As you battle through the hellish realms of Doom: The Dark Ages, your survival hinges not just on firepower but on the strength of your armor. Unlocking the full potential of your defense means hunting down the elusive Armor Upgrade Leaders-formidable demons marked by a green shield icon, each guarding precious Demonic Essence that permanently boosts your maximum armor. From the Sentinel Barracks in Chapter 4 to the Siege Towers in Chapter 20, these epic confrontations will test your skills and strategy, but the rewards will transform you into an unstoppable force against the demonic onslaught.
The upgrade system in Doom: The Dark Ages allows you to not only make your weapons and shield stronger. They can make you an invincible soldier-only if you obtain all the Demonic Essence from special enemies called “leaders.” You can find leaders that’ll increase capacity for your ammo, health, and armor.
But it’s all too easy to get lost in hell looking for Demonic Essence. In this Doom: The Dark Ages guide, we’ll cover how to upgrade your armor and show you where to find all armor upgrade leaders in the game.
How to upgrade armor in Doom: The Dark Ages
To upgrade armor in Doom: The Dark Ages, you need to collect Demonic Essence from specific enemy leaders marked with a green shield icon above their heads. Defeating these leaders, who often appear with their demonic allies during Morale Encounters, grants you permanent increases to your maximum armor, raising it by increments of 10 points, from an initial 50 up to 150. These armor upgrades are essential for enhancing your survivability, allowing you to absorb more damage before your health is affected. The process involves locating and defeating these leaders across various chapters, with key encounters such as the armored Mancubus in Chapter 4 and the Pinky Rider in Chapter 6. Once you collect the Demonic Essence, your armor capacity is automatically upgraded, making it crucial to seek out these leaders as you progress through the game.
Armor in Doom: The Dark Ages works as a barrier, preventing your health from depleting when attacked. When all your armor bar is depleted, all damage will deplete your health bar. By having a larger pool of armor points, you can take more direct damage without worrying too much about losing health.
If you want to upgrade your armor, you need to collect the Demonic Essence from specific leaders. You can identify them based on a symbol above their heads. The leaders who give you the armor upgrade have a green shield symbol over their heads.
You can claim a leader’s Demonic Essence by defeating them in combat. Most encounters against leaders involve not only fighting a powerful foe but having to deal with their demonic companions who populate the arena.
Here’s a list of all the locations of armor upgrade leaders in Doom: The Dark Ages, followed by maps and a general explanation of how to defeat them.
Sentinel Barracks (Chapter 4)
Sentinel Barracks, the fourth chapter of Doom: The Dark Ages, is where players encounter their first armor upgrade leader. As you progress through the main mission, you’ll be directed to a red zone marked with a crowned skull icon-here, you’ll face an armored Mancubus, a tougher variant of the classic demon. Defeating this leader, who is distinguished by a green shield emblem above its head, rewards you with a Demonic Essence that permanently increases your maximum armor. The fight requires breaking the Mancubus’s armor, best accomplished using the Accelerator weapon and by countering its unique attacks, especially when it deploys a barrier with three fire points-one of which will always be green. Successfully defeating this leader not only boosts your survivability but also marks an essential step in upgrading your armor throughout the campaign.
The first leader who gives you an armor upgrade is found in Chapter 4 “Sentinel Barracks.” You’re led by the main mission to the red zone marked with a crowned skull icon.
The leader is an armored Mancubus. This is a stronger version of the regular Mancubus and they have unique attacks. Prioritize using the Acceleratorweapon to break their armor.
This demon has unique attacks that you can parry. Wait for them to release a barrier with three fire points. One is always green, so position yourself and use your shield. Hitting the leader with their own attack helps to break their armor faster.
Siege – Part 1 (Chapter 6)
In Chapter 6, “Siege – Part 1,” of Doom: The Dark Ages, players face a significant challenge as they work to destroy the Gore Portals. This chapter features the first armor upgrade leader with a morale bar, requiring players to defeat waves of demons to lower the leader’s shield. The leader here is an armored Pinky Rider, and the key to victory lies in focusing on larger enemies like the Mancubus to reduce the morale bar before engaging the Pinky Rider. Utilizing tactics such as countering Hell Surge arrows and maintaining distance for attacks is essential. Successfully defeating this leader grants a valuable armor upgrade, enhancing the player’s survivability in the game.
Destroying the Gore Portals in Chapter 6 “Siege – Parte 1” is a long mission, but it will inevitably lead you to the arena where the armor upgrade leader is. You can see the area by looking, from the initial gate to the right side of the map.
This is the first encounter with a leader who has a morale bar. This system gives leaders a shield that is only disabled after you have defeated a certain number of demons present in the area to deplete their morale bar.
Focus on the big ones – like the Mancubus who’s on a platform – to reduce larger chunks of the morale bar. Once the bar is down, it’s time to face the armor leader of this chapter, a Pinky Rider.
This boss wears armor, so you can follow the same strategy used against the previous leader. Parrying their Hell Surge arrows and shooting from afar is the best way to kill them and make sure you don’t die.
Abyssal Forest (Chapter 8)
In Chapter 8, Abyssal Forest, of Doom: The Dark Ages, players encounter a challenging armored Pinky Rider leader in the first large combat area near the Gore Portal. To obtain the Armor Upgrade, you must superheat the Pinky Rider’s armor with a Shield Throw and then defeat it. This leader does not have a morale bar, making the battle quicker but still demanding due to the presence of additional demons assisting it. Successfully defeating this leader grants you a Demonic Essence that boosts your armor capacity, essential for surviving tougher enemies as you progress through the forest on your way to the Forge.
Your journey as the Doom Slayer takes you to the Abyssal Forest in Chapter 8, trying to find the path to the Forge. In this chapter, you find another leader from whom you must claim an Armor Demonic Essence.
You can’t miss this leader since they are in a large area you must pass through during the main mission.
In this chapter, you need to follow another Pinky Rider leader, but this time they don’t have a morale bar. The process of defeating them is faster but not necessarily easier. Be careful with the other demons who are helping them and get yourself another Armor upgrade.
The Forsaken Plains (Chapter 10)
In Chapter 10, “The Forsaken Plains,” of Doom: The Dark Ages, players encounter a challenging Armor Upgrade leader located in the northeast near one of the two Hell Cannons that must be destroyed. This leader is an armored Mancubus protected by a morale bar shield that can only be disabled by defeating surrounding demons. Alongside the Mancubus, armored Hell Knights also join the fight, increasing the difficulty. Defeating this leader rewards the player with a valuable Armor Upgrade, enhancing survivability in the game. The area is marked by a red zone with a crowned skull icon, making it easier to locate on the map.
Chapter 10 “The Forsaken Plains” takes you to the remains of a battlefield where the body of an Atlan rests and one of the dangers you must face in this new area is an Armor upgrade leader.
You can find the leader by following the quest mark to the right side of the map. It will be pointing to one of the Hell Cannons that you need to destroy. In front of it, there is a red zone with a crowned skull icon.
The leader of chapter 10 is an armored Mancubus, an already familiar foe. However, this time they have a morale bar, elevating the difficulty of the encounter. Alongside the Mancubus, you will find armored Hell Knights, who can turn your life into hell.
Hellbreaker (Chapter 11)
In Chapter 11, “Hellbreaker,” of Doom: The Dark Ages, players face a critical armor upgrade challenge at the final battle arena just before entering the portal. After a hologram of Prince Ahzrak dismisses you, waves of enemies spawn, including Shield Soldiers, an armored Hell Knight, and the key adversary, an Agaddon Hunter. Defeating the Agaddon Hunter grants you the Demonic Essence needed to upgrade your maximum armor. This encounter is mandatory to progress, making the armor upgrade in this chapter unmissable.
After making your way through the infernal lands using the Atlan, it’s time to enter the castle and find Ahzrak in Chapter 11 “Hellbreaker.”
As you enter the actual building while progressing the main mission, you reach the arena where some demons like Whiplashes and Revenants will be waiting for you.
The leader of this chapter, an Agaddon Hunter, appears after you have defeated some of these initial enemies. Agaddon Hunters are strong enemies and they can become invulnerable when enveloped by a barrier.
They do perform, however, slash attacks that you can parry. Try to bait them and prepare your shield. Consider using your strongest close-range weapon for this fight.
From Beyond (Chapter 13)
In Chapter 13, “From Beyond,” of Doom: The Dark Ages, players face a challenging encounter atop a spire where they must destroy Demonic Portals while battling demonic forces alongside their cyberdragon. The key armor upgrade leader in this chapter is a Revenant who appears after clearing the area of lesser demons like Imp Stalkers and Whiplashes to deplete its morale shield. This intense fight takes place near the last Demonic Portal, and players must strategically parry incoming energy skulls to activate their Shield Rune and exploit the leader’s vulnerability. Defeating this Revenant grants a vital armor upgrade, making this encounter both a crucial and unmissable part of progressing through the chapter.
You have a vast arsenal of weapons, a cyberdragon, and all the courage you could muster to face the giant tentacles from another world in Chapter 13 “From Beyond.” Use all you have to reach the final arena in the chapter and find another Armor upgrade leader.
The fight occurs in front of the final Demonic Portal and it is against a Revenant leader. They have a morale bar which you can quickly deplete by defeating the Imp Stalkers and Whiplashes in the area.
Even after the leader’s shield is down, a Vagary demon will appear. You should focus on defeating them before going after the leader since their attacks cover the arena.
As regular Revenant demons, the leader will shoot skulls of energy at you. Try to parry all green skulls to trigger your Shield Rune. When they freeze, parry the double projectiles. This will make the Revenant stop being invulnerable faster.
City of Ry’uul (Chapter 15)
In Chapter 15, “City of Ry’uul,” of Doom: The Dark Ages, the Slayer ventures into the eldritch Cosmic Realm on a mission to rescue Thira. The level features a mix of platforming, puzzle-solving, and intense demon combat, with a focus on activating a massive portal to progress the story. Players will encounter various secrets and collectibles, including gold, rubies, wraithstones, and upgrades, while facing challenging enemies such as Nightmare Imp Stalkers, Mancubi, and armored Hell Knights. Notably, this chapter includes an armor upgrade obtained by defeating a powerful Hell Knight after navigating through a series of platforming segments and combat encounters. The chapter also presents three mission challenges that test combat skills like parrying and using specific weapons effectively. Overall, City of Ry’uul offers a complex and rewarding experience with multiple secrets to uncover and tough foes to conquer.
Although the location of the leader in Chapter 15 “City of Ry’uul” is easily reached during the main mission, triggering the encounter involves finding a secret place.
Once you’re on the platform with a crowned red skull icon, use the green gate to reach the next platform. A Mancubus will appear to your right. Kill them and climb the wall. Cross to the other side of the new area, get close to the edge and drop to the lower level of this platform.
Use the newly formed green portal to cross the area and get to a platform with a tree. Destroy it with your shield to trigger the encounter with the leader.
You will be fighting an armored Hell Knight. The challenge is to survive against the other demons that appear on the platform. From Revenant to a Cosmic Baron, you need to beat them all before the leader spawns.
The Kar’Thul Marshes (Chapter 16)
In Chapter 16, The Kar’Thul Marshes, players encounter a challenging armor upgrade leader known as the Agaddon Hunter located in the northwest part of the map near one of the two Relic Fragments. This leader encounter involves defeating the Agaddon Hunter along with waves of shielded demons to deplete its shields before finally slaying it to obtain the armor upgrade. The area is also rich with secrets and collectibles, including wolf statues that must be destroyed to complete the Hunter challenge and earn additional rewards. Successfully defeating the Agaddon Hunter grants a significant boost to your maximum armor, enhancing your survivability in the game.
You’re getting close to the end of the game but there are still some leaders to defeat. You find one of them in Chapter 16 “The Kar’Thul Marshes.”
The main mission in this chapter is to gather the Relic Fragments and as you get to one of them on the left side of the map, you can find the arena where you meet another Agaddon Hunter leader.
They have a morale bar and the enemies in the area are tough ones. There is a Cacodemon Hybrid and an Acolyte attacking you alongside the leader. Go after the former first since they are easy to hit, then look for the latter.
To defeat the leader, you can follow the same strategy we used in the previous encounter with one of these demons. Parry their attacks and hold your shots when they have the barrier around them.
Belly of the Beast (Chapter 18)
In Chapter 18, “Belly of the Beast,” of Doom: The Dark Ages, the Slayer finds himself literally inside the massive creature known as the Old One after being swallowed. The chapter focuses on navigating the grotesque interior filled with pulsating organs and hostile demons. The primary objective is to destroy a central organ by punching its protective tubes, which weakens the creature and opens the path forward. Players face intense combat encounters, including a challenging Acolyte and a Cosmic Baron, whose defeat rewards an important armor upgrade. The chapter also features several secrets and collectibles, such as codex entries and toys, as well as two mission challenges: “Swallowed Whole,” an optional stomach encounter, and “Toe-To-Toe,” which requires parrying Cosmic Baron attacks. The environment is claustrophobic and biologically unsettling, with puzzles like the snapping teeth door requiring interaction rather than timing tricks to progress.
In Chapter 18 “Belly of the Beast,” you’re exploring the inside of a huge creature and looking for its weak spots. In the area where you find the first of these, you also find this chapter’s leader.
Before the fight can begin and the leader is summoned, you need to defeat some waves of enemies composed of Mancubus, Shield Soldiers, and a Cosmic Baron.
The leader is an Acolyte, one of the most annoying demons in Doom: The Dark Ages. They aren’t necessarily stronger than a Cyberdemon or an Agaddon Hunter, but they have a shield and warp to another location if you get too close.
Use a gun like the Impaler to damage them from afar and, if you can get close enough, use one of your shotguns or even the Rocket Launcher to hit them hard.
Resurrection (Chapter 20)
In Chapter 20, “Resurrection,” of Doom: The Dark Ages, players face the final armor upgrade leader encounter. Located near the right-most Siege Tower on the map, this leader is an Acolyte supported by various demons such as a Mancubus, Cosmic Baron, and Cacodemon Hybrid. Unlike some previous leaders, this Acolyte does not have a morale bar, but it is recommended to clear the surrounding enemies before engaging. Defeating this leader grants the last armor upgrade in the game, completing the Slayer’s armor enhancements and unlocking the Essential Armor achievement. This chapter is also notable for its extensive combat and objectives, including destroying Siege Towers and progressing the story of the Doom Slayer’s revenge.
The mission to destroy all the Siege Towers in Chapter 20 “Resurrection” forces you to explore most of the areas in this chapter. You end up finding the last Armor upgrade leader in front of the tower on the right side of the map.
You will need to defeat another Acolyte leader and they get some help from all the other bad boys you have already faced. There is a Mancubus, a Cosmic Baron, a Cacodemon Hybrid, a Revenant, and more.
Want to discover the secret locations of all armor upgrade leaders in Doom: The Dark Ages
To uncover every armor upgrade leader in Doom: The Dark Ages, you’ll need to track down powerful demon leaders marked by a green shield icon across key chapters. These leaders drop Demonic Essence that permanently boosts your maximum armor, crucial for surviving hell’s relentless onslaught. Notable locations include the armored Mancubus in Chapter 4’s Sentinel Barracks, the Pinky Rider in Chapter 6’s Siege – Part 1 arena, another Pinky Rider in Chapter 8’s Abyssal Forest, and the Acolyte leader in Chapter 20’s Resurrection mission. Each encounter demands strategic combat against the leader and their demonic allies to claim these vital upgrades and maximize your armor from 50 up to 150 points.
Where are the armor upgrade leaders located in each chapter of Doom: The Dark Ages
Here are the locations of all armor upgrade leaders in each chapter of Doom: The Dark Ages:
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Chapter 4 – Sentinel Barracks: The first armor upgrade leader is found in a red zone marked with a crowned skull icon on the main mission path.
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Chapter 6 – Siege Part 1: The leader is located within the Siege arena area, accessible through a Gore Portal; defeating this leader grants an armor upgrade.
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Chapter 8 – Abyssal Forest: Another armor upgrade leader awaits in this chapter, requiring you to defeat them and their minions to claim the Demonic Essence.
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Chapter 10 – The Forsaken Plains: Contains an armor upgrade leader that drops Demonic Essence upon defeat.
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Chapter 11 – Hellbreaker: Features an armor upgrade leader as well.
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Chapter 15 – City of Ry’uul: The leader here is easily reached during the main mission, providing another armor upgrade.
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Chapter 20 – Resurrection: The final armor upgrade leader is found here, completing the set of ten upgrades available in the game.
In total, there are 10 armor upgrade leaders spread throughout these chapters, each marked by a green shield icon above their heads and dropping Demonic Essence that permanently increases your maximum armor from 50 up to 150 points.
