Dune: Spice Wars - Master the Art of Territory Annexation

Dune: Spice Wars is an RTS sci-fi game set on the fictional desert world of Arrakis from Frank Herbert's renowned novel. Players, as powerful factions, will engage in intense battles to secure crucial resources from this hostile planet. Expansion is vital for prosperity, as resources and Solari are necessary even for trade. To gain control of a territory, players must occupy its main Village, which can be located using Ornithopter reconnaissance.

Once the Village is found, players must deploy troops and order them to capture it through attacks. However, for those who prefer a more peaceful approach, House Atreides offers the option to Peacefully Annex neighboring territories, reducing the likelihood of rebellions and uprisings after conquering a territory.

Capturing Territories

To begin, players must recruit Military Units to fight on their behalf. This can be accomplished through the faction panel located on the right side of the screen. Each territory sector is under the control of a Village, determining who has access to the resources within that sector. Most villages are guarded by at least two units, so it is advisable to send in a minimum of three Military Units when attempting to capture a new territory. In the early stages of the game, it may be possible to capture some villages with only two units, but it is recommended to have a mix of unit classes, such as one Trooper and one Ranger. This strategy will divert the enemy's attention to the melee units, while the ranged units deal double damage.

Once the enemy Militia has been defeated, players can click on the Annex button, which is represented by a flag icon, to initiate the power transfer in that specific territory. It is important for players to keep their Military Units near the Village until the Annexation process is completed. Once the village changes ownership, players can commence construction and recruit their own Militia to defend it.

Peacefully Annexing with House Atreides

House Atreides possesses a unique capability to acquire territories without resorting to military aggression. This can be accomplished by simply activating the Peaceful Annexation function, conveniently accessible via the settlement details panel located at the lower left corner of the screen. The execution of this ability necessitates the expenditure of varying quantities of Water and Influence, contingent upon the constructions present within the targeted territory.

Retaining Territories

After a successful siege, the participating Military Units will gradually regain their health as long as they remain near the newly acquired Village. Players can bolster the defense of Villages by recruiting local Militia Units, which come in various types and require different levels of recruitment costs. A strong Militia is crucial for maintaining control over captured territories, as they can be easily overthrown if left unguarded.

To enhance fortification around Villages and their resources, the Missile Battery construction can be used. This defense mechanism automatically targets and inflicts significant explosive damage on any hostile units entering the area. In cases where territories are at high risk of being overrun despite the presence of Militia and building defenses, it is advisable to dispatch a substantial military force to provide support.

Dune: Spice Wars is currently available on PC.