Best Combat Shotgun Upgrades in DOOM: The Dark Ages – Full Upgrade Tree Ranked
Not all Combat Shotgun upgrades in DOOM: The Dark Ages are equal. Here’s the best Combat Shotgun upgrade path ranked, from Incendiary to Eat This!, to help you dominate the battlefield.
The Combat Shotgun is your first weapon in DOOM: The Dark Ages, and while it starts out basic, the right upgrades can turn it into a powerhouse. With the return of the Burn mechanic and branching upgrade choices at Tiers 2 and 3, deciding how to evolve your shotgun can make a big difference in how efficiently you melt through hordes of demons.
Here’s a breakdown and ranking of every Combat Shotgun mod, from the essential early picks to the powerful final upgrade, based on their utility, synergy, and pure demon-shredding potential. Also read How Glory Kills Work.
🔥 1. Eat This! (Tier 4 – Final Upgrade)
Upgrade Cost: 1x Wraithstone
Effect: Fires more projectiles per shot.
This is the capstone upgrade—and it feels like one. Paired with Tune Up and Incendiary, Eat This! turns the Combat Shotgun into a rapid-fire, Burn-inflicting death dealer. Each burst hits like a truck and blankets enemies in fire. It’s the perfect final touch to make the Shotgun a true primary weapon.
Why it’s great:
- Makes every shot more destructive.
- Combines perfectly with earlier upgrades.
- Feels awesome to use—pure DOOM energy.
⚙️ 2. Tune Up (Tier 3, Option 1)
Upgrade Cost: 1x Ruby
Effect: Fires in rapid, three-round bursts.
This is the Combat Shotgun’s biggest power spike before the final upgrade. It increases your fire rate and overall damage output while still applying Burn, which ties beautifully into Incendiary and Blast.
Why it’s great:
- Huge DPS increase.
- Applies Burn more reliably.
- Synergizes with Eat This! for insane output.
💥 3. Blast (Tier 2, Option 2)
Upgrade Cost: 125 Gold
Effect: Burned enemies explode on death.
An absolute must-have for crowd control. When you’re fighting mobs of demons, this mod turns every Burned corpse into a mini-grenade. With Incendiary to apply Burn and Tune Up to spread it fast, Blast gives you the AOE edge you’ll need later in the game.
Why it’s great:
- Explosions help with mob clearing.
- Turns Burn into more than just a defensive mechanic.
- Boosts efficiency in chaotic combat zones.
🔥 4. Incendiary (Tier 1 – First Upgrade)
Upgrade Cost: 50 Gold
Effect: Deals enough damage to apply Burn; Burned enemies drop armor.
It’s your first upgrade—and a good one. Burn is key to unlocking the real potential of the Combat Shotgun, and this mod is your gateway. Plus, getting extra armor is always helpful when things get hectic.
Why it’s great:
- Unlocks the Burn status effect.
- Enables access to Tier 2 upgrades.
- Gives extra survivability through armor pickups.
🧪 5. Smelt (Tier 2, Option 1)
Upgrade Cost: 125 Gold
Effect: Burned enemies drop more armor.
While more armor sounds good on paper, Blast is simply more impactful. Smelt is the “safe” pick, but unless you’re constantly struggling with survivability, you’re better off picking the mod that gives Burn an offensive edge.
Why it falls short:
- Doesn’t add anything new mechanically.
- Skips out on explosion damage from Blast.
- Armor generation is already strong with Incendiary alone.
🚫 6. Flare Up (Tier 3, Option 2)
Upgrade Cost: 1x Ruby
Effect: Instantly applies Burn to fodder demons.
This one sounds useful but really isn’t. Fodder demons usually die in a single hit from the Combat Shotgun, so applying Burn just before they die does little good. It’s a flashy effect without meaningful gameplay value—especially compared to Tune Up.
Why it’s the weakest:
- Only affects low-tier enemies.
- Offers no boost to damage or crowd control.
- Doesn’t synergize well with late-game combat.
🧠 Best Upgrade Path Recommendation:
- Incendiary – Start here. Apply Burn, get armor.
- Blast – Turn Burn into explosive AOE.
- Tune Up – Add burst fire and boost damage.
- Eat This! – Complete the build with bigger blasts.
This upgrade route gives you the best combination of survivability, wave-clearing, and raw damage—perfect for players who want the Combat Shotgun to carry them through hell and back.
Related Article:
- All Chapter 2 Collectibles
- All Collectibles in Chapter 1
- Best PC Settings for DOOM: The Dark Ages
- Where to Find All 5 Wolf Statues in Chapter 16
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