Dune: Awakening Guide | How To Complete The First Trail of AQL

Here's a guide on completing the first AQL trial in Dune: Awakening.

Game Guide by TauxicPandA on Jun 11, 2025

The First Trial of AQL is a story-type mission in a hidden cave near the starting point. It features special mechanics and puzzle components that require cautious exploration and timing.

Dune Awakening Guide, How To Complete The First Trail of AQL

Reaching the Altar

You must find the specific cave entrance with the purple marker on your map for your first trail. The cave is close to where you start and should not be too difficult to find once you know where it is.

Your primary goal is to look for an altar deep in the cave. Once in the cave, you want to go deep and continue descending the stairs until you can see an Altar. Upon arriving at the Altar, your character will be incapacitated for a while; then, a cutscene will take you to the first Trial.

Dune Awakening Guide, How To Complete The First Trail of AQL, Reaching the Altar

Mechanics of the Trial

This Trial emphasizes an Eye puzzle system that you need to navigate carefully. You have to hide or run from the Eye when it is open and emitting light towards you. The one crucial thing to remember is this: white light is good, and red light is bad. When the Eye notices you, it will shoot out a red light, so bear that in mind throughout the Trial.

Navigating the first Eye is relatively straightforward. You should use the walls provided as cover and then advance wall to wall to avoid the Eye being able to see you. If you get spotted by the Eye for a second, that is okay because it will not reset immediately. You will notice the ground turn red-lit, warning you to get into cover immediately.

Dune Awakening Guide, How To Complete The First Trail of AQL, Mechanics of the Trial

You'll notice that the second Eye does not move when you progress through the Trial. This makes the Trial a lot simpler. You only need to run through it.

The next Eye will be simple as well. The Eye will be moving back and forth, opening and closing. Once the Eye closes, you simply need to move toward the next pillar and be at the next checkpoint again. This is crucial timing, so wait for the Eye to close before doing so.

The following one is more challenging than the others. The Eye will emit light from left to right and then from right to left. All you need to do is hide in the small available corner, and as the light passes, you must get across to the next section. Just wait patiently for this part.

The fifth Eye will be just like the first. As you head towards the bridge, you should hide and duck into the small, visible corner. As soon as the light moves past you, all you need to do is just jump over the bridge to safety. The timing of the jump is crucial.

Dune Awakening Guide, How To Complete The First Trail of AQL, Mechanics of the Trial

For the last Eye, you need to cross from one wall to the other when the Eye closes, but the trick is to climb the small rock on the left-hand side. The rock will provide some shelter. When the Eye shuts again, you must climb over this small rock and reach the next one directly before you. Then, wait for the Eye to shut again until you can cross to the last part.

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