Best Doom The Dark Ages Upgrades

In Doom The Dark Ages, building the perfect loadout is all about smart upgrades. With gold, rubies and wraith stones scattered across demon-infested maps, players need to make smart, strategic choices to get the most out of every resource. The right mix of weapon mods and ability perks can turn the tide of battle and give you a massive advantage before you even hit the halfway point of the campaign.

To help you get started, we’ve hand-picked the best Doom The Dark Ages upgrades worth investing in early and midgame. These are the ones that offer real value, enhance your core combat loop, and open up new playstyles whether you’re setting demons ablaze, absorbing damage, or unleashing explosive carnage.

Gold Upgrades: Smart Early Game Picks

Gold is the most common currency in Doom The Dark Ages, so use it to lay the foundation of your build.

Retaliation – Shield

Unlock this immediately. Retaliation turns every parry into a shockwave, interrupting nearby demons. Since parrying is a crucial mechanic, this upgrade adds both defence and crowd control to every encounter.

Incendiary – Combat Shotgun

Add fire to your arsenal. This upgrade causes enemies to ignite after a few blasts, and burning enemies drop armour. This not only increases your damage output but also keeps you protected.

Pin Cushion – Shredder

This gives the Shredder a deadly twist. As you fire, spikes build up in enemies. When you parry or hit them with your shield, those spikes detonate and cause splash damage. Pin Cushion is part of the Shredder’s first mod slot, which also unlocks Ricochet. Though Ricochet is situationally useful, Pin Cushion is far more reliable for general combat.

Conditioning – Flail

If you’ve swapped out the starting gauntlet for the flail, Conditioning is essential. It cuts the cooldown by five seconds, making the weapon more viable in extended fights.

Cannibalism – Rocket Launcher

One of the most creative Doom The Dark Ages upgrades, Cannibalism temporarily turns self-inflicted rocket damage into healing after a parry. This allows you to deal massive damage up close without punishing yourself.

Ruby Upgrades: Game-Changers Hidden in Red

Rubies are earned by solving puzzles, completing level-specific challenges, or winning combat trials. They’re more valuable than gold and should be used wisely.

Tuneup – Combat Shotgun

Tuneup adds triple-shot functionality to the combat shotgun. This drastically increases fire output and makes it easier to ignite enemies right away for consistent armour drops. It’s the best ruby-tier shotgun mod unless you’re constantly running low on ammo.

No Frills – Shredder

Pair this with Pin Cushion. No Frills speeds up the fire rate, helping you spike enemies faster and trigger more frequent detonations. It’s aggressive, simple and very effective.

Blademaster – Shield

Blademaster extends the stun duration on shield throws, buying you critical breathing room in fights. This is one of the more defensive Doom The Dark Ages upgrades, letting you control the battlefield more effectively.

Wraith Stone Upgrades: Rare but Powerful

Wraith stones are limited and usually tied to tougher challenges or rare locations. These are the two best picks for midgame progression.

Bloodlust – Rocket Launcher

This extends the healing duration from Cannibalism. Combined, these perks make the rocket launcher safer to use at close range and allow you to convert high-risk splash damage into a consistent healing tool.

Eat This – Combat or Super Shotgun

Eat This boosts the number of pellets per shot. Whether you prefer the Combat or Super Shotgun, this adds serious stopping power and amplifies close-range effectiveness. It’s one of the few Doom The Dark Ages upgrades that benefits both standard and upgraded versions of the shotgun equally.

Final Thoughts

Every playstyle in Doom The Dark Ages is supported by smart upgrade paths. Whether you prefer fire, brute strength, or tactical defence, choosing the right mix of perks can dramatically improve your combat performance. The key is to start strong with gold upgrades, build momentum with ruby options, and save your best picks for wraith stones.

If you’re aiming for maximum efficiency, these are the best Doom The Dark Ages upgrades to prioritise. They strike the perfect balance between power, utility, and fun—helping you become the most efficient demon-slaying Sentinel possible.

Want more? Click here for How to Beat All DOOM The Dark Ages Enemies – Tech Drive Play

Zachary Skinner

Zachary Skinner is the editor of TechDrivePlay.com, where tech, cars and adventure share the fast lane.
A former snowboarding pro and programmer, he brings both creative flair and technical know-how to his reviews. From high-performance cars to clever gadgets, he explores how innovation shapes the way we move, connect and live.