If you’re looking to claim the deserts of Arrakis for your own and drive the outsiders off your land, the Fremen offer one of the most expansive and versatile playstyles in Dune: Spice Wars. With a faction identity centered on aggressive map control, spice flexibility, and tactical worm mobility, the Fremen are both accessible to newcomers and deeply rewarding for veterans. This guide walks you through how to scale, expand, and dominate using their strengths.

Core Identity: Broad Control with Strategic Flexibility

Fremen thrive by spreading across the map and maintaining a large, multi-zoned empire. Unlike factions like Corrino who focus on ultra-optimized small territory, Fremen are about volume and momentum. They can harvest spice from neutral zones and leverage their relationship with sandworms to travel across deep desert terrain. However, their four-building-per-Village limitation means they rely heavily on expansion for economic scaling.

For counselors, the top pick is Mother Ramallo. Her Xiaolu Temple grants a flat production bonus to the Village it’s built in and all adjacent Villages—extremely potent when positioned centrally. It also enables powerful rebellions if timed right.

Second pick preference goes to Beni Tlilaxu agent Ben, whose bonuses grow stronger as you expand. Alternatively, Chani offers strong early and mid-game value by boosting Intel generation through liberated Villages. Avoid Otheym, whose niche mobility bonuses don’t align with standard Fremen tactics.

Shop now on Amazon!
Save up to 50% on top Gaming Gear:

Gaming Headset
Gaming Mice
Mechanical Keyboards
Game Controllers
Gaming Chair

Early Game Start: Scouting and First Capture

Begin with your Ornithopter scouting nearby Villages and spice fields. Build one Warrior and one Skirmisher. This combo applies splash damage and armor reduction—excellent for clearing early militia quickly.

Construct a second Ornithopter to speed up scouting. Your first Village capture should ideally be the one with a Spy trait, especially if you’re using Ben as a counselor, as this nets you +1 Authority from the start.

After capturing, immediately build:

• Harvesting Team and deploy them (you can harvest even outside owned territory)
• Plascrete Factory
• Recruitment Office
• Research Hub

Tech up through:

1. Composite Materials – reduces building costs.
2. Spice Market – increases spice economy and lets you find remote spice fields.
3. Local Dialect Studies – reduces expansion cost and increases Authority.

First agents should be assigned to Arrakis Infiltration for Authority, then into whichever resource area you’re most lacking.

Mid-Game Expansion: Territory Scaling and Building Placement

Fremen expansion is aggressive and opportunistic, but still requires prioritization:

• High-wind zones = early Water via Wind Traps.
• Resource combos or bonuses = ideal for tailored builds.
• Remote spice fields = viable income sources even without direct ownership (especially with Ben).

Build Temples and Maintenance Centers in central zones to extend their effects widely. Other buildings should reflect the zone’s special traits and your current resource needs.

Don’t neglect:

• Military Bases near frontlines for pressure and defense.
• Resource Centers to reinforce key yields.
• Missile Batteries only if you’re stretched thin and can afford the fuel cell upkeep.

HQ Districts: Powerful Synergies with the Bazaar

Fremen’s Headquarters offers immense value with correct setup:

• Use single-slot districts for one building of each color (Statecraft, Military, Economy).
• In your two-slot district, place two Economy buildings.
• In your large three-slot district, place two Military buildings + the Bazaar.

This setup grants all three Military bonuses and the two best Economy bonuses.

• Start with Research Center for +3 Knowledge.
• Follow with Administrative Hall to boost Authority and construction speed.

The Bazaar is absurdly strong—it acts as all three district types and doubles the district bonus. Placed properly, it grants a 40% research speed bonus, speeding your progression through tech like no other.

Balanced Research Rotation

Fremen are jacks-of-all-trades, so managing their tech tree is critical. Rotate focus between:

• Economy tech for early spice security.
• Expansion tech like Sand Brotherhood and Outpost Logistics to maintain momentum.
• Military tech like Support Structures and Call to Arms for defense and pressure.

Rule of thumb: 2 economy techs > 2 expansion > 2 military, then repeat. Adjust dynamically to your situation. Getting too greedy in one area will leave you vulnerable in another.

Thumpers and Worm Mobility

Thumpers are the ultimate tactical transport. Initially limited to 3 uses, they begin to replenish automatically at 5,000 Hegemony. Save them for emergencies or surprise moves.

• Use Hidden Thumpers Operation to regain charges.
• Secure deep desert zones to maximize logistics and benefits from Sand Brotherhood tech.

With proper placement, Thumpers allow the Fremen to reinforce anywhere, retreat instantly, or launch devastating flanks.

Winning the Game: Hegemony or Military Victory

The most straightforward path for Fremen is Military Victory. Their wide control generates passive Hegemony, and the need to expand inherently generates dominance. Most games will see you win through Hegemony before you finish conquering, just from total map control.

However, don’t pick fights until you’re ready—and never fight on multiple fronts. Fremen are strong but have limited mobility without airfields. Losing tempo defending scattered zones is their Achilles’ heel.

Late Game and Unit Tips

• Flying units: Mostly underwhelming due to high cost and setup. The small unit is basic. The large one, if upgraded properly, becomes a powerhouse—but you’ll likely already be winning by then.
• Turrets and elite units: Focus on mobile turrets and elite fighters for defense.
• Hidden Thumpers + Worms remain your best surprise tool to close out games.

Final Thoughts

Fremen reward a proactive, territory-hungry playstyle. Their lack of complex upkeep and early advantages make them great for beginners, but their need to constantly balance expansion, economy, and military makes them a nuanced challenge for experienced players.

Control the sands. Manage your spread. Use Thumpers wisely. And you’ll dominate Arrakis as its true native heirs.