DOOM: The Dark Ages – 6 Beginner Tips to Help You Rip and Tear Like a Pro
New to DOOM: The Dark Ages? Here are 6 essential tips to help you master difficulty settings, challenges, secrets, and combat during your first playthrough.
Even after decades of demon-slaying mayhem, the DOOM franchise remains super approachable for newcomers—and DOOM: The Dark Ages continues that trend with solid tutorials, accessibility features, and a natural learning curve.
That said, there are still a few things the game doesn’t tell you up front. These beginner tips will help you avoid missing secrets, track bonus objectives, and get the most out of your first run. Also know How to Ride the Dragon.
1. 🎚️ Make the Most of Difficulty Modifiers
Right when you start the game, you’ll pick from one of six difficulty settings—but here’s the cool part: you can tweak things even further in the Settings > Difficulty Modifiers menu.
You can:
- Widen the Parry Window
- Adjust how much damage you deal or take
- Tweak enemy speed and game pace
It’s super flexible. So if things ever feel too easy or way too intense, just jump back into the menu and fine-tune the experience however you want.
2. 🗺️ Always Check the Map Before You Leave an Area
You can replay chapters later, but if you’re aiming for a completionist run or planning a future Pandemonium/Ultra-Nightmare playthrough, it’s best to grab everything the first time through.
Watch for:
- Hidden collectibles that only show up when you’re near them
- The orange arrow icon, which marks points of no return
Double-check the map before moving on—you’ll save yourself a lot of backtracking.
3. 📌 Keep Track of Challenges
Starting in Chapter 4, almost every chapter includes two or three optional challenges. You can:
- Pin them to the HUD from the Challenges menu
- Or, if you prefer a clean screen, just jot them down at the start
Remember: some challenges won’t appear until you’ve unlocked the weapon or rune they’re tied to, so be sure to check the menu after getting new gear.
4. 🏆 Don’t Forget About Weapon Mastery
Fully upgrading a weapon unlocks a gold skin challenge—usually something like getting a specific number of kills or using a certain skill multiple times.
You can grind these out after finishing the game (takes about 1–2 hours), but it’s way more efficient to work on them during your main playthrough.
Stay mindful of:
- Your current weapon mastery goals
- Which abilities need to be triggered in specific ways to count
5. 💰 Follow the Trails of Gold
Gold isn’t just for upgrades—it also guides you to secret areas. If you see a trail of gold pickups, follow it. More often than not, it leads to something valuable.
Some quick secret-hunting tips:
- Shield charge through cracked walls
- Look for lower ledges to drop onto
- Check for levers, gears, or switches if a door’s locked
If it feels like something should be there, it probably is.
6. ⚔️ Combat Tips That’ll Keep You Alive
Even early on, The Dark Ages throws serious heat. Here’s how to stay in control when fights get messy:
- Parry green projectiles—it often kills the attacker and nearby demons
- Manage your ammo—don’t waste it on fodder enemies
- Switch Resource Values to High if you’re constantly running dry
- Prioritize large demons, especially in open arenas
- Use Shield Charge to escape chaos and reposition
- Understand your weapon upgrades—many trigger powerful secondary effects, but only when used a specific way
DOOM: The Dark Ages makes room for all kinds of players—whether you’re brand new to the series or a veteran looking to turn demons into dust. Keep these tips in mind, and your first playthrough will be a lot smoother (and a lot bloodier).
Related Article:
- DOOM: The Dark Ages – Full Chapter List & Challenge Guide (With Rewards)
- DOOM: The Dark Ages – All Difficulty Settings & How to Choose the Right One
- Weapon Tier List – The Best Guns Ranked
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