Our Dune Best Classes guide is your go-to instruction for mastering survival and combat on the sands of Arrakis. In this guide, we rank all five available classes in our Dune class tier list based on early-access performance, versatility, and gameplay roles. We also provide the best classes for beginners, as well as for Dune PvE & PvP, for solo and group players.
4.9Dune Awakening Classes Tier List
| Tier | Class |
|---|---|
| S | Swordmaster, Mentat |
| A | Planetologist, Bene Gesserit |
| B | Trooper |
Dune Awakening is a breath of fresh air in the field of open-world multiplayer games, featuring 5 playable classes, each with unique specializations and skills. Our Dune Awakening class tier list is based on our early-access experience, their overall performance, and suitability for various situations.
Before you unleash the full potential of any class, even S-Tier ones, you need to Level Up. Our team can significantly speed up this process to allow you to be one of the first players to experience the benefits of the high-level character and explore the sandy landscape of Arrakis.
S Tier
Just like in any other game, Dune Awakening S-Tier classes are the best of their kind. These classes are outstanding in terms of offense and defense, they offer great survivability, and excel in both PvE and PvP.
Swordmaster
The Swordmaster stands at the top of the current Dune meta. They are excellent for both PvE and PvP scenarios. This class thrives on aggressive melee combat, and skills like Deflection or Solid Stance allow you to withstand the longest fights.
Dune Swordmaster’s skill trees, such as The Blade, The Will, and The Way, enhance not only their offensive capabilities but also improve their defense and mobility. Mastery of stamina management and terrain utilization is crucial, making the Swordmaster a rewarding choice for players who prefer a high-skill, high-reward playstyle.
Mentat
Mentats in Dune are good for strategic support roles. Being excellent in both early and late game, Mentats also offer turrets, debuffs, and precision strikes. Their skill trees — Mental Calculus, Assassination, and Tactician — are designed for a playstyle focused on information gathering and battlefield control.
Abilities like The Sentinel provide autonomous support, while poison-based Poison Capsule attacks and decoys can disrupt enemy plans. Mentats are particularly effective when paired with more aggressive classes. Team performance increases through their utility and strategic insights.
A Tier
Dune Awakening A-Tier classes are well-rounded choices with decent flexibility. They might not be the best at each individual fight, but they are at home in most scenarios and cooperate easily with most team builds. Excellent for players seeking reliability without sacrificing any flexibility.
Planetologist
Unlike the other classes, the Planetologist is not available at game start; it must be unlocked via an early main quest. Once unlocked, Planetologist becomes a powerful support and exploration class, shining in the late game.
Planetologists have an array of passive bonuses that boost resource gathering and survival, making traveling and farming far more efficient. They can carry more gear, find better loot, and reveal gathering nodes to benefit any party or base. Their starting skills and later tech-tree options are designed for solo-farming or cargo transport rather than combat.
In combat, however, they are the weakest of all classes. The Planetologist trades firepower for support: it might boost allies or heal, but it cannot match even a damage dealer in a firefight.
Bene Gesserit
Dune Bene Gesserit class is centered around manipulation and control. They have a wide range of interesting abilities in their skill trees — The Voice, Weirding Way, and Body Control — with the help of which they can influence enemy behavior. Also, they use skills like Weirding Step and Ignore to enhance survivability in long and close-range combat.
However, despite intriguing mechanics, their effectiveness is highly situational. It requires precise timing and a deep understanding of their mechanics. This class is best suited for Dune players who have managed to gain enough experience and enjoy a cerebral approach to combat and are willing to invest time mastering its nuances.
B Tier
B-tier classes in Dune possess specialized capabilities that excel in the proper hands or circumstances. They tend to need more setup and preparation, which makes them less reliable for particular situations in Dune.
Trooper
Dune Troopers are all about a balanced and adaptable playstyle. They are a solid choice for various combat situations that require fast adaptability and response. Specializing in ranged weaponry and explosives, they can control the combat with abilities like Shigawire Claw and Anti-gravity Field.
Their skill trees — Gunnery, Suspensor Training, and Tactical Tech — provide options for both offensive and support roles. While they may not match the raw power of Swordmasters in melee, their versatility and crowd control capabilities can still make them a valuable asset in team compositions.
Dune Best Class To Pick
Even though Dune: Awakening offers only 5 classes to play, it can be hard to decide which of them to play. Some players prefer solo play, while others plan to play with friends, some like the PvE, and others seek to fight in PvP. That’s why we’ve gathered a list of Dune best classes to pick in any situation:
| Beginners | Swordmaster, Trooper |
|---|---|
| Group Play | Mentat |
| Solo Play | Swordmaster |
| PvE | Planetologist |
| PvP | Mentat |
| Endgame | Bene Gesserit |
Every class mentioned on our list has distinctive advantages:
- Beginners: Swordmaster and Trooper are the best picks for players who have just started the game, as they both are mobile, easy-to-master, and offer great survivability.
- Group Play: Mentat is the best option due to their support-oriented play style and versatility.
- Solo Play: Swordmaster is an ultimate choice due to straightforward skills, lack of reliance on mechanics, and good damage output.
- PvE: Even though it’s not available from the start, Planetologist is the best PvE class so far. Their skills enhance gathering and exploration, which makes the gameplay much more enjoyable.
- PvP: Controlling the battlefield is key, so Mentat is the best PvP fighter. It’s hard to stay unnoticed and undefeated due to their skills.
- Endgame: Bene Gesserit skills are tailored for the endgame, and this class performs best in the hands of a player who has made it to the late game.
Dune Best Classes for Beginners
As a first-time player venturing into the harsh dunes of Arrakis, you need to select a class that offers balanced survivability, easy mechanics, and early-game usability. Some of the Dune Awakening proposed initial starting classes are easy to manage and adaptable. Therefore, Dune best classes for beginners are:
- Swordmaster
- Trooper
- Bene Gesserit
Beginners can struggle with completing certain activities in Dune, e.g., dungeons, due to complicated and unknown mechanics. But it doesn’t mean you should skip them, as our team can complete Dungeons for you and farm valuable gear pieces.
Swordmaster
Swordmaster is the easiest class for new players in Dune: Awakening. As a melee class, it’s an easy class to master, and new players can very quickly get the hang of the game’s combat mechanics. The abilities of the Swordmaster provide offense as well as defense simultaneously, so it is very easy to learn as a new player’s class.
Trooper
Trooper is a middle-range option, blending ranged combat ability and versatility. Troopers fire guns and grenades over long distances, allowing them to keep new players out of hand-to-hand combat while still being able to inflict meaningful injury. The skill trees allow them to opt between being aggressive or supportive, which makes them as well-suited to the majority of combat roles as any other option.
Bene Gesserit
Bene Gesserit is our third option, as it excels at mobility and crowd control. As the abilities allow mobility and control over enemies, this class can do well under the kind of players who are patient enough to master its mechanics. But due to how complex it is, it may be less welcoming to newer players, though.
Dune Best Classes for Group Play
In Dune team-based content, the value of a class shifts from solo survivability to group synergy. You start to evaluate how well a class controls space, supports allies, or scales team efficiency. Some Dune classes shine in the spotlight, while others thrive by boosting the entire squad’s power. Therefore, Dune Awakening best classes for group play are:
- Mentat
- Planetologist
- Bene Gesserit
Mentat
Mentats are the backbone of Dune strategic group play. With battlefield control, recon abilities, and debuffs, they amplify the effectiveness of aggressive teammates and shut down enemy momentum. Their mix of support and tactical damage makes them invaluable in PvP squads and PvE raids alike.
Planetologist
While not a frontline fighter, the Planetologist shines in long-term group efficiency. With Scientist and Mechanic trees, they boost resource yields by up to 40% and improve vehicle usage — perfect for logistics-heavy PvE or expedition-focused groups. In a support role, they enhance group sustainability and exploration speed.
Bene Gesserit
Bene Gesserit players can serve as elite damage dealers — if they know what they’re doing. Their high-skill toolkit allows for burst damage and disruption, but they lack consistency and support tools. When piloted by experienced players, they can carry fights. Otherwise, their performance is hit-or-miss in team settings.
If you are not sure you can be a damage dealer, or you just need a reliable ally by your side, ask our Pro Players for assistance. They will join your team and take any required role, and you will get all the benefits of the game while they grind.
Dune Best Classes for Solo Play
Let’s discuss the best classes for Dune solo play based on persistent gameplay. As seen from the performance of the classes in early access, some of them are capable of acting without the team’s support, which makes them an excellent choice for solo players. The best options among them are:
- Swordmaster
- Trooper
- Planetologist
Soloing in Dune Awakening means venturing alone into danger on Arrakis — without healers, without tanks, and without distractions. You’re going to have to do it solo, and you need a class that gives you survivability, self-sufficiency, and consistent damage to get through it. Not every class can do it, yet the classes mentioned below are well-suited when you’re soloing.
Swordmaster
Swordmaster serves as the standard against which solo players are measured. As one of the melee stamina-based classes, which can dash, strike accurately, as well as parry, this class possesses abilities that greatly increase survivability against multiple enemies within combat.
Because their might is not derived from team buffs or clever positioning, Swordmasters can solo the strongest PvE mobs or even the most powerful PvP ambushes.
Trooper
Troopers offer a hybrid experience well-suited to players who want something of everything. The tech-based skills and ranged damage, like Shigawire Claw or Tactical Field, allow you to kite, reposition, and make area denial.
The Gunnery or Support tree makes Troopers independent tanks with something to contribute in every situation. You won’t out-kill a Swordmaster, but you’ll have room to play unencumbered at range.
Planetologist
You’ll need to uncap the Planetologist halfway through, but otherwise, it’s utopia for solo survival players thereafter. With passives committed to terrain acclimatization, sensitivity to loot, and protection in harsh terrain, Planetologists can scavenge and fight with far less risk.
Although Planetologist’s own solo combat is subpar, their equipment is bespoke to players who prefer stealth, efficiency, and sustainable long-term survival in open-world content. Ideal for solo farming, exploring, and survival, where others die.
4.9To sum up our Dune Best Classes guide, Dune Awakening might only offer five playable classes right now, but each one brings something unique to the table. From the brute strength and defensive finesse of the Swordmaster to the tactical edge of the Mentat, your class choice will shape your entire experience. This tier list helps you figure out what suits your style — whether you’re grinding solo, grouping up with friends, or looking to conquer PvP.
