How to Plan a Deep Desert Resource Run

You spot a promising patch of rock, then notice your water is low and a sandworm is crossing the way home. That is Arrakis checking your packing. Make your first trip a light scout run: find one target and a way back before you load up to gather.

Pick your route for your game mode

Multiplayer: On the Overland Map, select the Deep Desert and check the instance choice before entering. The PvE instance has no player combat. In the PvP instance, player combat starts beyond the safe entry row, and mining and harvesting yield more in PvP areas. Choose PvE for a first run. If you choose PvP, allow for other players near valuable sites and keep a clear way out. The weekly Coriolis Storm changes the multiplayer map and resource sites. Scout again after each renewal, and take your vehicle and cargo out before the storm.

Single-player: The Deep Desert map does not reset each week. Keep notes from earlier trips, but check the weather and your supplies each time. The Coriolis Storm still occurs, and your chosen survival settings may affect how much you need to pack.

Scout, gather, return

Inspect the current layout. Open your map and start near a safe rock or the entry route. If you have a Survey Probe Launcher and a probe, launch one from a high spot to reveal terrain and points of interest. Check the map after the scan. Otherwise, explore one nearby area at a time.
Mark one objective and the way home. Pick a resource site you can reach, place your map marker on it, and note the rock outcrops you can use on the return trip. Choose a safe rock near your entry route as your retreat point. If you cannot see a sound path back, turn around before spending more supplies.
Pack for the whole trip. Fill your water, check the weather, and check your vehicle’s fuel and condition. Carry welding wire for repairs, leave cargo space for the haul, and bring a Vehicle Backup Tool if it can store your ride. Make sure you can reach your retreat point with water to spare.
Gather, then leave. Take the resource you came for and head back before your water runs low. If a regular sandstorm closes in, seek shelter by a large rock or inside a structure. If a worm threatens an open crossing, get onto rock and wait for a safer route. A smaller load brought home still counts as a good run.

If the run goes wrong: Get to shelter and replace water before trying again. If your vehicle is stuck, remove its cargo and try storing it with the Vehicle Backup Tool. If it cannot be stored, the tool’s Relocation option may move it to a valid spot; pick up any cargo it drops there. If the vehicle was destroyed, check the tool’s Recovery list. Eligible vehicles cost Solaris to recover and return with reduced maximum durability, but their stored items do not return. Replace lost water and basic supplies first, then scout a shorter route.

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