Assassinations in Dune: Spice Wars are a powerful tool that can instantly remove an opponent from the game, shifting the balance of power in your favor. However, they can also be a devastating threat if you’re on the receiving end. This guide will explain both how to execute an assassination effectively and how to defend against one.

How Assassinations Work

Assassinations begin in the Espionage Tree, where you assign an agent to another faction. As the agent works, they gradually fill the intelligence bar of the target faction, progressing from level one to level three as you assign more agents.

Once you reach level one intelligence, you gain the option to establish infiltration cells in villages controlled by your target. These cells are essential for an assassination attempt. A minimum of two infiltration cells is required, but certain faction abilities and developments allow for additional cells.

Preparing an Assassination

To launch an assassination attempt, you need:

• Level three intelligence on the target faction.
• Level one intelligence on Arrakis, CHOAM, Landsraad, and Spacing Guild.
• 500 Intel and 1,000 Solari for operation costs.

Once you initiate the assassination attempt, the progression bar begins filling over time. If it reaches 100%, the target is instantly removed from the game.

How to Speed Up an Assassination

1. Deploy Assassins – These special units, unlocked via research, increase the progression rate when sent into a target’s village with an infiltration cell.
2. Maintain Control of Infiltration Cells – If all cells are removed, the assassination attempt will fail.
3. Protect Your Assassins – If assassins die before reaching their target, you will have to train new ones, delaying your attempt.
4. Monitor the Target’s Counter-Intelligence – The fewer agents they have in counter-intelligence, the faster your attempt progresses.

How to Defend Against Assassinations

Detecting an Assassination Attempt

• Players being targeted will not know about an assassination attempt until their counter-intelligence detects it.
• Detection typically occurs between 25% and 60% progression.
• Assigning agents to counter-intelligence increases the chance of detecting an attempt early.

Slowing and Stopping an Assassination Attempt

1. Assign Agents to Counter-Intelligence – This slows the assassination’s progression and increases the likelihood of detecting the operation.
2. Search for Infiltration Cells – Once an assassination is detected, use the Cell Search operation to locate enemy infiltration cells.
3. Eliminate Infiltration Cells – Use military units to physically search villages suspected of harboring cells. Each search removes one cell.
4. Kill Enemy Assassins – If an assassin is spotted, destroy them before they reach their target village to slow down the assassination.
5. Abandon Villages if Necessary – If you’re unable to clear cells in time, abandoning a village will immediately remove any enemy infiltration cells.
6. Monitor the Enemy’s Intel and Solari – Assassination attempts become costly over time. If the attacker runs out of resources, they may be forced to abandon their attempt.

Faction-Specific Assassination Strategies

• Verratus: Gains additional assassination bonuses, requiring fewer intelligence levels to launch an attempt.
• Smugglers: Can establish Underworld Headquarters in enemy bases, allowing extra infiltration cells.
• Atreides: Lacks assassination advantages but can leverage strong counter-intelligence and diplomacy.
• Harkonnen: Can sustain assassinations longer due to strong espionage abilities.

Strategic Considerations

When to Assassinate an Opponent

• When an enemy is about to win through another victory condition (Hegemony, Landsraad, or CHOAM Shares).
• If removing them will open up valuable land for your expansion.
• To eliminate a major political or military threat.
• If their death will disrupt enemy alliances or create power vacuums.

Potential Downsides of Assassinating an Opponent

• It can create a power vacuum that another player may exploit.
• The elimination of a player can destabilize the CHOAM market, drastically reducing share prices.
• The Landsraad loses a voting participant, potentially making it easier for another faction to claim a political victory.

Final Thoughts

Assassination is a high-risk, high-reward strategy in Dune: Spice Wars. While it provides an alternative victory path, it requires careful planning, intelligence gathering, and resource management. Likewise, defending against assassinations is just as crucial, ensuring you don’t fall victim to an unexpected elimination.

Whether you are plotting a silent takeover or guarding against an unseen threat, mastery of the espionage system is key to survival and success on Arrakis. Good luck, and may your assassins strike true!