Farm Intel Points Fast and Unlock Research to Craft Better Gear
This guide explains everything you need to know about Intel Points in Dune: Awakening – how to get them quickly, how to use them to unlock research tiers, and expert tips to optimize your crafting progression.
Intel Points are a progression currency in Dune: Awakening used to unlock new crafting schematics, weapons, tools, and equipment through the Research Tree.
Gathering Intel Points rapidly allows you to unlock advanced crafting schematics crucial for survival and progression. These points are only found at specific outposts on the map and are earned by interacting with holographic terminals. Learning how to gather Intel Points efficiently and spend them wisely is essential to crafting better gear and accessing late-game technology like plastanium or advanced vehicles.
1. Where to Find Intel Points in Dune: Awakening
Intel Points can only be acquired from designated outposts scattered across Arrakis. Each outpost gives a fixed amount of Intel Points the first time it is visited and activated. These points are not found in enemy camps, loot crates, or drops — they must be claimed from holograms found in the outpost’s structure.
- Hagga Basin South: 3 Intel Points per outpost
- Vermillius Gap: 5 Intel Points per outpost
- Jabal and Hoga Rift: 10 Intel Points per outpost
- Shield Wall and Northern Zones: 20 Intel Points per outpost
- Deep Desert: 40 Intel Points from special labs, weekly reset
The further you progress into the map, the higher the Intel Point rewards per outpost. This makes late-game zones extremely valuable for rapid research advancement.
Outpost with Intel Points
2. How to Use Probe Launchers to Reveal Intel Locations
Before hunting for Intel Points, players should always use a Probe Launcher to scan the surrounding zone. Scanning a region uncovers the full map, including all Points of Interest (POIs) and which outposts contain Intel Points. When hovering over a revealed POI, the tooltip will display “Intel 0/1” if the reward is still unclaimed. This allows players to optimize their route and avoid wasting time at empty locations.
- Probe from elevated terrain using a Probe Launcher
- Stay within range until the probe completes its scan
- Check the map — only outposts with “Intel 0/1” have active points
Using probe scans is crucial to efficient exploration, especially in dangerous zones like the Deep Desert.
3. All Research Tiers and Required Intel Point Costs
The Research Tree is divided into six categories, each offering unique technologies for base-building, survival, and combat. Unlocking recipes in each tree requires a cumulative Intel Point investment. Higher tiers only become available after a threshold of total spent Intel Points is reached.
- Salvage Tier: No Intel requirement — starting unlocks
- Copper Tier: Available early — unlocked after first few points
- Iron Tier: Unlocked after spending more Intel — includes essential gear
- Steel Tier: Requires 100 Intel Points
- Aluminum Tier: Requires 300 Intel Points
- Duraluminum Tier: Requires 700 Intel Points
- Plastanium Tier: Requires 1,200 Intel Points
Once unlocked, each new material tier grants access to more powerful equipment recipes. Players must reach the Intel threshold before they can even see the available schematics in that tier.
Crafting Light Darts
4. All Research Categories and What They Unlock
The Research interface is broken into six distinct trees. Each one supports a specific aspect of gameplay progression and can be progressed independently as long as you have enough Intel Points.
- Water Discipline: Unlocks hydration tools, literjons, filters, and fluid processors
- Combat: Includes weapons, ammo types, and specialized armor schematics
- Construction: Unlocks base structures such as fabricators, wind traps, storage chests, and power systems
- Exploration: Includes scanners, probes, suspensor belts, and drinks
- Vehicles: Unlocks sandbike upgrades, ornithopter parts, and vehicle modules
- Uniques: Advanced or exotic schematics tied to PvP, lore, or limited drops from chests
Players can spend Intel Points across all categories at any time. Diversifying your research path can give earlier access to mobility or power, while focused specialization can fast-track high-tier gear.
5. Intel Point Farming Strategy: Best Routes to Maximize Efficiency
The best way to earn Intel Points quickly is to focus on high-value zones while maintaining safe travel and resource access. Here is the optimal flow:
- Scan Hagga Basin South — collect 3-point Intel from all outposts. Use our Hagga Basin South guide to finish the area efficiently.
- Move to Vermillius Gap — collect all 5-point Intel per outpost
- Craft an Ornithopter fast with the help of our guide to be able to move fast around the map
- Continue to Hagga Rift and Jabal Eifrit Al-janub — 10 Intel Points each
- Push into Shield Wall and advanced zones — 20 points per outpost
- Finish with Deep Desert Labs — 40 points each, resets weekly
Outposts in high-tier areas are PvE or PvP, depending on the region. Deep Desert offers the largest Intel boost per visit, and resets weekly, making it the most efficient long-term strategy.
6. Research Tips and Intel Point Management Strategy
- Always probe zones before exploring — do not waste time at empty POIs
- Track cumulative Intel Points spent — unlock new tiers faster
- Balance research spending — prioritize utility, survival, and mobility
- Rush Deep Desert unlocks — 40 Intel Points per lab is unmatched
- Don’t stockpile points — unused Intel does not advance tier unlocks
Intel Points are a finite resource per zone. Maximizing every opportunity and spreading your research across needed categories will drastically improve survival and crafting options in the mid and late game.
Do not research everything, but focus only on the items you need and will use.
