Doom 3 Quick Weapons and Enemy Guide

This guide was written by Wing L. Mui ([email protected],
http://www.wingie.org) on 8/7/2004. It was written mostly because the
Doom 3 section of GameFAQs (http://www.gamefaqs.com) site was quite
empty and he had some time on his hands. This is not meant to be the
definitive FAQ nor is it a walkthrough (this game is quite linear,
and most of the time there's only one path anyway, so unless you're
looking for secrets you don't really need a walkthrough) of the game.
Also, he is not affiliated with id Software in any way.

This document is (c) Wing L. Mui, 2004. Doom 3 and everything
related to it is (c) id Software. This document is licensed under the
Creative Commons licence 2.0. See
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/ for details.

Keep in mind that all these numbers are from the default difficulty
setting of the game. They may (and probably will) change depending on
which level of difficulty you play. I have only played through the
normal (Marine) difficulty.

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Weapons

1 - Fists. Melee weapon, doesn't consume ammo, but is quite slow and
useless. Don't use this unless you absolutely have to. There are
times in the game when you get "possessed" and you cannot use
anything but your fists. While the "possession" is in effect you're
invincible and your fists do incredible damage! Run around and punch
as many enemies as you can before it runs out!

2 - Pistol. Ranged weapon with a capacity of 12 bullets. I think you
can hold up to 360 bullets at once, though by the time you get this
many bullets you'll most likely have bigger and better guns. It fires
rather fast and is good for short and mid-range fights, but it takes
a while to reload.

3 - Shotgun. My favorite weapon in the game. Ranged weapon with a
capacity of 8 shells. I'm not actually sure how many shells you can
hold as I never maxed out (told you it was my favorite weapon) but I
would assume that it's over 120, as I had that many at one point.
Each pack of shells gives you eight, while enemies frop four shells.
Very powerful at point blank, but its power decreases rapidly with
distance. The shotgun also takes the longest to reload--assuming
you're reloading an empty shotgun as the shotgun is the only weapon
that has a variable reload time depending on how empty it is--and has
a rather long cool-down period between shots. Don't count on rapid-
firing it. But it is very handy early and mid-game when you can't
afford to waste ammo, and in Hell.

4 - Machine Gun. Ranged weapon with a capacity of 60 bullets. It
takes clips as ammo and you can hold up to 600 bullets. Each clip
gives you 30 shots while enemies drop 10 per clip. As the name
suggests, it fires rather rapidly, and is good for all ranges--though
it doesn't go too far. The best long-range weapon in early game. It's
reload time is average.

5 - Chain Gun. Ranged weapon with a capacity of 60 bullets. You can
hold up to 600 bullets. Each ammo belt gives you 60 bullets while
enemies drop 30 per belt. Very powerful rapid-fire weapon. You even
get a video disc describing how powerful it is! =) It's all for any
distance though I find it better at mid- and long range. It fires
very rapidly, and hits slightly harder than the machine gun, but
takes slightly shorter to reload. You won't find much chain gun ammo
in the beginning and the best use of the chain gun is to just hold
the fire button, so it's not that useful until midgame. Warning: it
takes a split-second before the chain gun spins up and fires when you
press the fire button, so don't let go after you click!

6 - Hand Grenades. You can hold 50 of these explosive grenades. Each
pack you grab gives you 5 more. They pack a serious punch but do not
use them in melee, as they denonate upon impact with the enemy (not
with walls though) and if you get caught in the explosion you'll take
a lot of damage. They also bounce off walls and their explosions
detonate barrels of explosives, so beware. You can throw these a bit
faster than you can fire the shotgun, and there's no reloading.

7 - Plasma Gun. Ranged weapon that can hold 50 charged. You can
carry up to 500 charges total, and they come in cells that give you
25 charges each (though some cells look bigger and has two blue
glowing humps and they count as two cells). Fires a bit slower than
the machine gun but still rather rapidly, and the reload time is
around the same as the machine gun's. It does heavier damage than
both the machine and chain gun though. It also has very good range.
Beware that the plasma bolts are rather large and may not get through
small holes, tights corners, in between railingsm etc. unless you aim
carefully. Also, the plasma bolts don't travel as fast as bullets.

8 - Rocket Launcher. Ranged weapon that can hold 5 rockets, 96
total. Each rocket pack you get gives you 5 rockets. This is the most
powerful "normal" weapon in the game. It fires pretty quickly but
only holds five shots. Upon hitting anything the rocket explodes,
dealing damage to everything around it. Therefore, do not ever use it
in melee! Reloading isn't that slow, suprisingly.

9 - BFG 9000. The ultimate ranged weapon! It holds 4 charges and you
can carry 32 of them. Charges come in the form of this green cube
that looks like a gelatinous cube, with 4 charges in each cube.
Essentially the gun fires a semi-homing giant green glob of energy.
The glob fries every enemy around it with radiation as it travels,
and then explodes when it hits the target. As the video disc in the
game said, everything around it probably won't survive. You can also
hold the fire button before releasing it to charge the gun up so it
does more damage--you can look at the charge status on the gun's
display itself. However, charging up the gun uses more ammo and if
you charge it beyond level 4 it'll overload and kill you.

0 - Chainsaw. The ultimate melee weapon! Just hold down the fire
button and point it at what you want dead. They will die very, very
soon. It is the most powerful weapon in the game. However, its range
is about one foot... Consumes no ammo, and very noisy even when
you're not activating it, so it may mask sounds of approaching enemy.

Q - The Soulcube. The best weapon in the game! The Soulcube consumes
no ammo, but needs to be charged by killing five demons (any five
demons) using other weapons before it can be used. Each time you
charge it, you can use it once. When the cube is charged, a symbol
next to your ammo display will light up and the cube will whisper
"use us...". You can then press Q, fire to release the cube, and once
the cube is out of your hands it will switch back to your previous
weapon. The cube acts like a boomerang: it will fly towards the
target (unless it hits a wall or something), hitting everything in
the way and a bit beyond, and then fly back. It will destroy any non-
boss enemy on contact and also drains their life! With the exception
of the smaller demons (like the Trites/spiders) everything (including
Imps) will give you all your life back. Very handy.

Chainsaw vs. Shotgun: Why would you want to use the shotgun when you
have the chainsaw? While the chainsaw is powerful, it takes a second
or two before you saw that demon in half. In that second, it can hit
you for some damage. However, with the shotgun at that range, the
demon will instantly die leaving only its ashes and the smell of
brimstone in your path.

----------------------

Enemies

Zombies
These are slow-moving civilians who got turned into zombies. Their
only attack is whacking you. Do not underestimate them! They
sometimes ambush you and their hits hurt! Some of them wield things
such as wrenches and hit for 9 damage even when you have armor on.
Try to kill them from a distance, until you have the chainsaw. They
will die after 6 hits from the pistol or 1 point blank shotgun shot.
Later on in the game, use the pistol or chainsaw for these guys so
you can save precious ammo for your better guns. (It takes four to
five plasma bolts to kill these guys!)

Shotgun Zombies
As the name implies, they are zombies with shotguns. Try not to
fight them in close range. If you do, 2 shotgun shells will
definitely do the trick--though it will probably give it a chance to
shoot at you for about 5 damage. It takes about 6 to 10 pistol shots
to kill these guys. Once you get a machine gun (8 to 12 bullets per
zombie) they should be no problem.

Machine Gun Zombies.
Zombies, with machine guns. They actually look for cover and try to
hit you from a distance, so I guess their brains weren't completely
eaten after all. Shooting them with the pistol or machine gun while
they're reloading would do the trick, if you have something to hide
behind. Two shotgun shells at close range would also work. If you
have to, a rocket or grenade would also kill one of these in a pinch.

Imps
You'll see a lot of these in the game. They can hurl fireballs at
you or jump and claw at you. The fireballs do 7 damage and the
slashes 4 each. The best way to take these down is 1 shotgun blast at
very close range, running up to it while it's charging its fireball
so it doesn't have time to claw you. 2 or 3 at short range while
strafing their fireballs also works, but that wastes precious shells.
A shotgun shell directly at one jumping at you will stop it short,
though that is hard to pull off. If you have the space, take them out
before they jump at you. They take about 13 bullets or 8 plasma bolts
to kill. As usual, one explosion will take them out as well. If it
does get within melee range, the only way to deal with them is to
back up and shoot them and hope they die before they claw you again.
=) A note: their fireballs are being thrown at you, literally. That
means that they travel in a parabolic arc, so sometimes overhead
structures can protect you from them.

Pinky (Giant Dogs)
They are very, very mean at close range, though they have no ranged
weapons. If you're cruel, jump on a crate and rain death upon them.
Otherwise try to back up while firing at it. They can actually take a
direct hit from a grenade or a rocket without dying, and by the time
your shot was fired they'll be too close for the next one. Pumping
lead into them while walking back does the trick. 20 to 40 bullets,
20 to 30 plasma bolts, or 4 shotgun shells will take one out. You can
kill one with 2 shotgun shells if it's very close, or if you fire
your second shot right when it gets next to you, but that can be
risky. Chainsaw works well too, but you'll take some damage unless
you're running back at the exact same speed as it and it's just
repeatedly running into your chainsaw.

Maggot (Two-Headed Demon)
They are melee fighters--Imps without fireballs, really. Shotgun
works very well if you can't pick them off at a distance. Deal with
them the same way you'd deal with an Imp. Sometimes they actually
teleport short distances, though that's a good thing. Simply pull out
your shotgun, wait at the red glowing portal where it is
materializing, and shoot its head with the barrel one inch away from
it while it materializes. Instant dead demon. =)

Trites (Spiders)
When you see little small slots 1/2 or 1/3 the size of one you can
crawl in on the ground, know that Trites will come out of them sooner
or later. At the distance, they are harmless and the best way to take
them out is with the pistol (to conserve ammo) and the machine gun. 2
bullets or 2 plasma bolts or 1 of everything else kills a Trite
instantly. At mid- and close range, the shotgun works well (kills one
or even two with one shell) but since it reloads slowly you may get
swarmed. Switch to another weapon instead of reloading if you can if
one or more Trites are close by and you're out of ammo. When you need
to take them out fast (outside Monorail Bridge, for example), a
grenade will kill a whole bunch at once. They are very good for
charging up your Soulcube. =) If they get close, shotgun them or just
spray them with bullets. They do 7 damage per swipe and if you're
swarmed it is deadly.

Lost Soul (Flaming Skull)
Same thing as Trites, except they fly. When you're in an open area
in mid-game, beware of them. Machine/Chain gun and the plasma gun
work well on these since they so try to dodge your shots. 2 or 3 of
anything will kill them, 1 if you're using the shotgun when they're
close.

Cacodemon (Giant Sphere)
They are giant floating spheres and can spit giant plasma bolts from
their mouthes. The blots do 7 damage, but their splash radius is
slightly bigger than the Imps' fireball's. The best way to deal with
them is a rapid-fire weapon, as your bullets will shoot down the
plasma bolts as well! At close range, the shotgun works very well (2
to 4 shells, depending on distance) and so does the chainsaw. The
rocket launcher can kill them in one direct hit, but since they fly
getting a direct hit at long range is hard.

Cherub (Babies From Hell)
They are essentially like Trites, except tougher, faster and hits
harder. Take them out at long range, as only a very direct and close-
up shotgun hit will kill it, so using the shotgun may give it a
chance to hit you.

Revenants (Skeletons with Rockets)
The infamous skeletons with shoulder-mounted rockets! The easy way
to kill these is with the plasma gun. Just aim slightly below its
head and the stream of plasma will actually destroy the rockets as
they come out! 20 to 30 plasma bolts will bring one of them down
easily. Doing the same trick with the machine/chain gun doesn't work
as well, but if you have no plasma gun ammo, that would have to do.
Try to aim for the rockets when they are launched, and you can
probably take one down before it hits you. They take 2 rockets to
kill, and since there are more cells than rockets, use the plasma gun
instead. In a pinch, 2 short range shotgun shells or even the
chainsaw works wonders on them--if you can dodge the rockets. Oh yes,
the rockets are homing rockets, so hiding behind crates don't work...

Hellknight (Giant Demon with Blue Fireballs)
They're like Imps, except much, much, much more dangerous. With a
direct hit of their fireball it deals about 30 damage (and that's if
you have armor!) and the splash radius of the fireball is quite
large. They also swipe you for a lot of damage close up. If there's a
lot of space around, fight them mid- to long range with the rocket
launcher (4 rockets will kill them), the plasma/chain gun (a lot of
bullets/cells), or the BFG (charge up to level 3, or it won't kill
him in one hit!). Using the pistol or fighting close range is not
recommended. The first time you meet these guys is in Hell. Save your
chain gun and rocket ammo for these guys the first time you're in
Hell! Once you get the Soulcube, however, you can kill them with one
hit from the Soulcube.

Fat Demon
There is probably a better name for it, but if there is one I don't
know it. They hurl plasma balls (as powerful as the Hellknight's) at
you and they do it pretty fast. The same strategy for fighting the
Hellknight applies to these. Rockets seem to work very well, as 3
will kill one. I have not actually gotten close to one of these yet,
so I don't know how well the shotgun and the chainsaw work against
them. They (or something like them) also appear in the Monorail
Bridge area as a mini-boss along with some Trites. The chain gun
works well there, as you don't have anything better (a round of chain
gun ammo should kill one). The advantage you have then is that you
have a lot of pillers to hide behind, unlike when you meet them in
Hell.

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Bosses


Vagary (Giant Spider)

You first meet her in the Alpha Labs. She attacks by telekenetically
throwing metal balls at you and by swiping you. Granade her as much
as possible at the beginning, and then keep pumping her with lead
using your machine gun. There's not much to hide behind in the
battlefield and not much in terms of supplies, but she's not that
tough. Later on you meet a few of her in the end of the Caverns.
They'll be travelling with some Trites. So all you have to do is
Soulcube them back to Hell. =) If you run out of cannon fodder to
charge your cube with, just rocket them. The only reason she was
tough in the beginning is because you didn't have heavy weapons.


Guardian, Guardian Seeker

You'll actually hear him referred to as "Guardian", so no
description needed. =) You meet him at the end of Hell, and he guards
the Soulcube. Make sure you have the rocket launcher from Hell,
otherwise it'll be a tough fight. He has two attacks: an eight-way
fireball spread (easier to dodge when you're far away) and a swipe
(which does quite a lot of damage). There are also several seekers
(demons with searchlights) hovering around. The only way to damage
the Guardian is to kill the seekers, and then a blue light will
appear above the guardian. Shoot the blue light and the Guardian will
be damaged. After a few seconds the blue light will fade as more
seeks will appear. Just repeat the sequence until it dies.

The seekers are annoying because they fly. The chain/plasma guns
work well against them, as is the rocket launcher (which kills one in
1 hit) but the best way to deal with them is to use the shotgun. 2
shotgun shells (1 if you wait until they drop down a bit first) will
kill one of them. Rockets are the best way to damage the Guardian--
other guns too, in a pinch, but forget about melee--and about 10
rockets will kill the Guardian. Make sure your launcher is reloaded
before you kill the last seeker! And keep moving. If the Guardian
gets too close you're as good as dead. Also, there are some rockets
lying around the area if you run out.

If you haven't noticed yet, you get unlimited stamina in Hell. So
don't walk, run.


Cyberdemon (Tank)

In the CPU core you will find the Cyberdemon, which seems to be what
became of the Sarge. When you found the NPC who lost his BFG-9000 and
a video disc telling you how the BFG can be defeated, you knew that
you were going to have to fight a demon with the BFG. Yes, the
Cyberdemon indeed is equipped with the BFG and also a swipe attack. A
direct hit from the BFG will kill you, as it should, so be careful.

The room has four pillers. They will sometimes be eletrified and
touching them when will shock you for quite a lot of damage. As if
that's not enough, the room is a giant platform, which means that you
can fall off the edges! Luckily, there are items lysing around. To
the left is a chamber with some armor, and to the right is a chamber
with some med kits. Be careful, though, as the chamber doors open
slowly. There are also a med kit and two cells behind the pillers,
though they are between the pillers and the ledge, so getting them in
the heat of combat could be dangerous.

The BFG, as mentioned before, will fry everything in the room that
the green plasma ball as line of sight to slowly, and then detonate
when it hits a wall or you. The detonation will kill you instantly,
and the radiation will hit you for 2 damage every second (more if you
have no armor). The only way to stop it is to hit the green ball with
anything--even splash damage from rockets would work.

There are three ways to kill this guy. The first is the cheapest
method. Equip your rocket launcher and fire at the middle of the
demon as soon as the garage door opens, and one of your five shots
will destroy its initial BFG shot. Then switch to the chainsaw and
chainsaw it until it dies. If you have full health and armor, it
should die before you do--and will leave you relatively unharmed, as
it does not fire the BFG when you're too close.

The second way is to run around, shoot the BFG shots, and shoot the
Cyberdemon when you can. You have to be very, very careful of the
pillers and the ledges if you do this. And keep moving, so even if
you miss the BFG won't hit you. The plasma gun is the best at this as
the plasma bolts are very good at hitting the BFG shots. The third
way involves staying in one of the item alcoves and sniping the BFG
shots as well as the demon. This is the trickest method but if your
aim is good it will work--but it'll take a long time. In either case,
stuck reloading while a giant glob of green plasma is heading your
way is a bad idea.


Sabaoth

The final boss! This demon is a giant demon equipped with a rocket
launcher. Luckily, the rockets are not homing. The battlefield is a
circular ring. Falling off the inside or outside will lead you to a
quick lava-filled death. Don't do that. Imps will climb into the
battlefield from the middle of the ring. That's a very good thing as
you need them to recharge your Soulcube, the only weapon that can
damage the final boss. There are also some armor and a small amount
of ammo lying around. Note that the boss can only be harmed by the
Soulcube.

This fight is actually quite easy, as long as you keep moving and
don't fall off. Keep killing Imps (you can even shotgun them while
they're climbing!) until your Soulcube is charged, press Q, locate
Sabaoth, aim at its chest so no Imps are in your path, fire, and then
run (luckily(?), you're in Hell, so you can run as much as you want)
away. Thanks to the fact that the Soulcube is a boomerang it returns
to you automatically. You want to be at least 1/3 the ring away from
him at all times, which isn't hard to do actually.

The real problem here are the Imps. You're likely to face several of
them at once and while they don't do much damage individually they
are quite annoying as a pack, especially when they get close. You
also want to keep moving so Sabaoth doesn't hit you. The shotgun is
too slow for this, and the machine gun not powerful enough. Use the
chain or plasma gun--although the rocket launcher can kill Imps with
one hit it doesn't do you any good when the Imps move in too close--
to kill the Imps. If you keep moving while you do this their
fireballs shouldn't hit you.

What I did and think is the best method is to just use the chainsaw
for the Imps. The health you lose from the Imps is trivial compared
to what you get back from the Soulcube. Just keep moving (kind of
like circle-strafing except you're in close range) and you'll be
fine. In fact, the only time I died in this fight was when I fell off
a ledge. =)

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If you have any questions, e-mail me at [email protected].
I don't promise to answer them, but I'll try.