Dune: Awakening is a survival experience where just staying alive feels like a constant battle. Between the blistering sun that can dehydrate you in seconds and the giant sandworms ready to swallow you whole, everything on Arrakis seems bent on ending you. On top of that, raiders and bandits lurk around every corner. In such a harsh world, spice is treasured above all else, and you’ll even hear enemies shouting about stealing your water instead of your money. But make no mistake: you’ll still need cold hard cash to thrive here. Solari, the official currency in Dune: Awakening, is essential for getting the gear and services that water alone can’t buy.
In this guide, we’ll explain why Solari is so important and how you can earn money (Solari) quickly as a solo player. From smart questing to looting and trading, these tips will help you build up your bank and survive the unforgiving deserts of Arrakis.
Why You Need Solari in Dune: Awakening
Even though water is critical for survival, Solari (money) is what empowers you to get vital equipment and services. Here are the key ways Solari helps a solo player:
- Buying Equipment and Supplies: Vendors at local trading posts sell armor, weapons, and crafting materials to keep you battle-ready. If your armor breaks or you need better gear, you can purchase replacements or components with Solari. Each trading post offers items found in its local area, so it pays to explore different outposts to find what you need. Having some cash on hand means you’ll never be stuck without a weapon or repair tool when you need it most.
- Global Trade Market for Rare Items: In major hubs like Arrakeen (the Atreides capital city) or Harko Village (the Harkonnen stronghold), you can access a global marketplace (the CHOAM Exchange) to trade with other players. There you can search for specific weapons, armor, or schematics of higher rarity. If you have the funds and find a good deal, you can snag high-quality gear without having to scavenge the whole desert for it. The global market is also where you can list items to sell (more on that later), making Solari a key component in player-to-player trading.
- Fast Travel Services: Solari even lets you fast-travel between distant outposts once you’ve discovered them. Ornithopter pilots (acting as taxi NPCs) can fly you between base camps for a fee. For example, traveling to one of the big hub cities like Arrakeen or Harko Village costs about 2,500 Solari, while shorter trips within a region (such as around the starting area in Hagga Basin) cost around 700 Solari. It’s not cheap, but even after you have your own ornithopter, paying for a flight can save you a ton of time, fuel, and vehicle wear. Plus, it keeps you safe by avoiding long, dangerous journeys on foot or by sandbike – a lifesaver when you need to cross the map quickly.
Having Solari on hand for these situations makes your life a lot easier when you’re trying to survive on Arrakis. Now that we know why money matters, let’s look at how to actually earn it as a solo player.
How to Earn Solari as a Solo Player
Now the big question: how do you get your hands on plenty of Solari when you’re playing solo? Here are the best methods to earn money on your own:
Complete Quests and Side Missions
The first and most straightforward way to make money is by diving into the game’s quests. Focus on completing the main story quests and as many side missions as you can find. These often reward you with sizeable chunks of Solari along with valuable experience points. Some quest payouts may seem small at first, but they add up quickly. Quests also naturally guide you to explore new areas of the map – and the higher the level of the area, the bigger the rewards tend to be. In short, follow the storyline and blue markers not only to experience the game, but also to fill your wallet steadily.
Loot Chests and Defeated Enemies
Arrakis is littered with hidden riches if you know where to look. As you explore, open every chest you come across and loot every defeated enemy or bandit. You’d be surprised how often you’ll find stashes of Solari or valuable items on corpses and in supply crates. Even random wrecks or forgotten chests can hold a few hundred (or a few thousand) Solari waiting to be snatched up. Also keep an eye out for Imperial Testing Stations – these are like mini-dungeons or bunkers scattered around the map. They tend to be well-guarded by tough NPCs, but they contain very rewarding loot. Clearing these facilities can yield rare materials, schematics, or large amounts of Solari. It might be risky, but the payoff can be huge for a solo adventurer. In short, if it can be opened or looted, do it – all that treasure will significantly boost your income.
Sell Unwanted Items on the Market
Not everything you pick up is something you need to use, but it could be worth a good amount of money. If you find extra gear, blueprints, or resources that you don’t plan to use, turn them into profit. Instead of selling those items to random NPC vendors for just a few coins, save them for the Global Trade Market at Arrakeen or Harko Village. At these hub markets (the CHOAM Exchange), you can list your spare weapons, armor, or crafting materials for sale to other players, often at a much higher price. Keep in mind you’ll have to invest a bit to do this (you must pay the travel cost to get to the city, and a small listing fee), so make the trip worthwhile by bringing a full inventory of valuable goods to sell. Smart trading can end up earning you more Solari than grinding mobs ever would. Many solo players fund their adventures by selling a rare schematic or surplus resources to those who need them.
Tip: Check what items are in demand or selling for high prices, and sell accordingly to maximize your profits.
By using the methods above – questing, looting, smart trading, and strategic travel – a solo player can steadily amass a small fortune on Arrakis. Now let’s summarize the key steps to success.
Step-by-Step Summary: Getting Solari as a Solo Player
- Quest, Quest, Quest: Progress through main quests and side missions for steady Solari rewards (and XP) – higher-level areas will pay more as you advance.
- Loot Everything: Open every chest and loot every enemy you defeat. Even small caches of Solari add up, and you might find valuable items to sell.
- Raid Testing Stations: Tackle Imperial Testing Stations (mini-dungeons) whenever you can. They’re risky, but can yield high-value loot and a lot of cash.
- Trade for Profit: Sell your unwanted gear and resources on the global market at Arrakeen or Harko Village instead of to NPC vendors. You’ll get much better prices from other players.
- Use Solari Wisely: Invest in fast travel (taxi flights) when it saves significant time or keeps you safe – the time you save can be used to earn more money elsewhere.
With these tips in mind, you should be well on your way to building up a healthy stash of Solari. As a solo player on the deadly world of Dune, every coin counts. Good luck out there, and may your pockets be ever full!