If you’ve spent dozens of hours slaying demons through the gritty medieval setting of the Doom: The Dark Ages total conversion mod, you’ve probably daydreamed about holding your favorite in-game character or weapon in real life. I first stumbled across Doom the Dark Ages toys at a local modding convention three years ago, and I’ve been slowly building my collection ever since. These aren’t just generic action figures—every detail, from the rusted steel plating on the Crusader Slayer’s armor to the jagged edge of the Hellfire Battle Axe, pulls directly from the mod’s iconic art style. In this guide, I’ll break down everything you need to know to start or expand your collection, avoid overpaying for fakes, and show off your pieces properly.
Most Sought-After Doom the Dark Ages Toys for New Collectors
Official mass-produced toys for the mod don’t exist yet, so almost all pieces are small-batch, fan-made, or released in limited runs by the mod’s development team. Many Doom the Dark Ages toys are produced in runs of less than 1000 pieces, so they sell out quickly when they’re first released. For new collectors, it’s best to start with more affordable, widely available pieces before chasing rare limited editions.
The most popular entry-level piece is the Crusader Slayer 7” Action Figure, first released by the mod team in a run of 500 pieces. Secondhand copies go for $150 to $200 on trusted collector marketplaces, and they come with three interchangeable weapons and a display base printed with the mod’s logo. If you’re on a tighter budget, the Hellhound Plush costs less than $30, is made by a small indie toy maker that partnered with the mod team, and is soft enough to display on your couch or desk. For people who love customizing their figures, the 1:12 Scale Hellfire Battle Axe Accessory fits most standard 7” action figures, has hand-painted flame details, and costs less than $15.
You don’t have to drop hundreds of dollars on your first piece. Many independent 3D makers sell unassembled, unpainted versions of popular figures for as little as $20, so you can customize them yourself if you’re crafty. Just make sure you buy from sellers with positive reviews from other mod fans to avoid low-quality prints.
How to Spot Authentic vs. Bootleg Doom Dark Ages Figures
As the mod’s popularity has grown, bootleg toys have started popping up on social media marketplaces and generic e-commerce sites. Bootleg Doom the Dark Ages toys are often sold for half the price of authentic pieces, but they’re rarely worth the savings. I once bought a bootleg Crusader Slayer for $40 on a local marketplace, and the arm fell off the second I took it out of the package. There are three easy checks you can do to make sure you’re buying an authentic piece before you hand over your money:
Legitimate sellers are almost always happy to send you close-up photos of the logo, paint details, and packaging if you ask. If a seller refuses to send extra photos or only uses stock images in their listing, it’s best to walk away. You can also cross-check prices with collector forums to make sure you’re not overpaying for a piece that’s usually much cheaper.
Easy Customization Tips for Your Doom Dark Ages Toy Collection
One of the best parts of collecting toys for a mod is that you don’t have to stick to the official designs. You can customize your pieces to match your favorite in-game character builds or level settings, even if you don’t have professional crafting skills. Most Doom the Dark Ages toys are made to standard 1:12 scale, so you can swap weapons and armor pieces between figures to create custom versions of your favorite characters.
The easiest customization to start with is weathering your figures. You can use cheap acrylic paint and a dry brush to add rust, scratch, and dirt effects to make your figures look more like they just came out of a hellish medieval battle. I did this with my basic Hell Knight figure last year, and it looks way more high-end than the $25 I paid for it. Just make sure you use a clear sealant after you’re done painting to keep the design from chipping off.
Another cheap, high-impact customization is building custom base displays. You can buy cheap wooden bases from craft stores for less than $5 each, then add fake moss, small rock bits, and even tiny LED lights to mimic the hellfire torches from the mod’s early castle levels. That means you don’t have to spend hundreds on custom display cases to make your collection look impressive. If you want to go a step further, you can 3D print small custom pieces like broken castle walls or demon skulls to add to your display bases for free using files shared by the mod community.
Proper Care to Keep Your Collection in Mint Condition
Even affordable pieces can last for decades if you take care of them properly. I’ve made plenty of mistakes caring for my collection over the years, so I’ve picked up a few simple rules that keep my figures looking brand new. If you’re planning to resell Doom the Dark Ages toys down the line, keeping them in mint condition can double or triple their value over time.
The first and most important rule is avoid direct sunlight. UV rays will fade the paint on your figures and the fabric on plush pieces over time, so keep them on a shelf away from windows or use UV-protective display cases if you want to put them in a sunny room. I learned this the hard way when my Hellhound plush’s red eyes faded to pale pink after sitting on my windowsill for six months.
Dust your collection regularly with a soft microfiber cloth or a small clean makeup brush, and don’t use cleaning products with harsh chemicals—they can strip the paint off plastic figures. If you have jointed figures, don’t leave them in extreme poses for months at a time, that can stretch the plastic joints and make them loose over time. If you do get loose joints, a tiny drop of clear nail polish on the peg will tighten it back up without damaging the figure. If you’re storing toys long term, keep them in a cool, dry place, not a damp basement or hot attic, that can cause plastic to warp or fabric to grow mold.
At the end of the day, collecting Doom the Dark Ages toys is all about showing your love for one of the most creative Doom total conversion mods ever made. You don’t have to spend thousands on rare limited-edition pieces to have a collection you’re proud of—even a few affordable, well-cared for figures can be a great conversation starter with other fans of the mod. Take your time to research sellers, don’t be afraid to customize your pieces to match your favorite in-game loadouts, and you’ll have a collection that brings you joy for years to come.
