How to Get The Ancient Way in Dune Awakening

If you’ve been grinding your way through Dune: Awakening, you’ve probably heard whispers (or outright complaints) about The Ancient Way. This unique rocket launcher has quickly earned a reputation as one of the most powerful heavy weapons in the game, especially when it comes to PvP. It’s the kind of weapon that can flip a fight on its head—if you know how to use it and, more importantly, if you know how to get it.

In this guide, I’ll break down everything you need to know about how to get The Ancient Way in Dune Awakening. We’ll cover its stats, why it’s so controversial, where to find it, and whether it’s really worth the grind.

What Is The Ancient Way?

The Ancient Way is a unique rocket launcher that fires homing missiles. That homing ability is the real game-changer—it locks onto moving targets, tracks them, and then slams them with devastating explosive damage.

Here are the key features at a glance:

• Homing missiles: Tracks enemies within range, making it deadly against vehicles and players who rely on speed to survive.

• High damage: Deals around 919 damage per shot, enough to cripple or outright destroy ornithopters with just a couple of hits.

• Anti-vehicle role: It’s basically designed to counter players who spam aerial units.

• Reload balance: The launcher has a slow reload and only fires one rocket at a time. You’ve got to pick your shots carefully.

• Mobility penalty: Carrying it slows you down, leaving you vulnerable if caught in the open.

It’s a double-edged sword, no doubt about it. When used smartly, though, it’s easily one of the strongest weapons in the game.

Why The Ancient Way Matters

Before I explain how to get The Ancient Way in Dune Awakening, let’s talk about why it’s worth chasing.

The PvP scene in Dune Awakening has been dominated by ornithopters—fast, aerial vehicles that can zip around and rain down damage. Players were frustrated because ground-based counters were limited. Enter The Ancient Way. Its lock-on missiles completely shift the meta by giving infantry and smaller squads the power to knock ornithopters out of the sky.

That being said, the weapon isn’t without controversy. Some players argue it’s overpowered and leads to a repetitive PvP loop where everyone just spams rocket launchers. Others say it’s the only thing keeping ornithopter dominance in check. Either way, its impact on gameplay is massive.

Lore Behind The Ancient Way

One of the things I love about Dune Awakening is how much attention the devs give to lore. The Ancient Way isn’t just a weapon with good stats—it ties into the larger Dune universe.

The lore text explains that artillery was largely abandoned after the rise of Holtzman shields, which made most projectile weapons useless. But during the Battle of Arrakeen, Baron Harkonnen resurrected old artillery by sealing caves and blasting shielded troops inside. Since then, weapons like The Ancient Way have become rare, highly prized relics of war.

That backstory makes this launcher feel more than just another grindable drop. It feels like a piece of history you’re wielding, which is exactly the kind of flavor I want from a Dune game.

How to Get The Ancient Way in Dune Awakening

Alright, let’s get to the main question: how do you get The Ancient Way in Dune Awakening? There are currently two main paths, and both require effort.

1. Crafting from a Schematic

The most straightforward (but grindy) method is crafting. To do this, you need to obtain the schematic for The Ancient Way and then farm a large collection of rare materials from the Deep Desert.

• Step 1: Find the schematic
  Schematics can be looted from high-level events, deep desert bosses, or certain faction activities. It’s not guaranteed, so patience is key.

• Step 2: Gather materials
  Expect a grind. The weapon requires rare metals and specialized components that only drop in certain biomes. Stock up on vehicles and bring friends to survive longer desert runs.

• Step 3: Craft the launcher
  Once you’ve got everything, take it to a crafting station. Just be ready—this is not a cheap weapon to make.

2. Landsraad Weapons Vendor

The second method ties into faction play. Each week, the Landsraad Weapons Vendor opens for the faction that wins the weekly cycle. If your side wins, you’ll be able to purchase the schematic for The Ancient Way directly from the vendor.

This method is less grindy but depends on your faction’s performance. If you’re not in an active group, you might have to switch allegiances or rely on trading.

Strategies for Farming The Ancient Way

Getting this weapon isn’t as simple as picking it up off the ground. Here are some tips from my experience:

1. Join a strong faction: If you want easy access to the Landsraad vendor, your best bet is being in a winning faction. Solo players have a much harder time.

2. Farm the Deep Desert smartly: Bring gear, vehicles, and allies. Farming alone is a death sentence with the storms and raiders out there.

3. Save your resources: Don’t waste rare materials on side projects if your goal is crafting The Ancient Way. The material cost is steep.

4. Learn the weapon’s rhythm: Even before you craft it, practice with other heavy weapons. The Ancient Way’s reload time punishes sloppy aim.

How The Ancient Way Shapes PvP

Owning The Ancient Way isn’t just about flexing a big rocket launcher—it actively changes how you play PvP.

• Positioning: Because you’re slower while carrying it, you need cover and good positioning to avoid being picked off.

• Counterplay: Enemy pilots now have to think twice about flying low and fast over contested zones.

• Squad synergy: One or two players carrying The Ancient Way can completely shut down enemy air dominance, freeing the rest of the squad to focus on ground combat.

That kind of influence makes it one of the most strategic weapons in the game.

Is The Ancient Way Worth It?

Now for the real question: is it worth grinding for? In my opinion—absolutely. Yes, it’s heavy, yes it slows you down, and yes the reload is punishing. But the sheer damage output and anti-air control it gives your squad outweighs those drawbacks.

If you’re a PvP-focused player, it’s basically mandatory. If you’re more into PvE, it’s still useful, especially for farming big bosses or vehicles, but maybe not as critical. Either way, it’s a weapon that defines the meta right now.

Final Thoughts on The Ancient Way

Learning how to get The Ancient Way in Dune Awakening is a grind, no doubt about it. Whether you’re crafting it from a schematic or waiting on the Landsraad vendor, it’s going to take time and effort. But once you’ve got it in your hands, you’ll understand why players call it one of the best weapons in the game.

It’s powerful, it’s lore-rich, and it changes how PvP is played. If you’re serious about climbing the ranks, this is a weapon you’ll want in your arsenal.

And if you’re looking to speed up the grind—whether through trading resources or building wealth—platforms like Dune Awakening Solari sites, including DuneAwakeningSolari, can help you get there faster. But at the end of the day, nothing beats the satisfaction of crafting or unlocking The Ancient Way yourself.

So pick your path, rally your squad, and start the grind. Arrakis won’t conquer itself, and The Ancient Way might just be the weapon that tips the scales in your favor.