Level Up Your Carnage: The Ultimate DOOM Eternal Early Upgrade Guide
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So, you’ve strapped into the Praetor Suit and are ready to rip and tear your way through Hell’s legions in DOOM Eternal. But where do you even begin with the upgrade system? The choices can be overwhelming. Fear not, Slayer, because this guide will cut through the noise and tell you exactly what to prioritize to maximize your effectiveness in those early, brutal encounters.
The single best early upgrade path focuses on armor acquisition and mobility. This means prioritizing the Flaming Hook mastery for the Super Shotgun, selecting Quickdraw Belch and Belch Armor Boost for the Flamethrower, focusing on Air Control, Chrono Strike and Seek and Destroy for your Runes, and finally unlocking Armor perks within the Praetor Suit. This combination provides consistent armor replenishment, improved aerial maneuverability, and the ability to quickly close the distance for glory kills.
Prioritizing Your Doom Slayer’s Growth: A Deep Dive
Let’s break down why each of these upgrades is so crucial in the early game of DOOM Eternal.
1. Flaming Hook Mastery (Super Shotgun)
This is, without a doubt, the single most impactful early mastery. The Super Shotgun is your go-to weapon for dealing massive damage at close range, and the Flaming Hook attachment, even without mastery, provides incredible mobility. But the mastery is where it truly shines. By igniting enemies with the grappling hook shot, you guarantee they’ll drop valuable armor shards when damaged. This provides a constant stream of armor replenishment, allowing you to withstand significantly more punishment.
Think about it: DOOM Eternal is a game about aggressive resource management. You need health, armor, and ammo constantly flowing. The Flaming Hook mastery turns the Super Shotgun into an armor-generating machine, taking a huge burden off of reliance on desperate Glory Kills or finding armor pickups.
2. Flamethrower Upgrades: Quickdraw Belch & Belch Armor Boost
Following the path of maintaining constant armor boosts, the Flamethrower becomes your best friend for armor generation. Focusing on Quickdraw Belch allows you to flame enemies faster while switching to other weapons, and the Belch Armor Boost provides more armor per flame burst. Enemies ignited by the Flamethrower will drip armor for you to pick up, and these two upgrades are the foundation for consistent survivability throughout any fight. Napalm Belch is another excellent early upgrade, spreading the armor-dropping effect to more enemies at once.
3. Rune Selection: Air Control, Chrono Strike, and Seek and Destroy
Runes provide passive benefits that significantly enhance your gameplay. The best early runes are Air Control, greatly increasing movement control while in the air, and Chrono Strike, which slows down time while using the weapon mod equipped in mid-air. For a third early rune, grab Seek and Destroy to launch into Glory Kills from much further away.
- Air Control mitigates one of the steeper learning curves of DOOM Eternal – controlling your movement mid-air. This rune is essential for making precise jumps, dodging projectiles, and generally staying alive.
- Chrono Strike combined with Seek and Destroy creates amazing mid-air opportunities. By slowing down time, you can aim at targets to perform quick glory kills.
- Seek and Destroy synergizes perfectly with the game’s core loop of aggressive resource gathering. Quickly closing the distance for Glory Kills ensures a constant supply of health and can often get you out of a tight spot.
4. Praetor Suit Perks: Prioritize Armor
The Praetor Suit offers a variety of upgrades, but in the early game, focus on perks that enhance your armor capacity and effectiveness. Look for upgrades like Equipment Fiend, which grants you the ability to recharge equipment faster by eliminating demons. Prioritize perks that reduce damage taken or increase armor pickups. Remember, surviving is the key to victory, and a well-armored Slayer is a dangerous Slayer.
Why This Upgrade Path Works
This early upgrade strategy is designed to address the core challenges of DOOM Eternal: resource management and mobility. By focusing on consistent armor generation, you’ll have more room for error and be able to engage more aggressively. The mobility upgrades allow you to navigate arenas more effectively and close the distance for Glory Kills, ensuring a constant flow of health and ammo.
By the time you reach the mid-game, you’ll have a solid foundation to build upon, allowing you to experiment with different weapon mods, runes, and suit perks to fine-tune your playstyle.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions to dive deeper into the upgrade system of DOOM Eternal.
1. Is the Pistol completely useless in DOOM Eternal?
While the pistol is technically present in the game files, it’s not accessible through normal gameplay. id Software intentionally removed it, feeling it didn’t fit the combat flow. You can only access it via console commands on PC. However, even then, it’s underpowered and not worth using. Save your upgrade points for weapons that contribute significantly to your arsenal.
2. Should I upgrade health, armor, or ammo first?
In the early game, prioritize upgrades that combine health and armor. Armor is generally easier to acquire than health, especially with the Flaming Hook, and taking less damage is always beneficial. Aim for a balance, but lean towards health/armor upgrades initially. As you become more proficient, you can adjust based on your playstyle.
3. Are headshots worth aiming for in DOOM Eternal?
Technically, no, headshots do not deal extra damage. Unlike many other shooters, DOOM Eternal doesn’t reward headshots with increased damage. Focus on exploiting enemy weaknesses and maintaining a high rate of fire.
4. Can you get all upgrades in DOOM Eternal?
Yes, it’s possible to unlock all suit-based upgrades in DOOM Eternal if you thoroughly explore each level and collect all available secrets and collectibles. You can also fully upgrade all of your weapons during the course of the game.
5. Which weapon mods should I prioritize?
For the Combat Shotgun, Full Auto with Fast Feet is a great choice. It turns the shotgun into a rapid-fire powerhouse, making it incredibly effective against weaker enemies and dealing consistent damage to larger demons.
For the Heavy Cannon, Precision Bolt with Fast Loader offers excellent long-range damage and the ability to quickly dispatch key targets.
For the Rocket Launcher, Remote Detonate with Concussive Blast provides unparalleled control and crowd control capabilities.
For the Plasma Rifle, Microwave Beam with Faster Beam Charge provides burst damage and can be used to stagger stronger enemies.
For the Ballista, Arbalest with Full Speed offers amazing speed and precision. Destroyer Blade is the better upgrade, but Arbalest helps players practice with its delayed fire time.
6. Is the BFG-9000 the best weapon in DOOM Eternal?
The BFG-9000 is undoubtedly powerful, capable of clearing entire rooms with a single shot. However, it’s also a limited resource. The Sentinel Hammer is also a very useful tool that can pound smaller enemies. Also, don’t discount the Crucible, which allows you to instantly eliminate the strongest demons. Ultimately, the “best” weapon depends on the situation and your playstyle.
7. What are the best runes in DOOM Eternal?
Beyond Air Control and Seek and Destroy, Chrono Strike stands out as one of the better runes. Some other strong runes include Punch and Reave, Blood Fueled, and Equipment Fiend. Experiment to find the runes that best complement your playstyle.
8. Which demons should I prioritize eliminating?
Marauders are perhaps the most dangerous demons in DOOM Eternal. These former Sentinels can deflect most attacks and require precise timing to defeat. Other high-priority targets include Archviles, who can summon other demons, and Tyrants, heavily armored behemoths that can deal massive damage.
9. What’s the best way to farm armor in DOOM Eternal?
The Flamethrower and Flaming Hook are your best friends for armor farming. Continuously ignite enemies with the Flamethrower and then finish them off with the Super Shotgun’s Flaming Hook to ensure a constant supply of armor shards.
10. How do I improve my aim in DOOM Eternal?
DOOM Eternal is a fast-paced game that requires precise aiming while constantly moving. Practice weapon switching and target acquisition. Use the Precision Bolt mod on the Heavy Cannon to practice landing headshots (even though they don’t deal extra damage, it helps with overall accuracy). Also, playing games that require precise aiming is a good way to improve aim in general. The Games Learning Society provides resources and insights into how games can enhance various skills, including focus and reaction time. Check out GamesLearningSociety.org for more information.
11. What are the best suit upgrades to focus on early?
Focus on suit upgrades that improve armor and resource collection. Perks that increase armor capacity, reduce damage taken, or increase the amount of health and ammo dropped by enemies are all excellent choices.
12. Can I miss any weapons in DOOM Eternal?
Yes, it’s possible to miss weapons if you don’t thoroughly explore each level. Pay attention to the environment and look for hidden paths and collectibles. Some levels have multiple weapon locations.
13. How do I play DOOM Eternal more effectively?
Master the art of resource management. Use your chainsaw to replenish ammo, Glory Kills to regain health, and the Flamethrower and Flaming Hook to generate armor. Keep moving, exploit enemy weaknesses, and don’t be afraid to experiment with different weapons and mods.
14. Does DOOM Eternal have difficulty settings?
Yes, DOOM Eternal offers a range of difficulty settings, from “I’m Too Young to Die” to “Ultra-Nightmare.” Start on a difficulty that’s challenging but not overwhelming, and adjust as needed.
15. What’s the significance of the game’s lore?
While DOOM Eternal’s gameplay is the primary focus, the lore provides a rich backdrop and explains the motivations of the Slayer and the demons. Understanding the lore can enhance your appreciation for the game and its world.
By following this guide, you’ll be well-equipped to conquer Hell’s legions and become the ultimate Doom Slayer. Now go forth and rip and tear, until it is done!