Cacodemon (Doom 2016)

A cacodemon.

This article is about the monster in Doom (2016). For other games, see:

• Cacodemon
• Cacodemon (Doom 3)
• Cacodemon (Doom Eternal)

The cacodemon returns in Doom (2016) with an appearance closely matching the original version of the monster. It is a red-colored, floating, round monster with a single glowing green eye and a large mouth full of razor-sharp teeth. Unique to this incarnation are vestigial arms and legs which hang below its body, a reptilian-like stomach pouch between its arms, and a rough, armored appearance to its skin, which is studded with horns and small spikes.

Tactical analysis

Health: 2000

Chainsaw Fuel Usage: 3

The cacodemon will attempt to move toward the player whilst spewing toxic bile until it reaches melee range, before biting and dealing a significant amount of damage. Cacodemons usually spawn in areas where there is a lack of movement (e.g. in the Necropolis mission after the initial drop). Thus, it becomes paramount to kill the cacodemons before a group of them corner the player, ideally by focusing fire on its vulnerable underbelly. Being hit by the bile spew has a blinding effect, leaving the player vulnerable to further attacks by the cacodemon and any other monsters present.

In arenas or levels where movement is restricted to platforms, attempting a chainsaw/glory kill may cause player death by falling.

The rocket launcher with its lock-on modification will kill a cacodemon from a long range in six rockets, or two locks.

Attacks

Attack	Too Young To Die	Hurt Me Plenty	Ultra Violence	Nightmare
Melee Bite	33.5	66.5	116.5	200
Ranged Spew	17.5	34.5	60	105

Multiplayer

With the addition of DLC Pack 2: Hell Followed, the cacodemon becomes playable in multiplayer. As the cacodemon, players can sneak behind others from a lower or greater height, and can attack with traditional ball lightning and melee attacks. A new addition to the cacodemon in multiplayer is a tongue attack, which can be used at short distances as a whip to deliver a devastating mauling to another player, or as a snare to yank unwary players into its maw.

To differentiate the player character cacodemon from an ordinary one seen in other modes of play, its expressions and animations were modified to convey a sinister disposition and a strong sense of sentience, akin to an Eye Tyrant Beholder. During play as the cacodemon, the player's viewpoint is surrounded by the inner sides of its teeth, as if a camera was being held in its mouth.

Lore

The UAC determined that the cacodemon's attacks and flight capabilities were psionic in nature, but that the creature had a limited, instinctual intelligence driven primarily by the need to feed. The cacodemon's projectile attack, formed from the creature's bile, was found to have psychoactive, narcotic properties that confuse and disorient its victims long enough for the cacodemon to move in for the kill.

Glory kills

Six glory kills against the cacodemon exist:

• From the front, the Slayer grabs the cacodemon's forehead with one hand and rips out its eye with the other.
• From the back, the Slayer rolls over the cacodemon to meet it face to face and rip out its eye.
• From the side, the Slayer grabs onto a spike near its mouth and rips out its eye.
• When using the chainsaw from the front, the Slayer stabs it in the eye so blood pours out, and after pulling it out, it explodes.
• When using the chainsaw from the back, the Slayer starts sawing one side of cacodemon's back and moves to the middle, leaving a large cut.
• The berserk Slayer lands one hit into the cacodemon's eye to make it explode.

Glory kills by the cacodemon in multiplayer

Two glory kills against other players are currently known:

• The cacodemon lashes out its tongue to pierce and pull its opponent towards itself, then eats them whole.
• By coming closer to the enemy, the cacodemon will pounce on a player and eat them whole.

Pre-release

An early model of the cacodemon with antenna-like appendages can be seen in one of the videos showcasing the game's development process. It is based on sketches in The Art of DOOM, distinguished from the final model by a blue eye, gray skin, and dark gray chitin.

Trivia

• Killing the demon with a shot to the eye will cause it to explode. This counts as a headshot for the heavy assault rifle's tactical scope mastery progress.
• The cacodemon had an unused attack which consisted of pulling the player towards itself by three magnetic tentacles of the same color as its projectiles.

Sources

• DOOM - Bestiary (archived 🏛)