🐛 Sand Worms
↩️ Avoiding 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 |
📐 Detecting & Distracting Worms
- 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 |
♟️ Worm Strategies
- 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 |