id Software's 2016 reboot launched on 13 May 2016 and rebuilt the series by removing every reason to stop moving. Glory Kills drop health, the chainsaw drops ammunition, and cover does nothing at all, so the 13 campaign missions from The UAC through Kadingir Sanctum to Argent D'Nur reward forward pressure over caution. This is the reboot rather than DOOM Eternal or the 1993 original, and its pace still outruns most shooters released since.
Picking the right build determines how your experience plays out. These builds are ranked by overall effectiveness, factoring in damage, survivability, gear requirements, and how well they scale into endgame. New to the game? Start with our beginner's guide first.
Quick Rankings
| Role | Tier | Playstyle | Core Gear |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glory Kill Rusher | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Super Shotgun Brawler | S | Get inside Hell Knight and Pinky range where they cannot use their charges properly, fire, dash sideways during the reload, and use the chainsaw when shells run dry. | Super Shotgun, Rich Get Richer rune, Ammo capacity upgrades, Frag Grenades for the reload window |
| Gauss Cannon Marksman | A | Charge Siege Mode only when the nearest demon is far enough away to matter, drop heavy targets first, and swap to Precision Bolt in the missions with tight corridors. | Gauss Cannon with Siege Mode, Precision Bolt as the alternative, Ammo Boost rune, maximum Ammo capacity |
| Rocket Crowd Controller | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Chainsaw Economy Runner | B | Saw a Possessed the moment ammunition dips, since small demons cost one fuel can, and keep the BFG for the moment an arena spawns a Baron and a Mancubus together. | Chainsaw with fuel capacity upgrades, Equipment Power rune, Siphon Grenade, BFG 9000 held in reserve |
For detailed meta rankings, see our DOOM tier list.
A-Tier: Glory Kill Rusher
Glory Kill Rusher is a top-performing option in DOOM.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Weapon | Super Shotgun | Two barrels, enormous close range damage and no weapon mods at all. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Glory Kills | Damaged demons stagger and flash, and a melee press executes them for a burst of health. |
How to Play Glory Kill Rusher
Glory Kill Rusher focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this role works: Super Shotgun does the damage and Glory Kills keeps it running, which is why this sits at the top of the list. See our weapons guide for detailed weapons breakdowns.
Pros:
- Highest overall performance
- Straightforward gearing path
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Popular pick, resources may be contested
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
S-Tier: Super Shotgun Brawler
The Super Shotgun does more damage per shell than anything short of the BFG, and it has no mods to complicate it. This build closes distance on purpose and treats the reload as the rhythm of the fight.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Weapon | Combat Shotgun | The workhorse, carried from the first mission to the last. |
| Core Gear | Super Shotgun, Rich Get Richer rune, Ammo capacity upgrades, Frag Grenades for the reload window | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Ammo capacity, then Health, then Armour | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Chainsaw ammunition economy | The chainsaw runs on fuel, costing between one and three cans depending on the size of the demon, and a chainsaw kill sprays enough ammunition pickups to refill most of the arsenal. |
How to Play Super Shotgun Brawler
Get inside Hell Knight and Pinky range where they cannot use their charges properly, fire, dash sideways during the reload, and use the chainsaw when shells run dry.
The Super Shotgun does more damage per shell than anything short of the BFG, and it has no mods to complicate it. This build closes distance on purpose and treats the reload as the rhythm of the fight.
Why this role works: Pair Combat Shotgun with Chainsaw ammunition economy and the build stops depending on a good start, so it holds up across most content. Core gear like Super Shotgun, Rich Get Richer rune, Ammo capacity upgrades, Frag Grenades for the reload window pushes it further. See our weapons guide for detailed weapons breakdowns.
Pros:
- Most versatile option
- Clear stat priority (Ammo capacity, then Health, then Armour) makes gearing straightforward
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Lower peak damage than S-tier
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Gauss Cannon Marksman
Siege Mode turns the Gauss Cannon into the game's heaviest single hit, capable of killing a Baron of Hell outright. The cost is that you cannot move while charging, so it needs to be timed against arena lulls.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Weapon | Gauss Cannon | A precision energy rifle with two very different mods. |
| Core Gear | Gauss Cannon with Siege Mode, Precision Bolt as the alternative, Ammo Boost rune, maximum Ammo capacity | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Ammo capacity, then Armour, then Health | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Weapon mods and Field Drones | Field Drones hidden in the levels grant weapon mods, and each gun holds two. |
How to Play Gauss Cannon Marksman
Charge Siege Mode only when the nearest demon is far enough away to matter, drop heavy targets first, and swap to Precision Bolt in the missions with tight corridors.
Siege Mode turns the Gauss Cannon into the game's heaviest single hit, capable of killing a Baron of Hell outright. The cost is that you cannot move while charging, so it needs to be timed against arena lulls.
Why this role works: Weapon mods and Field Drones covers the gap Gauss Cannon leaves open, so the build stays usable even when a fight goes badly. Core gear like Gauss Cannon with Siege Mode, Precision Bolt as the alternative, Ammo Boost rune, maximum Ammo capacity pushes it further. See our weapons guide for detailed weapons breakdowns.
Pros:
- Best survivability
- Clear stat priority (Ammo capacity, then Armour, then Health) makes gearing straightforward
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Slower clear speeds
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Rocket Crowd Controller
Rocket Crowd Controller is a specialized option in DOOM.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Weapon | Rocket Launcher | Splash damage with two mods that change its role entirely. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Rune Trials | Rune Trials are timed challenges hidden inside missions, and completing one grants a passive rune. |
How to Play Rocket Crowd Controller
Rocket Crowd Controller focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this role works: This one leans on Rune Trials rather than raw numbers, and Rocket Launcher is what makes that trade pay off. See our weapons guide for detailed weapons breakdowns.
Pros:
- Strong in group/team content
- Straightforward gearing path
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- Weaker solo performance
- Requires deep game knowledge
B-Tier: Chainsaw Economy Runner
A discipline more than a loadout, built for Nightmare and Ultra-Nightmare runs. The chainsaw is treated as a resource generator on a schedule rather than an emergency button, which keeps the heavy weapons loaded all the way through an arena.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Weapon | BFG 9000 | Three shots at a time, no mods, and it deletes almost everything in line of sight. |
| Core Gear | Chainsaw with fuel capacity upgrades, Equipment Power rune, Siphon Grenade, BFG 9000 held in reserve | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Ammo capacity, then Health, then Armour | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Praetor Suit and Argent Cells | Praetor Tokens taken from dead Elite Guard corpses buy suit perks such as Area-Scanning Technology, which puts secrets on the automap. |
How to Play Chainsaw Economy Runner
Saw a Possessed the moment ammunition dips, since small demons cost one fuel can, and keep the BFG for the moment an arena spawns a Baron and a Mancubus together.
A discipline more than a loadout, built for Nightmare and Ultra-Nightmare runs. The chainsaw is treated as a resource generator on a schedule rather than an emergency button, which keeps the heavy weapons loaded all the way through an arena.
Why this role works: BFG 9000 and Praetor Suit and Argent Cells pull in the same direction here, which separates this from the safer picks above. Core gear like Chainsaw with fuel capacity upgrades, Equipment Power rune, Siphon Grenade, BFG 9000 held in reserve pushes it further. See our weapons guide for detailed weapons breakdowns.
Pros:
- Unique, rewarding playstyle
- Clear stat priority (Ammo capacity, then Health, then Armour) makes gearing straightforward
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- High skill floor, punishing when misplayed
- Requires deep game knowledge
Build Progression Path
- Start with Super Shotgun Brawler: the most forgiving option for learning the game
- Transition to Glory Kill Rusher once you understand core mechanics and have access to Super Shotgun
- Keep a Gauss Cannon Marksman setup for content that keeps killing you
- Try Chainsaw Economy Runner for a fresh experience once you've mastered the basics
Follow our walkthrough for the optimal progression path through each area.
Gearing Tips
- Invest in your primary weapon first, since it gives the biggest power spike. See our weapons guide for rankings.
- Movement is the defence system. There is no cover mechanic, no regenerating health and no reload button, so standing still in an arena is the single most common cause of death on Ultra-Violence.
- Treat the chainsaw as an ammunition vending machine rather than a finisher. A Possessed costs one fuel can and drops enough pickups to refill several weapons, so saw the weakest demon in the room, not the biggest.
- Don't spread upgrade resources across multiple builds until endgame
More DOOM Guides
- DOOM DOOM Overview
- DOOM Tier List
- DOOM Walkthrough
- DOOM Beginner's Guide
- DOOM Tips & Tricks
- DOOM Weapons Guide
- DOOM Combat Guide
- DOOM Boss Guide
- DOOM Maps & Locations
- DOOM Crafting Guide
- DOOM Classes & Characters
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