How To Play: Dune

If you’ve ever wanted to control the spice, betray your friends, or just shout “Shai-Hulud!” at your game table, you’re in the right place. After many nights of sandworm-induced chaos with my friends, I’ve put together this guide with an outline of the game rules and the best (and sneakiest) strategies for winning. So grab your faction, count your spice, and prepare for epic drama!

Overview

What’s in the box

• 1 Game Board
• 6 Faction Sheets
• 2 Battle Wheels
• 6 Player Shields
• 80 Troop Tokens
• 54 Spice Tokens
• 33 Treachery Cards
• 21 Storm Cards
• 18 Traitor Cards
• 6 Alliance Cards
• 56 Control Markers
• 6 Storm Markers
• 6 Turn Order Markers
• 1 Storm Marker
• 6 Player Reference Cards
• 1 Rulebook

How To Play Dune: Rules Summary

Setup

1. First, each player chooses a faction. I recommend fighting over your favorite before someone else grabs it. This gets everyone in the spirit early.

2. Next, place your tokens and leaders on the table, following your faction’s setup card. Don’t forget to act mysterious while doing this. It’s tradition!

3. Then, shuffle the decks: spice, treachery, and alliance. Let the person with the most sand on their clothes go first. Trust me, it helps the mood.

4. Afterward, put the storm marker on the board. Everyone should groan dramatically when you do this.

5. Hand out starting spice and treachery cards as stated in the rules. Keep your cards hidden unless you want to lose… fast!

Gameplay

1. Each round, move the storm marker. The wind blew my tokens off the board once—don’t let that happen to you.

2. Reveal new spice. This is the part where everyone tries to act chill, but really we all just want to grab it first.

3. Bid for treachery cards. Outbid your friends every time and watch them squirm. It’s half the fun.

4. Deploy troops and move them. Make deals, break deals, forget you ever made the deal—just like in the books!

5. Battle for strongholds and spice. If you lose, blame your friends. If you win, take a victory lap around the room (optional, but encouraged).

6. Collect spice income. Remind yourself spice isn’t actually edible. Trust me, it doesn’t taste good.

Winning

1. Grab control of three strongholds at the end of a turn to win. Or, if you’re in an alliance, control four between you.

2. If no one pulls this off after 10 turns, then the faction with the most spice wins. I once lost by one stinking spice token. Painful memories.

Special Rules & Conditions

1. Factions have special powers. Use them well—unless you’re the Harkonnen, then just be sneaky.

2. Alliances are allowed. Betrayals are not only allowed, but expected. Don’t take it personally; I never do (well, almost never).

3. Spice blows and sandstorms can ruin your plans. Always have a backup strategy, or at least a snack. Snacks help.

4. If the storm wipes out your troops, try not to yell at the board. It won’t help, but it feels good.

So that’s the gist! Now you know How To Play Dune in a way that’s almost as entertaining as my friends arguing over alliances. Good luck, and may your spice flow freely!

Best Dune Strategies

Know Your Factions, Know Your Path to Victory!

Atreides: The Peepers

Atreides shine when it comes to insider info. They peek at cards and battle plans, but struggle with low cash. When I played them, I felt like a nosy neighbor with empty pockets. Here’s how to use them best:

1. Trade info for spicy alliances.
2. Push hard for spice blows early.
3. Keep your hand full of Treachery Cards.

Harkonnen: The Card Hoarders

Harkonnen love backstabbing. They get extra Treachery Cards and hit hard in combat but often lose friends fast. If you’re playing them, try this:

1. Use surprise cards to win key fights.
2. Bluff your way into alliances, then break them.
3. Make enemies fear your hand (literally).

Emperor: The Money Bags

The Emperor rolls in spice, but stays behind the scenes. I once played them and bribed my way to the win. Remember:

1. Bribe others to do your dirty work.
2. Control spice flows, don’t rush combat.
3. Buy the best cards, every time.

If you want to learn How To Play dune, always match your strategy to your faction’s best moves!

Pick Partners, Not Problems: Mastering Alliances in Dune

Strike When the Spice Flows

Alliances in Dune are like birthday cake—wait too long, and it’s gone. Watch for when spice booms or leaders drop out. Then:

1. Offer deals right after battles, when folks feel beaten down.
2. Snap up players who just lost their traitors.

Balance Power, Not Egos

While tempting to join the top dog, sometimes it’s smarter teaming up with underdogs so you stand out. Remember:

1. Pick partners with tech or info you lack.
2. Avoid bosses likely to stab you in the back.

How To Play Dune: Alliance Breakers

When you’re the third wheel, gently nudge rival pairs apart with sneaky promises. If I had a dollar every time my pal ditched me for the Emperor, I’d buy Arrakis itself. Keep deals fresh, and always have an escape plan!

Spice and Troops: Your Path to Victory in Dune

Resource Basics

Spice buys everything. Troops fight battles. Get both, or watch your friends laugh as you go broke in the sand.

How To Manage Spice

1. Grab spice blows early. Act fast when spice lands on the board.
2. Trade well. Offer bribes, but never overpay (unless you like losing).
3. Save for sandstorm emergencies. You never know when a worm will ruin your day.

How To Use Troops

1. Place troops where you’ll win battles. No one fears a lonely soldier in the desert.
2. Reinforce strongholds. Protect key areas, or someone else will.
3. Retreat if needed. Surviving is better than going out in a blaze of glory—unless glory is your thing.

How To Play dune

Smart resource management gives you a huge edge. My friend once ignored spice and couldn’t afford anything. He still complains. Don’t be that player!

May the Spice Flow in Your Favor!

Alright folks, that’s a wrap on my Dune strategy guide. If you made it this far, congrats—you now know more about How To Play dune than my uncle Dave, who still thinks the sandworm is a pet. Remember, Dune isn’t just about crushing your foes, it’s about laughing with your friends as you plot their doom (lovingly, of course). Try new things, break alliances when you really shouldn’t, and never underestimate the power of a well-timed betrayal. Good luck, have fun, and may your spice hoard never run dry!

Want to know what we think of Dune? Read our detailed review of Dune here