4 Combat Tips to Keep You (and Your Crew) Alive

So you’ve just stepped into the scorching sands, your ship’s barely holding together, and an angry Arcanist warband is charging your way—what now?

Combat in Dunebound Tactics isn’t about who has the biggest hammer/gun/staff (though, fair, some are very big), it’s about knowing when to strike, where to stand, and how to make every skill count. Here’s a quick rundown of 4 combat tips to help you survive your next firefight, ambush, or “oops this was supposed to be a peaceful negotiation” moment.

1. Prep Like a Pro

The real fight starts before you enter combat.

Before the first rock gets thrown or explosive pillar gets summoned, ask yourself: does my squad actually work well together?

Build your crew with synergy in mind. A healer in your team can be the difference between limping into the Medbay or walking out with a smirk and full HP. Support characters with buffs, crowd control, or combo synergy can turn a desperate scrap into a clean sweep. Think of your team like a toolbox—if you only pack hammers, don’t be surprised when screws get the better of you.

2. Read the Room (and the Rocks)

Not every battle is a punch-up.

Sometimes you’re defending an NPC. Sometimes you’re being picked apart by ranged enemies. Sometimes, it’s a full-on brawl in a dense cityscape. So your positioning needs to change with the situation.

Got melee enemies charging you? Get behind cover or funnel them into tight spaces. Need to protect someone important? Send your toughest fighter to body-block the heat. Don’t just charge in—adapt your formation to the field.

3. Draw Skills = Big Brain Plays

Despite the name, Draw skills aren’t about pulling enemies—they’re about placement.

Using your mouse, you’ll “draw” the layout of things like clusters of pillars, mines, or explosive lines, giving you the power to reshape the battlefield on your terms. Block a chokepoint. Cover your flank. Create a deadly trap that detonates the moment an enemy moves.

These skills are versatile and creative—so go wild with your layouts. One smart Draw can save your whole crew (or blow up half the enemy squad in one go).

4. Backline Brilliance

Backline skills hit like a sandstorm when used right—and yes, they do cost Elios to activate. That might feel steep at first (especially when you're watching your fuel reserves like a hawk), but hear us out.

Most of these abilities are AoE, meaning they can wipe out clusters of enemies, reshape terrain, buff your whole squad, or swing a losing battle in your favor in one clean strike. And if you don’t use them? You might end up eating more damage, which means spending even more Elios later in the Medbay—or worse, losing a crew member entirely... which also means losing their Elios.

So weigh your options, but don’t be stingy when your backline has the power to tip the scales.

Combat in Dunebound Tactics isn’t just a numbers game. It’s a puzzle, a dance, and sometimes a straight-up brawl. Hopefully, these tips give you the edge the next time things go sideways.

Now go raise some dust. And maybe a few explosive pillars while you're at it.