When Dune Awakening Solari for Sale opened its beta in May 2025, thousands of players poured onto Arrakis to test their survival skills. But here’s the catch: during the beta, certain areas of the map—most notably Jabal Eifrit—were inaccessible. This meant that the usual farming routes for Carbon Ore, a crucial ingredient for Steel, were blocked off. Players quickly realized they needed a workaround if they wanted to craft Steel and unlock MK3 gear. The solution? Buried treasure farming. This inventive method turned what could have been a roadblock into an opportunity, proving once again that player ingenuity thrives even in the harshest deserts. In this blog, we’ll revisit that beta-era strategy, how it worked, and what lessons it teaches for the live game.

The Steel Recipe Recap

Before we dive into the beta strategy, let’s quickly recap what you need to craft Steel:

  • 4 Carbon Ore

  • 1 Iron Ingot (from smelting Iron Ore + water)

  • 50 ml Water

During beta, the challenge was simple: Carbon was locked behind inaccessible zones. Iron and water could still be acquired, but Carbon required creativity.

Unlocking the Tools for Treasure Hunting

The buried treasure method relied on a combination of vehicles and tools.

  1. Sandbike

    • Fast and maneuverable, the Sandbike was essential for covering large areas of the desert while searching for treasure icons.

    • Its mobility allowed players to escape sandworms and rival hunters more effectively than traveling on foot.

  2. Static Compactor

    • The key tool for uncovering buried treasures.

    • Unlocked via the tech tree, this device could be crafted once players progressed far enough.

    • Without it, treasure hunting simply wasn’t possible.

Together, these two items formed the backbone of the beta Carbon farming strategy.

How the Treasure Farming Worked

  1. Scanning for Treasures

    • While riding across Hagga Basin South, players would use their Sandbike’s scanner to detect treasure icons on the minimap.

    • These icons indicated buried containers hidden beneath the sand.

  2. Digging Up Containers

    • Once located, players deployed the Static Compactor to extract the treasure.

    • Inside these containers, loot varied, but one of the most sought-after drops was Carbon Ore.

  3. Collecting and Storing

    • Since Carbon yields per container were small, players had to repeat the process dozens of times.

    • To avoid losing their haul, they frequently returned to base to deposit resources.

While grindy, this method allowed beta players to stockpile enough Carbon to keep Steel production alive.

Challenges of the Beta Method

  • Low Yield: Each container produced only a handful of Carbon, meaning players had to dig up countless treasures to get enough for even a single Steel batch.

  • Danger Zones: Hagga Basin South was still full of PvP threats and environmental dangers, so treasure hunters risked ambushes while overloaded with loot.

  • Sandworm Threats: Spending too long digging in one place increased the odds of drawing the attention of a sandworm—forcing players to choose between abandoning loot or risking death.

Despite these challenges, the method became the lifeline for any player determined to push into MK3 crafting during beta.

What It Unlocked — MK3 Gear and Vehicles

The buried treasure grind wasn’t just for bragging rights. With enough Carbon funneled into Steel production, beta players could unlock MK3 technologies that were otherwise thought out of reach.

  • MK3 Weapons and Armor: Significantly stronger than basic Steel gear, giving beta veterans a combat edge.

  • Buggy Vehicles: The Buggy became a symbol of success in the beta, allowing for faster, larger-scale farming runs.

  • Tech Progression: Players who embraced the treasure farming method progressed much further into the tech tree than those who ignored it.

Lessons for the Full Game

While the full release of Dune: Awakening makes Carbon easier to obtain through mining in Vermillius Gap, the buried treasure method still offers useful takeaways:

  1. Adaptability Wins

    • The desert doesn’t care about your plans. Whether through restricted zones or player raids, you must adapt to keep your supply lines open.

  2. Value of Vehicles

    • The Sandbike wasn’t just transport; it was a tool for efficiency and survival. Investing early in mobility pays dividends.

  3. Don’t Ignore Treasures

    • Even in the full release, buried containers can still provide useful resources. They may not be your main Carbon source anymore, but they’re a valuable supplement.

Conclusion

The beta phase of Dune: Awakening showed just how creative players could be when faced with resource bottlenecks. With Carbon locked behind inaccessible areas, buried treasure farming became the go-to method for crafting Steel and reaching MK3 content. While grindy and dangerous, it highlighted the importance of ingenuity, mobility, and persistence on Arrakis.

Today, mining Carbon directly is far more efficient—but the buried treasure strategy remains a fascinating chapter in the game’s history. It’s proof that when survival is on the line, players will always find a way.

So the next time you Buy Solari unearth a buried container in Hagga Basin, remember: during beta, those small Carbon drops were the lifeblood of progress. And in the harsh deserts of Arrakis, every grain of Steel matters.