Chainsaw (Doom Eternal)



The chainsaw returns as a weapon in Doom Eternal, with much of its functions and appearance based on its previous counterpart from Doom (2016). It remains a limited-use "power weapon" which can be used to kill even powerful enemies quickly, so long as sufficient fuel is available. Kills made with the chainsaw reward the player with ammo drops; as ammo is much scarcer and ammo capacities are noticeably reduced compared to the previous game, it is vital to use the chainsaw regularly. It has a special key assigned to it to make it easier and quicker to use it against demons to get ammo drops. It is introduced near the start of Hell on Earth, as a mandatory pickup required for the game to continue.

The blade of the chainsaw refers to itself as the Mixom Bucktooth Dopesaw. This is a reference to Doom 3, where Mixom chainsaws had been delivered erroneously to Mars, and to the Dopefish, which is also seen as a secret in the polar Cultist Base level.

Tactical analysis
Like in Doom (2016), the chainsaw instantly kills enemies it is used against but requires fuel to be used. Because it forces slain monsters to drop large quantities of ammo, it is a key part of the basic combat loop in Doom Eternal alongside glory kills and the flame belch.

In some contexts killing a demon with the chainsaw counts as a glory kill, but in others it does not. For example, the chainsaw will activate the Blood Fueled rune but will not recharge the Sentinel Hammer.

Fuel usage
The chainsaw now has a maximum of three fuel units, with one always recharging on its own. This makes it possible to regularly use the chainsaw against fodder-tier enemies without need for fuel pickups, greatly increasing its value as a way of obtaining ammo for other weapons.
 * Fodder: 1 unit (weak enemies like imps or gargoyles).
 * Heavy: 3 units (most of the game's demons except fodder, minibosses and bosses).
 * Super Heavy demons (arch-vile, tyrant, marauder, Doom hunter, baron of Hell) and bosses can't be killed with the chainsaw.

As the chainsaw can kill heavy demons when holding 3 units of fuel, it is recommended to always do so when given the choice between a light and heavy demon, as both will bring you back to 0 units, which will soon become 1 unit again, and both refill your ammo equally. However, don't delay a vital ammo refill more than a few seconds in an intense combat situation, for any reason.

Lore
The Night Sentinel weaponmasters had a saying: "it is the warrior that makes the weapon great". The Doom Slayer's unconventional choice of adding a chainsaw to his arsenal has proven this adage right time after time thanks to its capabilities for dismemberment.