Dune: Awakening places you in the unforgiving world of Arrakis, a world where survival means mastering its merciless desert, growing prized spice, and interpreting strange visions caused by its hallucinogenic properties. In the course of the start of your journey, such visions induced by spice begin to affect your path, leading you towards a pivotal spiritual journey known as the Trials of Aqb—the first one putting your stealth, timing, and observation skills to the test.
If you just unlocked the First Trial and don’t have any idea what to do next—or if you’re stuck in the trial—this full walkthrough will guide you step-by-step from triggering the vision to making it through all of the floating eyes in the stealth gauntlet.
What Is the First Trial of Aqb?
The First Trial of Aqb is a sneaking vision challenge that becomes available fairly early after you begin your quest on Arrakis. Breathing in spice triggers these vivid dreams, in which you are tested by the desert itself. This trial takes place in a shadowy dream-world with plenty of old stone structures and gigantic floating eyeball spysats that will send you back to square one if they catch you.
The goal is simple: use shadows and camouflage from the environment to sneak past these eyes and complete your rite of passage. Pass, and you’ll gain more knowledge of your fate on Arrakis—fail, and you’ll be forced to replay the sneaking sequence.
How to Start the First Trial of Aqb?
You won’t find this trial immediately when you come to Arrakis. Instead, you’ll need to progress somewhat into the game:
- 1. Acquire Familiarity with Zantara
You will meet Zantara as soon as you arrive, an old and mature guide who knows more about Arrakis—and you—than he lets on. He’ll settle you in and acquaint you with the basics of desert survival.
- 2. Build a Blood Purifier
Zantara will issue you some instructions to accomplish, like constructing a Blood Purifier in your sub-fief. This device removes water from enemy blood and will be very important on long desert journeys.
- 3. Have the First Vision
When you build the purifier, you will begin feeling the air of spices affecting you. There is a bright spice vision that exists in your home. Once this disappears, a new quest icon will be waiting in your Journey menu: “Follow your inner sight to the First Trial.”
Finding the Trial Location
It is a quest within itself to find where the trial lies. The desert does not give out secrets so easily:
- 1. Check Your Map
Open up your map and look for a purple quest marker. It shows the general location of the First Trial of Aqb. Note: the placement of the trial will vary slightly based on dynamic environmental factors like sandstorms.
- 2. Prepare for the Journey
Before you travel, hydrate. Utilize your Blood Purifier in killing Scavengers so that you will not lose water. Bring enough purified water to use for the journey, especially if the trial site is far.
- 3. Proceed to the Trial Site
With your supplies on hand, take the purple path on your compass. The journey should put you within 2,000 meters of your sub-fief. Approach the region and you’ll find that you come across a cave entrance protected by weathered stone pillars.
Starting the Trial
Inside the cave, proceed along the straight path until you arrive at the spice stone bowl—the precursor to the vision trial. Interact with it to breathe in the spice and start the stealth sequence.
Stealth Trial Breakdown (How to Defeat Each Eye)
Once inside the vision, you’ll encounter floating surveillance eyes, each one guarding a segment of the path. Being seen by any eye will reset your progress to the last checkpoint, so pay close attention to their behavior patterns.
First Eye – Basic Blinker
- Behavior: Opens and closes on a set rhythm.
- How to Pass: Get cover behind the two destroyed columns. Move forward towards the second column after the eye is closed. Once you are behind the second column, wait for the eye to be closed again, then exit and slide by.
Second Eye – Always Watching
- Behavior: The eye is always open but stationary.
- How to Pass: Hug the low wall at the edge of the cliff. Stay low and creep round the field of vision of the eye. Avoid standing up—this will give your position away.
Third Eye – Blinks with Cover
- Behaviour: Opens and closes, similar to the first.
- How to Clear: Use the ruined walls and fallen pillars to move from hide to hide. Run between the areas of the hide when the eye is closed.
Fourth Eye – Sweeping Motion
- Behavior: Does not blink, but its gaze sweeps back and forth in constant rotation.
- How to Pass: Wait under the half-destroyed bridge until the eye looks away. As its focus turns elsewhere, run through the empty space and take cover once more.
Fifth Eye – Jumping Obstacle
- Behavior: Same as fourth eye but incorporates platforming.
- How to Pass: Use the bridge shadow as cover, move as the eye turns, then run and leap over the thin gap ahead. Be certain to time your leap well—failure to do so results in falling and restarting the cycle.
Final Eye – The Ultimate Test
- Behavior: Opens and closes with a wide field of vision.
- How to Pass: Move forward only while the eye is shut. Use rocky outcroppings for cover. At one point, you’ll need to jump and climb over a small ledge—time this with the eye’s closing cycle. After passing the final section, head up the long staircase to complete the trial.
