The Dark Ages' Revelations DLC Fundamentally Changes the Game on July 7

Doom: The Dark Ages is getting its anticipated Revelations DLC on July 7, and ahead of its release, id Software has revealed a massive wave of new details about the upcoming DLC. Game Rant attended this presentation, where everything from the new Chain Spear to the new/returning enemies and progression systems was shown for Doom: The Dark Ages.

The biggest addition is obviously the Chain Spear. At first glance, it looks like another melee weapon, but id Software has designed it as an entirely new combat system. Players can instantly swap between the Chain Spear and Shield Saw, allowing them to weave both weapons into the same combo, and yes, the entire Revelations DLC is built around the left arm in Doom: The Dark Ages. For example, the Spear has unique skill trees for each of its active abilities, like Stab, Slash, Slam, Throw, and Orbit. It also introduces a new movement tech like a grapple hook, which turns the Slayer into a Monster truck, per id Software.

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Doom’s Entire Revelations DLC is Built Around the Chain Spear

The Chain Spear also grows alongside the new Doom: The Dark Ages campaign. According to id Software, unlocking the spear’s full potential takes the entire campaign, with developers designing the expansion around players mastering the weapon by the end. In fact, by the DLC’s final hours, the Chain Spear is considered essential, making it much more than a flashy new weapon.

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To facilitate that, Doom: The Dark Ages‘ combat is getting a few significant tweaks and additions. Several classic Doom enemies are returning, including the Archvile and Pain Elemental, alongside new variants and additional demons built specifically for the expansion. The Shield Saw has been updated with new upgrades to better complement the Chain Spear, while weapons like the Dreadmace have received balance changes to make them feel better to use. id Software has also improved enemy threat detection, increased the game’s already over-the-top gore, refined visual and sound effects, and made several combat systems more responsive. Slayer Gates are also returning, alongside new Master Arenas that are designed to push experienced players to their limits.

Doom: The Dark Ages’ New Levels and Exploration Features in Revelations

Outside of combat, the Revelations DLC places a much larger emphasis on exploration. New locations feature light Metroidvania-inspired progression, with players regularly revisiting earlier areas after unlocking new abilities and keys. Around 40% of the DLC’s content is considered endgame, opening up after the main story as players gain access to new paths, tougher encounters, Slayer Trials, puzzles, and even playable classic Doom levels. All of these new progression paths eventually feed back into this new endgame loop for Doom: The Dark Ages, which takes the player across all six levels of the DLC:

Proving Grounds
Purgatory (hub)
Hell’s Core
Chasm of Xal’Goroth
Osseus
Uprising

A lot of that progression carries over into Ripatorium 3.0, which launches alongside the DLC. Doom: The Dark Ages players will be able to save custom encounters, share them through much shorter codes, explore three new maps, and use enemies and tools unlocked during the campaign inside the mode.

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A New Doom Story Arrives on July 7

Narratively, the DLC pushes the Slayer’s story forward as one would expect. The Khan Maykr returns, and several lingering questions from

Doom (2016) and Doom Eternal receive new answers. Players will also learn more about the Sentinel Civil War, the Wretch, Marok, and the Slayer’s armor, while expanded codex entries promise much deeper lore than the base game. It should be, by all accounts, a lore feast for long-time Doom fans.

Scratch & Peek

Identify the cover art while scratching off as little foil as
possible.

Even with all of those additions, id Software still has some secrets hidden away for players to discover when Doom: The Dark Ages’ Revelations DLC releases on July 7. It remains to be seen what all players discover, but just like Revelation is an important scripture in the Bible, Revelations is important to the Slayer and to the Doom franchise. In many ways, fans might just consider this Doom: The Dark Ages 2, and it’s clearly attempting to punch above its price.