The sands are shifting on the dunes of Arrakis, and Dune: Imperium - Uprising is coming soon to Dune: Imperium Digital, bringing the acclaimed evolution of the deck-building worker placement game to Steam, Xbox, and mobile devices!
Dune: Imperium - Uprising comes with a whole new board representing escalated stakes in a newly war-torn Imperium. In this first preview of the upcoming expansion, we will be descending into the heart of the desert to reveal the reborn board of Arrakis — and the living terrors that stir beneath its sands.
With religious fervor rising in the south and Muad’dib strangling spice production in the north, everything points to the escalation of war.
- Princess Irulan
The spice flows stronger on the transformed landscape of Arrakis in Dune: Imperium - Uprising. Every space has been reshaped by the drums of war. Familiar paths to power remain, yet new veins of strategy course through them, with bold choices to make and greater risks to take.
In the digital version, the cost of Swordmaster will automatically change from 8 to 6 once a player has sent an Agent there. Easy bookkeeping!
Some spaces will look familiar to veterans of Dune: Imperium, albeit with new tactical considerations. The High Council no longer offers a single fleeting audience with the Landsraad — return an Agent to this exalted space on a later turn, and you’ll be rewarded with a generous bounty of spice, Intrigue, and troops. Meanwhile, the first House bold enough to claim the Swordmaster pays 8 Solari as usual, but then the cost lowers to 6 for subsequent players, turning it into a game of tactical timing.
The locales of the desert planet itself have also experienced their own transformations. Sitting in the place of Carthag is the Spice Refinery, offering players a new path to Solari, while the Research Station now grants precious troops in addition to card draws.
Faction spaces have also been forged anew, with each group’s interests changing as the conflict heats up on Arrakis. Nearly every Faction space has been adjusted or replaced entirely, and that’s not all — each Faction now offers a unique benefit to players who gain their favor. 2 Influence with the Emperor now grants access to Imperial Privilege, a reworked version of Mentat where you can replace an Intrigue card and recall an Agent. The same amount of Influence with the Spacing Guild gives you tickets to the Shipping space, granting 5 Solari and Influence with a Faction of your choice.
And, of course, hidden away in the heart of the desert lies Sietch Tabr, accessible only to those with 2 or more Fremen Influence, and here is where the real power of the board awakens.
You want to fight with us, you must learn to live in the desert.
- Stilgar
By gaining favor with the Fremen, you can learn their ways, and open the door to true desert power. A single visit to Sietch Tabr permanently grants Maker Hooks, allowing you to harness the power of the mighty sandworms. With the Maker Hooks icon on your garrison, certain cards and board spaces now let you summon these living forces of nature into battle.
Pay a visit to Hagga Basin and forgo its reward of 2 spice to summon a single worm of terrifying power into the Conflict. Or, venture even further into the treacherous Deep Desert and summon two worms, striking fear into the hearts of your enemies. Sandworms enter the Conflict directly, each one bringing three Combat strength into the battle. Furthermore, should even one sandworm fight beneath your banner, every reward you claim from that Conflict — whether you came in 1st, 2nd, or 3rd — is doubled: spice, troops, even Victory Points.
Yet, the desert has teeth. Three vital locations — Arrakeen, the Spice Refinery, and the Imperial Basin — are shielded from sandworms by the Shield Wall from the start of the game. While it stands, no worm may answer your call in Conflicts that take place in these locations. But the Shield Wall is not impenetrable, and the key to unlocking it lies in the same place where you gain your mastery over the worms: Sietch Tabr. When you visit the Sietch, you can choose to either claim your Maker Hooks, or blow up the Shield Wall, making it an enticing space to visit multiple times. But have caution, because opening the Shield Wall is a double-edged crysknife — once broken, it cannot be reforged.
There is a whole new frontier of new possibilities waiting for you in Uprising, and this is just the first taste of the reborn Arrakis. But there is far more than new board spaces in this upcoming expansion, and in our next previews, we will be exploring some of the new mechanics such as Spies and contracts, as well as some more of the fun surprises exclusive to the digital version of the game. Whether you’re learning about Uprising for the first time, or a veteran player eager to dive into the action, be sure to set your future sight on our socials, newsletter, and the Dire Wolf Discord to keep an eye on future announcements.