In the latest iteration of the Doom franchise, titled Doom: The Dark Ages, players are now empowered to efficiently manage their arsenal without the constant need to switch weapons. Gone are the frantic hotswap moments seen in Doom Eternal; with a well-planned ammo economy, you can stick with one or two main weapons for the entirety of your gameplay.
Based on my extensive playthroughs and exploration of each weapon’s capabilities, I’m here to share my insights on which options stand out in terms of effectiveness against the relentless demon hordes of Hell. Additionally, I’ll be discussing the four Shield Runes and melee weapons, assessing their strategic value in various combat scenarios.
It’s worth noting that items like Atlan weapons, turrets, and the dragon’s mounted gun are excluded from this ranking due to their limited usage within specific levels.
19 Impaler
Pales In Comparison
Precision weapons have always held a prominent place in the Doom series, with the Precision Bolt of the Heavy Cannon from Doom Eternal being particularly effective for critical hits and targeting weak points. Introducing itself as the heavy-hitting option in The Dark Ages, the Impaler serves as a rail spike weapon akin to the Shredder but delivers a heavy spike at enemies with potential for significant critical damage.
Regrettably, the Impaler doesn’t quite measure up. With a disappointingly short range, the spike often flops to the ground soon after launch, making headshots more of a challenge than an advantage. Even with the Lobotomy upgrade, which recharges melee capabilities, the weapon falls short. If the Impaler had greater range, its potential could be more promising, but as it stands, it’s a weapon that isn’t worth the time investment for effective gameplay.
18 Rocket Launcher
North Korean Rocket Program
The Rocket Launcher fulfills its name, launching slow-moving projectiles that explode on impact, albeit with the potential for self-damage. Its key feature is Cannibalism, allowing players to self-heal via splash damage after executing a Hell Surge. However, engaging enemies or bosses from a distance is not ideal due to the sluggish projectile speed.
Strangely, this installment encourages players to get up close to enemies, risking mutual destruction with Cannibalism. In previous Doom games, players enjoyed enhancements like homing missiles or remote detonation options for the rocket launcher, making the absence of such upgrades a notable downgrade. To add to its limitations, rocket-jumping is not feasible with this version.
17 Grenade Launcher
What A Mess
Ranking slightly higher than the Rocket Launcher, the Grenade Launcher benefits from better ammunition management and potential for clearing mobs. It fires bouncing projectiles that detonate upon contact with enemies, and its main advantage lies in its perk, Fragment, which allows grenades to break into Cluster Grenades for area-of-effect damage.
Despite these perks, its effectiveness is hampered by its limited range and less-than-generous ammo supply. Moreover, the cluster munitions do not consistently hit additional targets nearby, making it less reliable when battling larger enemy groups. Personally, I found the slow projectiles and self-damage aspects off-putting, as there are far more accurate and powerful alternatives available.
16 Ravager
Sandblasting Simulator
As a new addition in this release, the Ravager is a weapon that rapidly fires shards of demon skulls. Paired with the Pulverizer, it stands out as one of the most intense weapons in Doom’s roster. Imagine it as a dark medieval Gatling gun; its fire rate escalates the longer it remains in continuous use.
With upgrades, the Ravager does reward players with health drops via the Vampirism feature, which becomes applicable at maximum fire rate. Additionally, its Supplier perk increases ammo supply upon damaging foes, giving it sustainability during prolonged demon encounters. However, its performance hinges on maintaining momentum, limiting its efficacy against single targets.
15 Ground Fissure Rune
Split The Ground Beneath You
Shifting our focus momentarily from weapons to Shield Runes, we explore the Ground Fissure, which is activated in Chapter 9 by Commander Thira and the Slayer. This rune enables players to trigger unique effects on successful parries.
The Ground Fissure Rune releases a fissure that not only damages but also falters grounded enemies in its trajectory. Upon full upgrade, it can scorch foes and replenish a portion of your armor, enhancing your survivability in chaotic battles. While it provides a solid foundation, it ranks lower due to the potential of superior runes that follow and its exclusivity to ground targets, rendering it ineffective against flying enemies.
14 Power Gauntlet
The OI’ One-Two
The Power Gauntlet, your introductory melee weapon, delivers a swift three-hit combo to targets. While it’s a replacement for the chainsaw from earlier titles, it provides critical utility in restoring your ammunition.
Although it sits lower on this list, it’s not lacking in impact. With upgrades, it can deal Shock damage, frustrating enemies while granting an additional strike. I found myself quickly transitioning to the Flail and Dreadmace, leading to less frequent use of the Power Gauntlet; however, it remains an essential melee weapon for new players navigating the game.
13 Pulverizer
Mow Them Down
Initially showcased in trailers, the Pulverizer captures players’ attention due to its brutally effective design, able to crush demon skulls and scatter debris into hordes of foes. Although it suffers from a limited range, the Pulverizer excels in clearing weaker demons in its immediate horizontal path.
However, this weapon’s utility is largely confined to mob clearance, restricting its performance to a singular task.
12 Accelerator
Heatblast Is Back
The Accelerator serves as the game’s first plasma weapon, unleashing a continuous stream of plasma rounds designed to overload Energy Shields for catastrophic explosions. Although it lacks range and has notable recoil, its high ammo capacity compensates for these drawbacks. With suitable upgrades, the Accelerator can attain enhanced accuracy, especially when utilizing the returning Heatblast feature.
Heatblast allows you to detonate the Accelerator’s energy burst, but requires timing to master, as it only activates upon trigger release. Nonetheless, this weapon shines when utilized for impressive burst damage before switching to another weapon.
11 Dreadmace
Big Bonk
Among the melee arsenal, the Dreadmace stands out as the most powerful option. Its hefty appearance suggests devastating power, and it doesn’t disappoint in execution, delivering devastating blows that resonate throughout arenas, resulting in swift kills of non-boss demons.
While the Dreadmace recharges slowly given its immense damage potential, it also replenishes your health and ammo, making it a transformative weapon for any player.
10 Heaven Splitter Rune
Thunder Bringer
Upon activation, the Heaven Splitter Rune conjures a lightning bolt that stuns affected enemies before arcing electricity to nearby foes. Its straightforward functionality makes it both visually appealing and practical, serving more as a utility than a direct offensive tool.
When fully upgraded, the Rune delivers Shock damage in addition to its stunning capabilities, synergizing well with the Cycler. Overall, it’s a valuable enhancement worth honing throughout your gameplay adventure in The Dark Ages.
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