The open sands of Arrakis are home to deadly sandworms in Dune: Awakening, but they aren't the only hazards you'll face when traveling across the desert. Drumsand and quicksand are two threats that you have to watch out for in Dune: Awakening unless you want to lose your entire inventory to a sandworm. Thankfully, these two hazards are easily identifiable, and you can plan routes around them to safely reach your destination.

While both hazards show up on the map with the same icons, drumsand and quicksand have two very different effects depending on which type you're unlucky enough to step foot into. Drumsand will attract sandworms much faster than usual, and quicksand will slow your movement to a crawl and eventually swallow you whole. Even with a vehicle, these two special sand types still pose a threat to travelers.

10 Beginner Tips in Dune Awakening
9 Beginner Tips in Dune: Awakening

For those diving into the sands of Dune: Awakening, here are some useful beginner tips to help them in their adventure.

How to Avoid Quicksand and Drumsand in Dune: Awakening

Dune Awakening Drumsand Quicksand

The best way to deal with quicksand and drumsand in Dune: Awakening is to avoid them entirely. Both hazards are marked on the map with giant red circles. If you check your map before heading out onto the open sands, you can plan a safe route around drumsand and quicksand pits and reach your destination without attracting a sandworm.

You'll eventually step foot in one of these areas in Dune: Awakening, though, but there's no need to panic. If you find yourself on a patch of drumsand (you'll hear loud thumping as you move), just back away and find another route around it. The same applies to quicksand, although you'll be able to tell that you've hit a patch of quicksand much more quickly since you'll come to an abrupt stop. A Sandbike Booster is super helpful for getting out of quicksand if you have one.

How to deal with Radiation in Dune Awakening
How to Deal With Radiation In Dune: Awakening

Trying to survive the Anomaly Zone in Dune: Awakening? Here's how to deal with Radiation.

Dune Awakening Riding a Sandbike

A Suspensor Belt is also a great way to avoid these sand hazards since you can just float over them. You won't be able to cross an entire section of drumsand or quicksand unless you have a ton of energy, though, so a Suspensor Belt is really only helpful for moving out of these patches without attracting a worm.

There are also some boots you can craft that will reduce sandworm attraction, but they can only do so much against the effects of drumsand. Of course, flying with an ornithopter will let you ignore the sand entirely as well.

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Dune: Awakening Tag Page Cover Art
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Released
June 10, 2025
Developer(s)
Funcom
Publisher(s)
Funcom
Engine
Unreal Engine 5
Franchise
Dune
PC Release Date
June 10, 2025
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WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL
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Genre(s)
Open-World, Survival, MMO