Dune: Awakening Guide | How To Play Swordmaster Class

Choosing a class in a new game is sometimes a hard thing to do, and that, of course, doesn’t change for Dune: Awakening. In this guide, you will focus on how the class feels, how it plays, what it does, what it can’t do, and how easy it is to get into during the early hours of the game. 

This is not a guide to mid or endgame, where you mix and match classes, and the mechanics become more complex.

Guide Scope

There are two critical points you need to know before diving in. First, this guide focuses only on the basics: how the class feels, how it plays, and its early‑game strengths and weaknesses. 

Second, you will not learn about mid‑ or endgame progression here—only what you can access and utilize in the first few hours.

Class Availability

You will notice that there are four starter classes available for character creation. A fifth class, the Planetologist, must be picked up later in the game. 

This guide covers only those four classes you can choose immediately, with details on acquiring the Planetologist coming in a separate guide.

Swordmaster Overview

The first class you will explore is the Swordmaster, which is all about melee combat. You will wield swords, Rapiers, and anything larger than a Dagger. 

While Daggers exist in the game, and you will use them briefly in the very early moments, they are not the weapon of choice for the Swordmaster.

Early Game Challenges

In the beginning, almost every enemy you face uses ranged weapons, and you won’t have your Holtzman Shield yet—the energy shield that protects you from projectiles. 

You do have access to the Deflect ability, which you can activate to deflect incoming needles and projectiles while you approach an enemy. 

However, once you start attacking, Deflect deactivates, and if multiple foes surround you, their projectiles will still hit and can deal significant damage. 

As a result, you may find yourself relying on ranged weapons for safety, even though most of your talents and abilities offer little synergy with them.

Tier Two Breakthrough

Once you leave the tutorial and reach the Tier Two area (the Iron region), everything changes dramatically for you. 

You will obtain your first real swords and Holtzman Shields, gain new abilities to close the gap on enemies more quickly, and unlock powerful AoE attacks. These additions make you truly formidable in combat.

Power Spike and Playstyle

The Swordmaster is one of the strongest classes in the game, so much so that the developers adjusted enemy load-outs and introduced new ranged weapons to balance melee fighters. 

As soon as you acquire actual swords and Holtzman Shields, your playstyle shifts completely, offering a thrilling contrast to the other starter classes.

Time Investment

Be prepared to invest about four to six hours to reach the point where the Swordmaster really shines. Until then, you will craft bandages frequently, die occasionally, and switch to ranged weapons more often than you’d like—but the payoff is worth it once you hit Tier Two.

Also, check our Dune: Awakening Review and other guides below:

• Dune: Awakening Beginner's Guide | Gameplay Tips & Tricks
• Dune: Awakening Guide | How The Blueprints Work
• Dune: Awakening Guide | How The Circuits Work