How to Play

Dune

2-6 players 120-180 min 7.9 Board Game Geek Rating

Players lead one of six factions vying for control of melange, the universe's most precious spice found only on planet Arrakis. This classic strategy game recreates Frank Herbert's Dune universe through tactical combat and resource management. Victory comes from dominating the desert world and its invaluable spice production.

Published 2019

Get Ready

Setup the game with these step-by-step instructions before diving into your turn.

Select player count

This variant supports 3 to 4 players and lasts 7 turns

Choose ruleset

Decide whether to play with Basic Rules or Advanced Rules, with optional expansion variants

Prepare components

Use the South Region map with its own Spice Deck, Storm Deck, and Storm Marker

Determine Windgap Sietch status

This territory counts as a stronghold for winning only in 4-player games

Place faction forces in order

Fremen, Atreides, Harkonnen, Bene Gesserit, Spacing Guild, Ecaz, and Moritani (last) place forces on the map

Draw traitor cards

Every faction draws 3 traitor cards and keeps 1 card as a traitor

Determine first storm position

Two players independently dial a number between 0 and 20

Ixian HMS placement

Place the Hidden Mobile Stronghold (may be placed on Windgap Sietch only in 4-player games)

Reposition Ecaz and Moritani

These factions may reposition their forces to another sector within their territory after the first storm movement

On Your Turn

What you can do during your turn.

Draw storm card

Use the South Region storm deck for storm movement (range of 0 to 3 sectors)

Fremen storm knowledge (Advanced only)

Look at the top storm card for the next turn

Fremen storm control (Advanced only)

After the first storm, randomly select a card from each storm deck, look at them, and place the deck face down on the board margin

Reveal spice blow

Draw from the South Region Spice Deck to place spice on the map

No alliances allowed

Players cannot form alliances in this variant

Nexus Cards variant (optional)

All players may take a nexus card during a Nexus Phase; when a Sandtrout appears, all players must discard their nexus card

Standard shipment

Pay the Spacing Guild to ship forces from off-planet reserves to the map

Fremen free shipment

Ship any forces for free within 2 territories of Wormsign Pass

Bene Gesserit advisor shipment

May ship advisors to the Ice Cap

Standard movement

Move a group of forces up to 2 territories

Ornithopter movement

Move up to 3 territories if using Ornithopters

Fremen movement

Move a group of forces up to 3 territories

Ixian Cyborg movement

Cyborg forces can move 3 territories instead of 2

Ixian Suboid movement

Suboids move 2 territories, or 3 territories if accompanied by at least one Cyborg

Resolve battles

Conduct combat when multiple factions occupy the same territory

Richese No-Field option

If winning a battle without losing forces hidden by a No-Field Token, may choose not to reveal the token

Standard spice collection

Collect 2 spice per force in territories with spice

Harvester Advantage collection

Collect 3 spice per force when occupying Windgap Sietch

Water Mine income (Advanced only)

Collect 2 spice for occupying Water Mine

Smuggler Camp income (Advanced only)

Collect 1 spice for occupying Smuggler Camp

Ice Cap attrition

Factions with forces in the Ice Cap return 1 force to reserves (off-planet) due to low temperatures

Bene Gesserit cold resistance

Bene Gesserit do not return forces from the Ice Cap thanks to prana bindu

Apply Polar Sink rules

The same restrictions as in the Polar Sink apply to the Ice Cap

Winning

How to claim victory.

Standard victory condition (4 players)

Control the required number of strongholds including Windgap Sietch as a valid stronghold

Standard victory condition (3 players)

Control the required number of strongholds; Windgap Sietch does not count toward victory

Spacing Guild default victory

If no other player wins by the end of turn 7, the Spacing Guild wins

Bene Gesserit prediction limitation

Bene Gesserit cannot win with a "Fremen/Turn 7" prediction if the Spacing Guild wins by default

Fremen special victory condition

If no faction has won by the end of the last turn, Fremen win if they (or no one) occupy Fondak Sietch, and neither Harkonnen, Atreides, Emperor, nor Richese occupies Water Mine or Windgap Sietch

Fremen alliance victory

When Fremen achieve their special victory condition, any allies also win the game