Sardaukar
The Sardaukar are the elite military force of the Padishah Emperor and House Corrino.
Lore
The Sardaukar are trained on the prison world of Salusa Secundus, where the worst criminals in the Known Universe are sentenced to serve their time. The hellish conditions of the planet ensure that only the strongest prisoners survive for long, and it is from the most vicious and savage of these survivors that the Sardaukar find one of their primary recruitment pools.
The other major source of recruits are the children of Sardaukar born from their spouses, who are often taken from the pleasure thralls of the complexes deep beneath the surface of Salusa Secundus. Children are raised from birth to be forged into Sardaukar and are raised under very strict martial discipline. The harshness of the training and of the planetary conditions ensure that half of these children die before the age of 11, but the resulting soldier is undeniably effective.
According to some measures, one Sardaukar can be compared to ten of any Great House conscript. Through this training, the Sardaukar are instilled with fanatical loyalty to the Padishah Emperor and a religious fervor that guides their blades in service to the Golden Lion Throne.
In recent decades, the Sardaukar have been involved in several significant actions. In addition to the pogrom of the Fremen, they were also the perpetrators of the Zanovar Incident, around which the details remain murky. While the fighting prowess of the Sardaukar remains as stout as ever, the Sardaukar have begun to fall to decadence and supreme arrogance since the rise of Shaddam IV Corrino. What effect this will have on the Sardaukar, none can say...
In-Game
The Sardaukar are under the command of Count Hasimir Fenring, an agent of the Golden Lion Throne and a confidant to the Emperor himself.
The Sardaukar can be found in Arrakeen and Harko Village, serving as guards of the Imperial Consulate. They are forbidden from participating in the War of Assassins by the laws of Kanly, but work to ensure that the Guild Peace is enforced in so-designated zones.
A majority of the Sardaukar force on Arrakis is unseen, combing the greater desert for any signs of Fremen. While Sardaukar pilots captain the ships that patrol the Hagga Basin at night, the ground troops deployed by these patrol ships are CHOAM mercenaries, so as to avoid any risk of breaking the laws of Kanly. If your character is found, even in a ground vehicle, the ship releases an anti-gravity field that holds you in place and keeps you from running, and these mercenaries are deployed on the ground.
As part of the The Fall of the Proteus journey at the start of the game, Sardaukar ships deploy a large shield barricade enclosing the player, Zantara, and the Proteus, within the Valley of Echoes. This barricade is not shown again in-game once you leave the valley.
Combat
Visions of the Sardaukar warriors can be fought during The Fourth Trial of Aql.
The Sardaukar themselves become enemies the Prisoner can fight during the last mission of Book 1, and demonstrate the same capabilities as any other Great House NPCs - their only real distinction is a unique set of voice lines.
Known Sardaukar
- Bator Dakkar - he was deployed to investigate the crash site of an Imperial prison transport, Proteus, at the start of the game. He was killed in a melee duel with Zantara during the introduction story mission of Book 1.
- Unnamed Sardaukar Bator in Harko village - him and his squad captured the Prisoner in Harko Village during mission Black Market Technology. He remains alive and guards entrance into Imperial Consulate in Harko Village.
- Commander Aramsham - he led operations against the Fremen as a commander of the Sardaukar forces during the pogrom. Following it, he serves under leadership of Count Hasimir Fenring aboard a Sardaukar Orbital Bastion the Eye of Salusa. He was killed by the Prisoner in a duel at the end of Book 1 storyline. During the fight, he uses a sword and maula pistol, as well as Knee Charge, Suspensor Blast and Inspiration abilities.
Content
- The Sardaukar Bator Armor is a universal transmog cosmetic item available is included in Deluxe and Ultimate Game Editions.
- The Sardaukar Averruncus stillsuit, Velites light armor and Legionnaire heavy armor skins, as well as Oathblade sword skin, Benediction disruptor SMG skin, Sardaukar Tactical swatch, emotes and a building set are available as part of the Filmic Archive content pack.
- Aramsham's Caress is the iconic Sardaukar sword/rapier skin that becomes available upon completion of Book 1 storyline, alongside a memorial weapon of the same name.
- Sardaukar Kindjal used by Sardaukar troops in the final mission of Book 1 storyline is currently not available to players.
Gallery
Averruncus (Stillsuit), Velites (Light), Legionnaire (Heavy), Bator
