In Dune: Awakening, the deserts of Arrakis hide more than danger—they also hide treasure. These buried caches can contain useful items like materials, gear, and even vehicles. But the game doesn’t explain clearly how to find them. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you locate and dig up buried treasure safely.
Tools You Need
To begin, complete the Second Trial of Aql. This quest gives you two tools:
- Handheld Resource Scanner – Sends a pulse to scan the sand.
- Static Compactor – Digs up buried treasure when placed on a marked spot.
If you lose these tools, you can craft them again. For the scanner, you need 9 Iron Ingots and 6 EMF Generators. Unlock it under the Iron Products branch in the Exploration research tree. If you picked “Locked Research” at the start, finish more quests to unlock it.
How to Use the Scanner
Go to an open desert area, away from rocks, water, or buildings. Look for signs like white wisps of sand or the Sandworm Activity Meter—these mean the sand is deep enough to hold treasure.
Equip the Handheld Scanner and scan the ground. If treasure is nearby, you’ll see a yellow diamond icon on your screen. This means something is buried there.
It might take a few tries to get a result. Keep scanning in a small area. If you scan too close to land or plants, it may detect other resources like water or fiber instead of treasure.
How to Dig It Up
Once the diamond icon appears, throw the Static Compactor directly on it. The device will pull the sand away and reveal a treasure chest. Make sure you place it exactly on the mark. If you miss, it may not work.
Treasure can include:
- Solaris (money)
- Opafire Gems (for faction requests)
- Spice Residue
- Armor and weapons
- Plastinium parts
- Schematics or full sandbikes
To make the most of Opafire Gems, open the Landsraad menu and deliver them to Great Houses to increase your standing.
Best Places to Look
Treasure can be found all over Arrakis, but some spots are better:
- Hagga Basin – Look around the anvil island and Vilious Gap.
- Deep Desert – Has better loot like plastinium. Try worm spawn areas and spice bloom zones.
- Flour Sand Zones – Easier to scan here. Look for white wisps.
Avoid quicksand and drumsand zones. They rarely have treasure.
Tip: Deep Desert treasure spots reset weekly. Check new areas after the reset and share coordinates with other players online.
Vehicle Scanners Help
Using a Sandbike Scanner lets you scan while moving. It’s safer than standing still with the handheld version.
You can unlock it early through research. It needs Iron Ingots and Advanced Servoks, which you can find in Imperial Testing Stations or buy for 750 Solaris.
Vehicle scanners don’t use energy from your Power Pack and have better range. Some players also scan while flying in an Ornithopter—one player flies while the other scans.
How to Escape Sandworms While Digging
Scanning and digging make noise, which attracts sandworms. You’ll get a warning, like the vibration meter turning red, before they arrive.
To stay safe:
- Don’t use Holtzman gear while scanning.
- Leave the area right after placing a compactor.
- Use an Ornithopter or Sandbike to escape quickly.
- Watch the Sandworm Activity Meter at all times.
If the meter spikes, retreat. You might have time for one or two digs, but don’t risk staying too long.
Treasure hunting in Dune: Awakening is risky but rewarding. With the right tools and some patience, you can find rare loot under the sand. Just remember to scan carefully, dig fast, and keep an eye on sandworm signs. The treasure is worth it—but only if you survive to collect it.
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