In the brutal medieval-inspired world of Doom: The Dark Ages, your avatar serves as your digital identity across multiplayer modes and leaderboards. While the game throws you straight into the action with its default Doom Slayer appearance, many players don’t realize the depth of customization available. From fearsome medieval knight variants to hellish demonic transformations, your avatar can become a true reflection of your playstyle and accomplishments.
This guide will walk you through every method of changing your avatar, whether you’re looking to equip that rare skin you just unlocked or want to showcase your hard-earned prestige rewards. We’ll cover the menu navigation that many players miss, explain how different game modes affect your displayed avatar, and reveal some secret skins that aren’t immediately obvious. By the end, you’ll be able to terrify your opponents with a perfectly personalized demon-slaying persona.
Table of Contents
Doom: The Dark Ages: Accessing the Avatar Customization Menu
The process of changing your avatar in Doom: The Dark Ages is surprisingly intuitive once you know where to look, though the game doesn’t explicitly point you toward this feature during its breakneck-paced opening hours. From the main menu, you’ll want to navigate to the “Slayer’s Keep” section (represented by a medieval castle icon in the top-right corner), then select “Armory” from the submenu. This brings up your customization hub where avatar options occupy the leftmost tab.
What makes Doom: The Dark Ages’ system particularly interesting is how it ties avatar appearances to your in-game achievements. That badass flaming skull avatar you’ve seen top players using? It’s not available for purchase – you’ll need to complete the campaign on Ultra-Nightmare difficulty to earn it. The game currently offers 27 base avatars with 14 additional unlockable through challenges, creating a satisfying progression system for dedicated players.
Types of Avatars and How to Unlock Them
Doom: The Dark Ages categorizes its avatars into four distinct classes, each with unique acquisition methods. The “Legacy” set contains classic Doom Slayer variations, immediately available to all players. “Herald” avatars become accessible after completing specific campaign chapters, with the badass Plague Doctor avatar waiting for those who finish all gothic cathedral missions.
Multiplayer enthusiasts will want to focus on the “Battleforged” collection, earned through ranked play milestones. These include the fan-favorite Black Knight avatar (50 ranked wins) and the terrifying Blood Moon Berserker (top 1% seasonal ranking). Finally, the “Primeval” category holds the game’s rarest cosmetics, like the Fallen Angel avatar that only 0.3% of players currently own after completing an ultra-secret Easter egg chain.
Recent datamining suggests id Software has plans to add crossover avatars in future updates, with files referencing a “Wolfenstein Crusader” and “Quake Champion” skin found in the latest patch. These will likely appear as limited-time rewards or premium purchases.
Avatar Customization Tips and Tricks
While changing your base avatar is straightforward, true customization masters know the value of combining this with other personalization options. Your avatar actually appears in three key contexts: the multiplayer lobby (full-body render), in-game player icons (small portrait), and the campaign’s reflection surfaces (first-person view).
For maximum intimidation factor, coordinate your avatar with your weapon skins and armor set. The Bone Collector avatar paired with the Ivory Hellshot skin creates a monochromatic terror that plays psychological tricks on opponents. Competitive players should consider visibility – the default Doom Slayer avatar actually provides slightly better camouflage in dark multiplayer maps than some flashy alternatives.
A little-known trick: holding the preview button (Square on PlayStation, X on Xbox) for three seconds on any avatar will play its unique animation, helping you choose based on personality rather than just appearance. The Medieval Executioner avatar’s guillotine twirl remains one of the most satisfying to watch.
Troubleshooting Common Avatar Issues
Many players report frustrating issues with avatar customization. Here are solutions to the most common problems:
| Issue | Solution |
|---|---|
| Unlocked avatar not appearing | Restart game to sync with servers |
| Avatar resetting to default | Check for corrupted save file (Settings > Game > Validate Saves) |
| Multiplayer avatar not displaying | Ensure “Show Custom Avatars” is enabled in Network settings |
If you’ve completed requirements for an avatar but haven’t received it, check your Challenge Log (pause menu > Records) to confirm completion. Some trackers don’t update until after a match concludes.
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FAQs
1. Can I use different avatars for campaign and multiplayer?
Yes! Set your preferred campaign avatar in the Armory, then adjust multiplayer separately in the “Online” tab.
2. Are avatar purchases shared across platforms?
Currently no – skins are platform-specific due to store policies, though this may change with future updates.
