The ninth chapter of DOOM: The Dark Ages, titled “Ancestral Forge, ”invites players to engage with a formidable heart that requires charges to be restored. As is customary in the DOOM series, you’ll encounter a plethora of collectible items—some of which are easily overlooked—so stay vigilant during your exploration.
To enhance your gameplay experience, here is a detailed walkthrough for the Ancestral Forge chapter.
Secrets and Collectibles in Chapter 9: Ancestral Forge
In the Ancestral Forge chapter, make sure to uncover the following secrets, collectibles, and rewards:
- 9 Secrets
- 2 Codex Entries (Collectibles)
- 1 Toy (Collectible)
- 1 Weapon Skin (Collectible)
- 1 Demonic Essence Upgrade (Ammo)
- 1 Demonic Essence Upgrade (Health)
- 2 Rubies
- 1 Wraithstone
Your map serves as an invaluable resource for tracking down these collectibles and secrets. As you draw nearer to undiscovered items, they’ll be marked on your map, allowing you to monitor your progress—essential for achieving 100% completion in each chapter.
Secret #1
At the start of this level, you’ll encounter a locked gate on your left that requires a Secret Key. Although we’ll return to this location later, first, proceed to the Sentinel Shrine to acquire any necessary upgrades and address your primary objective: charging the ancestral heart.
From the Sentinel Shrine, head left and continue along this path. Refer to the map below, where you’ll soon discover a green Flesh Node suitable for a Shield Throw, providing access to some elevated wooden platforms.
On these platforms, interact with the lever to spawn a Life Sigil on the ground.
You may also spot a Gold Chest behind a gated area that you currently cannot access. For now, proceed under the bridge to which the Flesh Node is attached.
Secret #2
Shortly after, you’ll encounter another wooden bridge adorned with Gold Bars. Turn to your right to discover a small path leading down; this will lead you to the second secret location and the earlier mentioned Gold Chest!
After collecting this secret, continue towards the nearest enemy encounter a short distance away.
Upon engaging and defeating this encounter, follow your quest marker to interact with the terminal, thereby providing the first charge to the Ancestral Heart. From this ledge, keep to the left and identify a glowing wolf statue, marked on the map below, ready for a Shield Throw.
This wolf functions similarly to the three found in “The Siege Part 1, ”indicating that you’ll need to find a total of three. Destroying them will unlock access to areas previously unreachable.
Collectible #1
After dealing with the wolf statue, ascend the stairs to your left. You’ll encounter enemies, but focus on the wooden ramp to your left, just past the staircase.
Leap from the ramp and continue straight ahead to reach the map’s edge. Below, you can safely jump onto a platform containing some Gold and your first collectible, a Codex entry.
Once you secure the Codex entry, proceed towards the next enemy encounter marked on your map. After clearing this confrontation, be sure to interact with the terminal before moving on.
To the right of the terminal, you’ll see another locked gate requiring a Secret Key (depicted above).Make a mental note of this area; we’ll be returning shortly!
Demonic Essence Upgrade (Health)
Continue straight from the terminal and approach the final enemy encounter on your chart (though we won’t engage just yet).As you progress while keeping to the left, look for spectral wolf statues along with a blocked statue displaying a Wraithstone.
Examine the cliffs above to find another wolf statue, a target for your Shield Throw.
Traverse past the statues until you spot the Secret Key and a cluster of enemies ahead. The map below illustrates how to navigate from the Sentinel Shrine to your next objective:
Defeat the enemies, then veer left, ultimately reaching the enemy encounter marked on your map. Taking down the Hell Knight will reward you with the Demonic Essence Health Upgrade for this chapter.
Secret Key and Secret #3
After defeating the enemies, ensure you interact with the terminal located here. Next, grab the Secret Key found through an opening you can Shield Bash through on one side of the area.
Once you acquire the Secret Key, jump down from the cliff to proceed straight ahead. You’ll find a third locked gate here; utilize the Secret Key to unlock it and obtain our third secret location containing a Gold Chest.
Secret #4 and Collectible #2
Remember the locked gate encountered during the second enemy confrontation? The one located on a platform to the right of the terminal? We’re headed back there to utilize the Secret Key.
If you’re unsure of your route back from the Sentinel Shrine, refer to the map below!
After using the Secret Key, climb the wooden platforms ahead. Upon reaching the top, you’ll unlock our fourth secret while collecting a Ruby and a Collectible Toy Vagary.
Secret #5
Another locked gate awaits at the level’s beginning, right before the Sentinel Shrine. Retrace your footsteps to unlock it with the Secret Key.
In this area, you’ll discover the fifth secret location, alongside the last wolf statue to destroy, allowing you to collect the Wraithstone encountered earlier!
Secret #6
With all collectibles accounted for, follow your quest marker to the elevator that leads past the point of no return into the Ancestral Forge.
Inside the Forge, proceed straight ahead, and before entering a corridor on your right, find a purple shield sigil on the wall at the rear of the room.
Perform a Shield Bash through the wall, then activate the Shield Throw at the Hot Metal on your left. This action will open the gate to the statue that holds the Ruby, thereby unlocking the sixth secret location for this chapter.
Continue following your quest marker until you reach a substantial tunnel.
Secret #7
While traversing the long bridge within the Forge, consult your map and notice a Gold Chest on an upper ledge. Although it seems out of reach, there is a way to access it!
At the end of the bridge, jump to the ledge below where the Energy Node awaits for your Shield Throw (illustrated above).Ensure that you position yourself directly in front of it—the platform will then elevate.
Upon reaching the top, you can sprint-jump to the Gold Chest, unlocking the seventh secret for this chapter.
Secret #8
Return to the bridge from the platform and continue forward through the Forge, which will involve some climbing.
Consult the map for guidance; if you climb to the top of this section, you can leap down from my marker to gather some Gold Bars and unlock the eighth secret location.
Secret #9, Collectible #3, and Collectible #4
The last secret for this chapter can be accessed similarly to the previous; we’ll utilize an Energy Node to elevate our platform and navigate some climbing areas.
From the eighth secret location, leap to two platforms nearer to the end of the level, where you’ll spot another Energy Node.
Face the Energy Node and direct your gaze upward to your left. Perform a Shield Throw at the Hot Metal located there (illustrated below).This action will create a climbable platform.
Now, throw your shield at the Energy Node to ascend to the climbable platform. Look higher to find opportunities for another Shield Throw at either of the Flesh Nodes, granting access to platforms featuring a Life Sigil, a Codex entry, and a Weapon Skin.
Once you obtain the Weapon Skin, you will unlock the ninth and final secret location for this chapter! Just one key item remains.
Demonic Essence Upgrade (Ammo)
Conclude this chapter by defeating the Leader Mancubus, who will drop the Demonic Essence Ammo Upgrade.
For more insights on DOOM: The Dark Ages, check out our comprehensive tips, strategies, and guides. Stay tuned for our upcoming walkthrough of Chapter 10 – The Forsaken Plains.
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