Dune Awakening's August Patch: Make Flour Sand Much Harder to Farm

If you're planning to dive into Dune Awakening after August, brace yourself for a tougher start. Funcom's upcoming major balance patch, slated for release on or after August 12, is set to change the way one of the vital Dune Awakening Items - Flour Sand - is gathered. This adjustment is catching many players off guard, as Flour Sand wasn't even on most players' radar for big changes soon.

What's Changing With Flour Sand?

Flour Sand is an essential raw material harvested early in the game, starting around Vermillius Gap - the second and third zones where players progress the main storyline. This resource is crucial for crafting Silicone Blocks, a key ingredient in building Iron-tier structures and equipment. Without Silicone Blocks, players won't be able to push forward into the game's more dangerous late-game areas like Hagga Basin.

Currently, Flour Sand drops in small amounts from enemies and containers, but the most efficient way to farm it in bulk is by harvesting it from smoking white flour deposits scattered across the crimson sands. These deposits yield large amounts of Flour Sand if you're willing to brave the open desert.

The Safe Farming Zones Are Moving

At present, there are at least three relatively safe spots along the rocky edges of West and East Vermillius Gap where players can gather large quantities of Flour Sand without provoking a Sandworm attack. This proximity to cover allows players, especially solo farmers, to accumulate Flour Sand with minimal risk.

The August patch, however, intends to relocate these safe zones further into the desert's open expanse, increasing the danger significantly. This means solo players won't be able to farm as freely near the rock faces anymore and will face more Sandworm encounters in the process.

The Static Compactor Nerf Hits Solo Players Hardest

To make bulk gathering even more manageable, players often rely on the Static Compactor-a tool unlocked via the Fremen Trials that streamlines the digging process for Flour Sand. But this patch will also make the Static Compactor attract more Sandworm attention, making it riskier to use.

While groups typically mitigate this by assigning a teammate to deploy a Thumper and distract the Sandworm, solo players have no such luxury. When the Sandworm inevitably zeroes in on a solo farmer using the Static Compactor, escape options are limited, leaving them vulnerable.

The net effect is a significant progression bottleneck for solo players, who will find it much harder to farm Flour Sand safely and efficiently on their own.

Impact on Late-Game Spice Farming and Progression

The patch's impact isn't limited to early-game resource gathering. Since Silicone Blocks are a prerequisite for advanced gear and facilities, and Flour Sand is their foundational material, this change also indirectly affects late-game Spice farming and crafting.

Without access to ample Flour Sand, solo players might find it challenging to upgrade their equipment and advance through tougher zones, essentially encouraging players to team up or buy Dune Awakening Items or face frustrating delays.

Hope for a Compromise

The patch is currently available on the public test client (PTC), which resets all player progress to allow for testing and feedback. This provides an opportunity for the community to voice concerns and potentially influence adjustments before the patch officially launches.

Whether Funcom will ease the difficulty of Flour Sand farming remains to be seen, but player feedback could lead to a middle ground that balances challenge with accessibility.

A Silver Lining for the Flour Sand Economy

There's at least one positive change on the horizon for those invested in the crafting economy. The patch will reduce the vendor cost of Low-Grade Lubricant biggest consumer of Flour Sand and Silicone Blocks after the Iron-tier 90%. This significant price drop could help alleviate some of the resource strain players face once they progress to crafting Steel and higher-tier tech.

Final Thoughts

While the August patch in Dune Awakening aims to bring balance and challenge, the changes to Flour Sand farming present a tough hurdle for solo players, potentially making the early game much less forgiving. Group play will likely become more important, and efficient resource management more critical, as the game evolves.

Team up where you can, plan your farming routes carefully, and prepare for a more dangerous desert ahead.