All Weapons in Doom: The Dark Ages, Ranked

DOOM: The Dark Ages brings a brutal, medieval twist to the DOOM franchise, merging dark fantasy with intense gunplay. The sequel features a substantial arsenal of weapons, blending classic DOOM firepower with medieval and fantastical elements. These weapons are designed to fit the medieval theme of the setting, combining traditional DOOM mechanics with a darker, ancient style. Knowing which weapons to use makes all the difference in surviving, whether you’re new to the game or a skilled Slayer. Below, we rank all the weapons in DOOM: The Dark Ages from best based on effectiveness, versatility, and player feedback.

14. Accelerator

The Accelerator is a plasma weapon that gets stronger the longer you fire it, ending in a powerful heat blast. It’s excellent for steady damage and breaking through tough enemy defences. The weapon is similar to Cycler but inferior in terms of usage. It is pretty decent early on in the game and can be effective with upgrades.

13. Cycler

The Cycler is the best plasma weapon in Doom: The Dark Ages. Fires two crystal-plasma spikes simultaneously, temporarily stops or slows down enemies, and disrupts shields. Additionally, the electric spikes can spread damage and shock nearby enemies. This makes it an excellent option for light crowd control, disrupting demon formations, and setting up other attacks. The Cycler is versatile, easy to use, and effective against various enemy types.

12. Chainshot

A chargeable weapon that deals high damage on impact. The Chainshot fires a heavy, chained core that slams into targets with immense force. Effective against heavily armored targets or bosses, but difficult to use against fast-moving enemies. However, it can be charged up for more power and gets an additional boost from well-timed parries. The Chainshot is situational and is not a primary choice for most players.

11. Combat Shotgun

Solid and reliable weapon that gets the job done early on in the game. The Combat Shotgun is an excellent starter weapon that remains relevant through upgrades. It is easy to use and effective at close range. However, more powerful options like the Super Shotgun will outshine it later in the game. Nevertheless, it’s a solid fallback weapon early in the campaign.

As one of the weapons in Doom: The Dark Ages, Combat Shotgun upgrades enhance its utility significantly. The three-round burst is perfect for quickly tearing through lighter armoured demons. In addition, the burning ammo effects are perfect for stripping armour off enemies, turning them into valuable sources of resources

10. Grenade Launcher

The good old Grenade Launcher does precisely what it says on the tin. The launcher lobs explosive grenades for splash damage and area denial. A solid utility weapon for flushing out enemies from cover, hitting demons around corners, or softening up a group before you charge in. While it is not the flashiest, it is always reliable.

9. Rocket Launcher

The Rocket Launcher is an iconic weapon in any DOOM title, and it’s back in Doom: The Dark Ages. Great for crowd control and area denial, it’s convenient when enemies bunch up. Delivers heavy explosive damage for groups. The Rocket Launcher’s explosive power is perfect for clearing out tightly packed groups of enemies. It also delivers a massive punch to a single, high-health target.

8. Shredder

Offers creative combat opportunities with its piercing projectiles and timed detonations. Shredder fires bolts that tear through enemies, then explode. Effective against lines of enemies and layered demon formations. However, Shredder requires precise timing and placement, making it more skill-based than other weapons in Doom: The Dark Ages.

7. Impaler

The Impaler shoots rune-marked rail spikes at high speed, making it great for picking off enemies from a distance. The weapon rewards precision and is ideal for players who like eliminating threats before getting too close. The weapon’s fire rate is slow, but its damage per shot is unmatched at long range.

6. Ravager

Highly effective for both crowd control and single-target damage. Fires demonic skulls in a tight spread, and its fire rate increases over time. It lets you recover health and ammo from enemies, making it a strategic choice in longer skirmishes when fully charged. Though it takes some finesse to master, it offers substantial payoff once you get the hang of it.

5. Pulverizer

This is the best weapon that crushes demon skulls into ammo, launching bone fragments in a brutal, widespread manner. The pulverizer is an excellent choice for crowd control as it clears groups of weak demons and gives you room to breathe. Deals rapid area damage and is effective against groups of weaker enemies, as well as larger demons. A stylish and unique weapon that’s effective in mid-range engagements. However, its inconsistent spread and reliance on available skulls make it less reliable in all-out warfare.

3. Ballistic Force Crossbow

The Ballistic Force Crossbow is a top-tier weapon that can instantly clear waves of enemies with a single shot. The BFC fires massive Eldritch Lances that clear the screen with huge explosions. However, it has limited ammo capacity, meaning you’ll save it for those truly desperate moments.

2. Shield Saw

The weapon’s ability to block, parry, deflect, shred, and stun makes it indispensable for offence and defence. It’s the most versatile tool in your arsenal and central to the new combat loop. Shield Saw is a versatile tool that fundamentally alters how the Slayer engages with demon threats. It provides crucial defensive capabilities as a shield, allowing the Slayer to block incoming attacks. It also allows the player to parry projectiles for devastating counter-attacks, and even deflect enemy fire back at its source. All these abilities add a layer of tactical depth not seen in previous DOOM titles.

1. The Super Shotgun

The Super Shotgun once again claims its place at the top of all weapons in Doom: The Dark Ages in our list. It is the best weapon in the game, offering massive close-range damage, reliability, and efficiency in almost any encounter. Super Shotguns excel in both crowd control and single-target elimination. It’s fast, brutal, and delivers instant crowd control in tight combat arenas. The Super Shotgun in The Dark Ages lacks the Meat Hook from Eternal. However, its raw, immediate damage at close range remains unmatched.