When a single planet in the entire universe is home to the most valuable commodity in the entire universe, it’s pretty much a given that everyone and their grandma are going to try and set up shop there. Frankly, it’s kind of surprising that there are only four Factions in Dune: Spice Wars, but maybe other companies and empires would rather just buy Spice than take the time to harvest it. If you’re a more enterprising sort, you’ll want to throw your lot in with the right crowd. So, what’s the best Faction in Dune: Spice Wars?
In Dune: Spice Wars, there are four different Factions you can choose from when you first start your game. These Factions all have their own unique bonuses and capabilities, which in turn affects their optimal playstyle. As such, the Faction you choose will largely depend on your optimal playstyle.
Best Factions in Dune Spice Wars
The four Factions in Dune Spice Wars are:
- House Atreides
- House Harkonnen
- The Smugglers
- The Fremen
House Atreides
For those of you who are just starting out and want to get a good blend of what Dune: Spice Wars has to offer, House Atreides is a good Faction to start with. They’re about as close to a “standard” Faction as you can get, as they favor a relatively balanced blend of diplomacy and economic management. House Atreides specializes in expanding their territory through primarily nonviolent means, with one such example being their “Peaceful Annexation” ability that allows them to recruit neutral Villages without having to pick a fight with them.
House Harkonnen
If you don’t feel like bothering with all the diplomatic stuff and just want to get to conquering everything, House Harkonnen are your guys. These hefty fellas are old-school despots, emphasizing military might over all else. You want to amass as much military power as possible to forcefully take control of Villages and resources, then use the extra resources to amass more power. With their Oppression ability, House Harkonnen can forcefully keep their Villages in line as they seek to conquer the entirety of Arrakis.
The Smugglers
Spice may be the most valuable commodity in the universe, but without a cash flow, it’s worthless. The Smugglers are all about using the power of money to subtly cripple the other Factions. The Smugglers have better connections with the Arrakis Black Market, allowing them to get valuable resources at a better rate. Meanwhile, they can also install secret bases under enemy villages and place bounties on enemy soldiers and leaders. As your foes burn themselves out trying to fix the damage, you’ll be able to buy the whole planet out from under them.
The Fremen
While many groups came to Arrakis to seek their fortune, the Fremen were there first, and they’re not keen on outsiders. As the natives of Arrakis, the Fremen draw their power from the planet itself, expanding their influence as they explore the deserts and strike deals with the Sietch. It’s a bit difficult for them to win through the economy, due to their lessened access to Lansraad, but they can cripple other Factions’ Spice trade by calling Sandworms with Thumpers.
So who’s the best faction in Dune Spice Wars? As I said, it depends on what you want out of the game. If you want to go diplomatic, go for House Atreides. If you wanna conquer stuff, House Harkonnen. If you want to buy everything, the Smugglers. If you want to explore the world, the Fremen.
