Doom: The Dark Ages Guide | How To Dispatch All Cultist Circles

The objective is to kill all the cultist rings in this Doom: The Dark Ages chapter 5. A thing to remember here is that all or most of these fights are optional. If you proceed too far into the level without killing the cultists within an area, you won't be able to go back and get them without recapturing the entire mission. These cultist encounters are missable, so ensure you get them before moving on.

Finding the First Cultist Circle

You start this challenge from some particular point on the map you visit for the first time. From there, your first step is moving straight along the main path. It may seem like a normal passage section, but remember that you won't be able to return to the beginning section of this map if you miss after progressing to the following sequence or riding the dragon. 

As you progress through this sequence in Doom: The Dark Ages, you will see two enemies before you, and as you go downstairs to the lower area, you'll encounter two enemies. These are very important to kill. 

You may not find them again if you have cleared this area once. In the fight, you will be in the classical shoot-and-dodge combat mode. One will be on one side and the other on the opposite side. Kill both of them using this mode. 

After killing both, the game will allow you to go to a different area. This provides an opportunity to do several interactions and activities on the ground floor. Stay here for your time, but ensure you don't get in on the dragon before doing anything else.

Before continuing, locate the cultist circle in the area. You can spot it by glancing to one side and observing the terrain. If you don't see it or don't attack this group, you'll miss your opportunity once you're on the dragon. 

You're landing almost right next to the cultist circle, so as soon as you land, run directly to it. The enemies will be waiting. Finish those off first before proceeding. You must replay the level later to obtain it if you don't. It's easy to miss in Doom: The Dark Ages.

Find the Second Cultist Circle

Once you've completed everything in the first zone, head back to the entrance area. From there, instead of moving forward as before, turn to the right side of the entrance. Here, you'll spot another ship ahead, indicating the following location in chapter 5 of Doom: The Dark Ages.

Walk towards the ship and get ready to enter combat mode once again. As you walk, you will notice enemies who try shooting you with a green energy beam. Let them shoot, but jump out of the way at the perfect time. After dodging them properly, you can destroy the barriers and remove the threats.

After you have cleared the area and destroyed the barriers in Doom: The Dark Ages, a new landing will be available. That is your signal to land. When you land, you can enter the interior of a hell ship.

Within the ship, climb up until you see an entrance. Drop down into the room below, where you must kill many enemies. Make sure to cover every angle while you shoot because you'll be surrounded by enemies from every angle. Move around the ship and shoot to kill the enemies. Once clear, keep going down to the next area. 

Progressing through the Doom: The Dark Ages mission will take you into another group of enemies. You can avoid killing them if you intend to continue and don't want to waste your time. Regardless of your choice, look around you, and you can spot a Sentinel Shrine, an important landmark. 

When you get to the shrine, turn right. There will be a money trail that will take you into a new region. Follow the trail, and it will take you down. Drop down once, then a second time, and you will fall into a pit where the next cultist circle is. Kill the cultists to finish this portion of the challenge.

Third Cultist Circle

After you've finished that section in Doom: The Dark Ages and have done everything in that area, return to the dragon and mount it again. It will take you back to the entrance area. This time, instead of going right or forward, head on over to the left-hand side of the starting point.

As you make your way to the left, you will encounter a distorted creature that is a landmark. Past this, you'll notice another vessel. Again, you'll need to wait for the enemy to fire at you so you can execute another well-timed dodge. 

Once you avoid the green projectile again, destroy the targeted areas and finish the battle. When the ship crashes, a new landing point will be visible beneath you. Land there, and proceed through the open path. You'll get to fight a second mini-boss, so prepare your weapons accordingly to fight the boss in Doom: The Dark Ages. 

Super Shotgun and Final Cultist Circle

Once you've killed the mini-boss, head for the object emitting a light within the level—this is the Super Shotgun. You will need to loot it to unlock the following door. This shotgun is a variation of the former shotgun, but you need to use it to continue on this level.

Once you've picked up the Super Shotgun, head into the new room. There's some ammo there, so stock up if needed. You'll then need to clear another group of enemies. After they're dead, you'll notice a breakable barrier nearby. There's a ruby inside that room. You can break through the barrier and pick up the Ruby, but it isn't mandatory. 

Turn to the right from where you've just come from. You'll notice a path going up. Head up that path and you'll find another breakable wall. Smash it open, and you'll uncover a switch. Flip that switch, which will let you climb even higher. At the top, keep following the ledges.

Finally, you'll come to a section where you can fall into another circle. This is where the last cultist circle is located. These two cultists are the last of the bunch that you must kill off to finish the Countercult challenge.

After you've killed all of the cultist rings in these three main areas, you'll have succeeded in the Countercult challenge within Chapter 5 of Doom: The Dark Ages. The cultists are easy to miss, particularly if you accidentally become too involved in combat or board the dragon too early. The difficulty level also doesn't alert you that you'll have to replay the entire mission if you miss one, so be careful and follow the guide.

 

Also, check our Doom: The Dark Ages Review and other guides below:

• Doom: The Dark Ages Guide | How To Dismount Chapter 5 Dragon
• Doom: The Dark Ages Guide | How To Beat Vagary Champion Boss