What Happened to Doom’s Shield Saw? Fans Want To Know!
You’ve heard the good, the bad, and the downright annoying when it comes to Doom: The Dark Ages, but the Shield Saw remains one of the better parts of this game. From the physical edition being just a glorified game key to the game crashing mid-playthrough, there’s plenty to complain about. But one thing players aren’t mad at? That the Shield Saw just vanishes within the Doom storyline!
The Shield Saw: Pure Chaos and Utility
Admittedly, the Shield Saw might be one of the most versatile and downright satisfying weapons in the game. Not only does it act as a shield to protect you from incoming attacks, but you can also just yeet it across the battlefield and watch it chop heads like it’s your job (which, let’s be honest, it is).
Players fell in love with it almost immediately—those who managed to get the game running, anyway. It was easy to see why: the Shield Saw let you defend and destroy at the same time. And in between the crashes and the endless wait for downloads, fans agreed—it was a highlight.
The Big Question: Where Did It Go?
Like the meat hook in Doom Eternal, some weapons leave a lasting impression—and the Shield Saw fits that bill. But here’s the thing: despite how great it is, we never see it again in the later games. Why?
In real life, it’s probably as boring as you think: id Software designed it to be the unique feature for The Dark Ages and then moved on. But in-game? There’s no explanation. No scene showing it lost or broken. No hint that it even existed by the time we hit Doom 2016. That’s a bit of a lore hole, if we’re being honest.
Fan Theories: From Reddit to Real Talk
If TDA is a prequel does that mean the shield saw breaks before 2016? Or does he just loose it?
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Reddit’s got thoughts, of course. One user, embarrassed_storm238, pitched a pretty solid idea: maybe the demons took it when they threw the Slayer in the coffin before Doom 2016, just like they did with his armor. Makes sense, right?
Others think maybe it just broke from overuse. The Slayer has been fighting for ages—literally—and considering how many fireballs that Shield Saw absorbed and how many skulls it split, it wouldn’t be wild if it finally gave out.
And then there’s the classic theory: maybe he ditched it because he needed both hands to quick swap his arsenal like a true Doom god.
Maybe a Doom The Dark Ages DLC Will Answer It (Or Not)
Some fans are hoping for a DLC that finally addresses what happened. Maybe we’ll get a dramatic cutscene. Or maybe id Software will pull the classic dev move and just forget it ever existed. Plot holes for time-saving reasons? Never heard of it.
But hey—if enough fans bring it up, maybe we’ll see something. Until then, we’ll keep swinging our imaginary Shield Saws and asking what could have been.
