id Software's acclaimed sequel, DOOM Eternal, is available for download on Microsoft's Game Pass service and coming to the Nintendo Switch, allowing even more players to experience ripping and tearing into demons as an unstoppable force of nature. The developers at id stepped up their game when it comes to combat, as Eternal is much more challenging than its 2016 predecessor.
With more enemies and fewer ammo pickups on each map, players must learn quickly about the ins and outs of DOOM Eternal's gameplay loop. Here are some of the tips that new DOOM players will need to not only survive but to become the best Slayer they can possibly be.
Know the arena layout
With a greater emphasis on movement and platforming, DOOM Eternal demands that the player familiarize themselves with the environment—all while frantically dodging enemy fire throughout. No matter how chaotic things get during the firefight, the player should really explore and pay attention to their surroundings to know what items to pick up, what secrets are available, and what structures can be jumped on to avoid enemy fire. Often, the player will find item pickups like the Quad damage powerup to help them in battle.
Know every weapon
Every weapon is capable of inflicting damage on a demon, but some weapons are significantly more effective than others and become more complex with weapon mods. It's imperative to know each weapon's function (shotgun at close range, ballista at long range, etc.) and the mods that add another firing mode for each one (shotgun has a grenade launcher, lock-on for the rocket launcher). Lastly, the BFG 9000 is a really good “get out of jail free” card when the player is cornered and under heavy fire.
Utilize weapon combos
As an addendum to knowing what every weapon does, it's also important to be able to switch weapons on the fly as quickly as possible. But a pro strategy that many veteran players utilize is not simply switching between weapons but using a combination of weapon effects in shorts amounts of time to kill an enemy more efficiently. Weapon combos such as using lock-on rockets and Super-shotgunning the Arch-vile are life-savers in hectic conflicts. Stunning the Marauder with the ballista and Super Shotgun leaves him open to rockets and grenades so that he'll be unable to pull up his shield.
Know every enemy
From lowly Cacodemons and Imps to the brutal Marauders and Tyrants, every enemy performs their own set of attacks and techniques to get an edge on the player. However, every enemy has at least one glaring weakness that must be exploited to survive (destruction of the Arachnotron's cannons, the Marauder's brief window of attack), and every weakness is best exploited with a particular weapon (plasma rifle destroys energy shields, sticky grenade blows up mancubus cannons).
Use all your tools
Alongside your regular weapons are other tools and sub-weapons that must be utilized to keep yourself moving and on the offensive. The Slayer's shoulder-mounted grenade launcher can launch either regular frag grenades to blow enemies up or ice bombs to stop them in their tracks. These can be followed up with a flame thrower to increase armor pickups and the chainsaw to maintain a consistent supply of ammo—and it helps that there's never a shortage of basic zombies to use it on.
Collect secrets and upgrades
Alongside generally knowing the battle arena, DOOM Eternal's Metroid Prime-like map system reveals possible locations for every upgrade and secret in the mission. Finding these secrets will give you cool goodies like toys and music and add to your experience level to upgrade your weapon mods. Sentinel batteries and crystals, weapon tokens, runes, and other weapon mods can be found in each level as well, serving to increase the DOOM Slayer's lethality as the game goes on.
Never EVER stop moving
It cannot be stated enough that the name of the game should practically be "DOOM: Eternal Movement"—there is no ducking and taking cover behind walls in this game. Staying completely still to be targeted by the relentless onslaught of demons can only mean death to the Slayer and despair to the player. Never, ever stop running through the map if you want to live, and utilize the dash ability as much as you possibly can. Things that will help you keep moving on the map include bar swings, airlifts, portals—all these aspects of the level are essential in keeping you ripping and tearing your way through Hell.