🐛 Sand Worms

Walking slowly or crouching minimizes vibrations you generate on the sand, which is a major signal for sandworms
You may want to turn off your shields while on the sand and watch your noise and worm threat meter
Upgrade your vehicles with components that create less vibrations (see section “Planning For Maintenance & Upgrades“)

UI Threat Indicators	Function
Noise Meter	Measures the sound generated by your actions. High noise levels can attract sandworms, posing a significant threat
Worm Threat Meter	Indicates the level of sandworm activity in your vicinity. The meter changes color as the threat escalates, signaling the need for caution or retreat

Thumpers can help divert sandworms, allowing you to move more safely, but be cautious in areas known for high sandworm activity as you may attract too many
A Wormsign detector can be activated to monitor for Sandworms continuously while actively exploring or harvesting resources
Nothing is recoverable (not gear, nor inventory) when facing death from a Sandworm. It's a good idea to place respawn beacons in safe, strategic areas where you know you have backup gear

Tool Name	Primary Function	Notes
Thumper	Attracts sandworms	Used tactically or for risk-based distraction/escape
Wormsign Detector	Alerts you to the presence of sandworms	Equipped or carried to monitor sandworm presence actively
Respawn Beacon	Sets personal respawn point	Critical for avoiding long treks back after death

The type of worm you will encounter comes with the territory and different preparation strategies must be used for different types of worms
Small worms will exist between large rock-formations and mountains. Since it is easier to sprint from one rock-formation to another, you can traverse knowing that you have a safe spot ahead of you
Large worms will exist in large open areas of endless dunes. It’s important to understand that if there are no rock-formations in sight and you haven’t planned for an escape, you will be dead and lose all your gear!

Worm Type	Habitat	Appearance	Behavior	Strategy	Preparation
Tri-Mouth Worms (small)	Hagga Basin (PvE)	Characterized by three distinct jaws, reminiscent of the 1984 Dune film adaptation	While still dangerous, these worms are less aggressive and more manageable for new players	Avoid & Predict, Gauge the closing distance to the next rock-formation	- Turn off shields on the sand - Utilize natural terrain for cover - If the distance is short, sprint to the next safe zone - If it’s not too late, move slowly or crouch to reduce detection risk
Ring-Mouth Worms (large)	Deep Desert (PvP)	Feature a circular, gaping maw, similar to the depiction in Denis Villeneuve's recent Dune films	Highly aggressive and capable of swallowing large vehicles or groups of players whole	Distract & Exit, Plan for a specific purpose and GTFO ASAP	- Only go to the Deep Desert for a specific purpose and with a plan - Turn off shields on the sand (when appropriate since it’s a PvP zone) - Minimize time spent on open sand; use rock formations for traversal - Advanced gear, such as wormsign detector and thumper, is recommended - Deploy thumpers strategically to divert worms and plan escape routes in advance - Have aerial transport ready to extract equipment and personnel faster