Best Sentinel Shrine Upgrades In Doom: The Dark Ages To Get First

The Incendiary boost for the Combat Shotgun sets enemies ablaze with relentless fire damage, including fodder demons like Imps and Zombies, dropping armor shards when they’re on fire.

Such passive shard regen lets you stay shielded without needing to farm picks all the time, which is useful, especially during chaotic fights. As your most typical weapon, the shotgun’s small but steady output of armor can make all the difference between chain-slaying and being overwhelmed.

Shield: Retaliation

Retaliation greatly amplifies the shockwave effect when you parry an enemy attack, turning a defensive maneuver into a crowd-controlling ability. The amplified shockwave repels larger demons and instantly gibs nearby weaker demons, giving you back space and time to collect yourself.

It also applies Heavy Falter damage to enemies, which lengthens stagger time, giving you precious extra seconds to position your next precision shot.

Combat Shotgun: Smelt

Smelt is the second upgrade level of the Combat Shotgun and takes directly off the burn damage of Incendiary by increasing the number of armor shards dropped when dying. Smelt will restore your shields during the middle of combat with high-level demons like Hell Knights and Revenants, enabling you to absorb one or two hits and continue fighting.

When combined with Incendiary, Smelt makes your shotgun a consistent source of defensive sustenance, and it is one of the best investments to make during the early game. You know what they say, the best offense is a good defense!

Impaler: Stalwart and Salvage

Stalwart refunds Impaler ammo whenever you parry an attack of Hell Surge, essentially giving you near-infinite ammo when dualing boss-level demons dependent on Hell Surge. Salvage then boosts that synergy by charging your next Impaler shot after recovering ammo, dealing more damage, and a splash area of effect.

Combined, these upgrades make the Impaler a boss-fighting powerhouse with sustainable ammo and burst damage considerations.

Cycler: Shock and Amplify

The Shock upgrade applies an electromagnetic effect to your attacks, stunning targets for a little bit and preparing them for combos. Amplify increases the weapon damage on repeated shots, making the Cycler an all-around weapon for crowd control and extended DPS.

As a middle-of-the-road weapon, the Cycler is highly enhanced by these upgrades, offering you a good choice when you desire flexibility and reliable performance against different types of enemies.

Final Thoughts

By locking in these five upgrades early, you’ll maximize your survivability, maintain ammo efficiency, and establish control over the battlefield, key factors in securing your fight in Doom: The Dark Ages. Remember to scout for Rubies and Wraithstones in hidden alcoves and challenge Demonic Essence bosses for permanent health boosts, ensuring you’re always ready to invest in the next great Sentinel Shrine upgrade!

Keep these priorities in mind, and you’ll dominate the darkened halls of Doom: The Dark Ages with confidence.