Dune: Imperium Combat Rules: Strength, Intrigue Cards, Ties & Rewards
Dune: Imperium combat is resolved after every player has taken a Reveal turn. Your strength comes from units committed to the Conflict plus sword effects from revealed cards and other effects.
How troop strength works
Each troop in the Conflict contributes 2 combat strength. Reveal-box sword icons and card effects can increase that total.
Combat Intrigue timing
Starting with the First Player and proceeding clockwise, each player with at least one troop in the Conflict may play any number of Combat Intrigue cards or pass. Passing once does not permanently remove you from this sequence. Combat resolves after all involved players pass consecutively.
Who wins?
The player with the highest strength gains the first reward. Second place receives the second reward. In a four-player base-game session, third place can receive the third reward.
What if you have zero strength?
A player at 0 strength receives no Conflict reward.
Tie for first
If players tie for first, no one wins the Conflict. The tied players each receive the second reward. In a four-player game with exactly two players tied for first, the remaining players still compete for the third reward.
Tie for second
Players tied for second each receive the third reward. Players tied for third receive nothing.
What happens to troops afterward?
After rewards are resolved, troops in the Conflict return to each player’s supply, not their garrison. Reset Combat markers to 0.
Related Dune guides
Publisher source
Rules checked September 2026.