Early Game Gear You Need in Dune Awakening
- Yo Mama
- May 15
- 5 min read
Updated: May 21
If you're diving into the vast and brutal world of Dune Awakening, you might be tempted to rush headlong across the Vermilious Gap, thinking it's an early-game finish line to conquer. But trust me, that’s a mistake that could cost you dearly. Before you even think about crossing that expansive desert stretch, you need to gear up properly, especially with some essential Imperial Permits found in South Hagga. These permits unlock powerful equipment that can make or break your survival in the harsh environment of Arrakis.
Today, I’m going to walk you through some of the must-have early game gear pieces you absolutely need before venturing into the Vermilious Gap. These are not just any items—they’re game changers that will dramatically improve your defense, mobility, and overall chances of survival. Let’s get into it.
The Hollower Stillsuit: Your Early Game Armor Essential
One of the first pieces of gear you should prioritize is the Hollower Stillsuit. Unlike the Scavenger Stillsuit that many players start with, the Hollower Stillsuit offers a massive upgrade in armor protection. To put it in perspective, it gives you 10 times more armor protection than the Scavenger Stillsuit and six times more than the Kirab Stillsuit you’ll be able to craft later on.
Why is this important? The stillsuit is your lifeline in the desert—it recycles your body’s moisture and stores it in catch pockets, which you can access anytime by tapping the F key. Think of it as a small emergency reservoir of water you can draw from when your literjon runs dry. This can mean the difference between life and death when traversing the arid wasteland.
To get the Imperial permits needed for the Hollower stillsuit, you’ll need to head to Dewgap Gateway, located in the northwestern part of Hagga South. Here lives a hostile group of inbred scavengers called the Holloway clan, who usually hang out on the rooftops. There are typically seven or eight of these enemies, so if you’re playing solo, it’s smart to stay on the second floor and pick them off one by one. Charging straight to the roof will likely result in getting overwhelmed by the entire clan.
After clearing out these scavengers, you’ll find a constellation chest containing an Imperial permit for a piece of the Hollower stillsuit. However, like most valuable gear in Dune Awakening, the full set is spread across multiple loot cycles. This means you’ll need to return several times to collect the hood, chest, gloves, and shoes. Your chances improve dramatically if you can team up with friends because each player gets their own permit drops, which you can trade among yourselves.
The Hollower stillsuit is perfect for when you’re out in the open—whether you’re building bases, gathering intel, or hunting for treasure. It offers superior protection and resource management, making your early game experience much more manageable.
Aren’s Light Armor: Combat-Ready Protection
While the Hollower Stillsuit is fantastic for general survival and utility, when it comes to combat, you’ll need something tougher. Enter Aren’s Light Armor. This armor is a significant step up from the Scavenger Armor most players cling to at this stage, offering better dart protection and durability than even the Kirab light armor you can craft later in the Gap.
Aren was once a disgraced Kirab warlord who fled south to live among the scavengers. However, the Kirab had enough of his antics and sent a squad to eliminate him. Near his crashed ornithopter, just north of the shipwreck in South Hagga, you’ll find a rock formation with a scavenger camp in front. Look closely at the rocks behind the camp, and you’ll see white lines guiding you up to Aren’s ornithopter.
Beside the crashed ornithopter is a constellation chest containing an Imperial permit for one piece of Aren’s light armor. Like the Hollower Stillsuit, the full set—mask, chest, legs, gloves, and shoes—requires multiple visits to collect all the pieces. But once you have the full set, you’ll be significantly better equipped for combat encounters.
Spice-Infused Copper Dust: The Crafting Key
Both the Hollower Stillsuit and Aren’s Light Armor require a special crafting material called spice-infused copper dust. This resource is vital for upgrading and crafting these early-game armor sets, so knowing where to find it is crucial.
There are two excellent locations in lower Haga to farm spice-infused copper dust:
- The Shipwreck:
Right next to Aren’s crashed ornithopter, inside the final room, there’s a constellation chest that typically drops eight pieces of spice-infused copper dust.
Broken Stone Station:
Located southwest across the sand from the shipwreck, this station also contains a constellation chest where you can collect six more pieces of the dust.
Each time you head back to Dew Gap Gateway or Aren’s crashed ornithopter to hunt for Imperial permits, be sure to swing by both the shipwreck and broken stone station to stock up on spice-infused copper dust. This will keep your crafting queue moving and ensure you can assemble your gear without delay.
Mohandi’s Sandbike Engine Mark 1: Speed is Survival
Before you make your daring trek across the Vermilious Gap, there’s one more essential piece of gear you need: Mohandi’s Sandbike Engine Mark 1. While the standard Mark 1 sandbike engine tops out at 70 km/h, Mohandi’s engine boosts your speed up to an impressive 93 km/h. And the best part? You can add a booster later to push your sandbike’s speed well beyond 100 km/h.
Why does this matter? In the desert, speed is survival. Being able to outrun threats, cover large distances quickly, and leave sandworms in your dust can save your life. This engine is a must-have for anyone serious about exploring and surviving the desert expanses.
To get Mohandi’s engine, you’ll need to visit Keyhole Rock, located right next to the first trial of Aql. The area is held by scavengers, so clear them out thoroughly. Inside a room on the second floor, you’ll find a constellation chest that contains either Sim's Cutter or Mohandi’s engine. If you don’t get the engine the first time, you’ll need to return and try again, but persistence pays off.
Once you’ve got Moandi’s engine, slap it on your sandbike and enjoy the newfound speed and agility. Crossing the desert just got a whole lot easier.
Final Thoughts: Gear Up Before You Go
Heading into the Vermilious Gap without proper gear is a recipe for disaster. The Hollower Stillsuit, Aren’s Light Armor, spice-infused copper dust for crafting, and Mohandi’s sandbike engine are the foundational tools you need to survive and thrive in the early game of Dune Awakening.
These pieces of equipment not only improve your armor and combat readiness but also enhance your mobility and resource management—key factors that dictate your success in this unforgiving world.
Remember, many of these items require multiple visits to specific locations and strategic combat against scavenger clans. Don’t rush; take your time clearing enemies, collecting permits, and gathering materials. If possible, team up with friends to improve your chances of getting duplicate permits and sharing resources.
With this gear in hand, you’ll be ready to tackle the challenges of the Vermilious Gap head-on, leaving your enemies and even the giant sandworms in your dust.
Stay sharp, gear up smart, and see you out there under the scorching sun of Arrakis.
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