All Factions in Dune Awakening Differences Explained
Written by Tyler Harris
You only get to officially join House Atreides or House Harkonnen in Dune Awakening, but other groups like the Fremen and Bene Gesserit still play major roles.
Picking a side actually changes what quests you see, what tech you unlock, and who you're allowed to backstab.
The Two Playable Factions
House Atreides
Atreides players lean into diplomacy, defense, and loyalty. They’re the “good guys” on paper... but this is Arrakis, so even the nice ones play dirty when needed.
Strengths:
Stronger alliance potential
Defensive base buffs
Better NPC reputation (especially with Fremen)
More sustainable spice control
If you like strategy, planning, and not being hated on sight, this is your house.
House Harkonnen
If you're in it for war, fear, and full-blown spice domination, Harkonnen is for you. Everything about them screams aggression... from their red armor to their factory-like spice operation.
Strengths:
Stronger attack units and weapons
Espionage systems
Faster spice farming
Brutal PvP options
They don’t bother making friends, because it’s faster to make corpses.
Can You Switch Factions?
Yes... but only once.
You can betray your current faction and join the other, but you’ll lose all your progress with the one you left. And you can never go back.
A third major faction is planned (likely Fremen), so you’ll still have one more shot at switching later if you haven’t used your betrayal yet.
Important Secondary Factions
These groups aren’t playable, but you’ll see their fingerprints all over the story, quests, and unlockables.
Fremen
The native desert survivors. They’re not recruitable, but they’ll trade with you, help with spice routes, and unlock hidden areas if you earn their trust.
You can’t join them... yet. But future updates or DLC could change that.
Bene Gesserit
You don’t join this group, but you can train in their skills, like Voice manipulation or advanced tactics. They’re big on control and foresight, and they often shape the game’s political threads in the background.
If you align with them during certain missions, you may unlock unique interactions or info.
How Faction Choice Affects Gameplay
Gear and crafting: Each faction has its own schematics
Quests and contracts: Missions are faction-specific
PvP and alliances: Faction impacts who you can attack or team with
Politics: Access to the Landsraad requires you to commit
Vendors: Some gear from other factions can still be bought at shady vendors... for a higher price
Other Factions That May Appear Later
Sardaukar: The Emperor’s elite soldiers
Spacing Guild: Controls interstellar travel
CHOAM: The megacorp behind spice trade
Ixians: High-tech machine masters
They’re not in the mix yet, but the lore suggests plenty of expansion room.
Final Blurb
Factions in Dune Awakening aren’t just team logos. They lock in your style of play, the tech you’ll use, and who you’re allowed to trust... or betray. Whether you’re running spice routes for Atreides or launching ambushes for Harkonnen, your path shapes the future of Arrakis.
And with future factions coming, staying neutral might not be a bad long-term plan either.
FAQ
Q: Can I join the Fremen or Bene Gesserit?
No, not directly. You can interact with them, trade, and learn some abilities, but they aren’t playable factions.
Q: What happens if I switch factions?
You lose all your progress with the old one and can’t go back. You only get one betrayal per faction.
Q: Which faction is best for PvP?
Harkonnen is built for aggression and fast dominance. Atreides leans more into defensive play and alliances.
Q: Can I get gear from a faction I didn’t join?
Yes, but only by paying extra at special vendors.
Q: Are more factions coming to the game?
Yes. The Fremen are expected to be added, and others like Sardaukar or CHOAM may show up in future DLC.
Q: Does your faction affect character creation?
Not really. Your origin or background mostly changes dialogue, not actual gameplay or progression.
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