Beginner’s Guide to Buying Items in Dune: Awakening

If you’ve just touched down on Arrakis in Dune: Awakening, you’re in for a wild ride. Between fighting off sandworms, racing Ornithopters, and trying not to die of dehydration, there’s already a lot to juggle. But here’s something that often catches new players off guard: buying items effectively is just as important as looting or crafting them yourself.

Whether you want to gear up for your first expedition into the Deep Desert or snag rare crafting materials before the big PvP wipe, learning how to buy items in Dune: Awakening can save you time, Solari, and frustration.

In this beginner’s guide, I’ll walk you through:

Where to buy items

What to look for

How to avoid overpaying or getting scammed

A few veteran tips to stretch your Solari further

Let’s dig in.

Why Bother Buying Items in Dune: Awakening?
Before we get into the how, let’s talk about the why. Unlike a lot of survival MMOs, Dune: Awakening doesn’t expect you to farm absolutely everything yourself. Sure, you can grind NPC camps and gather resources, but in reality:

Time is limited.

Competition is fierce.

Some items are locked behind luck or high-level content.

Buying items—whether it’s gear, schematics, or consumables—is often the fastest way to keep your progression on track.

Where Can You Buy Items in Dune: Awakening?
Here are the main places to buy items, even if you’re just starting out:

1. Exchange Auction House
   The Exchange is the game’s player-driven auction house. Think of it like Arrakis’s version of eBay, but with fewer refund policies and a lot more spice smugglers.

How it works:

You can browse listings by category: weapons, armor, crafting components, consumables, etc.

Prices are set by other players.

Availability fluctuates based on demand.

Tip: You’ll find Exchanges in major hubs like Arrakeen and Harko Village. If you’re serious about trading, set your base near one.

2. Faction Vendors
   Once you start building reputation with one of the Houses (Atreides, Harkonnen, Corrino), you unlock Faction Vendors. These NPCs sell exclusive gear, schematics, and cosmetics in exchange for Solari and faction standing.

Important:

The more contracts you complete, the higher your standing.

Some top-tier items are locked until you reach high ranks.

Faction Vendors reset their inventory regularly—always check back.

3. Special Event Merchants
   During limited-time events, special merchants will pop up in hubs. They usually offer:

Event-themed cosmetics

Rare crafting materials

Limited-quantity schematics

These merchants accept Solari or event currencies, so be ready to spend.

4. Direct Player Trading
   Don’t underestimate old-fashioned face-to-face trades. You can:

Post trade requests in chat.

Set up trades in social hubs.

Arrange deals with guildmates.

Tip: Always meet in a safe zone. Never trade out in the Deep Desert unless you want to become someone else’s loot pile.

How to Avoid Overpaying or Getting Scammed
Even seasoned players sometimes get fleeced. Here’s how to protect yourself:

✅ Check average prices – Spend a few minutes browsing the Exchange before buying. This helps you spot overpriced listings.

✅ Confirm item stats – Especially important for weapons and armor. Variants can look similar but have wildly different perks.

✅ Use secure trades – Only use the in-game trade window or Exchange. Never send Solari “as a deposit” over chat.

✅ Avoid desperation buys – If a seller is rushing you or demanding instant payment, walk away.

Top Items Beginners Should Consider Buying
Not everything is worth spending your hard-earned Solari on, but here are a few purchases I highly recommend for new players:

1. Basic Radiation Suit
   If you plan to explore Sheol or other irradiated zones, get this early. You’ll save yourself a ton of frustration.

2. Upgraded Weapons
   While you can craft starter weapons, higher-tier ones from the Exchange make combat much smoother.

3. Water and Rations
   If you’re doing long expeditions, buying consumables in bulk is just smart planning.

4. Crafting Materials
   Some rare materials (like Irradiated Slag) can be tedious to farm. Buy what you need to finish important upgrades.

When Should You Buy vs. Farm?
There’s no single right answer, but here’s my general rule of thumb:

Buy if:

You need it immediately to progress.

Farming will take longer than a couple of hours.

It’s a limited-time offer.

Farm if:

You’re low on Solari.

You enjoy the grind.

You want to learn the game’s mechanics more deeply.

A balanced approach usually works best. For example, I farm common resources like Aluminum Ingots but buy rarer ones when I’m in a hurry.

Pro Tips to Stretch Your Solari
Here are a few small tricks I’ve picked up after dozens of hours in Dune Awakening:

Use Buy Orders in the Exchange – Instead of buying at the listed price, create a buy order at a fair rate. Sellers will often fill it within hours.

Check off-peak hours – Prices can dip when fewer players are online.

Bundle purchases – Some sellers offer discounts if you buy multiple items.

Invest in storage – The more you can stockpile when prices are low, the less you’ll spend later.

Final Thoughts – Buying Items is Part of the Journey
At the end of the day, buying items in Dune Awakening isn’t about “pay to win”—it’s about playing smart. If you value your time (and sanity), leveraging the in-game economy will make your life easier.

Don’t feel guilty about buying what you need. Arrakis is harsh, and sometimes the best way to survive is to let others do the farming while you focus on bigger goals.