How to use Doom2 weapons more effectively - August 6, 2004 - Rellik

Many times newer players will have difficulty using Doom's weapons to their best as some of them, particularily the BFG in 1 on 1 games, can be tricky. Here we'll go weapon by weapon listing tips and tricks as well as countering tips and tricks.


1. Fist / Chainsaw - The Fist is really a last resort weapon in serious competition with the chainsaw only marginally better. They don't do enough damage to be particularily useful. Getting the Berserk powerup will make the fist inflict a great deal more damage but it can still be difficult to use as you need to get right up against the target. The Berserk Fist is good for fun frags or just humiliating your opponent. :-)


2. Pistol - The Pistol is also a very limited weapon as it fires slowly and does little damage. If you have to use it don't hold down the fire button. If you fire one shot at a time the bullets are perfectly accurate so you can snipe an opponent for a significant distance. Still pretty much useless.


3. Shotgun / Super Shotgun - The small shotgun can be useful as it doesn't have a huge shot spread and is therefor still marginally potent at medium distances. At long distances it probably is more damaging than the SuperShotgun as it only uses half the ammo. If you only have one chance to hit your opponent your still better off with the SSG. Both weapons are much better suited to close up combat where the SSG really shines. The SSG is devastating up close and will ofter result in one-shot frags as long as the target has little or no armor. With the SSG I recommend quickly getting as close to your opponent as you can and attacking. It quickly loses it's effectiveness with distance so there's no point in plinking at them from a ways off unless you know you've already dealt them a lot of damage. It's an up close and person weapon so use it accordingly.

GENERAL PROJECTILE WEAPONS INFO: With projectiles it's important to fire NOT where the target is, but where they will be when the projectile gets to them. It can take some practice to properly lead a moving target especially in DOOM where players move so bloody fast. There are other ways to lead you target as well, like shooting at their destination. This doesn't just mean leading the target, but thinking about where they are headed. For instance you see a player come out into a courtyard heading towards an SSG sitting on the ground. By timing it right you can just fire directly at the SSG so the opponent gets fragged when they get to it. This can work really well with players going for stuff like medikits and stimpacks in particular as well as players pausing to activate a lift or wait for a slow door to open.


4. Chaingun - The Chaingun can be a very effective weapon if used properly. Up close just hold down the trigger and light 'em up. The bullet spread isn't huge so within 192 units you can just spray them down. From longer distances it is still a very good gun but you need to use it more carefully. From long distances line up your target and then tap the trigger, don't hold it down. The first two shots will be perfectly accurate, so if you calmly fire in two shot bursts every shot will hit dead on. If you stick to double taps you can bring down an opponent from considerable distance often before they even get into range to use their own weapons.

5. Rocket Launcher - Ah the good ol' Rocket Launcher. You'll notice there is a long delay between when you fire and when the rocket actually leaves the gun, this is what makes the RL hard to use and has been the cause of countless rocket suicides over the years. This means that accuracy isn't just about lining up the crosshairs or properly leading the target. Even if you do lead your target sufficiently many players hit the fire button and immediately stop aiming as carefully, turn to run away. turn to another target, etc. You need to keep everything lined up for that 3/4ths of a second until the rocket is actually released. To be really effective at using the Rocket Launcher you have to get used to the timing. Practice firing slightly before you show yourself around a corner/through a doorway so your opponent doesn't have that split second delay in which they can light you up with a blast from an SSG or Chaingun. Also keep in mind the rockets blast radius. To get a frag you don't necessarily have to even hit them, you just need to get it to explode right next to them on a wall, a tree, a lamp, etc. If you are playing on a server that allows mouselook remember it's much better to shoot at your opponents feet as even if you don't score a direct hit the splash damage will still get them. Also it can be a good tactic to lob a rocket or two down busy hallways or into darkened rooms even if you don't see anyone. It's immensly satisfying to fire a shot down a corridor, walk away and get a frag on an opponent you never even saw.

COUNTER: The best defense against someone with a Rocket Launcher can most often be a good offense. If you get right up to them they risk blowing themselves up to frag you which is an acceptable way to die as the Rocket Launcher player will lose a frag for the suicide and thus won't gain anything. Many players will hesitate to fire which will give you an opening to blast them with your own weapon. Also rockets don't fly terribly quickly which can give you adequate time to dodge out of the way. The key to dodging rockets is to see them all the way in. Keep your eyes on the player firing them and try to not dodge towards walls or obstacles. Also don't just go left or right, zig-zag back and forth to make it hard for them to properly lead you. This is especially effective against bots even if their aim is perfect.


6. Plasma Rifle - While the Plasma Rifle can be a great (or annoying) spray-and-pray weapon it doesn't reach it's full potential this way. You can do a great deal more damage if you are running and firing as your forward speed decreases the distances between the plasma balls. This way by the time you reach your target you can have a nice wall of plasma death plowing a path infront of you. Also it's a good idea to use the stream to herd enemies in a certain direction. If there is an open room to the left of your target and a wall to the right, begin by firing to the left of the opponent. This way they have to move right to dodge the plasma which they usually instinctively do. Now just keep moving the stream closer until the target hits the wall. If you do it right while advancing you can herd them into a place where they can't get away from your wall of plasma death. It's usually not a good idea to use it in close combat as you can be blinded by the plasma exploding right infront of your face. Like the Rocket Launcher it isn't a bad idea to hose blindly down hallways where an unsuspecting player can walk into it from a room or intersecting corridor.

COUNTER: I personally like to keep a bit of distance away and plink at them with bullet weapons, or if I have a Rocket Launcher it can be quite effective as the attacker may not see the rocket coming towards them through the stream of plasma.


7. The BFG - The BFG, while it can be easy to use in 3+ player free for all games it can be difficult to use against a skilled opponent in smaller games. The BFG works in a very round about way which you need to keep in mind. The big green ball is only the first part of the attack. When the ball explodes invisible shots fan out from you damaging whatever they hit. It's this second attack that is the real power behind this weapon. An important thing to keep in mind about the second attack is that it is emitted from you in the same direction you were facing when you fired the big ball. So if you fire North, when the ball explodes the second attack will also be fired North even if you are facing South. Weird huh? Well, the BFG was designed to be a good single player weapon and just kind of ended up in deathmatch as a by product. To better use this weapon you need to be able to use the second attack effectively. Say you want to spray the second attack down a hallway because it's easy for opponents to dodge the greenball. Before going down the corridor turn so you are facing towards the corner so if you strafe sideways you will be looking straight down the hall. Now get back as far from the corner as you can to give you plenty of time before the BFG ball hits the wall. Now fire and the instant the ball fires out strafe into the hallway. If you do it right the ball will hit the corner just as you get to the center of the hall, the ball will explode and the invisible rays will fire down the corridor annihilating anyone infront of you. This also works with firing into trees or pillars, just time it so the ball explodes when you want the rays to be fired out. Think of the green ball as the trigger, and when it explodes the second gun fires. It can be quite tricky but once learned can turn you into deadly (if somewhat lame :-p ) opponent.

COUNTER: When going up against a BFG'er keep in mind that the second attack comes out only in the direction they were facing when they fired the ball. Get behind them and you're safe and can attack at your convienience as it takes a while before it fires again or they can switch weapons. Mostly I just get as aggresive as I can in an attempt to blow them away before they can get a shot off. Remember there's a delay before it actually fires the ball so you do have some time to run up and give 'em a face full of the good stuff. In a big FFA game if there's a lot of BFG'ers your best bet is to find another server. In big games there is little defense against them so there's little point in trying.