All Trials of Aql Locations in Dune Awakening
All 7 Trials of Aql with exact cave pins: Mihna Cavern, The Deep Struggle, Lost Pilgrim, Hollow Hammer, Hidden Test, Devil's Eye and the Red Maw.
Contents
There are seven Trials of Aql, all in Hagga Basin, each in a named cave: 1 Mihna Cavern (Hagga Basin South), 2 The Deep Struggle and 4 The Hollow Hammer (Eastern Vermillius Gap), 3 Cave of the Lost Pilgrim (Western Vermillius Gap), 5 The Hidden Test and 7 The Red Maw (Hagga Rift), 6 Devil's Eye Cavern (Jabal Eifrit Al-Sharq).
All Trials of Aql at a glance
| Trial | Cave | Region | What you do | Reward | Planet to remember |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mihna Cavern | Hagga Basin South | Stealth vision | Damaged Stillsuit schematic | Harmonthep |
| 2 | The Deep Struggle | Eastern Vermillius Gap | Static Compactor puzzle | Static Compactor schematic | Rossak |
| 3 | Cave of the Lost Pilgrim | Western Vermillius Gap | Recording at a destroyed altar | — | Bela Tegeuse |
| 4 | The Hollow Hammer | Eastern Vermillius Gap | Combat vision | Unfixed Crysknife schematic | Salusa Secundus |
| 5 | The Hidden Test | Hagga Rift | Platforming + Thumper | Thumper schematic | Poritrin |
| 6 | Devil's Eye Cavern | Jabal Eifrit Al-Sharq | Recording at a destroyed altar | — | Thurgrod |
| 7 | The Red Maw | Hagga Rift | Sandstorm vision | Stilltent schematic | Nilotic al-Ourouba |
Write the planets down. They are the answers to the Ornate Door at Sietch Ta'lab, the eighth step. See Eighth Trial of Aql answers.
How the Trials of Aql work
- Strict order. Each trial journey opens only after the previous one is complete. Trial 1 is revealed by a spice dream early in the prologue and counts toward the journey Echoes of the Past.
- No waypoint until you survey. Every trial from 2 on starts with "Survey … to locate the next trial". Fire a survey probe over the region, or simply walk into the cave: either completes the step.
- The riddle is on the card. Open the Journey tab: each trial card shows the wall carving and riddle that point to the next cave.
- The vision ends with one question from Sadus. There is only one reply to pick, so you cannot fail it. Sadus then names the planet to remember.
- Bring a vehicle. From Trial 2 on you need at least a sandbike; Trial 6 is far away, so an ornithopter helps. Park on rock before you go into a cave: a sandworm can swallow a vehicle left on open sand.
| Trial | Sadus asks | Your only reply |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Who is it that thinks?" | Those who suffer. |
| 2 | "What is the purpose of thought?" | To honor the Creator. |
| 4 | "How do we honor the creator?" | We fight. |
| 5 | "Who is the Creator?" | The Maker, may His passing cleanse the world. |
| 7 | "Why were we created?" | To survive Kralizec, the war at the end of the universe. |
Where is the First Trial of Aql?
Mihna Cavern, in the central rocks of Hagga Basin South, a little northwest of the enemy outpost Keyhole Rock.
Reward: the Damaged Stillsuit schematic, which you need for Echoes of the Past. The full prologue is in the early-game journeys walkthrough.
Where is the Second Trial of Aql?
The Deep Struggle, in the Eastern Vermillius Gap: para-southeast of Mirzabah's Head (the giant hammer rock), north of Aren's Post and east of the Wreck of the Actaeon. The "shattered teeth" in the riddle are a cluster of jagged rocks.
There is no combat here. Reward: the Static Compactor schematic.
Where is the Third Trial of Aql?
Cave of the Lost Pilgrim, in the Western Vermillius Gap. Find the "table of stone for God's feast", the map landmark Table of the Gods, and turn north. The cave is northeast of Flatrock Outpost and southwest of the Wreck of the Pallas.
Scavengers guard the cave. Inside, go left through the moisture-sealed entrance. The altar is destroyed: there is no vision and no item. Play the shigawire recording at the altar and the trial completes.
Where is the Fourth Trial of Aql?
The Hollow Hammer, inside Mirzabah's Head, the tallest hammer-shaped rock in the Eastern Vermillius Gap, west of the Anvil. The entrance is high up, not at ground level.
Reward: the Unfixed Crysknife schematic. Players report that Prescience also gives you an extra ability slot.
Where is the Fifth Trial of Aql?
The Hidden Test, in the Hagga Rift, southeast of the Wreck of the Kytheria. Head straight for the pin.
Reward: the Thumper schematic. The trial shows a hint where to place it.
Where is the Sixth Trial of Aql?
Devil's Eye Cavern, in the far northeast corner of Jabal Eifrit Al-Sharq, near a slaver camp. The entrance hides between rock pillars ("seek the eyes among the stones").
Cut the moisture seal and take the stairs down. Poison mines line the descent: listen for the trigger sound, and use the Static Compactor to clear poison. The altar is destroyed, so just play the shigawire recording. The Seventh Trial opens right after.
Where is the Seventh Trial of Aql?
The Red Maw, at the very bottom of the northern Hagga Rift, under The Weeping Chasm, south of the Northern Bunker and close to CHOAM Mineral Extraction Facility #6. You cannot see it from above.
Reward: the Stilltent schematic. To leave, walk west along the chasm floor to its open end instead of climbing back up.
Fastest route
- Trials 2, 3 and 4 in one trip. All three sit around Mirzabah's Head: 2 to the southeast, 3 to the west, 4 inside it.
- Trials 5 and 7 in one Hagga Rift trip, with a charged Suspensor Belt. You can scout the Red Maw early, but it only counts after Trial 6.
- Fly to Trial 6 if you have an ornithopter. See how to get an ornithopter.
- Trials 3 and 6 take two minutes: reach the altar, play the recording, leave.
- Pack: Cutteray for sealed doors, shield, healing, a vehicle. Trials 2, 5 and 7 involve long drops.
Common problems and fixes
- No spice vision at Trial 3 or 6. That is expected. Play the recording; the journey moves on.
- The cave has no marker. You have not surveyed the region yet. Fire a survey probe or enter the cave.
- Stuck inside a trial. Make sure your game is up to date, then log out for at least a minute and log back in.
- The sandstorm vision keeps resetting. Do not pause between tents, and take the rocks on the right after tent three.
- The worm never hits the Thumper. Plant it on open sand near the marker, not on rock.
Rewards
Each trial journey gives 100 XP, and five of them give schematics:
Static CompactorNo tier · Database
Unfixed Crysknife SchematicNo tier · Database
ThumperNo tier · Database
StilltentNo tier · DatabaseWhat comes next
Finishing the Seventh Trial opens The Footsteps of the Fremen at Sietch Ta'lab, with its door quiz and puzzles: Eighth Trial of Aql answers. Along the way you will pass trainers worth a visit; see classes and trainers.
How many Trials of Aql are there?
Seven trial caves, plus an eighth step, The Footsteps of the Fremen, at Sietch Ta'lab.
Where is the Seventh Trial of Aql?
In the Red Maw, at the bottom of the northern Hagga Rift under the Weeping Chasm. Drop into the gorge and look for a red-glowing cave on the valley floor.
How do I get into the Hollow Hammer?
Climb the south and east face of Mirzabah's Head along the ropes and broken stairs, or land on top with an ornithopter. The entrance is high up.
Can I do the Trials of Aql out of order?
No. Each trial opens only when the previous one is complete.
Why is there no vision at the Third and Sixth Trial?
Those altars were destroyed. You only play a shigawire recording, and the journey continues.