As is the case in a lot of other modern video games, DOOM: The Dark Ages allows players to upgrade their weapons and equipment. The process is fairly straightforward, although finding the resources needed to do so can sometimes be a little tricky.
DOOM The Dark Ages Tips and Tricks
With these DOOM: The Dark Ages tips and tricks, beginners can ensure that they're getting the most out of their first playthrough.
In order to upgrade their weapons, DOOM: The Dark Ages players will need Gold, Rubies, and Wraithstones. The former can be found scattered throughout the world or earned by completing challenges, while the latter are usually picked up from statues.
How to Upgrade Equipment in DOOM: The Dark Ages
DOOM: The Dark Ages players can upgrade their equipment by visiting a Sentinel Shrine. These can be found at various points throughout the game, with the first coming in Chapter 2. Players will need Gold for the first few upgrades for each weapon, and Rubies and a Wraithstone for the last two. Certain weapon upgrades require players to choose between two abilities, although they'll be free to switch to the other one whenever they like without having to visit a Sentinel Shrine or spend more Gold. Players can also upgrade the Slayer's melee weapons and Shield Saw, as well as the four Runes that can be equipped on the latter.
Where to Find All Upgrade Materials in DOOM: The Dark Ages
As mentioned above, a considerable amount of Gold can be earned by completing Challenges, which become available from Chapter 4 onward. Players will also be able to earn four Rubies this way. The rest of the upgrade materials in DOOM: The Dark Ages will need to be found by exploring the game's world, with the table below showing how much of each resource can be found in each chapter.
|
Chapter |
Gold |
Rubies |
Wraithstones |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
— |
— |
— |
|
2 |
210 |
— |
— |
|
3 |
— |
— |
— |
|
4 |
212 |
2 |
— |
|
5 |
240 |
2 |
— |
|
6 |
513 |
4 |
— |
|
7 |
183 |
2 |
— |
|
8 |
250 |
2 |
— |
|
9 |
230 |
2 |
1 |
|
10 |
230 |
3 |
1 |
|
11 |
85 |
— |
— |
|
12 |
177 |
1 |
1 |
|
13 |
— |
— |
— |
|
14 |
359 |
3 |
2 |
|
15 |
182 |
2 |
1 |
|
16 |
188 |
1 |
1 |
|
17 |
194 |
2 |
1 |
|
18 |
153 |
1 |
— |
|
19 |
294 |
1 |
1 |
|
20 |
392 |
3 |
1 |
|
21 |
— |
— |
— |
|
22 |
335 |
3 |
1 |
Assuming they've found everything, players will still have 602 Gold and 5 Rubies left once all of their equipment has been fully upgraded. Whether this will be used to upgrade some DLC weapon further down the line remains to be seen.
Which Equipment Should You Upgrade First in DOOM: The Dark Ages?
Doom: The Dark Ages equipment upgrades are fairly linear, with players needing to unlock each weapon's upgrades in order. As such, the question players should be asking isn't "Which upgrades should I get first?", but rather, "Which weapons and equipment should I prioritize upgrading?". Even then, though, as the order in which players unlock new equipment is fixed, those who collect all of the upgrade materials available to them as they go will have a big chunk of the decision made for them. For everybody else, the following should be taken into account.
- The Shield Saw will be a constant in the player's loadout and has great synergy with several of the game's weapons, so it's a good idea to upgrade it first.
- In addition to being the default weapon, the Combat Shotgun is one of the best weapons in DOOM: The Dark Ages after it's been fully upgraded. The Ravager, Impaler, and Accelerator should also be prioritized once players have unlocked them.
- In situations where two weapons use the same type of ammo (Combat Shotgun / Super Shotgun, Shredder / Impaler, Accelerator / Cycler, Pulverizer / Ravager, and Grenade Launcher / Rocket Launcher), it's best to focus on one of them until a weapon of each type has been fully upgraded.
- Players won't be able to start working towards a weapon's mastery challenge until it's been fully upgraded, so if they want a gold skin for a particular gun, they should fully upgrade it as soon as possible.
- Unlike the four Shield Runes (which are acquired over the course of just five chapters), the Slayer's three melee weapons are spaced out throughout the story, arriving in chapters 1, 6, and 15. As such, players can upgrade them without having to worry about them becoming obsolete right away. The Flail (unlocked in Chapter 6) is probably the pick of the bunch, especially when paired with the Impaler.
- Ground Fissure and Heaven Splitter are arguably the two best Shield Runes, as they're able to falter and stun enemies while also dishing out decent damage. Holy Swarm is entirely damage-focused, while Auto Turret can generate Health pickups once players unlock its Health Extractor upgrade.
DOOM: The Dark Ages Equipment Upgrade Priority Order
- Shield Saw (Unlocked in Chapter 2)
- Combat Shotgun (Unlocked in Chapter 1)
- Flail (Unlocked in Chapter 6)
- Ground Fissure (Unlocked in Chapter 9)
- Ravager (Unlocked in Chapter 12)
DOOM: The Dark Ages
-
OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 86 /100 Critics Rec: 95%
- Released
- May 15, 2025
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Intense Violence
- Developer(s)
- id Software
- Publisher(s)
- Bethesda Softworks
WHERE TO PLAY
- Engine
- id Tech
- Genre(s)
- FPS, Action, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
