Greetings Sleepers! The Planetologist is arguably the most important and invaluable class in Dune: Awakening, boasting passives that boost your survivability and efficiency on Arrakis across the board. This comprehensive walkthrough covers all the quests you'll need to complete to max out this essential class and reap the incredible rewards it has to offer.

Whether you're struggling with heat management, resource conservation, or spice detection, the Planetologist skill tree provides game-changing abilities that will transform your desert survival experience. Let's dive into the complete quest chain that will unlock your path to mastery.
Why Planetologist is Essential
The Planetologist class offers unmatched utility for surviving Arrakis's harsh environment. Its skill tree includes crucial abilities like Heat Management, Conservation of Energy, and Spice Surveyor that make exploration and resource gathering significantly more efficient. These aren't just nice-to-have bonuses they're survival essentials that can mean the difference between thriving and dying in the deep desert.
Getting Started: Meeting Derek Chinara
Your journey begins with Derek Chinara, located at Hagga Basin South, above Testing Station No. 2. This will be your primary hub for most of the Planetologist questline, so bookmark this location. Derek serves as your trainer and quest giver throughout the entire progression.


1. Minimic Film Recovery
Trainer Location: Derek Chinara (Hagga Basin South, above Testing Station No. 2)
Objective: Enter the station, retrieve the manifest, and return to Derek
Key Details:
- Look for a secret door behind a bookcase with a yellow glow - this contains the minimic reel
- Be prepared for an ambush after retrieving the item
- This quest unlocks the entire Planetologist Skill Tree
Reward: Unlocks Planetologist Skill Tree
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2. Buried Archives
Location: Imperial Testing Station No. 197 (West Vermilius)
Objective: Retrieve Minimic Film inside the station
Navigation Tip: Stay right after entering the station to find the film more efficiently
Reward: Unlocks Advanced Trainer Level 2 (2 skill points for non-Capstone skills)

3. Adhering to Hierarchy
Quest Steps:
- Return to Derek at Testing Station No. 2
- Travel to Arrakeen and find Cyprian Io in the Salusan Bull bar (upstairs, far corner)
- Cyprian will deny your request
- Return to Derek to report the outcome
This quest serves as a narrative bridge and doesn't provide immediate skill unlocks, but it's essential for progressing the storyline.

4. Science Unlocked
Location: Imperial Testing Station No. 76 (Jabal Eifrit)
Scenario: Derek is caged when you arrive
Objective:
- Find the keys (located on a table)
- Free Derek
- Retrieve the Minimic Film
Reward: Unlocks Advanced Trainer Level 3 (3 skill points)

5. The Search for Kynes
Quest Chain:
- Return to Testing Station No. 2
- Speak to Thufir Hawat in Arrakeen
- Travel to Sietch Tarl (Western Shield Wall)
- Investigate the area for a tablet/note
- Return the note to Derek
This quest introduces important lore elements while advancing your trainer progression. Sietch Tarl can be challenging to navigate, so bring adequate supplies.

6. A Reasonable Routine
Location: Testing Station No. 29 (Northern Hagga Rift)
Objective: Retrieve Minimic Film from a secret door in the loot room
Search Tip: Thoroughly explore the loot room - the secret door mechanism can be subtle
Reward: Unlocks Advanced Trainer Level 4 (Spice Surveyor skill)

7. Clues from the Past
Location: Testing Station No. 71 (The O'odham)
Objective: Retrieve Kynes's Notes from the sacrificial room
Specific Location: Right-side bookshelf in the sacrificial room
Reward: Unlocks Advanced Trainer Level 5 (Conservation of Energy skill)

8. The Planetologist Report
Quest Progression:
- Deliver the completed report to Cyprian Io in Arrakeen
- Return to Testing Station No. 2
- Discover that Derek is missing
- Eliminate sniper teams in the nearby area
- Read the document left on Derek's table
This quest introduces combat elements and raises the stakes as the storyline reaches its climax.

9. The Final Piece
Location: Testing Station No. 163 (The O'odham)
Objective: Retrieve Kynes's Lecture Recording from the hologram room
Navigation: The hologram room is located past the hex shield - bring appropriate equipment to navigate the security systems
Rewards:
- Unlocks Advanced Trainer Level 6 (Heat Management skill)
- Unique stillsuit reward
Planetologist Skill Tree Overview
Completing the full quest chain unlocks these essential skills:
- Spice Surveyor: Enhanced spice detection and harvesting efficiency
- Conservation of Energy: Reduced stamina consumption during activities
- Heat Management: Improved heat resistance and cooling efficiency
Each skill provides significant quality-of-life improvements that compound over time, making desert exploration, resource gathering, and combat significantly more manageable.
Pro Tips for Quest Completion
Preparation is Key: Always bring extra water, healing items, and weapons when visiting testing stations. Many locations have hostile NPCs or environmental hazards.
Save Frequently: Some quest locations have ambush mechanics. Save before entering new areas to avoid losing progress.
Explore Thoroughly: Secret doors and hidden compartments are common in testing stations. Look for visual cues like glowing elements or unusual wall textures.
Fast Travel Preparation: Mark important locations on your map and set up fast travel points near major quest hubs to reduce travel time.
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