Once you have made some headway into your adventure on Arrakis, you’ll be asked to locate the Second Trial of Aql. This can be a little tricky if you miss a key bit of information provided by the game.
The Second Trial of Aql doesn’t give you a waypoint like the first one did. Instead, you’ll need to solve a riddle and study a clue from your journal.
To start, go to your Journey tab and click on The Second Trial of Aql. Hit "View Trial Location" to bring up a painted mural and a short clue:
"Para-southeast of the great hammer of Mirzabah... the shattered teeth of the gods... nestled between molar and incisor... a cavity revealed." You also get shown the image below.
This tells you where to go next. If you want some extra help, continue with the steps below.
First, here are links to all the other parts of this quest for easy access you can bookmark them:
- Third Trial of Aql Location
- Fourth Trial of Aql Location
- Fifth Trial of Aql Location
- Sixth Trial of Aql Location
- Seventh Trial of Aql Location
- Eighth Trial of Aql Location (The Footsteps of the Freman)
Second Trial of Aql Location
You’ll find it in Eastern Vermillius Gap, near the border with Hagga Basin and just east of the Wreck of the Actaeon. It’s very likely you have ended up fairly close to it with your second base.
Look for a group of tall, jagged rocks; that’s your “shattered teeth.” The altar is hidden between them. Nearby, you’ll see a Moisture-Sealed Cave called The Deep Struggle. The area has a fair few enemies that you’ll need to deal with.
Inside, you’ll find loot, ore, and a broken path that leads underground. Follow this until you reach the altar. Approach it and inhale the Spice to start the trial.
Second Trial of Aql Puzzle Guide
Use the Static Compactor
The core of this trial is using a new tool called the Static Compactor. You’ll be given it right at the start of the trial when the NPC ends their first dialogue. It lets you suck up sand, fire, and poison gas.
Burning Sand
You’ll soon face a flaming sand bridge, you can’t cross it without the Compactor, you’ll die trying. Use the tool to suck up fire patches marked with a compactor icon to make the path clear. This section is a bit “fiddly” so wait for the icon to show to make sure it works.
Collapsing Sand Wall
Next, you’ll see two sand statues in front of a thick sand wall. Use the Compactor again to break down the wall and move forward. This is the only hard part of the trial, but just make sure to hold the jump key so you grab the rocks if you miss.
Poison Gas Rooms
You’ll enter rooms full of green gas coming from metal vents. Aim at them and use the Compactor to suck up the fumes. It’s clear where to go, and it’s easy to move through once the gas is gone. The second room has broken floor sections, but it's still simple to cross.
Floating Platforms
Back to the sand platforms for the end, to make sure you really do get what you’ve got to do. You can now move on to the Third Trial of the Aql, which we have covered the location of already.
Static Compactor Crafting and Use Outside the Trial
After the trial, you unlock the Static Compactor schematic.
To craft it, use a General Fabricator:
- 10 Iron Ingots ( 40 Iron Ore and 250 Water)
- 7 EMF Generators
You can mine Iron in Vermillius Gap and loot EMF Generators from other Moisture-Sealed Caves.
Once built, the Static Compactor works with a Power Pack. The Compactor is a key item, allowing you to collect Flour Sand and, crucially, Spice.
- Flour Sand – used to make Silicone Blocks
- Spice – essential for crafting and progression
The quest after this is likely your first “forced death” by the Worm. When the game requires you to head out into Scan Flour Sand, bring as little gear as you can, as you will lose it.
