Alright, I’ll be honest, when I first dropped into the Hagga Basin zone of Dune: Awakening, I thought I could just build my base anywhere and be fine. Spoiler: I was very wrong. Turns out, if you want to survive (and actually thrive), base placement becomes a huge deal, especially once you start farming higher-tier resources, getting into PvP, or flying around in an ornithopter like a boss. I’ve played around with nearly every zone in the basin (and, yeah, I’ve had worms eat my house too). In this guide, I’ll walk you through the best starter, mid-game, and endgame base locations, and explain why they matter depending on your progression tier and resource needs.
BEST Base Locations in Hagga Basin & Which to Choose
Hagga Basin isn’t just another desert biome. It’s a massive, tiered progression map that gradually ramps up in resources and risk as you move from the southeast to the northwest. If you’re new to the game or just survived your first sandworm chase, here’s a quick breakdown:
- Tier 1 (Copper) – Starter zone (Bottom-right)
- Tier 2 (Iron) – Western Vermillius Gap
- Tier 3 (Steel) – Jabal Eifrit Al-janub, accessed after Tier 2
- Tier 4 (Aluminum) – Top-left cliffs and upper ridges
- Tier 5 (Duraluminum / Jasmium) – Far west and south, Radiated Zones
- Tier 6 (Deep Desert) – Outside the Hagga Basin entirely
Where you choose to build your base can make or break your supply chain and your sanity. If you’re tired of wasting 30 minutes flying back and forth to farm resources or want to avoid PvP hotspots, read on. Here’s how to pick your ideal base in each phase of the game:
Your First Base: Temporary and Disposable
When you spawn into Dune: Awakening, you’ll land somewhere in the bottom half of South Hagga Basin (Tier 1 zone). The game will force you to abandon this base as part of the tutorial. So don’t fall in love.
DO NOT:
- Spend hours decorating
- Try to future-proof it
- Build in worm territory (check the pulsating UI meter above your hotbar)
DO:
- Use rocky formations for safety
- Build a simple 4×4 box: 7 walls, 1 door, 4 roof tiles
- Place only the essentials: Blood Purifier, Chemical Refiner, etc.
Once the game asks you to abandon it, don’t sweat it. You can always go back and “pass the torch” to a newer player like I did, left the console deactivated, unlocked the chests, and let a stranger claim it. It’s weirdly wholesome.
Your Second Base: Tier 2-3 Farming Hub
Now the real game begins. Once you get your Sandbike and cross the Vermillius Gap (you can’t sprint across, I’ve tried), it’s time to plant your first real base.
Best 2nd Base Location: Northwest Ironworks, Western Vermillius Gap
If you’re thinking about where to set up your Second Base, let me throw in a strong recommendation: build it at the Northwest Ironworks rock formation, top left of Western Vemillius Gap. This spot? It’s a total gem. Why this spot rocks (literally and figuratively):
- You’re basically sitting near the center of the map, which gives you ridiculously good access to all the essentials.
- You’ve got Iron (Tier 2) literally at your doorstep
- Carbon (Tier 3) just a short drive north, no quicksand, no stress
- If you keep heading northeast, you’ll hit the western entrance of Hagga Rift, hello, Cobalt Paste
- Swing northwest from the Carbon zone and you’re at the Eastern Shield Wall, perfect for farming Aluminum (Tier 4)
- And if you’re up for a slightly longer ride southeast? You’ll find yourself in Sheol, where you can grab Jasmium (Tier 5) and Erythrite (Tier 4) to round out your high-tier mats
This one base location gives you smooth access to Tier 2 through Tier 5 materials, without constantly relocating or jumping maps. It’s honestly the most efficient and stress-free setup I’ve found so far.
Other solid picks if you’re looking for more ideal base locations:
- Around The Hammer landmark
- Slaver’s Regret / The Bulwark (high PvP activity, but juicy resources)
- In front of The Anvil Trade Post (fast travel + farming combo)
Tip: This isn’t your forever home. It’s your production base. Keep it practical and modular, you’ll move again for endgame.
Your Third Base: Tier 6 & The Deep Desert
The only real reason you’d want to build a third base is if you’re heading into endgame territory, that means Tier 6 and the brutal, resource-rich Deep Desert. And by that point, let’s be honest: you should definitely be in a guild. Going solo out there? Not fun. Not efficient. Not recommended.
Best Endgame Base: Outer Edges of the Map
For this final base, your best bet is to hug the outer edges of the map. Most players drop their endgame base on the northern edge of Eastern Shield Wall, Western Shield Wall, or the western rim of The O’odhamm. There’s also a sneaky little spot on the far east of Hagga Rift, near Riftwatch, but I wouldn’t count on it if you’re planning to farm anything from the Hagga Basin side. It’s more of a backup, not a primary setup.
Why go to the edges? Simple: it gives you quicker access to the overworld map, which leads directly into the Deep Desert. That means you spend less time flying, save on fuel, and get to the good stuff faster. It’s one of those strategic decisions that pays off big once you’re farming high-tier resources regularly.
Fast Travel & Map Exit Tricks
One of the coolest (and often overlooked) tricks in Dune: Awakening is how re-entering the map affects your spawn angle. Exiting from the north? You’ll spawn in the north. Enter from the south? You’ll pop back down there.
Use this to your advantage:
- Exit from your endgame base
- Re-enter near The O’odham or the Radiated Zone
- Gather Diamond Dust, Agave Seeds, Jasmium, etc.
- Fast-farm multiple Tier 4-5 nodes without wasting fuel
It’s not teleportation, but it feels close.
Why Buggy Access Matters
Once you’re in the buggy game, you’ll realize it’s the fastest and safest way to gather:
- Iron
- Carbon
- Aluminum
- Cobalt
- Basalt
That’s why the Northwest Ironworks and Top-Right Rift areas are king, they offer multi-tier farming loops that are short, safe, and repeatable.
Wrap-Up: Save Time, Save Fuel, Farm Smarter
At the end of the day, your base placements in Dune: Awakening should work with you, not against you. Whether you’re just getting your second base up or you’re eyeing a third for Deep Desert runs, every location you choose should save you time, fuel, and frustration in the long run.
Personally, I learned the hard way by placing my bases too close to each other early on, looked good on the map, but I was wasting hours flying in circles just to grab materials I could’ve had in 10 minutes with smarter placement. Don’t be me. Plan ahead, think about resource routes, and make sure each base gives you access to multiple key materials without sandworm-grade headaches. Remember, build with purpose. Your future self (and your fuel tank) will thank you.
Up next, if you’re flying solo and eyeing those sweet Tier 6 loot and materials, don’t worry, I’ve got your back. Yeah, I know I said before that diving into Tier 6 alone isn’t exactly the dream scenario, but hey, it’s still totally doable. I’ve been there, struggled through it, and came out with a cargo full of high-tier goodies. So if you’re ready to take the risk (and maybe eat a sandstorm or two), check out my full guide.
