Dune: Spice Wars is an expansive and challenging 4X strategy game that transports players to the harsh and unforgiving desert landscape of Arrakis. In this epic struggle for supremacy, you’ll need to guide your faction to victory, and one of the keys to success lies in exploration. The vast deserts of Arrakis hide valuable minerals and resources, making exploration a critical component of your strategy. However, due to the immense size of the planet, uncovering new areas can be a time-consuming and daunting task. This is where Ornithopters come into play.
How to Build an Ornithopter in Dune: Spice Wars

Ornithopters are versatile transport vessels that serve multiple functions in Dune: Spice Wars, and knowing how to build them is essential for efficient exploration of Arrakis. Fortunately, constructing an Ornithopter is a straightforward process, and it remains consistent across different game modes. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to build one:
- When you launch the game, you’ll notice a drop-down menu located at the top right corner of the screen.
- Towards the bottom of this menu, you’ll find the ‘Ornithopters’ tab, which is just above the ‘Military’ tab. To begin building an Ornithopter, simply click the ‘+’ icon located under the ‘Ornithopters’ heading.
How to Use an Ornithopter

Once you’ve successfully constructed an Ornithopter, it will be initially stationed at your Arrakeen base camp. To command it for exploration, follow these steps:
- Left-click on the Ornithopter to select it.
- Then, right-click on the area of the map you want the Ornithopter to explore. It will fly to that location and reveal the terrain.
Alternatively, you can choose the auto-recon mode, which allows your Ornithopters to autonomously explore and investigate the surroundings. This mode is particularly useful for uncovering sandworms early, giving you ample time to recall your harvesters and avoid potential disasters.

By default, you’ll have one Ornithopter at the beginning of the match. However, given the vastness of Arrakis, many players opt to build additional Ornithopters. Keep in mind that you can have a maximum of five Ornithopters active at any given time.
It’s important to note that occasional sandstorms can pose a threat to your Ornithopters, potentially destroying them if they are in the affected area. Fortunately, this setback can be mitigated by simply constructing replacements as needed.
In the challenging world of Dune: Spice Wars, Ornithopters are your invaluable allies in uncovering the secrets of Arrakis and securing your faction’s dominance. Mastering their construction and use is essential for success on this desert planet.




