Doom Eternal Tier List — Current Rankings

This Doom Eternal tier list ranks every major option by overall effectiveness. Rankings factor in damage output, survivability, versatility, gear requirements, and how well each option scales.

Tier definitions: S = best in class, always a strong pick. A = strong and competitive, minor weaknesses. B = solid but clearly outperformed in most situations. C = viable only for players who enjoy the playstyle.

Characters Rankings

Detailed Characters Analysis

Super Shotgun Main (S-Tier)

The Super Shotgun with Meathook (grapple toward enemies) is the game's best weapon. Meathook closes distance instantly, the shotgun blast deals massive close-range damage, and Flame Belch during the approach generates armor. The SSG→Ballista quick-swap is the highest DPS combo.

Best with: Super Shotgun (Meathook), Ballista (Arbalest mod), Flame Belch Stat focus: Super Shotgun mastery, quick-swap timing, Meathook accuracy

Ballista Swapper (S-Tier)

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.

Best with: Ballista (Arbalest mod), Super Shotgun, quick-swap muscle memory Stat focus: Ballista accuracy, swap speed, target prioritization

Rocket Spam (A-Tier)

The Rocket Launcher with Lock-On mod fires three homing rockets that deal massive damage. Lock-On trivializes aerial enemies (Cacodemons, Pain Elementals) and handles crowd control. The splash damage clears fodder while you focus on priority targets.

Best with: Rocket Launcher (Lock-On mod), SSG for backup, chainsaw for ammo Stat focus: Lock-On targeting, splash damage, ammo management

BFG Saver (A-Tier)

The BFG 9000 has extremely limited ammo (roughly 2-3 shots per level) but each shot clears nearly everything on screen. Saving BFG ammo for emergency situations (multiple heavy demons, Slayer Gate waves) provides a panic button for overwhelming encounters.

Best with: BFG 9000, standard weapon rotation, ammo discipline Stat focus: BFG timing (use only when overwhelmed), standard weapon proficiency

Micro Missiles (A-Tier)

The Heavy Cannon's Micro Missiles mod fires a barrage of small rockets that stagger enemies. Combined with headshots for the Precision Bolt mod on weak points (Arachnotron turret, Revenant launchers), the Heavy Cannon becomes a versatile multi-purpose weapon.

Best with: Heavy Cannon (Micro Missiles + Precision Bolt mods), SSG secondary Stat focus: Weak point accuracy, mod switching, target identification

Weapons Rankings

Weapons Analysis

Super Shotgun: The iconic double-barrel with the Meathook grapple attachment. Meathook closes distance to any enemy instantly, and the point-blank blast deals the highest burst damage in the game. The SSG is the center of high-level play due to its versatility and damage output.

Ballista: 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.

Rocket Launcher: Fires explosive rockets with splash damage. The Lock-On mod fires 3 homing rockets at a targeted enemy, dealing massive damage without requiring aim precision. Essential for airborne enemies that are hard to hit with projectile weapons.

BFG 9000: The ultimate weapon firing a green orb that damages everything in line of sight. Each shot uses 30 BFG ammo (total capacity ~60). The BFG clears rooms of all non-boss enemies instantly. Extremely limited ammo makes each shot a strategic decision.

Chaingun: A rapid-fire heavy weapon with the Energy Shield mod (deployable frontal shield while firing). The Chaingun deals sustained DPS against Tyrants and other high-HP enemies. The Energy Shield lets you face-tank attacks while maintaining fire — useful against Marauders.

Meta Analysis

The current meta in Doom Eternal centers on glory kills and chainsaw ammo. Builds that leverage both systems outperform those that focus on only one.

What's strong right now:

• Super Shotgun Main with Super Shotgun is the benchmark. Everything else is measured against it.
• weapon switching builds are gaining ground as players find new synergies.
• Rocket Spam remains essential for learning hard content.

What's underrated:

• Ballista Swapper is consistently overlooked despite being the most flexible option.
• Rocket Launcher offers excellent performance for its investment level.

What's overhyped:

• Pure Micro Missiles builds. High ceiling but the consistency isn't there for most players.

Quick Picks by Situation

For full build guides, see Doom Eternal builds. For progression help, check the walkthrough.