If you’re looking to pledge your loyalty to House Harkonnen, the path is surprisingly straightforward—but expect to get your hands dirty.
Joining House Harkonnen means throwing your lot in with one of the most ruthless factions on Arrakis. This isn’t a good-versus-evil decision—this is Dune, where power and survival matter more than morals. If you’re drawn to aggressive tactics, no-nonsense visuals, and an iron-fisted approach to domination, Harkonnen might be your style. Plus, like other factions, you’ll unlock exclusive gear skins, vehicles, and vendor perks as your reputation climbs.
How to Join Harkonnen: Step-by-Step
When you reach The Anvil Tradepost—the game’s second visited Trade Outpost—you’ll find the faction representatives stationed in the central area. The Harkonnen contact is hard to miss: a bald guy surrounded by red lighting and industrial gear.
You can start out doing intro missions for both Atreides and Harkonnen, but you’ll eventually need to commit to one. The Harkonnen starter quests typically focus on resource control, muscle work, and proving your allegiance through force. Think spice runs, tactical sabotage, and enforcing territory dominance.
As you complete missions, you’ll build reputation, unlocking new tiers of rewards. But progress isn’t about slow grinding. You’ll gain most of your reputation through key “promotion” quests that offer big boosts at once. Advancement feels more like climbing ranks than filling bars.
Why You Want Reputation Rank 4
Reaching Reputation Rank 4 is a game-changer: it lets you unlock your first Ornithopter, cutting out hours of travel grind. You’ll also gain access to stronger gear and cosmetics unique to House Harkonnen—including a rugged Ornithopter skin.
The Ornithopter isn’t just flashy—it’s practical. With flight unlocked, you’ll be able to explore, escape danger, and speed up both combat and trade efficiency. It’s the biggest mid-game leap you can make, and faction progress is the fastest way to get there.
How to Switch Faction
Already joined House Harkonnen but thinking of switching sides? No problem—Dune: Awakening lets you defect to House Atreides, though you’ll need to earn your way back in.
Head back to The Anvil and talk to the Atreides contact—the rep wearing green on the opposite side of the hall. The switch is treated like going undercover: you’ll be asked to complete specific quests to regain Atreides trust and build up your reputation from scratch.
A Few Warnings Before Switching
- Guild affiliations matter: if your guild is tied to House Harkonnen, you’ll need to leave it before switching.
- Some players have reported bugs that block switching if you’ve accepted early quests from both factions. Hopefully, this gets patched soon.
Once accepted into Atreides, you’ll gain access to their own unique set of perks—sleek gear aesthetics, efficient resource operations, and an organized military vibe. And yes, just like with Harkonnen, hitting Reputation Rank 4 unlocks your first Ornithopter and its signature green skin.
