Introduction: Planetologist Guide: All Skills, Locations & Rewards
In Dune Awakening, the Planettologist class isn’t just another side path — it’s a crucial tool for players who want to dominate resource gathering, exploration, and spice harvesting in the deep desert. While it may not be as flashy as other combat-heavy specializations, unlocking the full Planettologist skill tree opens up powerful upgrades that make surviving and thriving on Arrakis significantly easier. This guide walks you through every step, NPC location, and skill unlock involved in the questline — helping you complete it efficiently, with minimal wasted time.
Whether you're just starting out or looking to max your skills for endgame spice farming, this walkthrough will cover everything you need to know about unlocking the full potential of the Planettologist class.
Finding Derek Jinara in Haga Basin South
To begin the Planetologist questline, head to Haga Basin South, where you'll find Derek Jinara stationed above Imperial Testing Station #2. This camp becomes your hub for most of the progression, so it’s worth bookmarking. Use the Flight Master at Griffin’s Reach Trading Post for fast travel back and forth — it saves time and the Solari cost is minimal compared to manual flight.
Gear Up Before Starting the Chain
Before tackling the full questline, gear matters. The journey will take you through multiple testing stations and dangerous zones like Odam, where enemies inflict poison damage and hit hard. Equip aluminum-tier gear at a minimum and make sure you have a dedicated Ornithopter for quicker map traversal. Rushing in underprepared will only slow your progress.
Starting With Imperial Testing Station #2
Your first objective from Derek is to recover mimic film data from Testing Station #2. Inside this dungeon-like structure, look for a hidden passage behind a bookshelf marked by a glowing yellow vertical line. Interact with it to reveal a secret room and grab the mimic film from the chest. Return to Derek to unlock Planetologist Level 1, granting access to most of the skill tree (except capstones).
Heading to Testing Station #197 in Vermilia’s Gap
Next, travel west into Vermilia’s Gap and enter Imperial Testing Station #197, a larger and more enemy-heavy zone. Derek awaits at the bottom of the circular pit. This time, the mimic film is deeper in and guarded by more combat challenges. Clear the gauntlet room, enter the side room, and recover the mimic film. Deliver it to Derek to unlock Planetologist Level 2.
Fast Travel Tip for Efficiency
As you bounce between objectives, always make use of Flight Masters to save time. The questline repeatedly brings you back to Haga Basin South and across large distances like Araken and Odam. Keep some Solari handy — it’s worth it for the efficiency.
Visiting Cyprien in Araken
Derek’s next contract leads you to Araken, the Atreides capital city. Once there, head upstairs to the Salusen Bowl, where you’ll find Cyprien in a back-corner bar. After speaking with him, you’ll be sent back — again — to Derek’s camp in Haga Basin South. This part of the quest is mostly narrative, but still required to progress.
Rescuing Derek in Testing Station #76
From there, head north to Testing Station #76 in Javal Effort Aljanob. Derek is trapped in a cell here, so your job is two-fold: find the mimic film and the keys to free him. The keys are located on a table just down the stairs, disguised as an interactable book. The mimic film is behind another false bookshelf, located in an overgrown lab further into the facility. Return both items to Derek to unlock Planetologist Level 3.
Third Skill Tier and Full Tree Access
By this stage, you now have nearly full access to the Planetologist skill tree, minus the final capstone abilities. If you’ve been hoarding skill points, now’s the time to start investing in exploration and gathering perks. Skills here offer benefits that directly enhance vehicle use, resource collection, and desert navigation — perfect for long-term progression.
Messenger Quest to Thufir Hawat
Back at Derek’s camp, you’ll receive a task to consult with Thufir Hawat in Araken. This leg is mostly narrative again. Once complete, you’ll be sent to Siege Tar, near the Western Shield Wall, where you’ll collect an artifact from crumbling ruins. Take it back to Derek to move forward in the storyline.
Back to the Haga Rift: Testing Station #29
You’re now headed underground into Imperial Testing Station #29, buried deep in Haga Rift. Derek meets you inside and asks for more mimic film. Locate the purple ID band room, find another hidden bookshelf, and retrieve the data. Returning this to Derek unlocks the first capstone skill — Spice Surveyor — which boosts your ability to locate and extract spice in the deep desert.
Unlocking the Second Planetologist Capstone
Once Spice Surveyor is unlocked, Derek returns to his usual camp in Haga Basin South. Speak with him again to trigger the next mission, which takes you northwest into the Odam region. Your destination is Imperial Testing Station #71, a more compact facility — welcome news if you're tired of long dungeon crawls.
Inside, you’ll meet Derek just to the right of the entrance. Once again, you’re tasked with retrieving mimic film. This time, head to the room marked with a blue identification band, find the false bookshelf, and take out the enemies in the hidden chamber. Be sure to also grab a second item from a shelf inside a side room deeper into the dungeon. Both are required to unlock the second Planetologist capstone when returned to Derek.
Surprise Twist with Cyprien
The next mission begins like a routine delivery. Derek asks you to take his report back to Cyprien in Araken. However, the twist arrives when you discover that Cyprien plans to ambush Derek. You’re immediately sent back to Haga Basin South to defend Derek’s camp.
Two waves of snipers will spawn nearby. While they don't initiate combat right away, you’ll need to actively locate and eliminate them. Once cleared, return to Derek’s base, search the area, and recover a new set of research notes to progress.
Final Testing Station: Unlocking the Last Capstone
For the last stretch of this questline, travel back north to the Odam region, heading into Imperial Testing Station #163. As you enter, you’ll find Derek near the doorway, surrounded by bodies — clearly, he’s not holding back anymore.
This final task is simple in structure but critical: find a missing recording. Navigate through the dungeon until you reach the last chamber. The hologram terminal stands out clearly. Interact with it to retrieve the item, then return to Derek near the entrance. Handing it over unlocks the final Planetologist capstone skill, plus a special unique stillsuit as a bonus reward.
Verifying Quest Completion
After all capstones are unlocked, return one last time to Derek’s camp. Exhaust all dialogue options. While this doesn't grant new skills, it ensures the questline is properly marked as complete — especially important if the game expands his story later via post-launch content or patches.
Why Maxing Out Planetologist Is Worth It
Fully unlocking the Planetologist skill tree gives one player in your group a major utility edge. With all skills and capstones activated, you’ll enjoy enhanced deep desert mobility, resource extraction, and bonus spice yields when using vehicles like the sand crawler. This makes endgame farming far more efficient and sustainable.
Recommended Group Strategy
If you run in a crew, make sure at least one member invests in Planetologist as a priority. While not critical for solo PvP, it's essential for deep desert farming and gathering rare materials. Having even one maxed Planetologist in the party will benefit the entire team through increased yields and easier navigation of hazardous terrain.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
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Starting too early without high-tier gear — especially when entering Odam zones.
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Skipping flight masters, which turns travel into a grind.
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Ignoring mimic film locations — these are almost always behind false bookshelves marked with yellow lines.
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Not checking for secondary quest items, especially in Stations #76 and #71.
Efficient Pathing Recap
For maximum efficiency:
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Start in Haga Basin South
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Move to Station #2
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Proceed west to Station #197
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Travel to Araken, then back
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Head north to Station #76
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Visit Thufir Hawat, then Siege Tar
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Dive into Station #29
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Make a run to Station #71
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Return to Araken, then defend Derek
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Conclude with Station #163
Following this loop minimizes downtime, maximizes flight master use, and avoids unnecessary backtracking.
Conclusion
Unlocking the full Planetologist skill tree in Dune Awakening is a time-intensive process, but one that pays off with huge long-term benefits. Whether you're aiming to dominate spice farming, improve resource gathering, or explore the deep desert with ease, the class delivers consistent utility across the board. The key to efficient progression lies in planning ahead — using flight masters, equipping proper gear, and knowing where to find every mimic film. With this guide, you now have a clear path from the first quest to the final capstone.
If you're serious about exploring Arrakis and want to maximize your group’s efficiency, assign someone the Planetologist role early. You won’t regret the payoff when you’re harvesting massive spice yields in the harshest corners of the map.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Where do I start the Planetologist questline in Dune Awakening?
A: Start by finding Derek Jinara near Imperial Testing Station #2 in Haga Basin South.
Q: What is mimic film and where do I find it?
A: Mimic film is testing data hidden behind false bookshelves in Imperial Testing Stations. Look for yellow glowing lines.
Q: How many capstone skills does Planetologist have?
A: There are three capstone skills, each unlocked by completing quests in different testing stations across the map.
Q: What gear should I have before starting?
A: At minimum, aluminum-tier gear and a dedicated Ornithopter. Some zones deal poison damage and have tough enemies.
Q: Is the Planetologist necessary for endgame?
A: Yes, especially for farming spice in the deep desert. It boosts resource yield and exploration efficiency.
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