Unlike the previous game, DOOM Eternal, demons are not more vulnerable to specific guns than others in DOOM: The Dark Ages. Ammunition is plentiful, thanks to each melee option granting free ammo drops upon striking a demon. Players really only need a ‘main’ and ‘side’ weapon to conquer the campaign, so deciding which ones are best depends upon the playstyle.
1. GUN & SHIELD AT THE READY
No matter which weapon is in the Doom Slayer’s right hand, he always has his trusty Shield Saw in his left. He can block projectiles, parry Hell Surge attacks, throw it at small groups of fodder demons to bisect them, hold a larger demon in place, and even unleash long-distance charge attacks with it. The Shield Saw bolsters certain guns, and vice versa.
1.1. COMBAT SHOTGUN – STARTING WEAPON
As the only gun players will have in the first chapter, players will have plenty of time to get acquainted with the Combat Shotgun. During the mid-to-late game, the best use for it is to get quick armor drops from fodder demons without using melee charges from the Flail, or if focusing on a different melee weapon entirely.
The Combat Shotgun Codex in DOOM: The Dark Ages.
| Cost | Upgrades |
|---|---|
| 50x Gold | Incendiary: Combat shotgun burns demons and yields armor pickups. |
| 125x Gold | Smelt: Burning demons yield more armor pickups. Blast: Burning demons explode upon death. |
| 1x Ruby | Tune Up: Combat shotgun fires in rapid, three-round bursts. Flare-Up: Combat shotgun instantly burns fodder demons. |
| 1x Wraithstone | Eat This!: Combat shotgun fires more projectiles. |
1.2. ACCELERATOR – CHAPTER 2
When it comes to overloading energy shields, the Cycler will usually replace the Accelerator for most players. The one major exception should be during the Kreed Makyr boss battle. An Overloaded Modulator Accelerator disrupts his energy shield much faster than the Cycler possibly can. The added Heatblast damage at close range is a nice bonus.
The Accelerator Codex in DOOM: The Dark Ages.
| Cost | Upgrades |
|---|---|
| 75x Gold | Feedback: Shooting demons builds charge, increasing damage. |
| 150x Gold | Stabilizer: Reduced spread at maximum charge. Modulator: Increased rate of fire at maximum charge. |
| 1x Ruby | Heatblast: Stop firing at maximum charge to unleash a massive heatblast that consumes all charge. Demons killed this way drop Accelerator ammo. Mega Cell: Accelerator holds charge longer. |
| 1x Wraithstone | Overload: Shooting a demon at full charge supercharges the Accelerator, increasing damage and charge-related effects. |
1.3. PULVERIZER – CHAPTER 4
When combined with the Gauntlet’s quick recharge time, the Pulverizer can keep players moving extremely fast. This is best used in wide-open battlefields with little to no obstructions, since it’s easy to bump into walls. Since parrying is uncommon in a sprint, the Shield Saw’s main focus is to hold down larger demons for the Pulverizer to shred.
The Pulverizer Codex in DOOM: The Dark Ages.
| Cost | Upgrades |
|---|---|
| 100x Gold | Runic Skull: Killing demons with Pulverizer or melee builds charge, increasing movement speed and fire rate. |
| 2x Rubies | Runic Strike: Melee attacks build and maintain charge. |
| 1x Wraithstone | Flay: Increased damage spread. |
1.4. IMPALER – CHAPTER 4
The Impaler works best as a means to subvert the Dreadmace’s otherwise lengthy recharge time. Lining up headshots is easy with Chronospike, but the Stalwart/Salvage combo lets the Impaler rack up impressive damage in its own right. Just remember to use the Shield Saw to replenish ammo instead of a melee attack.
The Impaler Codex in DOOM: The Dark Ages.
| Cost | Upgrades |
|---|---|
| 150x Gold | Stalwart: Shield throws, parries, and charges drop Impaler ammo. |
| 2x Rubies | Salvage: Picking up ammo buffs next shot. Chronospike: Holding the fire button slows time and buffs shots. |
| 1x Wraithstone | Lobotomy: Headshots recharge melee. |
1.5. CYCLER – CHAPTER 5
The Cycler is more accurate than the Accelerator and is the primary means of inflicting the shock debuff. Remember that the increased damage applies to all weapons, not just the Cycler. Melee attacks and even other guns enjoy the increased damage. In particular, the Super Shotgun or Rocket Launcher are extremely effective.
The Cycler Codex in DOOM: The Dark Ages.
| Cost | Upgrades |
|---|---|
| 100x Gold | Shock: Shooting demons applies shock, causing increased damage. Killing shocked demons spreads it to nearby demons. |
| 200x Gold | Amplify: Increases damage against shocked demons. |
| 2x Rubies | Fulmination: Shock duration and spread increased. |
| 1x Wraithstone | Overload: Killing shocked demons builds charge, increasing damage. |
1.6. SUPER SHOTGUN – CHAPTER 5
The Super Shotgun is a player’s first choice as a ‘primary’ gun more often than not, and it’s easy to see why. Its damage output at point-blank range is unmatched, even without upgrades. If getting close enough to a demon proves difficult, try holding it down with the Shield Saw.
The Super Shotgun Codex in DOOM: The Dark Ages.
| Cost | Upgrades |
|---|---|
| 250x Gold | Speed Loader: Reduced cooldown between shots. |
| 3x Rubies | Shatter: Increased damage against armor. |
| 1x Wraithstone | Eat This!: Increased number of projectiles. |
1.7. CHAINSHOT – CHAPTER 6
The Chainshot is a parry-happy player’s best friend. It only takes one successful parry to trigger all of its upgrades, but they can still be triggered the old-fashioned way against demons that aren’t dumb enough to unleash Hell Surge attacks. The Chainshot is the only Reaver-class gun in DOOM: The Dark Ages (assuming future DLC doesn’t add another one), so it doesn’t share ammo with another gun.
The Chainshot Codex in DOOM: The Dark Ages.
| Cost | Upgrades |
|---|---|
| 150x Gold | Eldritch Blessing: Parrying instantly charges the next shot. |
| 3x Rubies | Gravitational Flux: Increased damage to armor at maximum charge. |
| 1x Wraithstone | Cosmic Breach: Maximum charge shots explode on contact. |
1.8. GRENADE LAUNCHER – CHAPTER 8
The Grenade Launcher’s upgrades make it clear that it is meant to be combined with the Shield Saw for maximum effectiveness. The additional cluster grenades quickly rack up damage, but Super Heavy demons cannot be held down with the Shield Saw. Most likely, it will be completely replaced by the Rocket Launcher two chapters later.
The Grenade Launcher Codex in DOOM: The Dark Ages.
| Cost | Upgrades |
|---|---|
| 250x Gold | Fragment: Every third direct hit drops cluster grenades for area damage. |
| 3x Rubies | Rupture: Direct hits drop cluster grenades against demons affected by the Shield Saw. |
| 1x Wraithstone | Cataclysm: Cluster grenade rate increased to every two direct hits. |
1.9. ROCKET LAUNCHER – CHAPTER 10
The Rocket Launcher is an incredible weapon, likely outclassed only by the Super Shotgun. Not only does it inflict massive damage with each direct hit, but its upgrades turn its one downside – splash damage – into a boon. The ability to self-heal after a parry is so easy to abuse. Just shoot the ground beneath you to heal and damage nearby demons.
The Rocket Launcher Codex in DOOM: The Dark Ages.
| Cost | Upgrades |
|---|---|
| 250x Gold | Cannibalism: Parrying temporarily turns self-damage into healing. |
| 3x Rubies | Cooked: Parrying increases damage of next shot. Blood Sacrifice: Increased splash damage and self-damage. |
| 1x Wraithstone | Bloodlust: Cannibalism lasts longer. |
1.10. RAVAGER – CHAPTER 12
The Ravager seems strange. Its upgrades suggest it’s meant for survivability, but it slows down the player’s movement speed while firing. When fully upgraded, the Ravager feeds health and ammo with every kill. Defending and parrying are still possible while firing, so the Ignition upgrade is more useful in Hell Surge-heavy encounters.
The Ravager Codex in DOOM: The Dark Ages.
| Cost | Upgrades |
|---|---|
| 250x Gold | Vampirism: At maximum fire rate, demons killed drop health pickups. |
| 3x Rubies | Ignition: Increased movement speed while firing, and decreased time to reach maximum fire rate. Slow Burn: Increased maximum fire rate, but increases time to reach it and decreases movement speed. |
| 1x Wraithstone | Supplier: Demons killed drop Ravager ammo. |
2. THE BFC TAKES BOTH HANDS
Replacing the series standard BFG, the Ballistic Force Crossbow is DOOM: The Dark Ages’ super-weapon. A single shot can annihilate entire groups of demons, though bosses are somewhat resistant. The only real downside is that the Shield Saw cannot be used while this is equipped. Also, demons cannot drop BFC ammunition. They must be found as rare pickups during the campaign.
The Ballistic Force Crossbow Codex in DOOM: The Dark Ages.
