Doom: The Dark Ages – Beginner’s Step-by-Step Guide (Tips, Tricks & Mistakes to Avoid)

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Released on May 15, 2025, Doom: The Dark Ages brings the franchise into a dark fantasy world of dragons, mechs, and brutal combat. Whether you’re new to Doom or to first-person shooters in general, this guide will walk you through the fundamentals and help you avoid early-game mistakes. Here’s everything you need to know to survive and thrive in this brutal new era of demon-slaying.

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Step 1: Adjust Your Settings Before Starting

Before you dive into the chaos, tweak the settings to suit your playstyle:

• Enable Auto Sprint: This makes your character always sprint by default. It’s essential for avoiding enemy projectiles and makes exploration smoother.
• Threat Detector (Set to “Parryable Only”): This setting alerts you to parryable attacks from off-screen enemies. Extremely helpful when dealing with melee demons and ranged enemies with green projectiles.
• Difficulty Tuning: Adjust the parry window timing if you’re struggling. A wider parry window makes learning the shield mechanic more forgiving.

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Step 2: Understand the Importance of the Shield

Your shield isn’t just for defense—it’s one of your most versatile tools:

• Parry Everything: Master the parry mechanic early. Time your block against incoming attacks to trigger powerful effects.
• Throw the Shield: Toss it at enemies to stun them. It can slice through weak enemies or lodge into stronger ones, temporarily disabling their attacks.
• Call It Back: Press the parry button again after throwing it to instantly return the shield to your hand, allowing you to defend without downtime.
• Upgrade It Early: Invest your first gold and rubies in shield upgrades and melee improvements—they stay useful throughout the game.

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Step 3: Explore and Find Secrets

Exploration is highly rewarding in The Dark Ages. Here’s how to maximize your progress:

• Check the Map Frequently: Look for “?” icons and unexplored areas.
• Search Before Door Transitions: Once you pass a door symbol (especially the one with an arrow), you can’t return. Always clear the area before advancing.
• Secrets Give Resources: Secrets contain gold, rubies, and rare Wraith Stones used for high-level upgrades.
• Don’t Worry If It’s Inaccessible Yet: Some secrets can only be accessed later after unlocking certain areas or mechanics.

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Step 4: Learn Enemy Weaknesses

Each enemy type has specific vulnerabilities:

• Shielded Soldiers: Use the Plasma Accelerator or Cycler to destroy their shields instantly.
• Armored Enemies: Use the Chain Shot—it deals extra damage to armor.
• Read Weapon Descriptions: Weapon upgrades often include specific bonuses against certain enemy types.

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Step 5: Optimize Your Weapon Progression

There are 12 weapons to unlock, but here’s how to make the most of your resources:

• Prioritize Shield and Melee Early: These are always available and reliable.
• Don’t Max Out Everything at Once: Save upgrades for weapons you plan to use consistently.
• Test Weapon Upgrades: Each has A/B variants you can swap freely from the weapon menu.
• Recommended Early Picks:
  • Shotgun Smelt Upgrade: Drops armor when enemies are burning—great for staying alive.
  • Shredder Pin Cushion: Increases damage to enemies by exploding projectiles embedded in them.

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Step 6: Complete Chapter Missions and Masteries

Each chapter includes specific side goals:

• Check Mission Goals at Start: Open the menu and go to the “checkmark” tab. Completing these can reward skins, gold, and other resources.
• Mastery Challenges: Fully upgraded weapons unlock mastery tasks. These often involve using a weapon’s effect a set number of times and reward a golden skin.
• Replay Chapters for 100% Completion: You can return to earlier chapters with your full arsenal to finish missed secrets or complete challenges.

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Step 7: Customize Your Slayer and Dragon

Cosmetics are available to personalize your experience:

• Slayer Skins: Unlocked by completing challenges or through deluxe editions.
• Dragon & Mech Skins: Switch between the Atland Dragon and Mecha Dragon in the main menu.
• Extras Tab: Check here for progress and unlockables related to cosmetics.

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Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Ignoring Parry Mechanics: It’s essential for survival. Practice early and often.
• Skipping Secrets: Skipping exploration means fewer upgrades and slower progression.
• Upgrading Every Weapon Immediately: Focus on what you use most—resources are limited unless you plan to 100% the game.
• Missing Chapter Missions: They offer valuable rewards and are often simple to complete.
• Crossing Door Thresholds Without Checking the Map: You’ll lose access to areas forever once you pass certain points.

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Bonus Tip: Yes, You Still Can’t Pet the Dragon

A lighthearted note—no, you can’t pet your massive fire-breathing dragon companion. But it’s still your loyal ride through some of the game’s most explosive sequences.

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By following this guide, you’ll gain a solid understanding of Doom: The Dark Ages and avoid the most common pitfalls faced by new players. Embrace the chaos, master your tools, and enjoy one of the most intense first-person shooter experiences of 2025.

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LEARN MORE ABOUT THE GAME

• Doom: The Dark Ages – A New Chapter in the Legendary Franchise
  
• How To Change Skins in Doom: The Dark Ages – A Clear Guide for Players
  
• Which Shield Runes Is Best in DOOM: The Dark Ages? — A Complete Guide and Tips
  
• A Slayer’s Guide to DOOM: The Dark Ages Shield Saw
  
• Doom: The Dark Ages Update 1.003 Patch Notes – What You Need to Know

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