Pain elemental (Doom Eternal)
From DoomWiki.org
The pain elemental returns as a monster in Doom Eternal, its first appearance in a main-series Doom game since Doom 64, and in any Doom game since Doom RPG.
Contents
Appearance[edit]
The pain elemental retains a relatively unchanged appearance from its Doom II version: it is a circular, flying, brown demon with a single large red eye with an orange pupil, two long black horns, two muscular arms with prominent claws, a pair of small nostrils beneath its eye, and a large mouth like that of the cacodemon with eight mandibles which can open and close independently. The pain elemental also seems to bear a resemblance to the cacodemon from Doom 64.
Tactical analysis[edit]
The pain elemental retains its ability to spawn lost souls from its classic counterpart. It can use them as a direct attack by spitting them out of its mouth, in which case they will behave like fast homing projectiles that can be shot down before they hit the player. Alternatively, it can throw them like a grenade; the lost soul remains on the ground as a sort of proximity mine that detonates when the player gets too close. Be warned that these proximity mines deal more damage than a direct attack. Occasionally the pain elemental will also generate a trio of lost souls and fire them off in a barrage. The lost soul attacks are dangerous if room to dodge them is limited, as they will inflict splash damage even if a direct hit is avoided. If the player is too close for the pain elemental to use its lost soul attacks, it will resort to slashing with its claws.
Pain elementals will try to dodge attacks using an air-dash if they notice a weapon being pointed at them, so it is best to wait until it is either distracted or about to attack before shooting it; even then, they have health roughly on par with a baron of Hell and so will take considerable firepower to eliminate. Additionally, pain elementals may try to use their lost souls as living shields by forcing them to move into the path of incoming projectiles. Using the meat hook on a pain elemental is not advised, as it may grapple onto a lost soul by accident and leave the player in a potentially fatal position.
The lock-on burst modification for the rocket launcher can effectively deal with pain elementals as they cannot avoid the path of the guided missiles and two unimpeded volleys are sufficient for a kill. Like other flying monsters, it takes extra damage from the ballista.
Lore[edit]
Pain elementals are native to the deep, primal region of Hell known as the Umbral Plains. Pain elementals constantly generate lost souls within their bodies, a process resulting in unceasing, life-long agony. The pain elemental can only find respite from its wretched existence by inflicting misery upon others, lending it a fondness for indiscriminate destruction and making the innocent suffer.
Glory kills[edit]
- The Slayer forces the pain elemental's mouth open before using his blade to skewer its eye from underneath, removing the eye from its socket. The blade retracts to place the eye back, and the demon flails around shortly before exploding.
- The Slayer punches the pain elemental to the right and shoots the blade across the eye, leaving a big nasty cut.
- The Slayer punches the pain elemental to the left, grabs its eye, and then rips it out.
- The Slayer climbs from behind the pain elemental, jumps in the air, and strikes his blade down into the demon's eye.
- The Slayer lands on top of the pain elemental and stomps its eye out with his right foot.
Battlemode[edit]
The pain elemental is one of the six playable demons in the Battlemode multiplayer game mode. Its attacks are throwing a lost soul directly at the Slayer and using idle souls as a shield mechanism to protect itself from oncoming attacks from the Slayer. As a result of its airborne nature, it can maneuver freely through the air but relies on its shield to compensate for its inability to take cover from attacks easily.
Bugs[edit]
Lost souls spawned by the pain elemental display various modes of malfunction in the initially released version of the game—they may become stuck in place, spawn partially or completely inside walls, become trapped in short circular orbiting paths, and often leave behind particle effects and looping sounds with no visible corresponding source.
Gallery[edit]
Trivia[edit]
- In Battlemode, the pain elemental can be heard grumbling in a demonic language while it is idle.
- Unlike their classic forebear, pain elementals do not spawn lost souls upon death.
- According to Hugo Martin the animations for the pain elemental were designed to be resemble a grumpy old man.[1]
Pre-release[edit]
- The pain elemental was first confirmed to exist in the teaser trailer released at E3 2018 and was later shown in full at QuakeCon.
- In footage from the Quakecon 2018 presentation, lost souls that spawn from a pain elemental have yellow flames and not red like in the released game.[2]
References[edit]
- ↑ Noclip (26 January 2020). "Designing DOOM Eternal's New & Classic Demons." YouTube. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
- ↑ GameSpot (10 August 2018). "DOOM ETERNAL - Full Gameplay Reveal Presentation | QuakeCon 2018." YouTube. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
Monsters from Doom Eternal | ||
---|---|---|
Fodder: | Gargoyle • Imp • Lost soul • Maykr drone • Mecha zombie • Soldier (Blaster) • Soldier (Shield) • Zombies | |
Heavy: | Arachnotron • Cacodemon • Carcass • Cyber-mancubus • Dread knight • Hell knight • Mancubus • Pain elemental • Pinky • Prowler • Revenant • Spectre • Whiplash | |
Super Heavy: | Arch-vile • Baron of Hell • Doom hunter • Marauder • Tyrant | |
Ambient: | Buff totem • Cueball • Tentacle | |
Bosses: | Gladiator • Icon of Sin • Khan Maykr | |
Mechanics: | Empowered demon • Gore nest • Kalibas | |
Expansion - The Ancient Gods, Part One | Expansion - The Ancient Gods, Part Two | |
Fodder: | Screecher • Stone imp • Riot soldier | |
Heavy: | Blood Maykr • Whiplash spectre | Cursed prowler |
Super Heavy: | Armored baron | |
Ambient: | Spirit • Turret | Demonic trooper |
Bosses: | Samur Maykr • Trial of Maligog | The Dark Lord |