How to Ride the Dragon in DOOM: The Dark Ages – Controls, Unlocks, and Tips
Wondering when and how you get to ride a dragon in DOOM: The Dark Ages? Here’s everything you need to know, including controls, unlock chapters, and dodge tips.
In DOOM Eternal’s Ancient Gods Part Two, fans got their first taste of dragon-riding during a cinematic moment—but DOOM: The Dark Ages takes it to the next level by letting you actually control and ride a dragon in real-time.
Sure, dragon-riding isn’t a major chunk of the game, but when it does show up, it absolutely rules. And honestly? It strikes a great balance. Unlike the Atlan mech sections that some players felt dragged on, the dragon segments in The Dark Ages come in just the right doses.
Let’s break down when you get to ride the dragon and how the controls work. You can also check Weapon Tier List.
🐉 When Do You Unlock the Dragon?
Your first proper chance to ride the Slayer’s dragon shows up in Chapter 5. The beginning of this chapter doubles as a flying tutorial, introducing you to all the core mechanics.
After that, you’ll only see two more full dragon-riding segments in the game—specifically in Chapters 13 and 14. Outside of that, the dragon pops in for the occasional cutscene or scripted moment, but nothing fully playable.
🎮 How to Control the Dragon in DOOM: The Dark Ages
Controlling the dragon is super intuitive, and the game does a solid job walking you through it during Chapter 5. But if you skipped the tutorial or need a refresher, here’s a breakdown of all the dragon controls:
| Action | PlayStation Input | Xbox Input |
| Ascend | R1 | RB |
| Descend | L1 | LB |
| Fire Autocannon | R2 | RT |
| Assault Mode (Hold) | L2 | LT |
| Dodge | Circle + Direction | B + Direction |
| Boost | L3 | LS |
| Land / Finisher | R3 | RS |
🚀 Quick Combat Tips
- Assault Mode lets you dodge while flying, which becomes key during fights.
- Blue rings = dragon health refills. Fly through them whenever you’re taking hits.
- Brutal finishers can sometimes be triggered with R3/RS when you’re close enough to enemies.
- You can only land at specific landing zones—so don’t panic if it’s not working elsewhere.
💥 How to Dodge Hell Surge Blasts
Dodging enemy blasts becomes more important as the game progresses. If you time your dodges right, you’ll empower your Autocannon so it can punch through enemy shields.
Here’s the trick:
- Horizontal blasts → Dodge up or down
- Vertical blasts → Dodge left or right
- Multi-directional (3-way) blasts → Look for the one open path and dodge through it
It might take a few tries to get the timing down, but once you do, those dragon segments feel smooth and satisfying.
Dragon-riding in DOOM: The Dark Ages is one of those features that might not happen often, but when it does, it delivers. From the controls to the cinematic moments and intense mid-air combat, it’s a standout part of the campaign.
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
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