Doom Eternal is the most aggressive FPS ever designed. The combat loop forces constant movement and resource management: chainsaw fodder enemies for ammo, glory kill staggered enemies for health, flame belch for armor pickups. Standing still means death. The weapon switching system rewards rapid swapping between the Super Shotgun and Ballista for maximum DPS, creating a rhythm-action feel to combat encounters. Every demon has a specific counter-strategy and exploitable weak point. The Slayer Gates offer optional ultra-hard encounters, and the two DLC campaigns (Ancient Gods 1 & 2) are considered even better than the base game.
Starting Doom Eternal can feel overwhelming. This guide tells you exactly what to focus on during your first hours so you don't waste time on things that don't matter yet.
What Kind of Game Is This?
Doom Eternal is a fps game built around glory kills and chainsaw ammo. The core loop involves mastering these systems to progress through increasingly challenging content.
What to expect: Time investment in learning mechanics, experimentation, and gradual mastery. The game rewards patience and knowledge.
Choosing Your First Role
| Role | Beginner Rating | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Super Shotgun Main | Good (but demanding) | Meathook to an enemy, blast with SSG at point blank, quick-swap to Ballista for a follow-up shot, repeat. Use Flame Belch during Meathook approach for armor drops. |
| Ballista Swapper | Good (but demanding) | Open with Ballista Arbalest for burst damage, swap to SSG for close-range follow-up, swap back to Ballista for the second charged shot while SSG reloads. |
| Rocket Spam | Excellent for beginners | Lock-On to priority targets (Whiplash, Dread Knight), fire three homing rockets, then chainsaw a fodder enemy for ammo replenishment. |
| BFG Saver | Excellent for beginners | Use standard weapons for 95% of combat. Save BFG for specific overwhelming encounters — multiple Tyrants, Slayer Gate final waves, or near-death emergencies. |
| Micro Missiles | Excellent for beginners | Use Precision Bolt to snipe weak points (disabling enemy attacks), switch to Micro Missiles for burst damage, and SSG for close range. |
Our recommendation: Start with Ballista Swapper. The Ballista deals high single-target damage at any range. Combined with the Arbalest mod (charged explosive bolt), it chunks heavy demons. Quick-swapping SSG→Ballista→SSG creates the game's highest sustained DPS against single targets.
Avoid Micro Missiles as your first pick. The Heavy Cannon's Micro Missiles mod fires a barrage of small rockets that stagger enemies.
First Session Step-by-Step
Step 1: Learn glory kills
Staggered enemies (flashing blue/orange) can be glory killed with a melee finisher that drops health pickups. Glory kills have generous range and brief invulnerability during the animation. They're not optional — glory kills are your primary health recovery. The game is designed around maintaining health through aggressive glory kill chains.
This is the foundation. Spend your first 15-30 minutes getting comfortable with how glory kills works before worrying about anything else.
Step 2: Head to Hell on Earth
The opening level set in a demon-invaded city. Teaches glory kills, chainsaw mechanics, and basic weapon switching. The level introduces combat flow in a relatively forgiving environment. Contains the first Slayer Gate.
Clear the main content here before moving on. Everything teaches fundamentals you'll need later.
Step 3: Get Your First Upgrade
Look for Ballista — it's the most accessible early upgrade. A precision energy weapon dealing massive single-target damage. The Arbalest mod fires a charged explosive bolt for even more burst. Quick-swapping between SSG and Ballista eliminates the reload delay of both weapons, maximizing DPS.
Step 4: Understand chainsaw ammo
The chainsaw instantly kills fodder demons (Imps, Soldiers, Gargoyles) and drops a shower of ammunition. One fuel pip regenerates automatically, ensuring you always have ammo access. The chainsaw is your ammo button — use it whenever ammo runs low, targeting the nearest fodder enemy.
This is the system most new players overlook. Invest time here early — it pays off throughout the entire game.
Step 5: Push to Exultia
A Sentinel fortress level that introduces platforming and the dash mechanic. Exultia's arenas teach aerial combat against Cacodemons and the importance of vertical movement. The Celestial Locator is found here.
Essential Mechanics Explained
glory kills
Staggered enemies (flashing blue/orange) can be glory killed with a melee finisher that drops health pickups. Glory kills have generous range and brief invulnerability during the animation. They're not optional — glory kills are your primary health recovery. The game is designed around maintaining health through aggressive glory kill chains.
chainsaw ammo
The chainsaw instantly kills fodder demons (Imps, Soldiers, Gargoyles) and drops a shower of ammunition. One fuel pip regenerates automatically, ensuring you always have ammo access. The chainsaw is your ammo button — use it whenever ammo runs low, targeting the nearest fodder enemy.
weapon switching
Doom Eternal is designed around rapid weapon switching, not reloading. Each weapon has a specific purpose: Super Shotgun for close-range burst, Ballista for long-range precision, Rocket Launcher for splash damage. The optimal playstyle chains weapons in quick succession without pausing.
dash mechanic
Two dash charges with a short cooldown. Dashes provide brief invulnerability and rapid repositioning. Save at least one dash charge at all times for emergencies. Dashes are essential for dodging Marauder attacks, escaping corners, and maintaining combat spacing.
Slayer Gates
Six optional combat arenas locked behind Slayer Keys found in main levels. Each Gate features the hardest enemy waves in the game. Completing all six unlocks the Unmaykr weapon. Slayer Gates test mastery of every weapon, mod, and movement technique.
Common Beginner Mistakes
1. Standing still and trying to aim precisely — Doom Eternal punishes stationary players with overwhelming damage
Keep moving constantly, shoot while moving.
2. Ignoring the chainsaw — running out of ammo is entirely preventable
The chainsaw regenerates one fuel pip automatically. Use it on fodder enemies every 30 seconds.
3. Not using Flame Belch for armor — many players forget Flame Belch exists
Burning enemies drop armor on hit and on death. Use it before glory kills for maximum armor recovery.
4. Fighting the Marauder with ranged weapons — he blocks everything except during his brief green-eye attack window
Bait his melee, then quick-swap combo during the flash.
5. Saving BFG ammo for 'later' — BFG ammo pickups appear in fixed locations
Using BFG when overwhelmed, then picking up ammo later, is more efficient than hoarding.
First 5 Hours Checklist
- Understand glory kills and chainsaw ammo
- Choose Ballista Swapper as starting role
- Clear Hell on Earth main content
- Acquire Ballista or equivalent upgrade
- Reach Exultia
- The resource loop is: Chainsaw for AMMO, Glory Kill for HEALTH, Flame Belch for ARMOR. Never neglect any of the three — they keep you alive. Memorize this triangle.
- Quick-swap SSG→Ballista is the highest DPS combo. Fire SSG, immediately swap to Ballista, fire, swap back — the swap animation cancels both weapons' recovery.
Tips for New Players
- The resource loop is: Chainsaw for AMMO, Glory Kill for HEALTH, Flame Belch for ARMOR. Never neglect any of the three — they keep you alive. Memorize this triangle.
- Quick-swap SSG→Ballista is the highest DPS combo. Fire SSG, immediately swap to Ballista, fire, swap back — the swap animation cancels both weapons' recovery.
- Weak points disable enemy attacks permanently. Shoot the Arachnotron's turret, the Revenant's shoulder launchers, the Mancubus' arm cannons. This dramatically reduces incoming damage.
- Dash has two charges — never use both at once. Always save one charge for emergency dodging. The second charge regenerates in 3 seconds.
- The Marauder is the most technical enemy: only vulnerable during his green-eye flash (when he prepares to melee). SSG→Ballista swap during the flash window is the standard counter.
- Blood Punch (charged melee from glory kills) deals massive AoE damage. Use it on clusters of fodder or to break shields (Doom Hunter, Spirit-possessed enemies).
- The Crucible (energy sword) one-shots ANY non-boss demon. Save Crucible charges for Tyrants, Archviles, and other high-priority threats that consume significant ammo to kill normally.
- Ice Bomb freezes enemies in place for 3 seconds. Use it to freeze a Whiplash or Dread Knight, then unload point-blank SSG shots. Ice Bomb is the best CC tool.
- Chaingun Energy Shield mod lets you tank Marauder attacks while dealing sustained damage. Hold shield, fire into Marauder during his green-eye flash, and he drops quickly.
- The Ancient Gods DLC Parts 1 and 2 are harder than the base game. Part 1's Blood Swamps is considered one of the hardest FPS levels ever designed. Prepare for a significant difficulty spike.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Doom Eternal harder than Doom 2016?
Yes, significantly. Doom 2016 let you handle most encounters with a single weapon. Eternal's combat loop demands weapon switching, chainsaw usage, glory kills, flame belch, dash management, and weak point targeting simultaneously. The difficulty ceiling is much higher, but mastery is more rewarding.
What difficulty should I play Doom Eternal?
Hurt Me Plenty (Normal) for first playthrough. It teaches the combat loop without being punishing. Ultra-Violence for experienced FPS players. Nightmare adds no extra lives and more aggressive enemies — save for subsequent playthroughs.
Are the Ancient Gods DLCs worth it?
Yes, they contain the best combat encounters in the game. The DLCs add new enemy types (Spirits, Armored Barons), new mechanics, and some of the hardest arenas ever designed in an FPS. The story also concludes the Doom Slayer's narrative arc.
Is there multiplayer in Doom Eternal?
Battlemode is a 2v1 asymmetric multiplayer mode where one Slayer fights two player-controlled demons. It's fun but niche — most players focus on the single-player campaign. Traditional deathmatch is not available.
What to Read Next
- Doom Eternal Builds — Optimize your role once you've learned the basics
- Doom Eternal Walkthrough — Full progression path
- Doom Eternal Tips — Advanced strategies for when you're ready
