In the merciless expanse of Arrakis, where the very air steals moisture from your lungs and giant worms patrol the depths, survival demands more than cunning—it requires unshakable fortitude. While other archetypes skulk in shadows or calculate from afar, the Trooper represents something more fundamental: the disciplined application of power. This Trooper PvE build transforms you into the resilient backbone of any imperial force.
This Dune: Awakening build prioritizes sustained damage output and superior positioning, allowing you to efficiently clear enemy camps, conquer challenging PvE objectives, and survive encounters that would break lesser combatants.
Skill Selection
Your power as a Trooper stems from a thoughtful allocation of skill points across three specialized trees: Gunnery, Suspensor Training, and Tactical Tech. The following table outlines the core abilities that form the foundation of this PvE Build, creating a synergistic loop of damage, mobility, and control.
| Class | Skill Tree | Skills |
|---|---|---|
| Trooper | Gunnery | Ranged Damage (Trooper) → Center of Mass → Field Maintenance → Gunsmith → Disruptor Damage → Scattergun Damage → Energy Capsule |
| Suspensor Training | Anti-Gravity Field → Suspensor Dash → Suspensor Efficiency → Death From Above | |
| Tactical Tech | Shigawire Claw → Battle Hardened | |
| Planetologist | Explorer | Suspensor Pad |
| Scientist | Cutteray Mining → Rerouting → Overcharge | |
| Mentat | Mental Calculus | The Sentinel → Ranged Damage (Mentat) → Pistol Damage → Rifle Damage → Garment Keeper → Tailoring |
Weapons, Armor, and Essential Equipment
A Mentat's calculations are only as good as the tools they employ. Your gear is not merely equipment; it is an extension of your will, and selecting the right components is paramount to your effectiveness on the battlefield.
Your Weapon of Choice: The Scattergun
As a PvE Trooper, your primary weapon is the scattergun (or shotgun), a tool of devastating close-to-mid range power.
- Adept Burst Drillshot: This Unique shotgun is a premier goal for any serious Trooper. Its schematics can be found at the Edge of Acheron, Sheol, though it is not a guaranteed drop, requiring patience and potentially multiple attempts . Once acquired, it is crafted with valuable materials including 340 Water, 35 Duraluminum Ingot, and Spice-Infused Duraluminum Dust .
- Why the Scattergun?: In PvE, you will often be engaging groups of enemies at relatively close quarters within imperial installations and wreckages. The scattergun's wide spread and high per-shot damage make it ideal for clearing these groups efficiently. Its primary weakness is against shields, but this can be mitigated with melee swaps or by using a Drillshot variant, which is designed to "drill" through enemy defenses .
Armor Selection
For armor, you have a choice between two powerful set bonuses, each catering to a slightly different approach to survival.
- Mendek's Heavy Armor: This set is arguably the best for a pure combat Trooper. With a high armor rating, it provides exceptional raw physical defense, making you incredibly durable against the dart-based weaponry of most PvE foes . The schematics for this set are found in various wreck sites across the map, requiring dedicated farming .
- Acheronian Armor Hybrid: is a mix of the Acheronian Chestplate, Pants, and Gauntlets for their high base armor and dart mitigation, paired with the Syndicate Helmet and Boots for their elemental resistances and reduced dash stamina cost . This combination offers a balanced approach to defense, protecting you from both ballistic and environmental threats. Acheronian schematics are found in Shaitan's Grotto, while Syndicate pieces are in the Edge of Acheron .
Trooper PvE Gear Progression
Essential Equipment
No warrior of Arrakis is complete without their core survival gear.
- Full Suspensor Belt: Non-negotiable. This belt is the engine of your mobility, allowing you to glide after a Shigawire Claw launch and control your descent during aerial engagements .
- Holtzman Shield: Your personal shield is your last line of defense. Always equip the highest-tier shield you can craft to absorb more incoming fire .
- Power Pack: The quality of your Power Pack directly impacts how quickly your shield's power regenerates. A better pack means more survivability and less downtime between engagements .
The PvE Trooper Playstyle and Strategy
Knowing your skills and gear is one thing; applying them with the disciplined rhythm of a professional soldier is another. Your combat process is a methodical, three-phase cycle.
Phase 1: Preparation
Your engagement begins long before you fire your first shot. It begins with observation and positioning, the hallmarks of a true strategist.
- Master the Terrain: The deserts and structures of Arrakis are filled with strategic high ground. Your first calculation is to find a position that gives you a clear field of fire. Use your Shigawire Claw to reach rooftops, rock spires, or any elevated surface .
- Initiate with Control: If you spot a clustered group of enemies, start the fight with a Collapse Grenade or Anti-Gravity Field. This immediately disrupts their formation and exposes them to your scattergun's fury .
Phase 2: Execution
When your preparation is complete, you unleash a storm of controlled violence.
- Activate Cooldowns: As you engage, pop your Energy Capsule for the massive damage boost. This ensures your initial volley is as lethal as possible .
- Prioritize Targets: Use your training to identify high-value targets. Who is the elite enemy with the heavy weapon? Who is the shield generator? Focus your boosted fire on them first.
- Aim for the Center of Mass: Unlike precision-based builds, the Trooper can leverage the Center of Mass technique for reliable, aim-forgiving damage. While this reduces headshot damage, it increases body shot damage, making it easier to consistently land your shots in the chaos of PvE combat .
Phase 3: Sustainment and Repositioning
A static Trooper is a dead Trooper. After your initial burst, you must adapt.
- Reposition Relentlessly: Never remain in the same position after your initial engagement. Use Shigawire Claw to swing to a new vantage point or Suspensor Dash to laterally evade incoming fire .
- Manage Your Resources: Keep an eye on your ammo and ability cooldowns. The Battle Hardened technique is your best friend here, ensuring your tools are ready when you need them most . Use melee attacks against shielded enemies to conserve ammunition .
Adapting the Build
Early Game (Levels 1-20)
Your initial goal is to establish your core mobility and damage loop as quickly as possible.
- Unlock the Trooper: If you didn't start as one, head to Griffin's Reach Tradepost and complete Ghavouri's "Proving Grounds" quest to unlock the tree .
- Skill Priority: Immediately grab Shigawire Claw. Then, focus on the Ranged Damage and Scattergun Damage passives in Gunnery. Suspensor Dash and Battle Hardened should be your next major targets .
- Gear: Use the readily available Kirab Scout Set for its balanced stats and the GRDA 44 Scattergun as your workhorse weapon .
Mid-Game to Endgame (Level 20+)
This is where you refine your build and target your best-in-slot gear.
- Skill Optimization: Max out your core passives and techniques. Begin investing in your chosen secondary class, with Planetologist being the recommended choice for sustainable resource gathering .
- The Gear Hunt: Begin the targeted farming for your end-game equipment. This means repeated trips to Sheol for the Adept Burst Drillshot schematic and to the various wreck sites for your chosen armor set .
- Master the Rotation: Your ability usage should become second nature. The perfect engagement—Shigawire Claw to high ground -> Energy Capsule -> Anti-Gravity Field -> Scattergun volley with Death from Above -> Suspensor Dash to reposition—should be a fluid, instinctual process.
Final Thoughts
The PvE Trooper is more than a build; it is a testament to the power of disciplined aggression and tactical mobility. It is the promise that, no matter what horrors Arrakis conjures from its sandy depths, you will meet them with a steady hand, a scattergun, and the will to seize the high ground. You are the unyielding foundation upon which victories are built, the master of the vertical domain, and a living embodiment of imperial might.