In the merciless Deep Desert PvP zones of Arrakis, where every dune could conceal an enemy and every spice bloom attracts predators, survival demands more than stealth or precision—it requires overwhelming force. This is where the Heavy Trooper PvP Build thrives, transforming you into an unstoppable juggernaut designed not for subtle skirmishes, but for breaching enemy fortifications, destroying vehicles, and shattering enemy lines through sheer firepower.
This Dune: Awakening's build specializes in creating opportunities for your faction by dismantling the enemy's assets directly. You are not an assassin; you are a siege engine wrapped in imperial discipline.
Skill Selection
Your effectiveness as a Heavy Trooper stems from a carefully selected kit of abilities and techniques that create a synergistic loop of mobility, damage amplification, and tactical control.
| Class | Skill Tree | Skills |
|---|---|---|
| Trooper | Gunnery | Ranged Damage (Trooper) → Disruptor Damage → Center of Mass → Scattergun Damage → Underslung Agility → Heavy Weapon Damage → Energy Capsule |
| Suspensor Training | Anti-Gravity Field → Gravity Field → Suspensor Efficiency | |
| Tactical Tech | Shigawire Claw → Battle Hardened → Explosive Grenade → Assault Seeker → Reflexive Reload | |
| Planetologist | Scientist | Cutteray Mining → Rerouting → Overcharge → Conservation of Energy |
| Mentat | Mental Calculus | The Sentinel → Ranged Damage (Mentat) → Pistol Damage |
| Assassination | Poison Capsule → Headshot Damage | |
| Tactician | Shield Wall → Solido Decoy → Iron Will → Source of Power | |
| Bene Gesserit | Body Control | Recovery → Trauma Recovery → Vitality → Self-Healing |
| Swordmaster | The Way | Knee Charge → Field Medicine → Crippling Strike → General Conditioning |
Weapons, Armor, and Essential Equipment
A Mentat's calculations are only as good as the tools they employ. For the Heavy Trooper, gear choices are designed to maximize destructive potential and staying power.
Your Weapons
- Primary Weapon - K-28 Lasgun: This is your signature tool and the ultimate expression of your role. The Lasgun offers the best vehicle and base penetration in the game, making it indispensable for assaults. The catastrophic interaction between Lasguns and Holtzman Shields is well-known lore, and in-game, this translates to massive damage against shielded targets and structures .
- Secondary Weapon - Regis Drillshot FK7: For shield-focused PvP, this scattergun excels against defensive setups at close-to-mid range. It serves as a powerful backup when enemies breach your optimal lasgun range .
- Melee Option - Static Needle: Your last line of defense. This weapon is useful for close-range disruptions, capable of interfering with enemy healing and shields when you have no other options .
Armor and Tools
- Armor - The Bulwark Set: Combine the high durability of the Bulwark Helmet, Gloves, Leggings, and Boots with a Power Harness chestpiece. This combination provides exceptional dart mitigation while the harness synergizes with your Lasgun and energy capsule use, boosting your energy output for sustained engagements .
- Essential Equipment: Your loadout is incomplete without a Full Suspensor Belt for mobility, an Adaptive Holtzman Shield for survivability in direct fights, and a high-tier Power Pack (Mk6 ideally) to ensure your shield and ability power regenerates quickly .
The PvP Trooper Playstyle and Strategy
Knowing your skills and gear is one thing; applying them with the disciplined aggression of a professional soldier is another. Your combat process is a methodical application of force.
Phase 1: Positioning and Engagement
Your engagement begins with choosing the right battlefield. You excel in open areas where your lasgun has reach, but you must also be prepared to assault fortified positions.
- Initiate from Range: Use your Shigawire Claw to gain elevated positions overlooking enemy bases or spice blooms. This gives you a clear line of fire on vehicles and players who believe they are safe behind temporary cover .
- Activate Cooldowns: As you identify your primary target—be it a vehicle, a player in heavy armor, or a base component—activate your Energy Capsule. This ensures your initial volley has maximum impact .
- Deploy Team Assets: In group play, place your Source of Power generator in a secure but central location. This act of support transforms the flow of the battle, allowing your entire team to fight more aggressively.
Phase 2: Target Priority
A Heavy Trooper's value is measured in destroyed assets and controlled territory.
- Priority #1: Vehicles and Base Defenses: Your lasgun makes you the designated anti-vehicle specialist. Focus on destroying enemy Sandbikes and Ornithopters first to grant your team aerial and ground superiority .
- Priority #2: Shield Generators and Fortifications: Your high damage output is perfect for breaching enemy walls and destroying defensive structures. Create new entry points for your team to exploit .
- Priority #3: Key Players: While not your primary role, your sustained damage can quickly eliminate players who are out of position or relying on static defenses. Suppress enemy ranged combatants while your melee allies advance.
Phase 3: Sustainment and Repositioning
A static Heavy Trooper is a dead Heavy Trooper. Despite your robust nature, you must remain dynamic.
- Reposition Relentlessly: After revealing your position with lasgun fire, immediately consider relocating. Use your Shigawire Claw to swing to a new vantage point, forcing the enemy to constantly reacquire you .
- Manage Your Power: Your effectiveness is tied to your power pool for shields and abilities. Use Conservation of Energy and stay near your Source of Power to maintain peak performance in prolonged fights .
- Know Your Exit: If a fight turns against you, use your Shigawire Claw and Suspensor Belt to disengage. Your job is to bring assets to the next battle, not die in a lost cause.
Adapting PvP Trooper Build
Early Game
Your first goal is to establish your foundational toolkit. Head to Griffin's Reach Tradepost and complete Ghavouri's "Proving Grounds" quest to unlock the Trooper tree . Immediately prioritize acquiring Shigawire Claw, Energy Capsule, and the Ranged Damage passives. Unlock the Planetologist tree as soon as possible for its essential power management passives .
Mid-Game
As you accumulate more skill points, focus on maxing out your key techniques: Battle Hardened, Underslung Agility, and Conservation of Energy. Begin your investment in the Mentat's Tactician tree to acquire Source of Power. This is also the time to start hunting for your end-game gear, particularly the schematics for the Black Market K-28 Lasgun and the Bulwark armor set .
End-Game
With approximately 190 skill points, your build will be complete . You will have maxed out your primary trees and secured all essential cross-class passives. Your role in faction warfare and Deep Desert raids will be solidified, making you a valued and feared asset on any battlefield. Your mere presence on the battlefield can force the enemy to change their strategy, knowing that their vehicles and fortifications are under threat.
Final Thoughts
The Heavy Trooper PvP Build is more than a collection of skills and gear; it is a declaration of intent. You are the unsubtle instrument of war on a planet of subtle schemes. You are the one who, when faced with an impregnable wall, does not look for a way around it, but instead reaches for a bigger weapon.
Mastering this build is not about complex rotations, but about understanding the economy of warfare on Arrakis. You break what your enemies rely on, and in doing so, you break their will to fight. The satisfaction of this build comes from watching an enemy base crumble under your sustained fire, or seeing an opposing vehicle explode before it can threaten your allies.