Stillsuits in the Deep Desert: Should Melee Players Keep Using Them in Dune: Awakening
The Core Purpose of the Stillsuit
The stillsuit is not designed as combat gear. Its primary function is to maximize water reclamation, allowing players to travel longer distances, harvest spice, and mine resources without constantly returning to safety. In the Deep Desert, this advantage cannot be overstated. Long runs to spice blows or ore veins would be impractical without the stillsuit's efficiency, especially for solo players.
For this reason, most experienced players treat the stillsuit as exploration equipment rather than a defensive option. When worn during travel and gathering, it dramatically reduces downtime and logistical planning. In these situations, combat is either avoided or limited to brief encounters with minor threats.
Why Melee Players Feel "Squishy"
Melee builds are uniquely vulnerable in Dune: Awakening. Unlike ranged players, melee fighters must stay in close proximity to enemies, absorbing more hits and relying heavily on armor mitigation. Compared to combat-focused armor sets, the stillsuit offers very little protection. The result is a noticeable increase in damage taken, which can make even routine fights feel dangerous.
This is why many melee players report feeling "squishy" while wearing a stillsuit. It is not that the stillsuit is underpowered; rather, it is doing a job it was never meant to do. Expecting it to perform like heavy armor goes against its core design philosophy.
The Popular Hybrid Approach
A common and effective strategy is to wear the stillsuit most of the time and switch to armor for combat. Many players report using the stillsuit for roughly 80–90% of their gameplay, including travel and cave exploration, then swapping gear when entering enemy bases or anticipating sustained fights.
This approach offers the best of both worlds: maximum water efficiency and survivability when it matters most. While it does require carrying extra equipment, some players argue that the inventory cost is manageable. Since stillsuit pieces often cover multiple armor slots, only a few combat armor components are needed to complete a defensive set.
Inventory Space and Practical Trade-Offs
Not everyone agrees that carrying both sets is practical. Inventory space in Dune: Awakening is precious, and resource runs often fill bags quickly with spice, ore, and crafting materials. Carrying armor that is not actively in use can feel inefficient, particularly during dedicated harvesting runs.
Because of this, some players prefer to plan outings around a single purpose. If the goal is gathering, they commit fully to the stillsuit and avoid combat whenever possible. If combat is expected, they wear armor and accept the increased water consumption as a necessary cost.
Design Debates Around Full Stillsuit Sets
There is ongoing debate within the community about whether the stillsuit should only function at full efficiency when worn as a complete set. Lore-wise, this makes sense, as a stillsuit relies on full-body reclamation to work properly. Some players suggest partial sets should offer drastically reduced water recovery to discourage mixing and matching pieces.
While this change could improve immersion, it would also reduce flexibility. The current system allows players to adapt dynamically to the unpredictable dangers of the Deep Desert.
Final Verdict
For melee players, the stillsuit remains essential-but situational. It excels at exploration and cheap Dune Awakening Solari resource gathering, while armor is clearly superior for combat. Mastery in Dune: Awakening comes from knowing when to switch, managing inventory intelligently, and accepting that survival often means choosing efficiency over brute defense.
———— Jan-12-2026 PST ————