If you enjoy playing with precision, long-term planning, and raw economic power, then House Corrino is the faction for you in Dune: Spice Wars. Known for their unique challenge of limited expansion, Corrino demands efficiency and mastery of zone optimization. With a steep Authority penalty for expanding away from your main base, you’ll control fewer zones overall—but what you lack in quantity, you can more than make up for in quality.

Core Identity: Quality Over Quantity

Corrino’s playstyle revolves around making the most out of a compact empire. You’ll be limited in your expansion early on due to the increased Authority costs, but this is mitigated slightly when you unlock your second headquarters later in the game. Importantly, Corrino gains an additional building slot in each Village, but with few Villages to work with, zone optimization becomes paramount.

Your most impactful counselor choice is Wensicia, who allows you to double up on buildings in a zone, eliminating the increased upkeep penalty applied to single-building types. Played properly, this transforms Corrino into an economic powerhouse. Your second best pick is Fendaric, whose passive defensive bonuses help deter enemies. His exploration perk is modest, but the compounding value over time is not to be dismissed.

Avoid the Captain counselor—his unit discount doesn’t fit Corrino’s economy-first, low-military playstyle. Similarly, Princess Hazan and Alaza are situational at best.

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Opening Moves: Smart Scouting and Zone Planning

Start by using your Ornithopter to scout the Village nearest to your initial spice field. Build two melee units and a second Ornithopter, then send the troops to quickly secure the Village. When engaging militia, always focus fire for efficiency. Once captured, set up your Refinery, crew the Harvester immediately, and put it on Auto Recall. Consider attaching a third Ornithopter for efficiency, though it’s optional.

Continue scouting tiles adjacent to your main base. Focus first on zone types rather than Villages. Ideally, your second zone will contain Plascrete, with Rare Elements being a strong runner-up. Plascrete enables robust construction, while Rare Elements fuel high-value production bonuses crucial for hegemony or economic victories.

Tech Path: Megalopolis and Beyond

Your tech priority should be:

1. Megalopolis – Flat 20% bonus to all building production.
2. Solid Materials – Reduces upkeep costs.
3. Advanced Engineering – Unlocks all building slots and increases value.
4. Spice Silos – Crucial for your limited spice fields.

This foundation allows Corrino to jumpstart its economy despite the slower expansion.

Strategic Village Builds: Maximize Synergy

Your villages are your lifeblood. Since Corrino can’t sprawl across the map, each zone must be precisely optimized:

• Place two Plascrete Factories in any zone with the Plascrete bonus.
• Build two Research Hubs in one Village to double your knowledge output.
• Construct two Wind Traps in a high-wind zone for massive water generation.
• Position two Processing Plants or Craft Workshops in Rare Element zones.

By pairing buildings with matching zone traits and placing two of each type in the same Village, you not only negate upkeep penalties but benefit from Imperial Administration bonuses. When you have four buildings of the same color, you gain a 10% production boost and double the local Village trait effects.

This is the heart of Corrino’s strategy—zone-specific specialization. Learn to read the landscape and assign each zone a production identity. You’ll only control 6–7 zones for most of the game, so every tile must count.

Pillaging and Expansion Tactics

Because expansion is expensive, make use of pillage mechanics. Zones you don’t intend to capture should be pillaged for a significant Solari payout. This also prevents opponents from easily acquiring those territories. Maintain a modest army to handle these operations and secure your territory.

Your first two agents should be assigned to Arrakis infiltration, supporting Authority growth and discovery gathering. Afterward, assign based on your most lacking resource.

Endgame Strategy: Hegemony or Economic Victory

Military victories are difficult due to the inherent limitations on expansion. Corrino doesn’t excel at espionage either, though they have some utility in that space. Instead, prioritize:

• Hegemony Victory – Embrace Rare Element zones and double up on production buildings.
• Shares (Economic) Victory – Scale your Solari economy and trade to dominate.

Tech picks to support this strategy:

• Imperial Administration – As mentioned, the backbone of your build.
• Spying Logistics – Supports your small, efficient army.
• Outrageous Wealth – Boosts income and economic play.
• Imperial Taxes – Ensures steady spice and Solari generation.

Headquarters and Monument Strategy

Corrino’s unique building, the Emperor Monument, is incredibly powerful—it doubles any HQ bonuses applied in its district. Unlock it early in a single-slot district to get massive discounts (e.g., 60% on Statecraft research). Plan your HQ around this monument, placing it early and building complementary bonuses.

When you unlock your second HQ, choose a zone 2–3 steps from your start, ideally in an underdeveloped area. It replaces an existing Village and functions as a secondary airfield, cutting travel time and expanding your reach. You’ll still be limited to one Level 3 district bonus per color, but you can earn Level 2 and 1 bonuses in both HQs.

Once you reach 6–7 optimized zones, shift entirely into production tuning:

• Activate the Propaganda Office for a powerful production boost (but only once you stop expanding due to its high Authority cost).
• Use Saudakar units and a balanced defensive force to guard your tiles.
• Build Air Force counters to defend against late-game attacks.

Avoid the Hammer unit—it’s costly and inefficient. Instead, favor the Kronos, which is a large, reliable flyer.

Final Thoughts: A Defensive, Economic Powerhouse

House Corrino offers a challenging yet rewarding experience for players who enjoy economic optimization and strategic foresight. Though your footprint on the map is smaller, your production per tile can surpass any other faction. Time is on your side—while other factions burn themselves out in endless skirmishes, you’ll be stacking bonuses and preparing to win through wealth, development, and hegemony.

Master your zones, leverage key technologies, and guard your progress with a solid defense—and victory will be yours.