Dune Awakening: Research and Intel points system, explained

Research is one of the key points in Dune Awakening, but you need Intel Points to make the most of the system. Early in the game, you’re going to be sort of restricted on how many Intel Points you have, but by simply playing the game, and taking part in certain activities, this will increase. If you’re like me, and played on Locked Research, when you hit the mid-game, you’ll have tons of points to use on Research.

No matter how you choose to play Dune Awakening, it’s going to be to your benefit to use the Research system, and simply by surviving and exploring Arrakis, you should have a decent amount of Intel Points. Here’s what you need to know about the system.

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How Research and Intel points work in Dune Awakening

Dune Awakening allows players to Research in a variety of categories, by investing Intel Points, accrued by playing the game. It’s a primarily non-combat system, though a couple of the methods of gaining Intel Points are done through battle. The categories are:

• Water Discipline
• Combat
• Construction
• Exploration
• Vehicles
• Uniques (Require Schematics)

Don't overspend your Intel Points or you could be left in a bind! (Image via Funcom)

You can Research in Dune Awakening and spend your Intel Points by going into your character menu, and selecting the Research tab. This will pull up the above categories, and show how many Intel Points you have in the top right.

It’s incredibly important to research in Dune Awakening, so you can protect your base with a Fuel-Powered Generator, unlock better armor, like the Scavenger Stillsuit, or make Uniques that can help you get around faster, like The Emperor’s Wings.

When you open the Research Menu, you’ll see a variety of items to craft, all with a number next to them. That’s how many Intel Points they require to unlock. If there’s a Lock Icon over it, you don’t meet the requirements to learn that one yet.

Research is an investment of time and patience (Image via Funcom)

For example, the Weapons Fabricator requires you spend 100 Intel to even research it in the first place. When you’re ready to research, you click the item you want to learn, click Research in the bottom right, and then Confirm. Occasionally, you’ll also come across Schematics, typically for Uniques.

You can purchase these at Trading Posts, or find them in a variety of areas. You can only learn these while in your base, or in a Trade Zone. This will give you a single crafting charge to create the item (Imperial Writ). If you should lose the item, such as through being looted, or being eaten by a sandworm, you have to go get the Schematic again, so you can re-craft it. However, before you can do any Researching, you need Intel Points. How do you get those?

Clearing enemy strongholds has the two-fold benefit of potentially increasing Intel Points, and revealing Schematics (Image via Funcom)

You get Intel Points in Dune Awakening through a few methods: Leveling Up, Exploring points of interest, clearing out enemy camps, and scanning nodes as you explore Arrakis. It takes time, but you can pick up a nice amount of Intel Points. While there is a level cap, there is no Intel Points cap; you eventually can research everything, but I recommend focusing on what you need the most, first.

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Check out our other Dune Awakening guides and features

• Dune Awakening: What’s the max level?
• Dune Awakening: All class trainer locations
• Dune Awakening: Can you relocate your base?