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New to Doom The Dark Ages? Read These 7 Game-Changing Tips
Let me be real with you—I was a Doom virgin until The Dark Ages. I know, I know, that’s practically heresy in the gaming world, but life gets busy and sometimes you just miss the demon-slaying train. So when Doom: The Dark Ages dropped, I decided, “Screw it, I’m diving in.” And oh boy, did I get bodied in those first few hours. If you're like me and this is your first real experience with Doom (or you're coming back after a long break), let me save you from some early pain with these 7 beginner tips that would’ve made my first week way more bearable—and bloodier in the best way.
1. Parrying is EVERYTHING—Don't Skip It
I went into Doom thinking I could just blast my way through every situation. Turns out, that’s like trying to fight a dragon with a stick. Parrying is not just a nice-to-have mechanic—it’s the heartbeat of Doom: The Dark Ages. Projectiles? You can deflect them. Melee attacks? You can counter them. Enemies stunned? That’s your cue to unload everything.
What makes this super accessible for newbies is the parry timing window—it’s generous. Like, cartoonishly forgiving. You can even tweak the parry window in the settings if you're struggling or feeling too confident. Bonus tip: invest early in shield-related upgrades like Retaliation and Steadfast. The latter helps you bounce back faster when your shield breaks. It’s basically like respawning with your dignity intact.
2. Explore Every Inch of the Map (Even If It Feels Wrong)
Old-school FPS fans will feel right at home here—Doom’s maps are full of hidden nooks. It doesn't matter if you're 99% sure you're going the right way—go the wrong way anyway. There's gold to be found, mini-bosses guarding permanent stat boosts, and secrets tucked into cracks like candy in a couch cushion.
The upgrade shrine system in the game runs on currency, and a lot of it is locked behind exploration. So yeah, if you like being stronger, more durable, and generally more badass, take the scenic route.
3. Don’t Insta-Wipe the Trash Mobs
Once you start feeling yourself in combat, you’ll want to clear the battlefield of all the weaker enemies ASAP. But here’s the thing—those cannon fodder baddies? They’re walking resupply stations. Melee them with certain upgrades and they drop health, armor, and ammo like vending machines.
Keep a few alive in bigger fights. When you're running low, punch one in the face and get what you need. Then back to obliterating the big bads.
4. Learn to Love Stunning—It's Free Real Estate
You’ll unlock the ability to yeet your shield at enemies and it’s glorious. It not only looks cool, but it STUNS them—leaving them wide open for a close-range gut check from your super shotgun.
Later on, you get rune upgrades like Heavensplitter and Gigawatt that make stunning multiple enemies an actual strategy. Once you’ve got that combo? You’re basically electrocuting demons into a timeout while you clean house.
5. Ammo Is Plentiful—So Stop Being Stingy
I was treating every bullet like it was made of pure gold at first. I hoarded ammo like a survivalist in an apocalypse. But Doom wants you to be reckless. Melee attacks refill your reserves fast, and weak enemies are basically ammo crates with legs.
Use your super shotgun. Then use it again. Then punch a guy and do it some more. You’ll be surprised how rarely you run dry if you just keep the violence going.
6. Know Your Enemy's Favorite Range
Not every demon wants to fight you the same way. Some are long-range nuisances, some are in-your-face nightmares. But ironically, some of the scariest-looking enemies are easier to handle up close.
Take the Cyber Demon, for example. Dude’s terrifying at first glance. But once you learn his melee patterns? He’s easier to parry and punish when you’re close enough to smell his demonic aftershave. Don’t be afraid to get in their grill—sometimes that's the safest place to be.
7. If You're Dying a Lot, You're Not Aggro Enough
Doom isn’t about hiding behind cover. It’s about going full berserker and ripping your way through hell. Most of the time, dying means you're being too cautious. Staying back means fewer parry opportunities, fewer finishers, and more time getting pelted by ranged attacks.
Push forward. Stay in the pocket. Use enemies as health and ammo stations. Embrace the chaos. Doom rewards aggression like a hype man at a metal concert. If you’re dying too much, chances are you’re not being violent enough.
I went from "total noob getting folded by demons" to "parry god shotgun king" in a matter of hours, just by leaning into what Doom: The Dark Ages wants you to do: explore, push forward, and fight like hell. If you’re jumping in for the first time, don’t sweat the learning curve. It’s bloody, it’s fast, and it’s stupid fun when you stop hesitating.
Stay bloodthirsty, keep parrying, and crush your first run—then come back for more FPS goodness at Land of Geek Magazine!
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