released in December 2027 as part of the Blood and Ice expansion.
Hagga Basin Landmarks
The Hagga Basin region features several terrain landmarks and structures:
- Testing stations
- Enemy outposts
- Tradeposts (Griffin's Reach, Anvil, and Crossroads)
- House Fortresses (Helius Gate and Riftwatch)
- Shipwrecks
- Caves and camps
- Terrain landmarks:
Other landmarks
Other landmarks can be reached using the Overland map:
- Settlements - which serve as common social hubs offering various services and merchants: Arrakeen and Harko Village
- Story locations - are typically a one-time experience tied to Journeys:
- minor landmarks - which are accessible only with an active compatible Quest, most of which are re-playable:
Polar landmarks
[TODO]
Locals
There are several groups of locals and factions present on Arrakis.
- Hostile locals (such as Scavengers, Kirab, Sandflies, Slavers, Maas Kharet, and Deserters)
- Residents of settlements, fortressess, and tradeposts, including Taxi Pilots
- Travelling questgivers (such as Arkady Demidenko, Ishmur, The Desert Ghoul, Shahbazi Hoon)
- Members of Planetary Powers:
- Water Shipper Guild members
- Spice Miner's Guild crew members
- Spacing Guild representatives
- Members of Interstellar Institutions:
- Representatives from the Landsraad Great Houses
- Bene Gesserit sisters and truthsayers
- Imperial representatives, such as a planetologists and treasurers
- Hostile Sardaukar nighttime patrols and CHOAM mercenaries
- Suk Medical School Doctors
- Bene Tleilax fleshshaper
Languages
Several languages can be read on walls and other surfaces and can be heard when interacting with NPCs.
Wildlife
- Sandworms are one of the most significant and iconic fauna in the Hagga Basin and Deep Desert regions, acting as divine "givers" of life and "takers" of death in the Dune universe.
- Other wildlife can be found in some regions of the planet, such as the Kulons in Arrakeen and Harkovillage. This wildlife is also represented by statues and solido projections.
Landscape
Hagga Basin and Deep Desert
Water is the most precious resource on Arrakis. In the Hagga Basin and Deep Desert, it is used for crafting and for keeping the Player hydrated.
Each region's biome (e.g. Hagga Basin has several biomes such as the Vermillius Gap) has its own heat rating, which raises the importance of staying hydrated.
- Vegetation: Vegetation, such as Plant Fiber, dew fields, or agave plants) Additional plant varieties can be found within testing stations across the planet.
- Terrain: the open sand can contain quicksand, drum sand, flour sand, or a spice field.
- Minerals: Ore density vary based on the biome's heat rating and location. Aluminium can be mined in hotter biomes than Iron Ore and Copper Ore.
[TODO add minerals for cold weather]
Apart from a biome's temperature causing a sunstroke and terrain causing vehicles to be lost to quicksand, radiation is another environmental hazard present on parts of Arrakis.
Polar biomes
The Polar Sink features two distinct biomes: the tundra and the ice cap.
[TODO: mention Fire, new status effect from freezing ]
Weather
Sandstorms: Storms that occur in Hagga Basin and the Deep Desert, which reduce visibility and may be deadly to players that are not sheltered. These storms can damage unshielded structures and not enclosed vehicles.
Coriolis Storms: Weekly storm in the Deep Desert, which destroys all players and their vehicles and structures present. The storm also uncovers and ships the locations of points of interest above the A-row.
[TO DO: cold weather and blizzard]
Planetary events
Recurring events in Hagga Basin and Deep Desert:
- Weekly Landsraad missions and decrees occur, which impact all the players on Arrakis.
- Ships are crashing from the sky onto the open sand, likely due to the War of Assassins.
- Spice blows are audible explosions occurring on the open sand. They are as indicators that spice fields have formed.
- Treasures are buried open sands of Hagga Basin and the Deep Desert. The Player can spot their location using a handheld or attached Scanner.
- Limited time events, such as giant turrets shooting at the sky and causing a constant barrage of ships falling all around Hagga Basin, as part of the CHOAM Salvage Rights event.
Orbit
Heighliner: This Starship orbits Arrakis and can be seen from the ground in Hagga Basin. The Player arrives to Arrakis on a Imperial Penal Transport that likely travelled through this Heighliner.
Moons: Two moons orbit Arrakis. The First Moon, (often called The Hand of God or Krelln) and Second Moon (also known as Muad'dib or Arvon). [TODO add picture of two moons]
Trivia
Regions
- Minor Erg: This region is shown on the overland map. However, there are no marked locations there as of the conclusion of Book 1. Within the story of the Lost Harvest Content Pack, it is mentioned that the carryall for the Mithra harvester was heading to this region. Also, the Gift of the Sands cosmetic pack contains a table depicting the territory of this region.
- Broken Lands: Raiders of the Broken Lands Cosmetic Pack mentioned that "broken lands are shattered plains of broken rock, known for their fearsome raiders." The Smugglers are likely the region's raiders, as their cosmetic set was included in the region's corresponding content pack. This region is shown on the overland map. However, there are no marked locations there as of the conclusion of Book 1.
- Polar Sink: The Polar Sink is a special region in Dune: Spice Wars, where a unique building, the Water Extractor, can be constructed.
Settlements
- Windsack: This village near the Shield Wall is mentioned in-game. However, it is inaccessible on the overland map.
- Fallen Light: Fallen Light was originally meant to be a settlement for a potential third faction, the Smugglers. Concept art is available for this planned settlement. (Artstation)(Artstation)
Pre-launch photography
