Thorough players who completely clear each mission in Doom: The Dark Ages will eventually accumulate sufficient gold and rubies to purchase every available upgrade, ultimately transforming into the definitive version of the Doom Slayer. While long-term upgrade priorities naturally align with personal preferences for specific weapons and abilities, the game’s initial stages present numerous options despite limited upgrade resources. The following recommendations highlight upgrade paths that provide exceptional value while players adjust to the game’s rhythm and challenges.
Combat Shotgun: Incendiary, Smelt, and Tune Up
The Combat Shotgun upgrade path emerges as one of the earliest available options, making it a natural consideration for enhancement. Players contemplating postponing investment in this weapon to explore future armaments should reconsider, as this upgrade sequence significantly improves both survivability and damage output simultaneously.
After acquiring the Incendiary upgrade, which ignites enemies when struck by the Combat Shotgun, players can then purchase the Smelt enhancement, causing burning foes to drop additional armour. This combination substantially increases combat longevity.
However, the Tune Up upgrade represents the ultimate objective, transforming the Combat Shotgun into a tri-burst weapon. Though more powerful weapons become available later, these three-round bursts from the Combat Shotgun efficiently eliminate mid-tier demons encountered during the game’s initial hours.
Pulverizer: Runic Skull and Runic Strike
The Pulverizer becomes available relatively early in the campaign and proves to be an impressive weapon worth maintaining in the arsenal. Designed primarily for crowd control to eliminate groups of smaller enemies with its wide spread, the Pulverizer delivers surprisingly substantial damage to larger demons when fired at close range.
Given its impressive damage potential and versatility, securing upgrades for the Pulverizer should be prioritised. Two early available enhancements include Runic Skull and Runic Strike. The former increases the weapon’s Charge after eliminating enemies with either the Pulverizer or melee attacks, subsequently providing faster movement and increased rate of fire for more efficient enemy elimination. The latter enhancement ensures melee attacks build and maintain Charge, transforming players into an unstoppable force when wielding this formidable weapon.
Flail: Conditioning, Ignite, and Resonant
The Flail appears several hours into the gameplay experience, offering a powerful melee option worthy of regular use. Though it charges more slowly than the Power Gauntlet, it compensates with enhanced utility. Players should prioritise acquiring its first three upgrades: Conditioning, Ignite, and Resonant.
Conditioning reduces the charge time of the Flail, while Ignite scorches enemies and causes them to drop crucial armour, enhancing survivability. The Resonant upgrade stands out as particularly valuable, increasing damage dealt by Flail attacks against metal shields and armour—both of which impede direct flesh damage to demons. Additionally, each hit provides armour drops, further reinforcing the survival advantages of this upgrade path.
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