DOOM: The Dark Ages: 8 Combat Tips

While Doom: The Dark Ages features a world that encourages exploration, stuffed with secrets, lined with collectibles, and littered with lore, we know why you are actually here. You want to rip and tear! While some people may assume that you play any Doom game by pointing your gun at baddies and pulling the trigger, the truth is that this is an FPS title that has a lot of moving parts.

Not only do you have a healthy assortment of weapons, that have unique properties that counter certain foes, some pretty dynamic upgrades for each of them, a parry, a shield throw, and multiple melee options. It's a lot. Also, the way encounters are structured, with dozens of undead swarming you from every angle, calls for a style of play that will be alien to all Doom newcomers - Doomcomers, we call them. Thankfully, this combat tips guide is just the primer seasoned vets and, unseasoned newbies, need.

Circle Every Combat Arena

While you may want to just jump into the fray and start crushing demons, you'll find that if you do so you'll be quickly surrounded. And hey, that can be fun, but if you are looking to control the chaos a little, you'll be better off running along the perimeter of each arena, taking out enemies as you go. If you stay on the move, you'll find that you can corral the tougher demons in the center of the screen, while picking off the more annoying foes along the way. In general, unless you are squaring up with a baddie, you always want to be moving in Doom: The Dark Ages

As you run your first circle around an area, look to take out Shield Soldiers, Imps, and other weaker foes who will pester you as you scrap with the Hell Knights and Mancubuses. This is also a great opportunity to clock where all the armor and first aid kits are piled up. Once you've cleared out the chaff, confront the more substantial threats.

How To Utilize The Parry Effectively

If you are reading this guide before you jump in, you may have concerns that they've turned Doom into Sekiro. Worry now, this is a very generous parry. Every parryable attack glows green. You'll need to hit the parry button before the parryable attack hits you. However, even on a relatively high-difficulty setting like Ultra Violence, the parry window is very generous. So, as long as you are relatively close, you can be a little early with your parry and hit it.

Use Shockwaves To Clear Out Fodder

In any given conflict, you're going to find that there are a handful of credible threats, and dozens of weaker foes scattered around. However, completely ignore those weaker enemies will lead to a death by papercut-esque end to the slayer. Thankfully, there are a number of ways to generate a shockwave that will clear out demons with a weaker constitution.

The two most obvious methods are parrying green energy attacks and performing a shield rush maneuver. These actions are cornerstones of your kit, and should be used frequently anyway, so double up the benefit and utilize them when near dense crowds to squeeze out extra utility.

Additionally, if you jump down from an elevated position (two stacked boxes is enough height), when you hit the ground you'll cause a shockwave that will destroy imps and zombies alike. Even better, if you jump out of a sprint you'll jump higher allowing you to generate that same shockwave from a lower level (one box height). So, make use of the levels in an arena, and get the drop on your enemy. Literally.

Use The Parry's Slowdown Effect To Hit Headshots

The parry is an integral aspect of The Dark Ages not just because of its ability to create shockwaves, deflect shots, and defend you from heavily damaging attacks, but also because it gives you access to a bullet-time-esque mode. While there are a number of additional elements that the parry adds - especially once you start upgrading your shield - this time-slowing effect may just be its most potent.

Every time you successfully parry there will be a loud ringing sound and time will be slowed. This will give you about half a second to aim a shot. Like any good FPS, The Dark Ages rewards you for hitting headshots, and this will provide you with a guaranteed headshot nearly every time - once you get the timing down, at least. Pair that with your powerful Impaler and you can get a massive benefit by using that momentary pause and placing a steak right between a demon's eyes!

Utilize Bottlenecks To Thin Out Hordes Of Enemies

Doom: The Dark Ages is a movement shooter, so you are expected to zip around the arena, vault across gaps, change levels, etc. However, if you are fighting a large group of demons, and you have the opportunity to funnel them into a narrow entrance, you should absolutely take that opportunity to do so.

You have a number of ways to deal AOE damage, ranging from skills for your accelerator gun, to your Shield Charge. So, a good bottleneck is particularly effective given the Doom Slayer's toolkit. Hell, your starting weapon is the Combat Shotgun, meaning that enemies flooding a narrow hallway will be unmissable.

Additionally, there are areas that demons will quite simply not enter. Shooting foes from outside a threshold they refuse to cross may be the very definition of cheesing a game, but hey, when it is 1v1000 you should take every advantage you can get.

Use Shield Soldiers As Walking Red Barrels

Typically, enemies carrying shields in games are nightmares. However, Doom: The Dark Ages mixes things up and actually makes them a welcome sight. Shield Soldiers come in two forms: the kind that carries a metal shield and the type that carries a plasma shield.

No matter which type you encounter, it is better to see them as a walking explosive device that you can use to your advantage. As the game tells you, you can overload plasma shields with a plasma weapon, and throwing your shield at a super-heated metal shield will cause them to explode.

Use The Shield Charge As A Traversal Tool

Unquestionably, your Shield Charge attacks a powerful weapon for dishing out damage. It packs a wallop and produces a shockwave effect capable of taking out multiple fodder demons. However, it is also an effective way to avoid sticky situations and reposition the Slayer. If you are getting swarmed, targeting a distant enemy will help you escape a ganking. Additionally, it can help you change levels, as you can shield charge at enemies that are a level above you.

However, the most powerful aspect of this attack is the invulnerability it imparts. While you are rushing forward you will be completely projectile invincible. Which means that a battlefield flooded with bullets can be traversed safely by using it.

Utilizing A Variety Of Attacks Is The Key To Victory In Doom: The Dark Ages

While you will have a number of guns at your disposal, the use of them should form just a portion of your offense. Every encounter is designed around utilizing your parry, your shield charge, your shield throw, your melee attacks, AND your ballistic armory. If you ever find yourself running low on ammo, that is a surefire sign that you are focusing too exclusively on gunplay.

Ultimately, guns exist to fill the space between your next big attack, which is typically going to be your shield charge and melee combo. Landing these attacks will also help to replenish your ammo. Using that ammo will then give your shield and gauntlet time to recharge. Landing powerful attacks will stun your opponents, leaving them open for a Gory Kill, which will replenish your health. Rinse and repeat. Add in some super jump pounces here and there to take out enemies with shockwaves, and you'll be golden.

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