Death Penalty and How to Save Your Vehicle
Death in Dune: Awakening depends entirely on how and where you die. Whether you’re downed in PvE combat, gunned down in PvP, or consumed by a Sandworm or Coriolis Storm, the consequences are different. This guide covers every death type, how gear loss works, and how to save your sandbike or ornithopter with the Vehicle Backup Tool.
1. What Happens When You Die in PvE
Reaching 0 HP in PvE combat is not instantly lethal. Instead, you enter a “Down But Not Out” (DBNO) state where you can attempt to revive yourself or be revived by other players.
- If you succeed in reviving, you return to the fight with low health
- If you fail to revive in time or take additional damage, you die
Upon death in PvE:
- Equipped gear (weapons, armor, tools) stays with you
- Backpack items drop on the ground and can be recovered
- Your death location is marked with a skull icon on the map and compass
You can return to this spot to pick up your loot, unless you die again before retrieving it, which makes the older death bag disappear.
2. What Happens When You Die in PvP
In PvP zones like the Deep Desert or certain wreck locations, death works differently. If another player kills you:
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- They can loot your backpack items: materials, Spice, Solari, and tools
- You keep your equipped gear unless a Landsraad decree enables full looting that week
- You can still respawn and attempt recovery, but your items may already be taken
3. What Happens When You Die to a Sandworm
Being eaten by a Sandworm is the most punishing death in the game. You will lose all your items permanently, including:
- Equipped gear
- Backpack inventory
- Vehicles if they are out when you’re swallowed
If you are riding your vehicle when you die to a Sandworm, the vehicle is destroyed and cannot be recovered. There is no backpack to return to and nothing is marked on the map.
Worm Attack
4. How to Save Your Vehicle from Sandworms
Before crossing the sand or when you know you’re about to die, always store your sandbike or ornithopter using the Vehicle Backup Tool. This tool lets you recall the vehicle into your inventory, preventing it from being lost during death.
- If your vehicle is stored before a Sandworm death, it will be preserved
- If you are riding it during death, it is destroyed permanently
- This makes storing your vehicle the most important habit when facing certain death
Respawning after death will allow you to use the Vehicle Backup Tool again and re-summon your stored vehicle at a safe location.
5. What Happens When You Die in a Coriolis Storm
In the Deep Desert, Coriolis Storms occur once per week and act like a map reset. If you’re caught in one:
- You will lose everything permanently, just like with Sandworms
- This includes all gear, inventory, and vehicles
- Always monitor storm alerts and seek enclosed shelter or use fast travel if needed
6. Where You Respawn After Death in Dune Awakening
When you die in Dune: Awakening, you can choose from several respawn locations. But only if they’ve been set up in advance. Understanding where and how to respawn can save your progress and help you recover your gear faster.
- Base: You can always respawn at your Sub Fief Console (land claim) if it’s active.
- Vehicle: If your sandbike or ornithopter is left out in the world and you set it as your respawn point by interacting with it, you can respawn there. This is especially useful before entering dungeons or open sand areas.
- Respawn Beacon: A craftable item that lets you set a one-time respawn point wherever you place it. Ideal for long expeditions.
- Story or Dungeon Checkpoints: Specific missions or facilities include built-in respawn markers that activate when entered.
Note: You cannot respawn at your vehicle if it was stored using the Vehicle Backup Tool or if it has a storage module attached. Always verify your vehicle is deployed and linked before entering high-risk zones.
7. Can You Keep Your Vehicle After a Sandworm Death?
There is one critical exception to the usual full-loss Sandworm deaths in Dune: Awakening. The first time you are eaten while riding your vehicle, the game triggers a grace mechanic that lets you keep your sandbike or ornithopter.
- This happens only the first time you die to a Sandworm while mounted.
- You will lose all other items and gear.
- The Vehicle Backup Tool stays on your body.
- You can use it immediately after respawning to re-summon your vehicle.
After this one-time exception, any future Sandworm death while mounted will result in the permanent destruction of your vehicle.
However, if you store your vehicle using the Vehicle Backup Tool before dying, the vehicle will be safely preserved, and you can respawn, equip the tool, and immediately summon it again.
