Conquer Dune: Awakening’s Final AQL Trial – Complete Guide

Why This Guide?

After grinding through the seven AQL Trials in Dune: Awakening, I ran headfirst into “Sur les pas des Fremens,” the final challenge that flips expectations on its head. What starts as a simple combat-and-collection gauntlet ends in lore quizzes, layered puzzles, and a surprise combat ambush. If you’ve hit a brick wall (or a sand cliff), here’s the experience-based walkthrough I wish I had.

What You Need to Succeed

• Completed Trials: Finish all seven AQL Trials to unlock key gear like the stillsuit and crysknife.
• Gear & Consumables: Mid-tier armor, a reliable ranged weapon, 4–6 basic medkits, plus food and water.
• Sandbike: Essential for a swift approach and to dodge worms on Arrakis.
• Lore Knowledge: The entry quiz tests your Dune trivia—review your Périple > Épreuves log.
• Time: Allocate 30–40 minutes for your first run; restarts can add up.

Step 1: Finding Sietch Ta’lab

The quest marker sits at the crossroads of Mysa Tarill, Jabal Eifrit Al-Gharb, and the Eastern Shield Wall. Look for a faint blue emblem on a sandstone fissure. Head east from Mysa Tarill’s southern outpost and trace the cliff’s base—trust me, this shortcut saves 15 wasted minutes.

Step 2: Stealth Clearing the Entrance

Inside the sietch, 3–5 hostiles patrol narrow tunnels. Rushing in often triggers multiple spawns. Instead, crouch, use cover and silent takedowns. Picking off enemies one by one preserves health and avoids bottlenecks.

Step 3: Acing the Lore Quiz

Ari will challenge you with seven lore questions. One wrong answer sends you back to the start of the trial, so prepare well. Here are the lore answers I used to breeze through:

• Nilotic al-Ourouba
• Poritrin
• Salusa Secundus
• Bela Teguese
• Rossak
• Thurgrod
• Harmonthep

If you slip up, reopen Périple > Épreuves in your journal before retrying. No penalty for restarts—just no random guesses.

Step 4: Following Ari & Prepping for the Puzzle

After the door slides open, follow Ari at a steady pace. Use this breather to heal, restock, and collect any resources on the walls. Pay close attention to the solido projection—it foreshadows the next challenge.

Step 5: Solving the Wall Symbol Puzzle

Three glyph panels await, each representing a “lesson.” Hover over symbols for hints. My successful order was:

• Lesson 1: Knot (Bind) – Dune vs. Grass
• Lesson 2: Plantation – Shelter – Leeward
• Lesson 3: Animal(s) – Oxygenate – Sand

Unlimited attempts mean you can experiment. Just don’t confuse “Sand” with “Dune”—they look shockingly alike.

Step 6: Aligning the Distille Rings

The rotating rings puzzle is simpler than it seems. Align the three rings so their glyphs create a continuous pattern from the center out. Lock the inner ring first, then adjust the middle and outer rings. Visually matching the symbols is the fastest path.

Step 7: Surviving the Maas Kharet Ambush

At the final chamber, a Maas Kharet patrol jumps you. Fall back to the tunnel entrance to create a chokepoint. Use explosives or area attacks if available, then finish with ranged shots. Don’t chase wounded enemies deeper or you’ll get flanked.

Step 8: Exiting & Unlocking the Epilogue

After clearing the room, loot hidden crates along the rear wall. The exit opens automatically—follow the corridor to trigger the “Retrouver les Fremens” epilogue in your Périple log.

Pro Tips & Common Pitfalls

• Solo vs. Group: Although solo-friendly, you can group for the combat segment once inside.
• No Crafting Zone: Stock up on medkits and rations beforehand.
• Puzzle Burnout: If glyphs blur together, reset the puzzle and rewatch the solido projection.
• Speedruns: Memorize quiz answers and route stealth kills for a sub-20-minute run.

Final Thoughts

Clearing “Sur les pas des Fremens” felt like conquering Arrakis itself. It’s a true test of lore, logic, and firepower. Take your time, learn from each reset, and you’ll unlock endgame sietch missions and narrative rewards. If I managed it after multiple wipeouts, so can you. Good luck on the sands!