11.06.2025
Which Starting Class to Choose in Dune Awakening? (Mentor & Class Guide)
When you're just getting started, one of the most confusing questions during character creation is: which starting class to choose in Dune: Awakening? And rightfully so: this decision shapes how you'll fight, survive, and explore the harsh barrens ahead.
In this guide, we'll break down everything you need to know about the game's classes: from what each of them offers to how specializations shape your build, and which options are best for new players. Read on to make an informed decision and enjoy the game without frustration!
🤔 What are classes in Dune: Awakening?
Starting classes – also known as schools or mentors – shape your first steps in the unforgiving barren world of Dune: Awakening. They determine your initial abilities, combat style, and how you interact with the hostile environment of Arrakis. Here's the full list of who you can be in the game:
- Bene Gesserit
- Mentat
- Planetologist
- Swordmaster
- Trooper
But how exactly do they affect your experience? Here's an example: do you prefer ranged or melee combat? If you'd rather shoot enemies down from afar, consider The Trooper. This class is a gun enthusiast who always carries along a couple of firearms and gadgets. That lets you stay out of harm's way without worrying about blocking hits or dodging blades. But if you prefer to keep your enemies close, the Swordmaster is your go-to. This class offers a melee-focused style with high damage and high sustainability.
Want a fancier skill kit? The Bene Gesserit Acolyte offers stealth, evasion, and mind-control powers, giving you tools to manipulate enemies rather than face them head-on. Looking to focus on collecting resources and supporting your friends? The Mentat is that sort of guy: a more tactical class that shines in keeping allies buffed and the area scanned for traps and sources of useful materials. But it comes at the cost of being a poor 1-on-1 duelist.
Let’s quickly compare what sets these classes apart in terms of focus, difficulty, and role. Check out the table below:
| CLASS | FOCUS | COMBAT STYLE | BEGINNER FRIENDLY | UNLOCKED FROM START |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bene Gesserit | Mind control, high mobility, stealth | Melee + Utility | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Mentat | Intel gathering, buffs, support | Support | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Planetologist | Resource gathering, survival, exploration | None | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| Swordmaster | High sustainability, melee combat | Melee | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Trooper | Guns, gadgets, damage | Ranged | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
One last thing before we dive deeper: while your starting class can't be changed, your skill set isn’t limited to just that school. As you level up and progress through the game, you can unlock and combine abilities from other classes—creating truly unique hybrid builds. Want to be a stealthy Swordmaster with recon drones? Or a Trooper with Bene Gesserit mind tricks? You can.
Now with all the basics out of the way, let’s break down each class in more detail.
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💪 What makes each class special?
In this section, you'll get a closer look at each class in Dune: Awakening. What are their core strengths? Are they good for newcomers? And what specializations and abilities do they offer? But wait – what exactly are specializations, again?
Specializations (specs for short) are essentially three different branches within a class. As you level up, you can invest your resources into the spec you enjoy most. For example, if you play as a Trooper and love guns, you can specialize in them to become a better shooter. But if gadgets are more your thing, you can put shooting aside and focus on them. Thus, you're choosing between specialization in shooting and gadgets.
Each spec comes with its own perks and abilities. And what's great is that you can mix and match them. Thus, you can build a well-rounded character – or double down on a single path to master it fully.
Alright, now that we're on the same page with specializations, let's begin with our first class...
Bene Gesserit: psycho killer 🥷
💪 Strengths: Stealth, mobility, and mental manipulation.
🐣 Beginner-friendly? Yes! Although mastering Bene Gesserit isn't simple, surviving the early game is relatively easy: controlling enemies saves you from harm and high mobility makes it more convenient to navigate the desert.
🔓 Unlocked from the start? Yes.
📚 Specializations & abilities:
| SPECIALIZATION | THEME | EXAMPLE ABILITIES |
|---|---|---|
| Body Control | Survivability & resistance |
|
| The Voice | Mental manipulation & crowd control |
|
| Weirding Way | Mobility & rapid strikes |
|
Mentat: dangerous mind 🧠
💪 Strengths: Intel gathering, support.
🐣 Beginner-friendly? No. Making the most of Mentat requires a good understanding of the game's mechanics which comes with experience. Besides, it truly shines as a part of a team, so unless you prefer playing in a group, handling enemies might become a bigger challenge than it should be at early levels.
🔓 Unlocked from the start? Yes.
📚 Specializations & abilities:
| SPECIALIZATION | THEME | EXAMPLE ABILITIES |
|---|---|---|
| Assassination | Silent takedowns & negative effects |
|
| Mental Calculus | Precision damage & weak points |
|
| Tactician | Area control & gadgets |
|
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Planetologist: life is a journey 🧭
💪 Strengths: Exploration, terrain navigation, resource gathering.
🐣 Beginner-friendly? No. This class is not designed to easily decimate enemies – instead, it encourages a very different approach to interacting with the environment. Not something a new player will be likely willing to figure out. Besides, there's one more barrier...
🔓 Unlocked from the start? No. It's the only class that you can't access right from the start, which makes it even less beginner-friendly. Unlocking Planetologist requires completing the quest "Minimic Film Recovery" – you can start it near Testing Station #2 in Griffin's Reach Tradepost (Hagga Basin South).
📚 Specializations & abilities:
| SPECIALIZATION | THEME | EXAMPLE ABILITIES |
|---|---|---|
| Explorer | Navigation & mobility |
|
| Mechanic | Vehicles & tools |
|
| Scientist | Resource gathering |
|
Swordmaster: beat 'em up ⚔️
💪 Strengths: Melee damage, close-quarter combat, survivability.
🐣 Beginner-friendly? No. Melee combat is rather demanding: you need to understand the game's approach to timing attacks, managing stamina, and assessing your surroundings. Experienced players will find the gameplay very rewarding, but newcomers should focus on more accessible classes.
🔓 Unlocked from the start? Yes.
📚 Specializations & abilities:
| SPECIALIZATION | THEME | EXAMPLE ABILITIES |
|---|---|---|
| The Blade | Offense |
|
| The Way | Stamina |
|
| The Will | Defense |
|
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Trooper: shoot 'em up 🔫
💪 Strengths: Ranged damage, demolition tools.
🐣 Beginner-friendly? Yes! This class' gameplay is straightforward and simple. It's easy to deal consistent damage from a distance. Besides, any melee damage can be avoided with the help of movement-enhancing skills.
🔓 Unlocked from the start? Yes.
📚 Specializations & abilities:
| SPECIALIZATION | THEME | EXAMPLE ABILITIES |
|---|---|---|
| Gunnery | Ranged offense |
|
| Suspensor Training | Mobility |
|
| Tactical Tech | Grenades & gadgets |
|
👶 What classes are best for beginners?
Just getting started? Great, let's see which classes you should consider for your first character – and which not. It would be unfortunate to pick the wrong class and sour the impression of the fantastic game that Dune: Awakening is! So here's our take:
- 🔫 Trooper – ✅ Perfect for beginners
- 🥷 Bene Gesserit – ✅ Good for beginners
- ⚔️ Swordmaster – ⚠️ Not the best idea
- 🧠 Mentat – ❌ Better not
- 🧭 Planetologist – ❌ Absolutely not
The best classes for new players ✅
The Trooper is easily the most beginner-friendly class. You've got a gun, you point, you shoot – can it be simpler than that? The Trooper is fast, straightforward, and their toolkit offers both strong damage and solid escape options when things get messy.
The Bene Gesserit comes close. The learning curve is a bit steeper because of its mechanics focused on mind-controlling and stealth, but overall it won't be hard to deal lots of damage and survive most of your fights.
Note that the fact that these two classes are accessible for new players, doesn't mean that they lack depth and are worse than other classes. Absolutely not. Hence, if the game style they offer is exactly what you love, you're free to keep playing and master them to perfection without any tradeoffs.
The worst classes for new players ❌
A beginner-unfriendly class – what is it? The world of Arrakis is unpredictable and dangerous. Without experience, you might not recognize threats until it's too late. With time, you'll learn but until then, your class should give you room to make mistakes.
So a good beginner class gives you a safety net: if you get surrounded, you should be able to escape anyway. If you get outnumbered, you should have enough firepower to survive. Bad beginner classes give you little room – they are meant to be played in a very specific way and punish small mistakes harshly. That can make early gameplay feel frustrating rather than fun.
The Swordmaster is the most forgiving "bad" beginner class. It has plenty of sustainability and isn't easy to kill, but each fight is a challenge. It's even more so as the Mentat who's designed to be a valuable team player, not a solitary killing machine. And as for the Planetologist... Come on, you can't even choose it when making the first character! It's literally not designed to be a part of your first impressions of the game.
While we advise against choosing these classes for your first character, it doesn't mean you can't be curious and at least try them out. Go ahead, make a Mentat and roam around a bit – who knows, maybe it will instantly click with you? Dune: Awakening is all about exploration – of the vast desert, your character, and your playstyle. So if you've got the time and patience, don't be afraid to experiment!
* * *
By now, you know the essentials of how classes work in Dune: Awakening – what each starting class is like, how specializations shape your build, and which roles are best suited for new players. That knowledge puts you miles ahead in the harsh world of Arrakis. Whether you're setting foot on its scorching sands for the first time or returning with a new alt, choosing the right class sets the tone for your entire adventure.
And if you ever find yourself stuck, overwhelmed, or simply short on time, ArmadaBoost is here to help. We offer a wide range of Dune: Awakening services – from power leveling to rare unlocks and Solari delivery. Browse our extensive catalog or reach out directly to get personalized advice and support. Buy Dune Awakening boost to make your experience more fun – with us, you'll always have reliable allies ready to lend a hand!
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