Dune: Imperium – Uprising · Board game rules
Can I gain a Worm if I already have Worms in the battle?
Quick answer
Yes, you can gain a sandworm even if you already have sandworms in the Conflict, provided you meet the requirements (Maker Hooks token and no Shield Wall protection).
Details
The rulebook states that when the sandworm icon appears on a card or board space, you summon and deploy a sandworm to the Conflict [p.10 — Units and Conflict]. There is no restriction on the number of sandworms a player can deploy in a single Conflict. The only limitations are:
- Maker Hooks Requirement: You must have a Maker Hooks token on your garrison (obtained via Sietch Tabr or other means) to summon a sandworm [p.10 — Sandworm].
- Shield Wall Protection: Sandworms cannot be summoned to Conflicts at locations protected by the Shield Wall (Arrakeen, Spice Refinery, Imperial Basin) unless the Shield Wall is destroyed [p.10 — Critical Locations and the Shield Wall].
If these conditions are met, you can summon additional sandworms regardless of existing ones in the Conflict. For example, in the provided gameplay example, John summons a sandworm even though he already had units deployed [p.15 — Example].
Watch out:
Sandworms are returned to the bank after Combat ends [p.15 — Resolve Combat], so they do not persist between rounds. Ensure you have sufficient Maker Hooks tokens (only one is needed per player, as it remains on your garrison) and that the Shield Wall is destroyed if targeting protected locations.