In our first preview for the digital version of Dune: Imperium - Uprising, we revealed the transformed sands of Arrakis and the mighty power of the sandworms. In our second, the shadows of spies and the binding oaths of CHOAM contracts unfolded. Now, in our final preview, we turn to the true architects of power: the nine new Leaders who stride across the desert planet and the completely rebuilt Imperium deck that will fuel their ambitions.
Uprising is coming to Dune: Imperium Digital on June 9th — bringing these legendary figures and fresh strategies to the app you already command.
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Ancient Rivalries
May thy knife chip and shatter.
-Paul Muad’dib Atreides
From the deep desert rises Muad’Dib, the evolved incarnation of Paul Atreides. Gone is the cautious youth of the Atreides name; in his place stands the unpredictable “Fremen demon,” striking fear into the hearts of his Harkonnen adversaries. Muad’Dib’s passive ability turns the desert’s wrath into a hidden advantage, granting an Intrigue card every time he summons sandworms into battle, along with his Signet Ring granting a familiar reward: a card draw to echo his prescience and future vision.
Opposing him stands Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen, heir apparent to the brutal and cunning Harkonnen lineage, ever at war with House Atreides. Feyd’s abilities reveal a potent adversary with brains to match his brawn, making cunning use of spies grant him strength during Reveal phase, and making use of a variety of one-time bonuses that he has access to when his Signet Ring activates.
Digital Delights: Paul and Feyd-Rautha aren’t the only rivalry you can put to the test in Uprising Digital. An option during game setup allows you to include the Leaders from the base game in the mix, resulting in fated matchups such as Gurney Halleck versus Beast Rabban, Duke Leto Atreides versus the Emperor Shaddam Corrino IV, and more. Even Paul Atreides can face off against Muad’Dib… did someone invite a Ghola to this party? For even more Leaders, the Rise of Ix expansion can be included, creating a pool of up to 24 Leaders to choose from.
Plans Within Plans
You will see! The beauty and the horror!
- Reverend Mother Jessica
While powerful Houses descend upon Arrakis, the Bene Gesserit continue to weave their machinations in the shadows.
Deeper in the shadows of the Imperium, Lady Margot Fenring, ever the subtle observer, incentivizes visits to the Bene Gesserit track while her Signet Ring grants her Spies to be deployed throughout the desert planet. Under her watch, circle spaces become her personal vantage points, granting ample opportunities for additional card draws or hidden pathways into the Conflict.
Meanwhile, trapped in the desert with no option but to adapt or die, Lady Jessica brings a new twist to Leader mechanics in Uprising, able to tap into her Other Memories to transform into the fearsome Reverend Mother Jessica. Once this metamorphosis has taken place, she commands terrifying power on Fremen and Bene Gesserit board spaces, able to double their effects at the cost of one water.
Digital Delights: Bad at bookkeeping? Let the game do it for you. Leader-specific abilities — such as Lady Jessica’s Other Memories and transformation into Reverend Mother — are baked into the UI and indicated with clear and specific prompts.
The House of the Emperor
My father has always been guided by the calculus of power.
- Princess Irulan
Padishah Emperor Shaddam Corrino IV himself enters the fray in Uprising, no longer able to remain on the sidelines as the conflict on the desert planet heats up. His passive ability, Sardaukar Commander, grants him exclusive access to two elite Sardaukar Contracts set aside at the start of the game. When he plays his Signet Ring, the weight of the Golden Lion Throne descends: the Emperor can either gain wealth, or spend it in exchange for power — 1 Influence with a Faction of choice.
Meanwhile, Princess Irulan stands beside him with her Imperial Birthright, yielding Intrigue for visits to the Emperor track, and cultivating a lean and mean Imperium Deck with her Chronicler’s Insight: allowing her to either acquire low-cost cards straight to hand, or trash them for precious spice.
Three more Leaders — Gurney Halleck, Lady Amber Metulli, and Staban Tuek also join the Leader pool, each with their own unique gifts, creating a total nine new Leaders in the coming expansion. What stories will you tell on Arrakis as you lead their Houses to war?
New Cards and Deck-Building
He who can destroy a thing has the real control over it.
-Paul Muad’dib Atreides
The entire Imperium deck has been rebuilt from the sands up in Dune: Imperium - Uprising, with no duplicate cards from the base game save for your starting deck and The Spice Must Flow. In place of Arrakis Liaison, the reserve stack now features Prepare the Way, offering the same Faction access and Persuasion, but now with a valuable card draw for players who have gained favor with the Bene Gesserit.
In the Imperium deck, boundless new opportunities await, with countless cards interacting with Uprising’s new mechanics in standout ways. Desert Power rewards the player who has gained favor with Shai Hulud, granting spice for visiting a Maker space, or granting a surprise sandworm during Reveal Phase. For players chasing wealth through contracts, Price is No Object allows you to acquire Imperium cards at the cost of Solari instead of Persuasion, bringing a whole new value to the Imperium’s currency.
Meanwhile, Public Spectacle rewards the clever usage of Spies, allowing your Agent to visit any space your Spies are connected to, and granting Influence should you choose to recall them. A rich collection of other cards awaits, from the low-cost Space-Time Folding to the supremely expensive game-changing variety of Overthrow. And Imperium cards aren’t the only cards that have gotten a refresh in Uprising — the Conflict and Intrigue decks have also been born anew, resulting in an Arrakis that truly feels transformed from the base game, from the open dunes to the deepest shadows.
Digital Delights: Dive into the new deck with the Call of the Desert challenge, providing two new Imperium cards in your starter deck in place of Diplomacy and Desert Call. Opponents start with a random 3 cost card, and all players start with a random Intrigue card. Your quickest ticket to Uprising’s new surprises!
Uprising Is Coming Soon to Dune: Imperium Digital
This is the final preview before Dune: Imperium - Uprising launches on digital on June 9th. The new Leaders will test your cunning against the Emperor’s elite, the Mahdi’s desert fury, the Bene Gesserit’s veiled plans, and more. The rebuilt Imperium deck will reward every choice with deeper deck-building possibilities than ever before. One purchase unlocks the full experience across Steam, iOS, Xbox, and Android — join the ranks of the desert insurrection and Wishlist the game today!
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