In Doom: The Dark Ages, Chapter 6, or Siege Part 1, drops gamers onto a large battlefield full of secrets, riches, and formidable foes. One of the most sought-after items in the chapter is the Purple Key, a key needed to unlock a series of secret areas and treasures.
This complete guide will walk you through discovering the Purple Key and utilizing it to find the chapter’s hidden treasures.
Mission Synopsis: Siege Part 1 – Doom: The Dark Ages
Siege Part 1 is one of Doom: The Dark Ages’ most action-filled and gastronomical missions and represents a climactic middle point in the campaign. Set in a war-shattered medieval city under siege by Hell’s most brutal hosts, the mission places players amid a multi-faceted battlefield replete with demonic hordes, environmental hazards, and hidden secrets. The level is constructed around a central fortress backed by razed ruins, subterranean crypts, and sky bridges—every portion of the level designed especially to challenge players’ reflexes and exploration habits.
Because the second the Doom Slayer comes into play, he must endure perpetual ambushes, overcome navigation challenges, and master new weapon features like the shield saw and the blaze gauntlet. This chapter also features greater open spaces than earlier missions, allowing space to integrate ranged combat with close-quarter violence. Sidestep cutscenes, side missions, and secret areas like those created by the cunning Purple Key, “Siege Part 1” provides a nostalgic piece of the Doom experience.
Finding the Hidden Purple Key in Siege Part 1
The Purple Key is found nearly in the center of the Siege Part 1 map. From the Sentinel Shrine where you start, head north until you encounter a small outpost in front of a cave. There will be a battle between two Mancubus demons at some market stalls.
Once you defeat the threat, look for a hill to the left; ascending it will bring you to a wooden platform overlooking a cobblestone road, where the Purple Key is.
Unsealing Secrets with the Purple Key
Using the Purple Key, a couple of secret areas that were locked away are made available. Here’s a quick rundown, but if you’d like a closer look, check out this guide for Siege Part 1 in Doom: The Dark Ages. Here it is:
- Slayer Toy: To the immediate left of where the Purple Key is, an out-of-reach door in the mountain has a collectible Slayer toy.
- Impaler Nightmare Skin: At the far left of the map, there is a cave containing a purple door. Within, you can find the highly sought Impaler Nightmare weapon skin.
- Ruby and Codex Page: A cliffside purple door protects a ruby and a codex page in the middle section. To find this place, you have to solve a puzzle: kill a green goop monster using your shield throw to access a lever lowering a platform, which you use to reach the treasure.
Advice for Effective Exploration
- Use the Automap: Frequently refer to your automap to determine what you have not explored yet and monitor your progress.
- Listen for Sound Cues: Secret areas usually make distinct noises. Listen closely for subtle sound clues that suggest secrets nearby.
- Backtrack if Needed: Once you have obtained the Purple Key, explore previous parts of the map to open doors you might have skipped before.
- Conserve Ammo When Possible: This tip might be considered common sense, but it’s a nice reminder. Even if you’re not trying to find everything in Doom: The Dark Ages, keep this in the back of your mind. Melee attacks can and will help!
Final Thoughts
The Purple Key in Siege Part 1 is more than a trophy; it’s an entrance to some of the chapter’s most guarded secrets. Through this guide, you won’t just gain a new, exclusive skin like the Impaler Nightmare skin but also gain a greater appreciation for the genius design of Doom: The Dark Ages.
With so many missions and secrets in Doom: The Dark Ages, you’ll probably want guides to get them all. Don’t forget to visit here to find what you need!
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