Doom Eternal: Beginner's Guide

Getting Started in Doom Eternal

The opening hours teach you the game's vocabulary. Your first priority is the three resource sources, which according to Wikipedia are: Glory Kills on staggered demons for health, the flamethrower (Flame Belch) for armor, and the chainsaw for ammo. Ask yourself which resource you are short of and use the matching tool.

The campaign has 13 missions in this order: Hell on Earth, Exultia, Cultist Base, Doom Hunter Base, Super Gore Nest, ARC Complex, Mars Core, Sentinel Prime, Taras Nabad, Nekravol, Nekravol Part II, Urdak and Final Sin. The Marauder is introduced in ARC Complex (mission 6 of 13), so you will meet it well before the end of the game.

Reading Each Room

Before a fight starts, work out which demons threaten you most and which have weak points you can shoot. This is a judgement call that depends on your weapons and the enemy mix; there is no single fixed priority list. Do not leave a dangerous demon alive while you clear weaker ones if it is limiting where you can stand.

Weapons

The Super Shotgun carries a grappling hook (Meat Hook) that pulls you towards enemies, which is useful for closing distance. Other weapons include the Ballista, Heavy Cannon, Plasma Rifle and BFG. Switch weapons as the situation demands rather than relying on one gun, and remember that BFG and Crucible Blade charges come only from combat arenas.

Essential Tips

1. Move towards the fight. The dash is omnidirectional, so you can use it to close distance as well as to escape.
2. Use the Flame Belch often. It is your armor source, so using it on a big target early keeps you protected.
3. Marauders: A common approach described in guides is to watch for the Marauder's eyes flashing green, which is the opening to attack, and to clear other enemies first so he is your only target. Guides suggest staying at a distance because he can knock you back at close range.
4. Sentinel Crystals, Runes and Praetor Suit points raise your maximum health, armor and ammunition (per Wikipedia).
5. Master Levels are remixes of campaign missions with a different set of enemies; tackle them once you are comfortable with the base game.
6. The Crucible Blade is a limited-charge weapon whose charges come only from combat arenas, so keep it for emergencies.
7. Slayer Gates are the hardest optional combat challenges in the game; attempt them once you are comfortable.

Boss: The Doom Hunter

The Doom Hunter is the boss of the Doom Hunter Base mission (mission 4), and the fight is followed by a second encounter with two Doom Hunters at once. Come in with full ammo, armor and health, keep moving, and keep cycling the chainsaw, Flame Belch and Glory Kills during the fight. (The Hell Priest Deag Nilox, by contrast, is killed in the opening mission, Hell on Earth, and the Super Shotgun is not obtained until the Cultist Base mission.)

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is Doom Eternal harder than Doom 2016?
A: Many players find Eternal more demanding because it expects you to manage ammo, armor and health through your actions rather than just picking up items.

Q: Should I play Doom 2016 first?
A: It is not required for the mechanics; Eternal teaches its own systems. Playing 2016 first gives some story context.

Q: What is the hardest challenge in Doom Eternal?
A: Ultra-Nightmare, where the Slayer dies permanently when lives run out, is the hardest difficulty setting; Slayer Gates are the hardest optional combat challenges.

Q: Is there DLC?
A: Yes. The Ancient Gods Part One (20 October 2020) and Part Two (18 March 2021). Part One could be played as a standalone game according to reports cited on Wikipedia.

Q: Which platforms is it on?
A: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Stadia, Nintendo Switch (2020) and PS5 and Xbox Series X|S (29 June 2021).