If you’ve spent even 10 minutes hacking through demon-infested medieval castles in Doom: The Dark Ages, you know how quickly a lack of the right buffs can turn a fun run into a frustrating death loop. I lost three straight runs last month because I wasted upgrade points on useless perks that didn’t fit my run-and-gun playstyle, so I spent weeks testing every available perk to narrow down the best upgrades Doom: The Dark Ages has to offer for every type of player. This guide breaks down which upgrades are worth your hard-earned soul shards, which you can skip entirely, and how to tailor your picks to match how you like to play.
Best Upgrades for Doom: The Dark Ages for Aggressive Run-and-Gun Players
If your first instinct when you see a horde of imps is to charge in guns blazing rather than hide behind cover, these upgrades will turn you into an unstoppable force of hellish destruction. The first pick you should prioritize is Hellish Speed Boost, which gives you a 20% movement speed increase, 15% faster weapon swap, and eliminates stamina costs for sliding. It’s perfect for dodging fireball barrages, rushing to close gaps with high-damage demons, and escaping tight corners when you get surrounded. The only downside is that it takes a few runs to get used to the faster movement, and you might run straight into traps if you’re not paying attention.
The next must-have for aggressive players is Berserker Rage Extension, which doubles the length of all berserker powerups and cuts incoming damage by 30% while you’re enraged. I’ve wiped entire rooms of 15+ demons with this upgrade active, and it’s a game-changer for boss fights where you need to deal as much damage as possible in a short window. Pair it with Shotgun Spread Reduction, which tightens your primary shotgun’s spread by 40%, and you’ll be able to take down mid-range demons without switching to a slower rifle. You don’t need to waste points on defensive upgrades if you’re running this build, since you’ll be killing demons faster than they can land hits on you.
Quality of Life Upgrades You Should Never Skip
No matter what playstyle you prefer, these upgrades will make every run less frustrating, and they cost far fewer soul shards than high-tier combat buffs. The first one I always pick up on every run is Soul Shard Magnet, which automatically pulls all shards, health pickups, and ammo drops within 10 meters to you. No more running around mid-fight trying to grab tiny shards off the ground while demons chase you, and you’ll collect 20% more shards per run on average without even trying. The second non-negotiable QoL upgrade is Map Marker Unlock, which shows all hidden secret areas, upgrade stations, and boss entrances on your in-game map. I used to spend 20 minutes per level wandering around looking for hidden secrets, and this upgrade cuts that extra time in half.
There are three more QoL upgrades that I never leave home without, even on challenge runs:
- Auto-Reload on Swap: Automatically reloads your stowed weapons while you use another, so you never pull out an empty shotgun mid-boss fight. I lost a final boss run last year because I forgot to reload my shotgun after a wave of minions, and this upgrade would have saved that run entirely.
- Fall Damage Negation: Eliminates all fall damage, so you can jump off castle walls to escape hordes without losing half your health bar. It also lets you take shortcuts through levels that would otherwise leave you too injured to fight the next group of demons.
- Quick Use Consumable Slot: Adds a dedicated button for health potions, so you don’t have to fumble through your inventory while being mauled by a hell knight. This is the first upgrade I buy on every single run, no exceptions.
A lot of new players skip these upgrades to save points for combat buffs, but that’s a mistake. Even the strongest combat build will fall apart if you’re wasting time reloading or fumbling for potions when you’re one hit away from death. I used to skip them too, until I lost that boss fight I mentioned earlier and realized how much value these small perks add.
Defensive Upgrades for Slow, Methodical Players
If you prefer to clear rooms one demon at a time, pick off stragglers from a distance, and explore every secret area before moving on, these defensive upgrades will keep you alive even when you make a mistake. The first pick for this playstyle is Overhealth Buffer, which lets you stack up to 50% extra health above your maximum cap. That extra buffer means you can take one extra one-shot hit from a hell knight or boss and still walk away, which is a lifesaver when you accidentally walk into a trap you didn’t see.
Next, pick up Armor Durability Boost, which makes your armor last 60% longer and increases armor drop rates by 30%. You won’t have to scramble for new armor every two encounters, and you’ll spend far less time searching for armor drops between fights. Pair it with Silent Movement, which makes your footsteps completely inaudible to demons when you’re crouching, and you can pick off entire rooms of demons one by one without alerting the whole group. Just note that silent movement doesn’t work if you fire a loud weapon without a suppressor upgrade, so pair it with the crossbow silencer perk if you want to stay fully stealthy.
Upgrades You Should Always Skip (No Matter Your Playstyle)
Not every upgrade in the game is worth your soul shards, and some are so useless that picking them will actively make your runs harder. The first one to skip entirely is Melee Damage Boost, which increases sword damage by 50%. Unless you’re doing a specific melee-only challenge run, getting close enough to demons to hit them with a sword is almost always a bad idea. Most high-tier demons have one-shot melee attacks, and you’re far better off attacking them from a distance than risking getting up close. I tested this upgrade for three full runs, and I died twice as often when I used it vs when I skipped it.
You should also skip Potion Duration Extension, which makes health potions last 20% longer. Health potions already heal you almost instantly, and the extra duration doesn’t make any noticeable difference in combat. You’re better off spending those points on the quick use consumable slot instead. The last useless upgrade to avoid is Crossbow Zoom Increase, which adds an extra zoom level to your crossbow. The base crossbow zoom is more than enough for every encounter in the game, and the extra zoom just makes it harder to track fast-moving imps and flying demons. You’re far better off saving your points for upgrades that directly impact your ability to stay alive or deal damage, rather than these niche, useless perks.
At the end of the day, the right upgrades depend entirely on how you like to play, but testing every option has shown that the best upgrades Doom: The Dark Ages offers all share one thing: they fit your playstyle without forcing you to adjust how you have fun. Don’t feel like you have to follow meta builds if they don’t feel good to use. Try a few different combinations on shorter runs, see what feels most natural, and adjust from there. You’ll be clearing hellish castles and taking down bosses in no time once you find the upgrade loadout that works for you.
