Chainshot

The chainshot being collected.

The chainshot is a new weapon which appears in Doom: The Dark Ages, and currently the only member of the reaver class. It appears similar in function to a railgun, with electromagnetic rails to either side. Instead of firing slug projectiles, it accelerates a steel ball, referred to as the Chaos Sphere, which is attached to the weapon by a chain and returns to the weapon's firing aperture as it subsequently retracts. It deals kinetic impact damage to enemies.

By holding down the trigger before firing, the chainshot can be charged to increase its damage and maximum range. This weapon is introduced in Siege - Part 1.

"Fires dense, spherical core that deals damage on contact."

― Description in the arsenal section of the dossier

Upgrades

Eldritch Blessing

Parrying a Hell surge attack instantly charges your next shot.

Gravitational Flux

The chainshot deals more damage to armor at maximum charge.

Cosmic Breach

Chainshot projectiles fired at maximum charge explode when hitting a demon.

Mastery

Purchasing all upgrade tiers for the chainshot will unlock its mastery challenge. Completing the challenge will unlock the gold "Conqueror" skin for this weapon.

Reverberation

Cause explosive Cosmic Breach damage to demons with fully charged chainshot impacts 100 times.

Lore

The chainshot is rumored to have been crafted by deities who once held dominion over the stars. Born from the depths of forgotten realms, it channels chaotic energies, hurling projectiles with a force that tears reality itself. The weapon crackles with azure lightning, and pulsates with sentient malevolence. Only the strongest of wills can withstand its insidious whispers that emanate from the abyss.

Pre-release

The chainshot was first observed in the Developer Direct event on January 23, 2025 and later in press footage released on March 31 that same year.

Gallery

• 

  The codex entry image.

• 

  Concept art by Ethan Evans.

Skins

All skins for the chainshot.

• 

  Default.

• 

  Reverent.

• 

  Conqueror.

• 

  Nightmare.

Trivia

• According to game director Hugo Martin, this weapon originated from The Kar'Thul Marshes.
• Also according to Hugo Martin the weapon was called the "Reanimator" during its development. This is probably a reference to H. P. Lovecraft's story "Herbert West–Reanimator".
• In the game files this weapon is called "Reanimator striker".
• It is the only standard weapon in the player's arsenal to lack a secondary weapon in its class (i.e. super shotgun, impaler, ravager, etc.).
• The chainshot was supposed to have a counterpart in its weapon class called the nova. According to Hugo Martin, with such a large arsenal, they decided to scrap it. An unfinished version of the weapon remains in the game and can be accessed through console commands. In the game's files this cut weapon is simply called "Reanimator".