Dreadmace Guide | Doom: The Dark Ages
Image Credits: id Software, DOOM: Dark Ages
The Dreadmace is the final melee weapon you unlock in Doom: The Dark Ages, and it's designed to hit like a wrecking ball. It has a long cooldown, only one charge, and feels slow… Until it lands. Then it turns the battlefield into a pile of body parts and gives you all your ammo back. It’s risky, it’s rewarding, and with the right upgrades, it becomes an emergency nuke tied to your fists.
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How to Get the Dreadmace
You unlock the Dreadmace in Chapter 15: City of Ry’uul. During the mission, you’ll be following an objective tied to activating a portal. Just stick with the main path, and the Dreadmace will be handed to you along the way. You can’t miss it.
Once you grab it, it joins your melee weapon wheel alongside the Gauntlet and Flail.
How It Works
Single charge, with a cooldown after each use
Hits hard, dealing high damage to one target and splash to others
Refills all of your ammo on a successful hit
Perfect for boss phases, demon packs, and moments where you’re out of options
If you miss, though, you’re stuck waiting for the recharge. That’s why you’ll want to line it up carefully and save it for when it’ll hit multiple targets or interrupt a boss animation.
Dreadmace Upgrades
The Dreadmace has three main upgrade options. Each tier has two choices, but unlocking one will grant access to both, you just pick which one you want to use.
Tier 1 – Reaper
Demons killed with the Dreadmace drop extra health. Helps with sustain in crowded encounters.
Tier 2 – Obliterator
Your strikes deal increased splash damage to nearby demons. Turns each swing into a mini explosion.
Tier 3 – Riposte
Parrying a surge attack while your Dreadmace is charged grants you a second Dreadmace use for a short time. There's a cooldown on this effect, but it's excellent for boss fights.
When to Use the Dreadmace
When you’re completely out of ammo
When you need a safe full refill mid-boss fight
When you’re surrounded and don’t have Flail ready
After parrying, if you’ve taken Riposte
Don’t waste it on single weak enemies. Save it for key moments, and it’ll carry you through the toughest fights in the game.
Final Blurb
The Dreadmace isn’t something you use when spamming. It’s a one-shot solution to big problems, best used when your guns are dry and your screen is red. If you land the hit, you’re right back in the fight with full ammo and a room full of bodies. Miss, and you’re running. Use it right, and it’s one of the most powerful tools in Doom: The Dark Ages.
FAQ
Q: Where do I find the Dreadmace?
ou unlock it in Chapter 15 during the main objective path.
Q: How many charges does it have?
Just one. It has a cooldown before it can be used again.
Q: Does it really restore all ammo?
Yes. If you land the hit, you instantly get a full ammo refill.
Q: What upgrade should I use?
Obliterator is great for AoE, Riposte is better for bosses. Reaper is best if you’re low on health often.
Q: Can you switch upgrades later?
Yes, once both are unlocked you can toggle which one is active at any time.
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