Five Beginner’s Tips for DOOM: The Dark Ages

The ground rumbles as the DOOM Slayer approaches the front lines! Crash into hordes of demons and strike fear into Hell itself in DOOM: The Dark Ages, the prequel to DOOM (2016) and DOOM Eternal, and id Software’s most ambitious game yet. 

All players are invited to unleash their inner Slayer and embark on an epic blockbuster experience, so whether you’re a returning DOOM vet looking for pointers or a newcomer excited to learn the ropes, here are a few tips to have you hit the ground running in DOOM: The Dark Ages. 

• Pro Tip: In addition to multiple difficulty settings to choose from, DOOM: The Dark Ages’ custom gameplay sliders let players modify their experience as they choose. Learn more in our article here. 

THE SHIELD DOESN’T JUST BLOCK 

One of the biggest additions to the Slayer’s arsenal is the blade-studded Shield Saw. Just as capable in offense as defense, the Shield Saw effectively thwarts threats not just blocking, but even reflecting back enemy attacks with a well-timed parry. 

The Slayer can also perform the high speed, high impact Shield Charge, serving as both an evasive maneuver and bashing ram. When thrown, the Shield Saw lodges its spinning blades into demons, stunning them or mowing down lesser foes outright. Experiment with the Shield’s abilities and unlock its full battlefield potential! 

IT PAYS TO GO OFF THE BEATEN PATH 

DOOM: The Dark Ages’ large and detailed maps offer tons of opportunities to uncover secrets. Not only do these secret areas often contain collectibles like Codex Entries or even unlockable Weapon skin cosmetics, but uncovering these areas also earns in-game resources for upgrades like Gold Chests, Rubies and Wraithstones. 

FORGE A DEADLIER SLAYER AT SHRINES 

Spend your amassed treasures at Sentinel Shrines to improve your guns, melee attacks and even your Shield Saw. You can revisit Sentinel Shrines multiple times as you explore the map, unlocking new abilities like incendiary properties for the Combat Shotgun, landing more strikes with your Power Gauntlet, enhanced Shield Saw durability and so much more. Check your Automap frequently to locate Shrines, as well as areas that might be hiding a secret or two... 

EXPLOIT THE ENEMY’S WEAKNESS 

Hell's armies cover a varied composition of menacing demons, from ghastly Revenants to the imposing Cyberdemon. No matter the odds, however, simply having the right response can make short work of demons standing in the Slayer’s path. For example, metal shields and armor utilized by enemies can be superheated with attacks - once the armor flashes at peak molten temperature, throw your Shield Saw to shatter it for explosive results! 

BREAK THEIR LEADERS & BECOME STRONGER 

Some mobs are led by demons in a class well above their fellow ranks. These empowered Leader Demons may be tougher but striking them down also lets the Slayer channel their powers and permanently boost his maximum Health, Armor or ammunition. You'll need to pull out all the stops bringing these guys down, but those extra stats will come in handy as you continue solidifying the legend of the DOOM Slayer. 

DOOM: The Dark Ages is available May 15 for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, Steam, and PlayStation 5 – play it day one with Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass. Play it on both Series X|S and Xbox PC at no additional cost with Xbox Play Anywhere. For more information, visit DOOM.com.