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.
This walkthrough takes you from your first session to endgame content. Each phase has specific goals, priorities, and milestones. New to the game? Start with our beginner's guide first.
Quick Progression Summary
| Phase | Area | Focus | Role | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Start | Resource Operations | Glory Kills basics | Super Shotgun Brawler | 1-2 hours |
| 2. Early | Kadingir Sanctum | Chainsaw ammunition economy mastery | Super Shotgun Brawler | 3-5 hours |
| 3. Mid | Lazarus Labs | Weapon mods and Field Drones + gear | Glory Kill Rusher or Super Shotgun Brawler | 5-10 hours |
| 4. Late | The Necropolis | Build optimization | Glory Kill Rusher | 5-10 hours |
| 5. Endgame | Argent D'Nur | Min-max | Glory Kill Rusher or Chainsaw Economy Runner | Ongoing |
See our maps guide for detailed area breakdowns.
Phase 1: Getting Started (Resource Operations)
The second mission and the first proper arena teaching level, where Gore Nests and the wave system are introduced properly. It also hands over the Combat Shotgun mods and the first Rune Trials worth chasing.
Level/Difficulty: Mission 2 of 13 Key Rewards: Early weapon mods, first Rune Trials, Praetor Tokens from Elite Guards
What to Do in Resource Operations
- Learn Glory Kills. Damaged demons stagger and flash, and a melee press executes them for a burst of health. Spend your first session getting comfortable with this.
- Pick Super Shotgun Brawler as your starting role. See our builds guide for why.
- 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.
- Acquire your first weapons upgrade: Combat Shotgun or whatever's available.
- Clear all main content before moving on.
Phase 1 Checklist
- Understand Glory Kills fundamentals
- Super Shotgun Brawler selected and functional
- Resource Operations main content cleared
- Ready for Kadingir Sanctum
Phase 2: Early Game (Kadingir Sanctum)
The first full Hell level, all bone architecture and open drops, and a sharp difficulty increase over the Mars facilities. Hell Knights and Summoners appear in numbers here for the first time.
Level/Difficulty: Mission 6 of 13 Key Rewards: Hell themed secrets, classic map fragments, Argent Cells
What to Do in Kadingir Sanctum
- Work on 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. This system becomes critical from here on.
- Farm for Combat Shotgun if you haven't already. It's the key upgrade for this phase.
- 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.
- Complete all objectives before pushing to Lazarus Labs.
- Consider whether Glory Kill Rusher might suit your playstyle better than Super Shotgun Brawler.
Phase 2 Checklist
- Chainsaw ammunition economy integrated into gameplay
- Combat Shotgun acquired
- Kadingir Sanctum fully cleared
- Ready for Lazarus Labs
Phase 3: Mid Game (Lazarus Labs)
The UAC research wing where Olivia Pierce's work is laid out in data logs, and the mission that ends in the Cyberdemon fight. The arena is large and circular, which is the only reason the fight is survivable.
Level/Difficulty: Mission 9 of 13 Key Rewards: Cyberdemon boss fight, major story data logs, late game weapon upgrades
What to Do in Lazarus Labs
- Master Weapon mods and Field Drones. Field Drones hidden in the levels grant weapon mods, and each gun holds two. This unlocks a new layer of gameplay.
- Start working toward Super Shotgun. It's the best weapon and becomes accessible around now.
- Buy Area-Scanning Technology from the Praetor Suit menu as early as the tokens allow. It marks secrets on the automap, which is what turns collectible hunting from a slog into a two minute detour per level.
- This area is the main skill check. If you can clear it, you're ready for late game.
- Start investing in Rune Trials for the tactical depth you'll need going forward.
Phase 3 Checklist
- Weapon mods and Field Drones mastered
- Super Shotgun acquired or in progress
- Lazarus Labs fully cleared
- Ready for The Necropolis
Phase 4: Late Game (The Necropolis)
A vertical Hell fortress built around the Hell Guard encounter, first one and then two at once. It is the point where a build that neglected Armour and Ammo capacity stops working.
Level/Difficulty: Mission 11 of 13 Key Rewards: Hell Guard boss fight, late Rune Trials, Praetor Suit completion
What to Do in The Necropolis
- Finalize your build. You should be running Glory Kill Rusher or Super Shotgun Brawler with optimized gear.
- Super Shotgun should be your primary. If you don't have it yet, prioritize getting it.
- Summoners take priority over everything else on screen. They teleport constantly and spawn extra demons for as long as they live, so a delayed Summoner kill compounds into an unwinnable arena.
- Praetor Suit and Argent Cells optimization starts here. Small improvements compound into massive advantages.
- Farm this area for the resources needed to push into Argent D'Nur.
Phase 4 Checklist
- Build fully optimized
- Super Shotgun upgraded to max
- The Necropolis fully cleared
- Ready for Argent D'Nur
Phase 5: Endgame (Argent D'Nur)
The final mission, set in the ruined homeland of the Night Sentinels, and it closes on the Spider Mastermind. Everything before it is preparation for one long arena with no cover and no retreat.
Level/Difficulty: Mission 13 of 13 Key Rewards: Spider Mastermind boss fight, the campaign ending, final collectibles
What to Do in Argent D'Nur
- Argent D'Nur tests everything. Come prepared with your best build and gear.
- Rune Trials are timed and often awkward, but Savagery alone justifies the detour. Faster Glory Kill animations shorten the vulnerable window in every single fight for the rest of the campaign.
- The endgame loop: run Argent D'Nur, optimize gear, push harder content.
- Experiment with Chainsaw Economy Runner for a fresh take once you've mastered the standard builds.
- This is where Praetor Suit and Argent Cells mastery separates good players from great ones. See our tips guide for advanced strategies.
Phase 5 Checklist
- Endgame content on farm
- Best-in-slot gear acquired
- Argent D'Nur fully cleared
- Ready for challenge content
Common Progression Mistakes
- Backing into a corner when health drops, which removes every Glory Kill option and leaves you trapped as the arena fills behind you.
- Saving the chainsaw for emergencies and then running the entire mission on the pistol, when a single fuel can spent on a Possessed refills the whole arsenal.
- Ignoring Field Drones and finishing the campaign with half the weapon mods, which makes the Gauss Cannon and Rocket Launcher far weaker than they should be.
- Leaving Summoners alive while clearing smaller demons, which lets them keep spawning reinforcements until the arena is unmanageable.
- Confusing this game with DOOM Eternal and expecting Eternal's ice bomb, flame belch and dash resource loop, none of which exist in the 2016 reboot.
Key Tips for Smooth Progression
- 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.
- Buy Area-Scanning Technology from the Praetor Suit menu as early as the tokens allow. It marks secrets on the automap, which is what turns collectible hunting from a slog into a two minute detour per level.
- Summoners take priority over everything else on screen. They teleport constantly and spawn extra demons for as long as they live, so a delayed Summoner kill compounds into an unwinnable arena.
- Rune Trials are timed and often awkward, but Savagery alone justifies the detour. Faster Glory Kill animations shorten the vulnerable window in every single fight for the rest of the campaign.
For more advanced strategies, see our tips & tricks guide.
More DOOM Guides
- DOOM DOOM Overview
- DOOM Best Builds
- DOOM Tier List
- 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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