Dune: Awakening | How to spend your Research Points

In Dune: Awakening, Research Points — also known as Intel Points—are a core resource used to unlock new blueprints, equipment, and upgrades. Whether you're building a base, crafting weapons, or customizing vehicles, how you spend these points directly shapes your survival and progression on Arrakis. But spending them blindly can slow you down.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to optimize your Research Point usage, understand each category, and avoid common mistakes that waste valuable Intel. Whether you're new to the game or looking to refine your build, these tips will help you get the most out of every point spent.

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What is Research in Dune: Awakening?

Research is a core system that lets you unlock new gear, equipment, and survival tools by spending Intel Points. It provides a unique progression path separate from traditional skill trees.

What Are Intel Points and How to Earn Them?

In Dune: Awakening, Research Points — also known as Intel Points — are a core progression resource used to unlock schematics through the Research menu. You earn them by leveling up through missions, combat, and exploration, discovering and scanning points of interest, clearing enemy camps, and activating scanning nodes around the map.

To view your current total, open the Research interface — your total Intel Points will appear in the top right corner of the screen.

The Research Interface and Categories

The Research menu is organized into categories like Combat, Water Discipline, Construction, Vehicles, Exploration, and Uniques. Each category focuses on specific types of gear or crafting:

Water Discipline: Hydration Gear and Tools

The Water tab focuses on crafting gear and utilities that help you stay hydrated and manage moisture.

Types of Schematics: Stillsuits, hydration packs, water reclamation systems, filtration units.

Combat: Weapons and Armor

The Combat category provides access to offensive and defensive equipment, essential for PvE survival and PvP dominance.

Types of Schematics: Blades, ranged weapons, personal shields, combat armor, grenades.

Construction: Base Upgrades

In the Construction tab, you’ll unlock schematics for building and expanding your base, enhancing storage, and crafting infrastructure.

Types of Schematics: Containers, shelters, walls, generators, crafting stations.

For a comprehensive guide on base building strategies, check out Mastering Base Building in Dune: Awakening - A Survival Guide.

Vehicles: Sandbike and More

Under the Vehicles category, players unlock enhancements and blueprints for traversal machines like sandbikes or other desert-adapted rides.

Types of Schematics: Vehicle chassis, wheel upgrades, vibration dampeners, armor plating.

Exploration: Mobility and Tech

The Exploration tab is all about mobility and environmental interaction. These schematics enhance how you traverse Arrakis and uncover its secrets.

Types of Schematics: Scanners, grappling tools, jump pads, radar pings.

Uniques: Rare Special Items Found or Traded

Uniques are special items that cannot be found in the main research tree. These schematics are often discovered through exploration, trade, or rewards and offer exotic or powerful gear.

Types of Schematics: Faction-specific armor, legendary weapons, rare tools.

Each schematic shows its Intel cost and prerequisites, allowing you to specialize your playstyle. To understand how different factions influence the availability of unique items, explore the Complete Guide to Factions in Dune: Awakening - How to Choose Your Side.

What Are Schematics and How to Use Them?

Schematics are rare, one-time-use unlocks for exclusive crafting recipes not available in the regular research tree. You can find them in hidden caches, wrecks, caves, Fremen villages, through trading, mission rewards, or faction reputation.

You must research schematics at a station, which gives you a single charge to craft the item. Once used, you’ll need to find another schematic to craft more of that item. Managing schematics carefully is essential.

What to Prioritize?

Step 1: Automate Resource Gathering Early

Automating resource gathering (like blood to water conversion) will save you time. Tools like blood extractors and water processors are more important early than crafting better weapons.

For insights on essential resources and their locations, refer to Top 7 Most Valuable Resources in Dune: Awakening (And Where to Find Them).

Step 2: Unlock and Upgrade Vehicles Quickly

Once you’ve automated water and resource production, you’ll move on to vehicles. Your first is the Sand bike, but aim to unlock the buggy fast. The buggy is a game-changer—it comes with amining laser and large inventory, letting you farm resources without getting out.

Step 3: Choose and Stick to a Few Key Weapons

Avoid rushing to unlock every weapon tier. Pick one or two favorites and invest points wisely in automation and essential upgrades instead.

To better align your choices with your preferred playstyle, refer to Classes in Dune Awakening: A Complete Guide for Beginners and Experienced Players.

Step 4: Upgrade Your Mining Laser and Vehicle Parts

As you progress, upgrade your laser levels for better efficiency—higher levels mean more resources per node. Also, vehicle parts are modular — you can keep a Level 1 buggy and just upgrade the laser or engine.

Step 5: Plan for the Ornithopter Later

The game has an Ornithopter, but it takes time (70+ hours) to build and maintain it realistically. Focus on optimizing your base and vehicles first—the Ornithopter will come later.

Conclusion:

So, start with automating basics, invest in the buggy, and don’t waste intel on every weapon. Follow this path, and you’ll reach the endgame faster and smoother.

Tips for Spending Research Points Wisely

Spending Research Points wisely means planning ahead. Here’s how to make the most of them:

• Don’t unlock everything: Focus on what fits your current playstyle.
• Check prerequisites: Avoid wasting points on schematics you can’t craft yet.
• Build around synergies: Unlock related tools and stations to support full crafting chains.
• Save for rare finds: Keep points for powerful Uniques found via exploration or trade.
• Prioritize quality-of-life: Early upgrades like storage, water gear, and mobility tools boost survival and efficiency.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Spending Research Points

Avoid these common pitfalls:

• Unlocking what you can’t craft: Check if you have the needed tools and materials first.
• Ignoring your playstyle: Only research what fits how you play.
• Bad Intel trade-offs: Don’t overspend on low-impact schematics.
• Spending before exploring: You might find schematics for free—loot first, research

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can you respec or refund Research Points?

No, Intel Points spent are permanent. Plan your unlocks carefully to match your playstyle.

Are Research Points limited?

Intel Points can be earned continuously but accumulate slowly early on. Spend them wisely.

How to earn Research Points quickly?

Gain Intel by leveling up, scanning points of interest, clearing enemy camps, and exploring hidden locations.

Can schematics be found without spending Intel?

Yes, many rare schematics can be found by exploring, looting, trading, or completing faction missions.

What if I lose an item crafted from a schematic?

One-time-use schematics let you craft an item once. If lost, you need another schematic to craft it again. Store rare gear carefully.