(Credit: René Ramos, Jordan Minor; Bethesda Softworks)
The Dark Ages is the newest entry in id Software's modern Doom series, which began with the acclaimed Doom 2016 reboot and continued with 2022's Doom Eternal. This installment retains many Doom traditions, from gory ultra-violence against demonic foes to ridiculously gnarly firearms. It also introduces new elements, like a medieval setting and a dragon companion.
However, The Dark Ages' most significant gameplay contribution is the Shield Saw, an offensive and defensive tool that completely changes your approach to classic Doom combat. In fact, several gamepad buttons are dedicated solely to shield actions. After playing my way through The Dark Ages, I've come up with the following tips to help you succeed on your own journey.
(Credit: Bethesda/PCMag)1. Block and Parry
The Shield Saw can do many fantastic things, but it is ultimately a shield, so its primary function is blocking attacks. Enemy projectiles are easy to avoid by strafing, but you can protect yourself and stay in the fight by blocking with your shield. You can't block forever, though. The shield has health that recharges over time, and breaks if you overuse it. But you can parry incoming attacks if you block with the correct timing. Parrying is a crucial part of The Dark Ages' combat loop, with a green light indicating which attacks you can deflect. It feels awesome, rewards you with health and ammo, and creates openings to deal heavy damage against tricky foes.
(Credit: Bethesda/PCMag)2. Throw the Shield Saw to Kill Demons
Doom games want you to play aggressively, so the Shield Saw also acts as another big, spiky projectile. You can throw the shield to instantly kill small enemies; pin larger baddies in place, making them easy targets for your guns; and destroy monsters in overheated armor (their armor becomes overheated after you keep shooting them). Your shield always returns to you, Captain America style, so don't hesitate to hurl it.
(Credit: Bethesda/PCMag)3. Swiftly Dash Across the Battlefield
Compared with the polarizing Doom: Eternal, Doom: The Dark Ages is a slightly slower game with less emphasis on frantically jumping around. You still need to move with purpose, though, especially in the game's larger maps. The Shield Saw assists here, too. You can use it to lock onto enemies and dash into them. This not only deals fast damage, but also helps you quickly close the gap. When used mid-air, this move even serves as an impromptu air dash.
(Credit: Bethesda/PCMag)4. Synergize With Shield Runes
As you progress through the game, you can upgrade and customize equipment, including the Shield Saw. The most intriguing Shield Saw upgrades come from Shield Runes, which activate bonuses after successful parries. My go-to rune was Heaven Splitter, which called down lightning that paralyzed nearby enemies. This practically gave me a free melee hit, an invaluable move against stronger opponents. But you may prefer a different rune, such as summoning a turret or unleashing waves of daggers. Experiment with them to see which one fits your playstyle.
(Credit: Bethesda/PCMag)5. Open New Pathways
Doom: The Dark Ages is primarily about combat, but many levels have short, environmental puzzles that require the Shield Saw to solve. Bash glowing symbols to destroy weak walls blocking your path forward. Cut down metal chains to release new platforms so you can jump to your next objective. Throw the shield into machinery to get gears turning again and activate locked doors. Stumped? When in doubt, use the shield!
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