House Corrino presents a unique challenge in Dune: Spice Wars, as its expansion is heavily restricted by an Authority penalty when moving away from the main base. This means that as a Corrino player, you’ll control fewer zones compared to other factions. However, you gain an additional building slot per zone and eventually acquire a second headquarters, making strategic optimization crucial. If you enjoy a methodical and economic playstyle, this guide will help you get the most out of House Corrino.

Optimizing Your Zones for Maximum Efficiency

Your faction’s strength lies in making the most of limited zones. The most valuable counselor in this regard is Wensicia, who allows you to double up on most buildings. However, if you only build one of a kind, you pay a higher upkeep, so it’s essential to maximize her ability properly.

A strong second choice for a counselor is Feyd-Rautha. His abilities make you a less attractive target, which is key since you’re not an aggressive expander. While Princess Hazir’s ability to cancel negative resolutions can be situationally useful, if enemies are targeting you politically, you’re likely already winning. The Captain, who provides military discounts, does not align well with House Corrino’s core strategy, making him the least favorable option.

Early Game: Securing Your First Zones and Resources

Step 1: Scouting and Capturing Your First Village

1. Send your Ornithopter to scout the nearest spice field.
2. Build two melee units and an additional Ornithopter.
3. Send your units to capture the nearest village once trained.
4. Focus fire on individual enemy units during battles for efficient combat.
5. After securing the village, build a Refinery immediately and set your Harvester to auto-recall.
6. Consider adding a third Army Filter to protect your Harvester early on.

While your Ornithopters continue scouting, focus on identifying potential expansion zones. Prioritize Plascrete nodes, but rare elements can be a strong alternative. Avoid investing too much time in village scouting until you have a broad view of your surrounding territory.

Step 2: Research Priorities

1. Megalopolis – Provides a flat +20% boost to all production.
2. Solid Materials – Reduces construction costs.
3. Advanced Engineering – Essential for maximizing zone development.
4. Spy Silences – Useful for the few spice fields you’ll control.

This research order ensures you maximize your economy early and build efficiently.

Step 3: Expanding to Your Second Village

Once your economy is stable, capture a second village. If you have a Plascrete zone nearby, take it. With the right counselors, you can place two Plascrete factories here, doubling production and avoiding increased upkeep costs. This strategy gives you a robust Plascrete income, enabling you to construct buildings as needed. If no Plascrete node is available, focus on a zone with bonuses to Manpower, Knowledge, or Rare Elements to compensate.

Mid-Game: Developing Your Economy and Expanding Strategically

Optimized Zone Setup

For best results, structure your zones as follows:

• Wind traps in the highest wind-strength area.
• Spice Silo near your Refinery.
• Two Recruitment Officers in the same village.
• Two Research Hubs in a single village for maximum efficiency.
• Double Processing Plants in Rare Elements zones.
• Two Craft Workshops in Rare Elements zones.
• Pair up buildings to reduce upkeep and maximize bonuses.

This strategy ensures your villages are optimized for production while keeping costs under control.

Building Adjacency Bonuses and Administration Buffs

Your villages have six building slots, and you should aim to have four buildings of the same color in each to activate Imperial Administration, which grants a +10% bonus to everything in that village. This also provides double trade bonuses to nearby villages, making it crucial for economic dominance.

Military and Defense

While House Corrino is not built for military conquest, you still need a strong defense. Pillaging nearby zones is an excellent way to generate extra Solari, but your real strength lies in ensuring your economy and infrastructure remain superior to your rivals. Build a balanced army, including Sardaukar troops, to maintain control of your territories.

Late Game: Securing Your Victory Path

Victory Condition Prioritization

Due to Corrino’s limited expansion, military victory is difficult. Instead, aim for:

• Hegemony Victory – Optimizing zones and economy while leveraging your rare elements and economic structures.
• CHOAM Shares Victory – Investing in CHOAM shares early and leveraging high Plascrete and Solari generation.

Both strategies benefit from controlling rare elements and maximizing production efficiency. Use Imperial Administrationbonuses to gain an economic edge.

Research and Headquarters Optimization

1. Imperial Administration – Unlocks powerful economic bonuses.
2. Spying Logistics & Outrageous Wealth – Improves defensive options and strengthens the Emperor Monument.
3. Imperial Taxes – Ensures a steady supply of Solari and Spice.

Your Emperor Monument, a unique Corrino building, doubles bonuses from your headquarters, making it a game-changing structure when placed strategically. Build it early to maximize benefits.

Second Headquarters Placement

Your second headquarters should be placed 2-3 tiles from your starting base, ideally in a zone you don’t plan to develop. This new base reduces expansion costs and doubles adjacency bonuses, making it a crucial asset for economic expansion.

Final Steps: Optimizing What You Have

1. Focus on upgrading production zones instead of expanding further.
2. Utilize Propaganda Offices to boost output, but only once expansion is complete due to the high Authority cost.
3. Defend against aggression while maintaining economic superiority.

Conclusion: House Corrino’s Strength Lies in Efficiency

House Corrino offers a deep and rewarding gameplay experience that requires strategic zone management and economic optimization. While it lacks the rapid expansion of other factions, its ability to double buildings and maximize adjacency bonuses makes it a powerhouse in economic and CHOAM-based victories.

By following this guide, you can efficiently optimize your zones, build an unparalleled economy, and secure victory through careful planning and superior resource management. While this playstyle may not be for everyone, mastering it will ensure that your empire is the most efficient and prosperous on Arrakis.

Good luck, and may your empire reign supreme!