This DOOM 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
| Tier | Role | Rating | Playstyle |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Glory Kill Rusher | 8.5/10 | Balanced approach |
| S | Super Shotgun Brawler | 9.5/10 | 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. |
| A | Gauss Cannon Marksman | 8.5/10 | 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. |
| A | Rocket Crowd Controller | 8.5/10 | Balanced approach |
| B | Chainsaw Economy Runner | 7.5/10 | 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. |
Detailed Characters Analysis
Glory Kill Rusher (A-Tier)
Glory Kill Rusher is a competitive option in the current meta.
Best with: Super Shotgun. See our builds guide for full setup. Stat focus: Balanced stats
Super Shotgun Brawler (S-Tier)
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.
Best with: Super Shotgun, Rich Get Richer rune, Ammo capacity upgrades, Frag Grenades for the reload window. See our builds guide for full setup. Stat focus: Ammo capacity, then Health, then Armour
Gauss Cannon Marksman (A-Tier)
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.
Best with: Gauss Cannon with Siege Mode, Precision Bolt as the alternative, Ammo Boost rune, maximum Ammo capacity. See our builds guide for full setup. Stat focus: Ammo capacity, then Armour, then Health
Rocket Crowd Controller (A-Tier)
Rocket Crowd Controller is a competitive option in the current meta.
Best with: Rocket Launcher. See our builds guide for full setup. Stat focus: Balanced stats
Chainsaw Economy Runner (B-Tier)
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.
Best with: Chainsaw with fuel capacity upgrades, Equipment Power rune, Siphon Grenade, BFG 9000 held in reserve. See our builds guide for full setup. Stat focus: Ammo capacity, then Health, then Armour
Weapons Rankings
| Weapon | Best With | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Super Shotgun | Close quarters against heavy demons, and any fight where a Glory Kill stagger needs setting up fast. | Two barrels, enormous close range damage and no weapon mods at all. |
| Combat Shotgun | General purpose fighting and staggering demons into Glory Kill range at medium distance. | The workhorse, carried from the first mission to the last. |
| Gauss Cannon | Barons of Hell, Mancubi and any heavy demon you can hit from across an arena. | A precision energy rifle with two very different mods. |
| Rocket Launcher | Cacodemons, Revenants and clustered Imps that a shotgun would take too long to clear. | Splash damage with two mods that change its role entirely. |
| BFG 9000 | Arena waves that spawn multiple Barons or a Cyber-Mancubus alongside a full crowd. | Three shots at a time, no mods, and it deletes almost everything in line of sight. |
Check our weapons guide for in-depth stats and comparisons.
Weapons Analysis
Super Shotgun: Two barrels, enormous close range damage and no weapon mods at all. It removes Hell Knights and Pinkies in a couple of shots and stays the most efficient damage per shell in the game from the moment you find it.
Combat Shotgun: The workhorse, carried from the first mission to the last. Charged Burst fires a fast triple shot where landing all three boosts the next burst, and Explosive Shot arcs a grenade-like round into groups.
Gauss Cannon: A precision energy rifle with two very different mods. Precision Bolt charges a zoomed shot for headshot damage, and Siege Mode charges a piercing beam at the cost of all movement while it winds up.
Rocket Launcher: Splash damage with two mods that change its role entirely. Lock-On Burst marks up to three targets and fires at all of them, and Remote Detonation lets you burst a rocket in mid air over a group.
BFG 9000: Three shots at a time, no mods, and it deletes almost everything in line of sight. Ammunition is genuinely rare, so it functions as a panic button for the two or three worst moments in each mission.
Meta Analysis
The current meta in DOOM centers on Glory Kills and Chainsaw ammunition economy. Builds that leverage both systems outperform those that focus on only one. Our combat guide explains these interactions in depth.
What's strong right now:
- Glory Kill Rusher with Super Shotgun is the benchmark. Everything else is measured against it.
- Weapon mods and Field Drones builds are gaining ground as players find new combinations.
- Gauss Cannon Marksman remains essential for learning hard content. See the boss guide.
What's underrated:
- Super Shotgun Brawler is consistently overlooked despite being the most flexible option.
- Gauss Cannon offers excellent performance for its investment level.
What's overhyped:
- Pure Chainsaw Economy Runner builds. High ceiling but the consistency isn't there for most players.
Quick Picks by Situation
| Situation | Best Role | Best Weapon | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall best | Glory Kill Rusher | Super Shotgun | Highest consistent performance |
| New player | Super Shotgun Brawler | Combat Shotgun | Most forgiving, teaches mechanics |
| Hard content | Gauss Cannon Marksman | Gauss Cannon | Survivability when you need it |
| Group play | Rocket Crowd Controller | Rocket Launcher | Utility and team support |
| Experienced player | Chainsaw Economy Runner | BFG 9000 | Unique challenge and high ceiling |
More DOOM Guides
- DOOM DOOM Overview
- DOOM Best Builds
- 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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