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.
Your choice of weapons defines your damage output and playstyle. This guide ranks every major option, explains what makes each one strong, and tells you which builds they pair best with.
Weapons Rankings
| Weapon | Tier | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Super Shotgun | S | 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 | A | 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 | A | 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 | B | 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 | B | 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. |
S-Tier: 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.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | S |
| Best For | Close quarters against heavy demons, and any fight where a Glory Kill stagger needs setting up fast. |
| Key Mechanic | Glory Kills |
| Recommended Role | Glory Kill Rusher |
How to get it: Available from mid-game onward. See our walkthrough for the exact progression point.
Best builds using Super Shotgun: Pairs naturally with Glory Kill Rusher thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
A-Tier: 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.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | General purpose fighting and staggering demons into Glory Kill range at medium distance. |
| Key Mechanic | Chainsaw ammunition economy |
| Recommended Role | Super Shotgun Brawler |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Combat Shotgun: Pairs naturally with Super Shotgun Brawler thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
A-Tier: 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.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Barons of Hell, Mancubi and any heavy demon you can hit from across an arena. |
| Key Mechanic | Weapon mods and Field Drones |
| Recommended Role | Gauss Cannon Marksman |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Gauss Cannon: Pairs naturally with Gauss Cannon Marksman thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
B-Tier: 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.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Cacodemons, Revenants and clustered Imps that a shotgun would take too long to clear. |
| Key Mechanic | Rune Trials |
| Recommended Role | Rocket Crowd Controller |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Rocket Launcher: Pairs naturally with Rocket Crowd Controller thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
B-Tier: 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.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Arena waves that spawn multiple Barons or a Cyber-Mancubus alongside a full crowd. |
| Key Mechanic | Praetor Suit and Argent Cells |
| Recommended Role | Chainsaw Economy Runner |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using BFG 9000: Pairs naturally with Chainsaw Economy Runner thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
Weapons Progression Path
The order you should acquire weapons as you progress:
- Starting gear → Enough to clear Resource Operations
- Combat Shotgun → Your first real upgrade, available early
- Gauss Cannon → Mid-game upgrade with good scaling
- Super Shotgun → Best-in-slot, aim for this by late game
- Upgrade to max → The power spike from max upgrades is enormous
Weapons Tips
- Always upgrade your primary weapon before diversifying. One strong option beats three mediocre ones.
- Match your weapons to your build's stat priorities for maximum scaling.
- 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.
- Check our tier list for how weapons rankings affect overall build effectiveness.
More DOOM Guides
- DOOM DOOM Overview
- DOOM Best Builds
- DOOM Tier List
- DOOM Walkthrough
- DOOM Beginner's Guide
- DOOM Tips & Tricks
- DOOM Combat Guide
- DOOM Boss Guide
- DOOM Maps & Locations
- DOOM Crafting Guide
- DOOM Classes & Characters
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- Apex Legends Weapons Guide: fps game with similar mechanics
- Rainbow Six Siege Weapons Guide: fps game with similar mechanics
