What wouldDOOMbe without its demons? Probably easier, but boring as well. Though theFPSseries is known for its guns, its gory violence, its bigger guns, and Hell, the enemies remain the heart and unholy soul of DOOM. They’re the perfect threat, demons that you can’t bargain with, can’t reason with, and can’t sympathize with.
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All you can do is rip and tear until it is done. Each game has added a new creature to the growing roster, but no matter how much things change, some demons are just too iconic to keep out. So, keep your Super Shotgun ready, because you’re getting an up-close look at the most memorable demons of the DOOM franchise.
The Backbone of Hell’s Forces
Demon Type
First Appearance
DOOM (1993)
The Imp might be the weakest soldier in Hell, but you can’t deny its role in the series. After all, the Imp is usually the first enemy players encounter at the beginning of every game, and no matter how many you kill, there’s always more coming. Since the first installment, Imps have always been accurate annoyances, hurling balls of hellfire at the Doom Marine.
Even if their attacks don’t cause a lot of damage, they almost always get a hit before getting gunned down. As the series has continued, the Imp’s gone through some facelifts and become more agile. Though it’ll always be the runt of the demonic army and the easiest enemy in the games, the Imp will always be part of DOOM.
7Hell Knight
The Hulking Berserker
This beast may resemble the Xenomorph fromAlienif it went on steroids, but in reality, it’s one of the toughest fighters in Hell’s army. The original Hell Knight wasn’t that unique when introduced in the second DOOM—just a recolored Baron of Hell sprite given less health. It wasn’t until the DOOM 3horrorgame that the Hell Knight obtained a much-needed redesign.
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It probably helps that the remodeled demon was also featured on the box cover for the third game. Its attacks have differed between games—originally used for hurling glowing projectiles at their foes, the new breed of Hell Knights prefers close quarters as they charge at players with strength and force. No matter how much its combat styles change, the Hell Knight remains an intimidating monster for its size and brawn.
He’s a Big One
It’s the bloated, blaster demon of the underworld. It’s an ugly beast that looks as if the sin of gluttony added heavy weaponry to its diet. It’s the Mancubus. The obese demon might be the slowest and biggest target on the battlefield, but it makes up for its faults with a strong defense and stronger firepower.
Though not the first demon to add guns to its arsenal, the Mancubus’ twin cannons carry devastating firepower. The newer games only continued to add to the Mancubus’ arsenal with the addition of a flamethrower and power wave attack for close quarters. And right when you thought it was enough, evil gets an upgrade with the Cyber-Mancubus—just replace fire with acid and layers of fat with layers of thick armor.
5Baron of Hell
The First Boss of DOOM
Believe it or not, the Baron of Hell was introduced in the first-ever boss fight of DOOM (1993). At the end of the first episode, two Barons appear and attack the player. Though that would be the last time the Baron would have boss-level status, that did little to diminish its overwhelming power.
Between its size, strength, and hurling balls of flaming pain, the Baron of Hell has more than earned its moniker. Just one is enough to give players a tough fight. Even after all these years, this enormous tormentor’s design has seen little change over the course of the games, remaining a giant goat-legged demon with massive horns. It wasn’t until DOOM Eternal when someone decided to attach two fiery blades to its forearms. Why stop there? Why not give the Pinky demon an invisibility cloak? Oh, wait.
Isn’t It Cute?
It might have a cute-sounding name, but this demon is anything but cuddly. Considered by many fans as one of thescariest monsters in the franchise, the Pinky demon is like a tank infused with a bull. This raging demon with an armored shell and speed may lack guns and other projectiles, but its ramming attack makes it a priority target.
Compared to the other demons of DOOM, little has changed about the Pinky demon’s design. It’s still a pink beast that loves to charge blindly into battle. The only thing more dangerous than the Pinky is its transparent cousin: The Spectre, which is basically the Pinky but invisible. Then again, it’s hard to be stealthy when you’re a large, shrieking demon.
The Rocket-Powered Skeleton
Cybernetic
Though it didn’t make its big debut until DOOM II, the Revenant has become the most unforgettable demon in the franchise. This unholy fusion of Hell and science is a tall skeletal monster in armor with two cannons mounted on top. Next to the zombies, the Revenant is one of the few demons that somewhat resembles the remains of a human.
Like many demons, the Revenant has received some minor changes as the games went on. Along with its shoulder-mounted rocket launchers, the cybernetic demon now sports its own jetpack, allowing it to fly around the arena and blast its targets from high vantage points. Not too shabby for such a boneheaded-looking demon.
2Cyberdemon
He’s Got Huge Guts
Cybernetic Boss
Before the Marauder, the Cyberdemon was the closest thing the Doom Marine had to a rival demon. As one of themost memorable recurring bosses throughout the games, the Cyberdemon is one of the rare enemies to battle the Doom Marine in one-on-one combat. Where the other demons are about overwhelming numbers, the Cyberdemon is about brutality and weaponry.
This unholy giant has made numerous comebacks, returning with new and more lethal weapons in its battles against the Doom Marine. Even when dead, it returns in DOOM Eternal in the form of a high-level enemy known as the Tyrant. Though the Cyberdemon’s weaponry and appearance may change from game to game, the universal strategy for defeating it remains the same: shoot it until it dies.
1Cacodemon
The Symbol of a Franchise
When you close your eyes and think of DOOM, the Cacodemon is usually the first thing players imagine. Not only is the round demon considered the mascot of the original game, but it’s also regarded as themost extraordinary demon design in gaming. It might not be a boss or a massive mechanical monster, but the Cacodemon is a memorable enemy of the series.
Where there’s one, another is sure to follow as the flying eyeball spits out painful balls of energy at the player, or when close, use its massive mouth to take a bite out of them. Unlike the other demons of DOOM, the Cacodemon’s appearance and abilities have remained virtually unchanged, except for DOOM 3. Even if it is just a red floating eyeball with horns and a mouthful of razor-sharp teeth, you can’t have a DOOM without the Cacodemon. It’d be like having a DOOM without a shotgun.
Doom (1993)
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