So, you didn’t pick Mentat during character creation in Dune: Awakening and now you’re wondering if you missed out? Don’t worry, I was in the same spot. But guess what? You can unlock the Mentat profession later on and dive straight into stealth, poisons, and cerebral support abilities. In this guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know, from finding your first shady trainer in the Hagga Rift to unlocking the final capstone skill by launching a Hunter-Seeker drone into someone’s vent.
Mentat Trainer Location & Quest Guide
In the world of Dune, Mentats are human computers, trained to analyze data and make cold, calculated decisions. In-game, they’re a stealth-oriented profession built around sabotage, poisons, interrogation, and trap-setting. While other classes might blow things up or heal allies, Mentats get in your head,and then quietly end you.
To unlock this class, you’ll complete a series of quests involving two key trainers:
- Basic Trainer: Samin Moro – Located in Riftwatch, Hagga Rift
- Advanced Trainer: Zayn De Witte – Found in the bar at Arrakeen
Let’s break it all down, step by step.
Quest 1 – First Blood (Unlocking Mentat)
Location: Riftwatch Outpost, Hagga Rift
Start your Mentat journey by visiting Samin Moro. Riftwatch is a Harkonnen-controlled outpost southeast of the Anvil Tradepost in Eastern Vermillius Gap. Look for a small base near the southern tip of Hagga Rift.
Speak with Samin Moro and select “I want to train.” This begins your initiation quest: First Blood.
- Step 1 – Bring the Goods: Bring 100x Plant Fiber and 40x Iron Ore. These are easy to farm in Eastern Vermillius and can be gathered ahead of time.
- Step 2 – Poison the Market: Head west to Suk Alusus, just past Hammer of Mirab. Clear out enemies at the gate, enter the shielded chamber, and look for a large purple container on the left side. Interact with it to plant the poison.
- (There’s also a hidden tunnel here with early blueprints, worth a detour!)
- Step 3 – Return to Moro: Talk to Samin again, and bam, you’ve officially unlocked the Mentat skill tree.
Quest 2 – Calculated Calamity (Advanced Trainer)
Location: Arrakeen (Advanced Trainer: Zayn De Witte)
Time to head to Arrakeen. If you don’t have an Ornithopter yet, you can pay 2,500 Solaris from a Tradepost. Otherwise, fly there.
Inside the bar near the entrance, look for Zayn De Witte at the back. He’ll send you to interrogate the Mobula Gang.
- Step 1: Talk to a gang member at Anvil Tradepost.
- Step 2: Head to another gang member in Riftwatch.
- Step 3: Go to The Sweep and interact with:
- A document case
- A generator (sabotage it)
- A vehicle (sabotage again)
Then move northeast to Chattel Passage, loot a case and sabotage a terminal. Return to Zayn in Arrakeen to unlock more skills.
Quest 3 – An Olive Branch / Underhanded Hand-Over
Depending on your allegiance:
- Atreides/Neutral: Talk to Thufir Hawat in Arrakeen.
- Harkonnen: Talk to Piter de Vries in Harko Village, then lie to Zayn about it.
Either way, return to Zayn to unlock tier 2 skills (put 2 points in each non-capstone).
Quest 4 – Cataloging Defectors
Location: Arctus Cavern, Hagga Rift
You’ll need a Blood Extractor tool. Fly to Arctus Cavern in Hagga Rift and descend into the boss area. Defeat Atreides defectors, extract their blood, and kill the leader. Return to Zayn.
This unlocks Mentat tier 3 skills.
Quest 5 – A Bloody Development
- Atreides/Neutral: Speak to Thufir again.
- Harkonnen: Go back to Piter in Harko, then lie again to Zayn.
Return to Zayn to unlock tier 4 skills and gain access to the Hunter-Seeker ability.
Quest 6 – The Price of Rejection
Location: Passage of Artemis
A PvP-heavy quest, so prep accordingly.
- Head to the front building and place a Decoy.
- Fly a Hunter-Seeker drone into a blinking-vent on the rear building.
- Plant a Poison Trap to finish the mission.
Return to Zayn to unlock tier 5 Mentat skills, including Source of Power.
Quest 7 – Untwisted Questions
Requirements: Radiation suit + light source
Head to Pinnacle Station, speak to the Tleilaxu Trader, and travel to Sheol, a PvP and radiation zone.
Enter the Wreck of Delphis (dark, multiple entrances). Inside:
- Head to the back of the ship (no bracelet required).
- Grab the quest item (look for purple bracelet loot nearby too).
Return to Zayn to unlock your final skill tier and receive the legendary Thufir’s Best rifle.
Wrap-Up
And there you go, your full path to unlocking and maxing out the Mentat profession in Dune: Awakening. This is easily one of the most creative classes in the game, blending stealth, sabotage, and big-brain tactics into a genuinely rewarding playstyle. It’s not always flashy, but when you outmaneuver your enemy with a trap and watch them drop mid-fight… it feels good.
If you found this helpful, I’ve got a similar class guide on the Bene Gesserit and trainer locations, make sure to check it out if your style leans towards mind mastery, control and combat. And remember: in a world where spice is everything, information is the deadliest weapon.
