So you didn’t pick Swordmaster when creating your character in Dune: Awakening, and now you’re regretting it every time you see someone parrying like a Jedi and slicing through mobs with ease? Been there. Good news: you can unlock the Swordmaster profession later in-game, and this guide will walk you through exactly how to do it, from your first meeting with Arno at Pinnacle Station to wielding your own Damasteel blade and unlocking the deadly Thrive on Danger skill. Let’s break it all down by location, because in Dune Awakening, survival is about knowing where to go, how to get there, and when to bring a thopter.
Swordmaster Trainer Location & Quest Guide
Swordmasters in Dune Awakening are fast, skillful, and designed for players who want a more melee-focused approach with a splash of finesse. Their skill tree includes parries, counterattacks, and mobility tools that make you a blade-wielding menace. To fully unlock the class, you’ll follow a multi-part questline through two trainers:
- Basic Trainer: Arno at Pinnacle Station, Northwest of Jabal Eifrit Al-gharb (Directly north from Western Vermillius Gap)
- Advanced Trainer: Seron Varlin at Harko Village
Quest 1 – Checking the Post (Basic Trainer)
Location: Pinnacle Station, Northwest of Jabal Eifrit Al-gharb (Directly north from Western Vermillius Gap) → Devil’s Eye Cavern → Wreck of the Pallas → Station No. 76
Watch out for quicksand while crossing. Inside the station, look for Arno, the Swordmaster trainer, who’s usually hanging around near the crafting benches or facing the post terminal like he’s writing a breakup letter. Speak to him and choose the dialogue: “I want to learn from you.” This begins the quest Checking the Post.
Step 1: Devil’s Eye Cavern
This quest immediately sends you all the way to the far northeast corner of the map, yep, we’re not messing around. You’re headed to Devil’s Eye Cavern, which is also where the Sixth Trial of Aql is located. The entrance to the cavern is right across from a Slaver Camp, so try not to get caught while checking your map. (I totally didn’t die here the first time… okay, I did.)
Inside Devil’s Eye Cavern, it’s a quick walk. Head inside the cave, take the first left, and follow the path until you spot a white storage container. Interact with it to update your quest.
Step 2: Wreck of the Pallas
From here, you’ll be directed to the Wreck of the Pallas in West Vermilius Gap, and brace yourself, this one’s in a PvP zone, so bring a friend or a weapon you trust. You’ll want to enter from the northwest side, where there’s usually one heavy guard. Go inside and make your way to the center of the wreck, then climb up to the walkway above.
Along the walkway, you’ll spot a room on the right, it’s on the second floor, inside is an ID band you’ll need to open the next area. Grab it, then head back and look for the now-unlocked door. Keep left, clear out the room if needed, and enter the bridge of the ship.
Inside the bridge, you’ll find a metal cabinet tipped over near the northeast wall. Interact with it to receive the second message.
Step 3: Testing Station No. 76
This old station’s packed with hostiles. Move carefully through each room, there’s a fair bit of sneaky resistance, and eventually, you’ll find a coded message tucked inside a crate at the far end of the facility.
You’re looking for a control console tucked away in one of the last rooms. Interact with it to receive a coded message. Once you’ve secured the message, make your way back to Pinnacle Station and turn it in to Arno. Congrats, first quest done, and you’re one step closer to becoming a Swordmaster!
Quest 2 – A Tormented Soul (Advanced Trainer)
Location: Harko Village
You can fly to Harko Village with an Ornithopter or pay 2,500 Solaris from a Tradepost. Once there, look for Seron Varlin by a small campfire on the village’s north side. He’ll ask you to retrieve info about his lost blade.
Step 1: Hannivar’s Bar
Talk to Elara Tuek in the bar’s back room. She points you to the Sandflies.
Step 2: Western Comms Sandfly Base
Location: Western East Shieldwall
Fight your way to the top-back room to face “The Harpy,” a Sandfly boss. Loot her to get the sword hilt, then return it to Seron.
This unlocks Advanced Swordmaster Skills to Level 2.
Quest 3 – Piercing Eyes
- Hannivar’s Bar: Order a “Kirana Brandy with a cidrit twist” to speak to Anoushka Hannivar. She sends you to a Tleilaxu trader.
- Tleilaxu Trader (located in Pinnacle Station): ake the quest Lab Cleanup and go to…
- Testing Station No. 17 (located in North of Pinnacle Station, Eastern Shieldwall): Enter the station and defeat 3 melee mutants near the entrance. Return to the trader, then back to Seron with the prosthetic eyes.
Quest 4 – Art of the Sword
Location: Anywhere in Hagga Basin
Use your three unlocked Swordmaster skills three times each (no enemies needed). Then return to Seron.
Quest 5 – Forged in Dishonor
- Duncan Idaho (located in Helius Gate, Eastern Shieldwall): Climb the back ladder in town to find Duncan. He gives you a Damasteel Schematic.
If you’ve already talked to Duncan and your quest says to craft the sword, but there’s no option in your weapon fabricator, don’t panic. You should receive a recipe item in your inventory to learn. If your bag was full when you talked to him, it might’ve been skipped. Open your quest log and see if there’s an item to claim from there. Happened to me too, and I thought the game bugged out.
Quest 6 – The Last Stand of Seron Varlin
- Location: Hannivar’s Bar
- Give the letter to Fenring’s associate in the back room.
- Then, return to Seron. Convince him not to duel. In return, he teaches you his final technique and gives you a Jolt-Sword.
Warning: Don’t Let Seron Duel! Okay, this one hit hard. I decided to let Seron go through with the duel just to see what happens… and yeah. He died. That locked me out of the final quest for Prescient Strike. I had no idea that choice was permanent. If you want the full Swordmaster kit, do not send him to fight. Let him chill and teach you instead. You’ve been warned.
Wrap-Up
And that’s how you unlock the Swordmaster in Dune: Awakening, one quest, one fight, and one dusty canyon at a time. It’s a grind, sure, but once you’re parrying like a pro and slicing through mobs with your Jolt-Sword, it’s totally worth it. You’ve earned your stripes (and probably a few scars). Now get out there and thrive on danger, just try not to die on the way.
Up next, check out our guide for the Planetologist trainer location. If you’re the type who likes surviving sandstorms, scanning ruins, and squeezing every drop of water and loot from Arrakis, this class is basically made for you.
