Tom Bowen is a senior editor who loves adventure games and RPGs. He's been playing video games for several decades now and writing about them professionally since 2020. Although he dabbles in news and features from time to time, he spends most of his time writing guides these days.
The DOOM franchise is well-known for its awe-inspiring arsenal of demon-destroying weapons, and DOOM: The Dark Ages continues with this rich tradition. When they first start playing the game, players will only have access to the Combat Shotgun, but as they progress, they'll be able to get their hands on a wide variety of exciting weapons.
There are 15 DOOM: The Dark Ages weapons in total, plus the Slayer's Shield Saw and four special runes that players can use with it. None of these items are missable, and all but one of them can be upgraded by visiting a Sentinel Shrine. Most upgrade paths are fairly linear, although some weapons allow players to choose between two different skills/abilities.
Incendiary (Tier 1) - Dealing enough damage to a demon with the Combat Shotgun applies Burn. Demons affected by burn drop armor pickups.
Smelt (Tier 2) - Demons affected by Burn applied by the Combat Shotgun drop more armor pickups.
Blast (Tier 2) - Burn applied by the Combat Shotgun causes demons to explode on death.
Tune Up (Tier 3) - The Combat Shotgun fires in rapid, three-round bursts.
Flare-Up (Tier 3) - The Combat Shotgun instantly applies Burn to fodder demons.
Eat This! (Tier 4) - The Combat hotgun fires an increased number of projectiles per shot.
Where the Find the Combat Shotgun in DOOM: The Dark Ages
The Combat Shotgun is the Slayer's default weapon and is available from the very beginning of the game.
Super Shotgun
All Super Shotgun Upgrades
Speed Loader (Tier 1) - The time between Super Shotgun shots is reduced.
Shatter (Tier 2) - The Super Shotgun deals increased damage to armor.
Eat This! (Tier 3) - The Super Shotgun fires an increased number of projectiles per shot.
Where the Find the Super Shotgun in DOOM: The Dark Ages
Players will unlock the Super Shotgun during Chapter 5 (The Holy City of Aratum).
Shredder
All Shredder Upgrades
Pincushion (Tier 1) - Dealing enough damage to a demon with the Shredder applies Pincushion. Hitting a demon with Shield Throw or parrying a Hell Surge attack detonates Pincushion, causing damage in a wide area.
Ricochet (Tier 1) - Shredder projectiles that hit a demon affected by Shield Saw strike one additional demon.
No Frills (Tier 2) - The Shredder's rate of fire is increased.
Barbed (Tier 3) - Detonated and ricocheted Shredder projectiles deal more damage. Hitting a demon with Shield Charge now also detonates Pincushion, dealing damage in a wide area.
Where the Find the Shredder in DOOM: The Dark Ages
The Shredder can be found near the end of Chapter 1 (Village of Khalim).
Impaler
All Impaler Upgrades
Stalwart (Tier 1) - Hitting a demon with Shield Throw, Shield Charge, or parrying a Hell Surge attack drops Impaler ammo.
Salvage (Tier 2) - Picking up Impaler ammo empowers your next shot.
Chronospike (Tier 2) - Holding R2/RT slows down time. Impaler projectiles fired during slow time deal more damage.
Lobotomy (Tier 3) - Headshots with the Impaler refill a portion of your next melee charge.
Where to Find the Impaler in DOOM: The Dark Ages
Players will gain access to the Impaler during the second half of Chapter 4 (Sentinel Barracks).
Accelerator
All Accelerator Upgrades
Feedback (Tier 1) - Shooting a demon with the Accelerator builds Charge. The Accelerator's damage is increased at maximum Charge.
Stabilizer (Tier 2) - The Accelerator's spread is reduced at maximum Charge.
Modulator (Tier 2) - The Accelerator's rate of fire is increased at maximum charge.
Heatblast (Tier 3) - Releasing the trigger at Maximum Charge fires a damaging Heatblast that consumes all remaining Charge. Demons killed by Heatblast drop Accelerator ammo.
Mega Cell (Tier 3) - The time it takes for the Accelerator to lose Charge is increased.
Overload (Tier 4) - Shooting a demon at maximum Charge will Supercharge the Accelerator. Supercharge further increases damage dealt by the Accelerator and its Charge-related effects.
Where to Find the Accelerator in DOOM: The Dark Ages
The Accelerator becomes available near the end of Chapter 2 (Hebeth).
Cycler
All Cycler Upgrades
Shock (Tier 1) - Dealing enough damage to a demon with the Cycler applies Shock. Shocked demons take increased damage from your attacks. Killing a Shocked demon with the Cycler arcs lightning to nearby demons.
Amplify (Tier 2) - The Cycler deals increased damage to Shocked demons.
Fulmination (Tier 3) - The duration of Shock applied by the Cycler is increased. Additionally, killing a Shocked demon with the Cycler generates more lightning arcs.
Overload (Tier 4) - Killing a Shocked demon with the Cycler builds Charge based on the size of the demon. The Cycler deals increased damage at maximum Charge.
Where to Find the Cycler in DOOM: The Dark Ages
Players will find the Cycler near the beginning of Chapter 5 (The Holy City of Aratum).
Pulverizer
All Pulverizer Upgrades
Runic Skull (Tier 1) - 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 are increased at maximum Charge.
Runic Strike (Tier 2) - Melee strikes now build and maintain Charge.
Flay (Tier 3) - The Pulverizer fires an increased number of projectiles per shot over a wider area.
Where to Find the Pulverizer in DOOM: The Dark Ages
The Pulverizer can be found early on in Chapter 4 (Sentinel Barracks).
Ravager
All Ravager Upgrades
Vampirism (Tier 1) - While at maximum fire rate, demons damaged by the Ravager drop health pickups.
Ignition (Tier 2) - The Ravager takes less time to reach maximum fire rate and the movement penalty while firing is removed.
Slow Burn (Tier 2) - The Ravager's maximum rate of fire is increased but it takes longer to achieve. The movement penalty while firing is more significant.
Supplier (Tier 3) - Demons damaged by the Ravager drop Skullcrusher ammo.
Where to Find the Ravager in DOOM: The Dark Ages
The Ravager becomes available near the start of Chapter 12 (Sentinel Command Station).
Chainshot
All Chainshot Upgrades
Eldritch Blessing (Tier 1) - Parrying a Hell Surge attack instantly charges your next shot.
Gravitational Flux (Tier 2) - The Chainshot deals more damage to armor at maximum Charge.
Cosmic Breach (Tier 3) - Chainshot projectiles fired at maximum Charge explode when hitting a demon.
Where to Find the Chainshot in DOOM: The Dark Ages
Players get the Chainshot during the latter stages of Chapter 6 (Siege - Part 1).
Grenade Launcher
All Grenade Launcher Upgrades
Fragment (Tier 1) - Every third direct hit with the Grenade Launcher drops Cluster Grenades that deal area damage.
Rupture (Tier 2) - Direct hits with the Grenade Launcher drop Cluster Grenades when hitting a demon affected by the Shield Saw.
Cataclysm (Tier 3) - Every second direct hit with the Grenade Launcher drops cluster bombs.
Where to Find the Grenade Launcher in DOOM: The Dark Ages
The Rocket Launcher can be found in Chapter 8 (Abyssal Forest).
Rocket Launcher
All Rocket Launcher Upgrades
Cannibalism (Tier 1) - Parrying a Hell Surge attack temporarily causes self-damage to heal you.
Cooked (Tier 2) - Parrying a Hell Suge projectile empowers your next shot.
Blood Sacrifice (Tier 2) - Rocket Launcher projectiles deal increased splash damage at the cost of more self-damage.
Where to Find the Rocket Launcher in DOOM: The Dark Ages
Players will get their hands on the Rocket Launcher during Chapter 10 (The Forsaken Plains).
Ballistic Force Crossbow
All Ballistic Force Crossbow Upgrades
Unlike all of the other weapons in DOOM: The Dark Ages, players will not be able to upgrade the Ballistic Force Crossbow. They won't be able to select it using the weapon wheel either, with the BFC instead having its very own hotkey (Triangle on PlayStation or Y on Xbox).
Where to Find the Ballistic Force Crossbow in DOOM: The Dark Ages
Players will find the Ballistic Force Crossbow near the end of Chapter 14 (Spire of Nerathul).
Shield Saw
All Shield Saw Upgrades
Retaliation (Tier 1) - Parrying Hell Surge attacks will trigger a larger, more powerful shockwave that causes nearby demons to Heavy Falter.
Power Surge (Tier 2) - Energy Shields that are hit by a Shield Throw will cause your Shield to bounce to nearby enemies.
Extended Edge (Tier 3) - Shield Throw has an extended reach against fodder demons.
Steadfast (Tier 4) - The Shield will recover faster from taking damage, and also recover faster after breaking.
Harvester (Tier 5) - Killing multiple fodder demons with Shield Throw will empower your next Shield Charge, allowing it to deal increased damage to the primary target.
Blade Master (Tier 6) - The stun duration of the Shield Saw is increased.
Where to Find the Shield Saw in DOOM: The Dark Ages
Players will get the Shield Saw at the start of Chapter 2 (Hebeth).
Power Gauntlet
All Power Gauntlet Upgrades
Finisher (Tier 1) - Increase the damage of the final hit of your Power Gauntlet combo.
Duelist (Tier 2) - Parrying Hell Surge attacks will speed up your melee charge regeneration.
Jolt (Tier 3) - The first hit of your Power Gauntlet combo applies Shock. Shocked demons take increased damage from your attacks.
Encore (Tier 4) - Your Power Gauntlet gains a 4th hit. This additional swing is only accessible when acquiring a melee charge from a parried attack.
Where to Find the Power Gauntlet in DOOM: The Dark Ages
Players will get the Power Gauntlet during the first half of Chapter 1 (Village of Khalim).
Flail
All Flail Upgrades
Conditioning (Tier 1) - Reduce the recovery time of a flail charge by five seconds.
Ignite (Tier 2) - Demons hit by the Flail are scorched and drop armor.
Resonant (Tier 3) - Flail strikes deal additional damage to metal shields and armor. These strikes will also generate armor shards.
Engulf (Tier 4) - Every Flail strike also scorches nearby demons and causes them to drop armor.
Where to Find the Flail in DOOM: The Dark Ages
The Flail can be found early on in Chapter 6 (Siege - Part 1).
Dreadmace
All Dreadmace Upgrades
Reaper (Tier 1) - Demons killed with the Dreadmace drop additional health.
Riposte (Tier 3) - Successfully parrying a Hell Surge attack when the Dreadmace is charged will grant you an additional Dreadmace attack. This bonus swing is available for a limited time. This effect cannot be triggered again for a short duration.
Where to Find the Dreadmace in DOOM: The Dark Ages
Players will get their hands on the Dreadmace during the opening stages of Chapter 15 (City of Ry'uul).
OpenCritic Reviews
