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Doom: The Dark Ages
Best Weapons Tier List
☆ Doom: The Dark Ages is live now!
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The best weapons in Doom: The Dark Ages are the Combat Shotgun, Shredder, Dreadmace, and the Ballistic Force Crossbow. See how well each weapons performs against each other here!
List of Contents
Best Weapon Tier List
Best Weapons
The best weapons in Doom: The Dark Ages are the Combat Shotgun, Shredder, Flail, and the Ballistic Force Crossbow. The first two guns offer most flexible setup for either short-range or long-range scenarios.
Tier List Criteria
| Ease of Use | Considers how easy it is to use the weapon against the horde. |
|---|---|
| Versatility | Considers how versatile how the weapon is in various scenarios. |
| Damage Output | Considers the weapon's latent damage output once all upgrades are acquired. |
| Ammo/Charge Budgeting | Considers how efficient ammo and charge capacities are in relation to frequency of encounters where they are utilized. |
This tier list was created based on first impressions with the. This is still subject to change as we learn more about the game and test out the full potential of each weapon.
Tier Ranking Explanations
S-Tier Weapons
Combat Shotgun
| Ease of Use | ★★★★★ | DMG Output | ★★★★★ | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Versatility | ★★★★☆ | Ammo Budgeting | ★★★★☆ | ||||||||||||||||
| Best Upgrades | |||||||||||||||||||
|
Incendiary Incendiary Dealing enough damage to a demon with the Combat Shotgun applies Burn. Demons affected by Burn drop armor pickups.
|
Smelt Smelt Demons affected by Burn applied by the Combat Shotgun drop more armor pickups.
|
Flare-Up Flare-Up The Combat Shotgun instantly applies Burn to fodder demons.
|
Eat This! Eat This! The Combat Shotgun fires an increased number of projectiles per shot.
|
||||||||||||||||
Upgrading the Combat Shotgun to have the Incendiary, Smelt, Flare-Up, and Eat This! upgrades increase general damage and improves survivability through additional armor pickups, especially in higher difficulty settings. The Burn effect it gives also makes it a formidable weapon against shielded and armored enemies.
Combat Shotgun Upgrades and How to Get
Shredder
| Ease of Use | ★★★★★ | DMG Output | ★★★★☆ | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Versatility | ★★★★☆ | Ammo Budgeting | ★★★★★ | ||||||||||||||||
| Best Upgrades | |||||||||||||||||||
|
Ricochet Ricochet Shredder projectiles that hit a demon affected by the Shield Saw strike one additional demon.
|
No Frills No Frills The Shredder's rate of fire is increased.
|
Barbed Barbed Detonated and ricocheted Shredder projectiles deal more damage. Hitting a demon with Shield Charge now also detonates Pincushion, dealing more damage in a wide area.
|
- | ||||||||||||||||
Out of all possible long-range weapons, the Shredder comes out on top due to how easy it is to use and the amount of ammo it utilizes. This makes the Shredder a formidable weapon against mobs even before they close the distance. The Ricochet upgrade even allows you to focus on one large enemy stunned with the Shield to deliver damage to nearby enemies.
Shredder Upgrades and How to Get
Shield Saw
| Ease of Use | ★★★★★ | DMG Output | ★★★★☆ | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Versatility | ★★★★★ | Ammo Budgeting | ★★★★☆ | ||||||||||||||||
| Best Rune Upgrades | |||||||||||||||||||
|
Induction Induction The stun duration of the Heaven Splitter is increased.
|
Megaburst Megaburst The area affected by the Heaven Splitter is increased.
|
Gigawatt Gigawatt Demons affected by the Heaven Splitter also gain the effect of Shock. Shocked Demons take increased damage from your attacks.
|
- | ||||||||||||||||
The Shield Saw is truly a unique weapon because of its long-ranged capabilities coupled with the fact that it is the only weapon that you can use to parry Hell Surge projectiles. Out of the four Runes you'll acquire throughout the campaign, we'll have to give it to the Heaven Splitter as the best rune to equip based on the advantages its upgrades offer.
Flail
| Ease of Use | ★★★★☆ | DMG Output | ★★★★★ | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Versatility | ★★★★★ | Ammo Budgeting | ★★★★☆ | ||||||||||||||||
| Best Upgrades | |||||||||||||||||||
|
Conditioning Conditioning Reduce the recovery time of a Flail charge by five seconds.
|
Ignite Ignite Demons hit by the Flail are scorched and drop armor.
|
Resonant Resonant Flail strikes deal additional damage to metal shields and armor. These strikes will also generate armor shards.
|
Engulf Engulf Every Flail strike also scorches nearby demons and causes them to drop armor.
|
||||||||||||||||
Even though the Flail is only almost at par with the Dreadmace in terms of damage output, the fact that it has three charges makes it a more efficient melee weapon. Its first upgrade Conditioning even lowers the charge time by 5 second, while its second upgrade makes it easier to break shielded and armored enemies making it a more cost-efficient weapon that the one-shot Dreadmace.
A-Tier Weapon
Super Shotgun
| Ease of Use | ★★★★☆ | DMG Output | ★★★★★ | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Versatility | ★★★★☆ | Ammo Budgeting | ★★★☆☆ | ||||||||||||||||
| Best Upgrades | |||||||||||||||||||
|
Speed Loader Speed Loader The time between Super Shotgun shots is reduced.
|
Shatter Shatter The Super Shotgun deals increased damage to armor.
|
Eat This! Eat This! The Super Shotgun fires an increased number of projectiles per shot.
|
- | ||||||||||||||||
While it is true that Super Shotgun is by far a stronger variant of the Combat Shotgun, its ammo budgeting and slower reload times makes it more of a liability in a close encounter. The Speed Loader upgrade makes the reload time quicker, but there's still the ammo budget. Though you can improve this by hunting down the Demonic Essence upgrade for Shotgun Shell Ammo, the Combat Shotgun just makes more sense overall.
Super Shotgun Upgrades and How to Get
Impaler
| Ease of Use | ★★★★☆ | DMG Output | ★★★★★ | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Versatility | ★★★☆☆ | Ammo Budgeting | ★★★★☆ | ||||||||||||||||
| Best Upgrades | |||||||||||||||||||
|
Stalwart Stalwart Hitting a demon with Shield Throw, Shield Charge, or parrying a Hell Surge attack drops Impaler ammo.
|
Chronospike Chronospike Holding the shoot button/key slows down time. Impaler projectiles fired during slow time deal more damage.
|
Lobotomy Lobotomy Headshots with the Impaler refill a portion of your next melee charge.
|
- | ||||||||||||||||
The Impaler is better than the Shredder if we're purely considering damage output. However with the slower rate of fire, the Impaler loses due to the nature of enemies getting more aggressive and more likely to engage in large groups on higher difficulties.
Impaler Upgrades and How to Get
Ballistic Force Crossbow
| Ease of Use | ★★★★☆ | DMG Output | ★★★★★ | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Versatility | ★★★☆☆ | Ammo Budgeting | ★★☆☆☆ |
Now for a hot take, it cannot be denied that the Ballistic Force Crossbow is the strongest weapon in the game, but that doesn't necessarily make it the best. The Crossbow's ammo isn't recovered from Melee strikes and kills the way the normal guns are, and they don't regenerate at the start of a new chapter. Making it more of an ace up your sleeve, rather than a weapon you'd always want to utilize.
Ballistic Force Crossbow Upgrades and How to Get
Dreadmace
| Ease of Use | ★★★★☆ | DMG Output | ★★★★★ | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Versatility | ★★★☆☆ | Ammo Budgeting | ★★☆☆☆ | ||||||||||||||||
| Best Upgrades | |||||||||||||||||||
|
Reaper Reaper Demons killed with the Dreadmace drop additional health.
|
Obliterator Obliterator Dreadmace strikes deal increased damage to nearby demons.
|
Riposte Riposte Successfully parrying a Hell Surge attack when the Dreadmace is charged will grant you an additional Dreadmace attack. This bonus is available for a limited time. This effect cannot be triggered again for a short duration.
|
- | ||||||||||||||||
And another hot take, the Dreadmace is not better than the Flail. There, we said it. The damage output of the Dreadmace completely outclasses the previous two melee weapons, but it has two major drawbacks - its single charge mechanic and the amount of time it takes to get it recharged. Its first upgrade Reaper may be helpful in getting more health pickups, but it doesn't completely make up for its drawbacks.
Dreadmace Upgrades and How to Get
B-Tier Weapons
Cycler
| Ease of Use | ★★★★☆ | DMG Output | ★★★☆☆ | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Versatility | ★★★☆☆ | Ammo Budgeting | ★★★★☆ | ||||||||||||||||
| Best Upgrades | |||||||||||||||||||
|
Shock Shock Dealing enough damage to a demon with Cycler applies Shock. Shocked demons take increased damage from your attacks. Killing a Shocked demon with the Cycler arcs lightning to nearby demons.
|
Amplify Amplify The Cycler deals increased damage to Shocked Demons.
|
Fulmination Fulmination The durating of Shock applied by the Cycler is increased. Additionally, killing a Shocked demon with the Cycler generates more lightning arcs.
|
Overload Overload Killing a Shocked demon with the Cycler builds Charge based on the size of the demon. The Cycler deals increased damage at maximum Charge.
|
||||||||||||||||
The Cycler is a much better weapon for overloading enemies with energy shields than the Accelerator. It outclasses the Accelerator in almost all aspects. Outside of energy shields, it may not be as destructive as the other guns, but with its added Shock upgrade, you can create more windows of opportunity by stunning enemies when doing crowd-control.
Cycler Upgrades and How to Get
Rocket Launcher
| Ease of Use | ★★★★☆ | DMG Output | ★★★★☆ | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Versatility | ★★★☆☆ | Ammo Budgeting | ★★★☆☆ | ||||||||||||||||
| Best Upgrades | |||||||||||||||||||
|
Cannibalism Cannibalism Parrying a Hell Surge attack temporarily causes self-damage to heal you.
|
Cooked Cooked Parrying a Hell Surge projectile empowers your next shot.
|
Blood Sacrifice Blood Sacrifice Rocket Launcher projectiles deal increased splash damage at the cost of more self-damage.
|
Bloodlust Bloodlust Cannibalism lasts significantly longer.
|
||||||||||||||||
Another decent long-range weapon, its wide area of effect makes it a good weapon, but only for long-range attacks because of the drawback of using it at close-range. Its Cannibalism upgrade is the perfect counter to this drawback, but it relies on the availability of a Hell Surge to parry.
Rocket Launcher Upgrades and How to Get
Pulverizer
| Ease of Use | ★★★★☆ | DMG Output | ★★★☆☆ | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Versatility | ★★☆☆☆ | Ammo Budgeting | ★★★☆☆ | ||||||||||||||||
| Best Upgrades | |||||||||||||||||||
|
Runic Skull Runic Skull Killing a demon with the Pulverizer or Melee builds Charge based on the size of the demon. Your movement speed and the Pulverizer's rate of fire is increased at maximum Charge.
|
Runic Strike Runic Strike Melee strikes now build and maintain Charge.
|
Flay Flay The Pulverizer fires an increased number of projectiles per shot over a wider area.
|
- | ||||||||||||||||
The Pulverizer is another mid-range weapon, good for dealing with fodder demons but not as efficient against higher classes. Still it gets the job done with its wide-area coverage and ample amount of ammo.
Pulverizer Upgrades and How to Get
Chainshot Reaver
| Ease of Use | ★★★☆☆ | DMG Output | ★★★★★ | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Versatility | ★★★☆☆ | Ammo Budgeting | ★★★★☆ | ||||||||||||||||
| Best Upgrades | |||||||||||||||||||
|
Eldritch Blessing Eldritch Blessing Parrying a Hell Surge attack instantly charges your next shot.
|
Gravitational Flux Gravitational Flux The Chainshot deals more damage to armor when fully charged.
|
Cosmic Breach Cosmic Breach Chainshot projectiles fired at maximum Charge explode when hitting a demon.
|
- | ||||||||||||||||
The Reaver may look cool as an alien demon gun, but when taken seriously, it's only good for one-shot damage in a singular direction. It has upgrades to inflict AoE damage upon impact, but we already have a much better Rocket Launcher for that purpose.
Reaver Chainshot Upgrades and How to Get
C-Tier Weapons
Accelerator
| Ease of Use | ★★★☆☆ | DMG Output | ★★★☆☆ | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Versatility | ★★☆☆☆ | Ammo Budgeting | ★★★★☆ | ||||||||||||||||
| Best Upgrades | |||||||||||||||||||
|
Feedback Feedback Shooting a demon with the Accelerator builds Charge. The Accelerator's damage is increased at maximum Charge.
|
Modulator Modulator The Accelerator's rate of fire is increased at maximum Charge.
|
Heatblast Heatblast Releasing at maximum Charge fires a damaging Heatblast that consumes all remaining Charge. Demons killed by Heatblast drop Accelerator ammo.
|
Overload Overload Shooting a demon at maximum Charge will Supercharge the Accelerator. Supercharge further increases damage dealt by the Accelerator and its Charge-related effects.
|
||||||||||||||||
A weaker version of the Cycler that we get early in the campaign. Until you get the Cycler, this is a decent weapon for overloading energy shields. It lacks the stunning capacity of the Cycler which is why it is placed this low on the tier list.
Accelerator Upgrades and How to Get
Ravager
| Ease of Use | ★★★★☆ | DMG Output | ★★★★☆ | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Versatility | ★★☆☆☆ | Ammo Budgeting | ★★★☆☆ | ||||||||||||||||
| Best Upgrades | |||||||||||||||||||
|
Vampirism Vampirism While at maximum fire rate, demons damaged by the Ravager drop health pickups.
|
Ignition Ignition The Ravager takes less time to reach maximum fire rate and the movement penalty while firing is removed.
|
Supplier Supplier Demons damaged by the Ravager drop Skullcrusher ammo.
|
- | ||||||||||||||||
The Ravager is the improved version of the Pulverizer. However, with its narrower coverage area than the Pulverizer, it makes it less reliable when doing crowd-control. Its Vampirism upgrade is a good trade-off because it increases your chances of survivability when doing crowd-control because of the health pickups you can get.
Ravager Upgrades and How to Get
Power Gauntlet
| Ease of Use | ★★★★☆ | DMG Output | ★★★☆☆ | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Versatility | ★★☆☆☆ | Ammo Budgeting | ★★★★☆ | ||||||||||||||||
| Best Upgrades | |||||||||||||||||||
|
Finisher Finisher Increase the damage of the final hit in your Power Gauntlet combo.
|
Duelist Duelist Parrying Hell Surge attacks will speed up your melee charge regeneration.
|
Jolt Jolt The first hit of your Power Gauntlet combo applies Shock. Shocked demons take increased damage from your attacks.
|
Encore Encore Your Power Gauntlet combo gains a 4th hit. This additional swing is only accessible when acquiring a melee charge from a parried attack.
|
||||||||||||||||
The very first melee weapon you get in the campaign.There isn't anything inherently bad with the Power Gaunltet, it just gets easily outclassed by the Flail and the Dreadmace. It does serve its purpose really well until you get the Flail, so this is by no means a bad weapon.
Gauntlet Upgrades and How to Get
Grenade Launcher
| Ease of Use | ★★★☆☆ | DMG Output | ★★★★☆ | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Versatility | ★★★☆☆ | Ammo Budgeting | ★★★★☆ | ||||||||||||||||
| Best Upgrades | |||||||||||||||||||
|
Fragment Fragment Every third direct hit with the Grenade Launcher drops Cluster Grenades that deal area damage.
|
Rupture Rupture Direct hits with the Grenade Launcher drop Cluster Grenades when hitting a demon affected by the Shield Saw.
|
Cataclysm Cataclysm Every second direct hit with the Grenade Launcher drops Cluster Grenades.
|
- | ||||||||||||||||
The Grenade Launcher is the first launcher type weapon you get, but by that point in the campaign, you'll be more used to your other guns and you'll get a much better Rocket Launcher only 2 chapters after getting this weapon making it not much useful only due to the circumstances of when you're getting this compared to the Rocket Launcher.
Grenade Launcher Upgrades and How to Get
Doom: The Dark Ages Related Guides
All Wiki Guides
| Doom: The Dark Ages Wiki Guides | |
|---|---|
 Latest News |
 Walkthrough |
 Enemies |
 Weapons |
 Skins |
 Tips and Tricks |
 Characters |
 Runes |
 Resources |
 Collectibles |
 Locations |
- |
All Recommended Guides
Mission-Related Puzzle Guides
 Secret Landing Spots |
 Wolf Statue Puzzles |
 Infinite Room Puzzle |
 Rotating Room Puzzle |
 Chapter 16 Ruby Puzzle |
 City of Ry'uul Block Puzzle |
 Hebeth Fire Door |
- |
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