Dune Awakening Harkonnen vs Atreides: Faction choice and consequence, explained 

In Dune Awakening, House Harkonnen and Atreides are at war with each other. After the failed assassination attempt on Duke Leto Atreides' life, Arrakis has become a warzone, with each side fighting to maintain control of the planet and Spice. As the player, you're tossed into this sandy affair and will have to choose a side. This will lead you to the question:

"Who do you choose in Dune Awakening: House Harkonnen or House Atreides?"

Well, there's no definitive answer, but there are a few things that you may want to take into consideration before choosing to support one of these Houses. That being said, here is more on the topic at hand.

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What does your choice of faction affect in Dune Awakening?

Pick whichever House you want, there are no wrong choices (Image via Funcom)

In the short term, your choice of faction affects nothing. At the start of your adventures on Arrakis, you will be able to choose a faction and earn their trust. However, in terms of playstyle or perks, or bonuses, there's nothing that sets the factions apart. It's all novelty and surface-level differences.

Irrespective of which side you choose, you can always talk to skill trainers on both sides of the fence. So if you want to be noble and just, pick Atreides. If you prefer Dune's version of the Sith, pick the Harkonnen. It's as simple as that. In PvP, there's no telling which House will perform better, so pick whoever you want.

The only time that one House will be better than the other is if the one you're in (or the opposite House) wins the Landsraad. Quite frankly, although there are perks, it's impossible to say which House will win weekly, so it's more about luck than statistics. As such, the point about picking whichever House appeals to you stands.

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Can you change your faction in Dune Awakening?

You can switch sides, but there are consequences (Image via Funcom)

Yes, Funcom (the developers) has ensured that you can indeed switch Houses, but it comes at a cost (one that you may not be willing to pay). If you decide to switch Houses, it's seen as a betrayal since honor is something that is valued on Arrakis, much like the Unfixed Crysknife.

Your desertion will be remembered by your House, and you will not be able to join their ranks again. All contracts given will also be rendered null and void. You'll also be excommunicated from your guild, no matter your contribution to them. You'll keep any building customizations you've purchased, but that's about it.

In short, if you plan on jumping ship in Dune Awakening, do think about the consequences before taking the leap of faith. There's no going back once the decision has been made.

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Are there factions other than Harkonnen and Atreides?

There are 25 other Houses, but none of them are playable (Image via Funcom)

Yes, there are indeed other factions on Arrakis, but none of them are playable. 25 other Houses are part of the game, but they are limited to the Landsraad. Outside of this mechanic, they play no such role. Since the conflict is limited to two Houses: Harkonnen and Atreides, the entire narrative has been built around them.

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Read more Dune Awakening articles here:

• Dune Awakening: All Unique Schematics in Vermillius Gap (East and West)
• Dune Awakening: Best Unique Schematics to get early (Hagga Basin South)