Here’s a complete list of every ability and skill in the Swordmaster tree, including level details and stat boosts.
In Dune: Awakening, survival isn’t just about resources; it’s about how you fight, move, and adapt. The game drops you into the brutal deserts of Arrakis and lets you choose from five unique classes, each with their own style of combat and abilities. You’ve got the Trooper, Mentat, Planetologist, Bene Gesserit, and Swordmaster, all built to suit different kinds of play.
This guide is all about the Swordmaster. If you’re thinking of picking this class or have already, this article will walk you through every skill and power in the Swordmaster’s arsenal.
We’ve broken down all three of its skill trees with full ability descriptions, level stats, and everything else you need to plan your build.
Swordmaster Skill Trees
The Swordmaster’s powers are split into three main branches:
- The Blade: Focuses on offense and raw melee damage.
- The Will: Centers on defense, counters, and resilience.
- The Way: Builds stamina, mobility, and utility for longer, smarter fights.
Each branch includes a mix of passives, techniques, and active abilities that define how the Swordmaster plays. Let’s go through them one by one.
The Blade Tree
This tree is all about dealing damage with bladed weapons. It’s the core of your offensive power as a Swordmaster.
Blade Damage (Passive)
You deal more damage with all bladed weapons.
- Level 1:
- Blade Damage: 3%
- Skill Points Cost: 1
- Level 2:
- Blade Damage: 6%
- Skill Points Cost: 2
- Level 3:
- Blade Damage: 9%
- Skill Points Cost: 4
Dance of Blades (Technique)
Killing an enemy with a blade gives your next attack a big damage boost for a short time.
- Level 1:
- Damage Boost: 10%
- Duration: 10
- Skill Points Cost: 2
- Level 2:
- Damage Boost: 15%
- Duration: 10
- Skill Points Cost: 3
- Level 3:
- Damage Boost: 20%
- Duration: 10
- Skill Points Cost: 4
Retaliate (Ability)
When you get hit in melee, you parry and counterattack automatically, causing a bleeding effect.
- Level 1:
- Cooldown: 12
- Stamina Cost: 15
- Weapon Damage: 120%
- Bleed: 4
- Duration: 6
- Skill Points Cost: 2
Long Blade Damage (Passive)
You deal more damage with long blades like swords and rapiers.
- Level 1:
- Blade Damage: 5%
- Skill Points Cost: 1
- Level 2:
- Blade Damage: 10%
- Skill Points Cost: 3
- Level 3:
- Blade Damage: 15%
- Skill Points Cost: 4
Eye of the Storm (Ability)
Spin in place and deal damage to enemies around you. It’s an AoE attack that scales with level.
- Level 1:
- Cooldown: 20
- Stamina Cost: 15
- Damage: 20
- Skill Points Cost: 2
- Level 2:
- Cooldown: 18
- Stamina Cost: 15
- Damage: 65
- Skill Points Cost: 43
- Level 3:
- Cooldown: 16
- Stamina Cost: 15
- Damage: 140
- Skill Points Cost: 4
Foil (Ability)
Parry the next melee hit and counter with a strike that weakens the enemy’s damage output.
- Level 1:
- Cooldown: 12
- Stamina Cost: 15
- Weapon Damage: 120%
- Enemy Damage: -50%
- Duration: 10
- Skill Points Cost: 2
Precise Parry (Passive)
When under the effects of spice (melange), your parries expose enemy weaknesses and reduce their defense.
- Level 1:
- Damage Mitigation: -10%
- Skill Points Cost: 3
- Level 2:
- Damage Mitigation: -15%
- Skill Points Cost: 3
- Level 3:
- Damage Mitigation: -20%
- Skill Points Cost: 3
The Will Tree
This tree helps you stay alive longer and resist damage, especially in prolonged fights.
Deflection (Ability)
You block dart projectiles by entering a defensive stance. Stays active while you have stamina.
- Level 1:
- Cooldown: 12
- Stamina Cost: 2
- Skill Points Cost: 1
Bleed Tolerance (Passive)
Makes it harder for enemies to apply bleed effects to you.
- Level 1:
- Bleed Tolerance: 15
- Skill Points Cost: 1
- Level 2:
- Bleed Tolerance: 25
- Skill Points Cost: 3
- Level 3:
- Bleed Tolerance: 35
- Skill Points Cost: 4
Reckless Lunge (Technique)
After a sprint attack, you take less damage for a short time.
- Level 1:
- Damage Mitigation: 30%
- Skill Points Cost: 2
- Level 2:
- Damage Mitigation: 40%
- Skill Points Cost: 3
- Level 3:
- Damage Mitigation: 50%
- Skill Points Cost: 4
Solid Stance (Passive)
You become harder to stagger by reducing how much poise damage you take.
- Level 1:
- Reduce Poise Damage: 3%
- Skill Points Cost: 1
- Level 2:
- Reduce Poise Damage: 6%
- Skill Points Cost: 3
- Level 3:
- Reduce Poise Damage: 9%
- Skill Points Cost: 4
Confidence (Passive)
Landing strong attacks (like sprint or slow blade hits) gives you bonus damage reduction.
- Level 1:
- Damage Mitigation: 15%
- Skill Points Cost: 1
- Level 2:
- Damage Mitigation: 20%
- Skill Points Cost: 3
- Level 3:
- Damage Mitigation: 25%
- Skill Points Cost: 4
Thrive on Danger (Passive)
When your health is low, you regenerate health faster, take less poise damage, and use less stamina.
- Level 1:
- Stamina Costs: -30%
- Increase Health Regeneration: 200%
- Reduce Poise Damage: 50%
- Health Regen Delay: -75%
- Skill Points Cost: 2
The Way Tree
This tree is about stamina efficiency, survival tools, and helpful utility effects.
Knee Charge (Ability)
Dash into an enemy with a strong knee strike, dealing damage and heavy stagger.
- Level 1:
- Cooldown: 15
- Stamina Cost: 15
- Damage: 50
- Poise Damage: 120
- Skill Points Cost: 1
- Level 2:
- Cooldown: 12
- Stamina Cost: 15
- Damage: 160
- Poise Damage: 140
- Skill Points Cost: 2
- Level 3:
- Cooldown: 10
- Stamina Cost: 15
- Damage: 325
- Poise Damage: 160
- Skill Points Cost: 3
Field Medicine (Passive)
You heal more instantly when using health kits.
- Level 1:
- Healkit Instant Restoration Bonus: 10%
- Skill Points Cost: 1
- Level 2:
- Healkit Instant Restoration Bonus: 15%
- Skill Points Cost: 3
- Level 3:
- Healkit Instant Restoration Bonus: 20%
- Skill Points Cost: 4
Optimized Hydration (Passive)
When you’re well-hydrated, your stamina pool gets a boost.
- Level 1:
- Hydrated Stamina Bonus: 15%
- Skill Points Cost: 1
- Level 2:
- Hydrated Stamina Bonus: 20%
- Skill Points Cost: 3
- Level 3:
- Hydrated Stamina Bonus: 25%
- Skill Points Cost: 4
Crippling Strike (Ability)
Slash at your enemy’s legs to slow them and make their dashes cost more stamina.
- Level 1:
- Cooldown: 20
- Stamina Cost: 30
- Damage: 50
- Dash Cost Multiplier: 2
- Duration: 7
- Skill Points Cost: 2
Disciplined Breathing (Technique)
You recover stamina faster by controlling your breathing during combat.
- Level 1:
- Stamina Recovery Rate: 10%
- Skill Points Cost: 2
- Level 2:
- Stamina Recovery Rate: 15%
- Skill Points Cost: 3
- Level 3:
- Stamina Recovery Rate: 20%
- Skill Points Cost: 4
Inspiration (Ability)
Boost your own and your allies’ melee damage for a short time.
- Level 1:
- Cooldown: 30
- Stamina Cost: 15
- Duration: 14
- Blade Damage: 25%
- Skill Points Cost: 2
- Level 2:
- Cooldown: 25
- Stamina Cost: 15
- Duration: 18
- Blade Damage: 30%
- Skill Points Cost: 3
- Level 3:
- Cooldown: 20
- Stamina Cost: 15
- Duration: 23
- Blade Damage: 35%
- Skill Points Cost: 4
General Conditioning (Passive)
Raises your max stamina through intense training.
- Level 1:
- Max Stamina: 15
- Skill Points Cost: 1
- Level 2:
- Max Stamina: 20
- Skill Points Cost: 3
- Level 3:
- Max Stamina: 25
- Skill Points Cost: 4
Desert Conditioning (Passive)
Reduces stamina penalties when you’re dehydrated in the desert.
- Level 1:
- Dehydrated Stamina Limit: 15%
- Skill Points Cost: 1
- Level 2:
- Dehydrated Stamina Limit: 20%
- Skill Points Cost: 3
- Level 3:
- Dehydrated Stamina Limit: 25%
- Skill Points Cost: 4
Prescient Strike (Passive)
While under spice, your next strike after any Swordmaster ability will hit twice.
- Skill Points Cost: 3
If you’re serious about mastering the Swordmaster class, knowing every ability and what it does at each level can make a big difference. This class rewards players who can plan ahead, manage their stamina well, and stay cool under pressure. Keep experimenting with skill combinations to find what fits your playstyle best.
Before You Go
If you’re looking to really master the Swordmaster, make sure to check out our full guides:
