Unveiling the Hidden Cache: Secrets and Relics in Doom's The Dark Ages Ancestral Forge
Riding the Ancestral Forge
Welcome back, glory-seeker! Strap on your combat boots and ready your weapons 'cause it's time to conquer the Ancestral Forge in Doom: The Dark Ages. This mission's got secrets and collectibles aplenty, and I'm here to guide you through it all.
Let's get rolling!
Unraveling the Ancestral Forge's Mysteries
The Ancestral Forge's got more than its fair share of hidden goodies, and this guide'll lead you to 'em all. There's a purrfect dozen of 'em, though don't forget there's a Reverent weapon skin for the Accelerator along the way, if you manage to complete the Seven Secrets challenge.
Kick off with the purple key
Grab the purple secret key before you tackle anything else. It's located up at the ancestral heart in the top right corner, just clear that objective out and break the wooden barricade on the side. You'll find your key and a laughable loot of gold in the nook behind.
Moving in a clockwise manner
I'll be taking you around the map in a clockwise rotation, 'cause one of the puzzles'll bring you back to the top right corner. It's a walk in the park, I promise.
1 - First wolf statue
The first secret's on the path where you first step into the wide-open zone, right near where you kick off the objective to activate the ancestral hearts. If you snagged the purple key before doing anything else (which I highly recommend), you can slip through the locked gate to the right of the path.
Inside this room, you'll spot a familiar face - a wolf statue from the early Siege Part 1 level. You'll need to shatter three of these beasties to unlock a treasure, so get cracking.
2 - Life sigil
Move to the bottom left corner of the map from the Sentinel Shrine. Follow the trail to the life sigil, suspended in the grip of a crane overhead. Shield jump to the right of the crane, hop across the gap, and activate the switch to release the sigil.
3 - Gold chest
Head up the path from the first secret until you reach a creepy tunnel. Immediately turn right and drop into a tunnel that glows blue. You'll find the chest waiting for you at its end.
4 - Second wolf statue
Find the second statue of furry fear after defeating the combat encounter on the left of the first Sentinel Shrine, sandwiched between the two ancestral hearts on the left side of the map. It's a piece of cake to break, just howl at it with your shield.
5 - Vagary toy and Ruby (collectibles)
From the ancestral heart control panel up top left corner of the map, turn right and hop on the wooden platform at the base of a tower. Using the secret purple key, you'll enter the building and continue along the platform until you discover an overlook with a cute Vagary toy and a shiny red gemstone right next to it.
6 - Codex entry (collectible)
Find the wooden platform jutting out precariously into the yellow gas in the top left corner of the map. Look off the edge and spot the platform just below you, with the codex entry awaiting.
7 - Gold chest
This secret stash is concealed behind a gate guarded by a purple key, that looks like it links the ancestral heart on the right side of the map to the trail where you first entered the open zone. It's opposite where you found the first secret.
8 - Wraithstone
Head to the path in the top right corner, near the ancestral heart, where you'll come across the wolf statue sanctuary and the wraithstone. To lower the barrier, you'll need to wreck three wolf statues, two of which you'll have already demolished. The remanent statue is up high, jutting out of the rocks on the left side of the shrine.
9 - Ruby
Activate the three ancestral hearts and move along with the mission until you reach the next area. Keep moving until you spot a ruby hidden behind a gate and a destructible wall. Take a swing with your shield to knock the wall down, revealing a chain you can break to lower the door.
10 - Gold chest
Continue your path from the previous secret, moving through a sci-fi-esque hall with shimmering platforms. Make your way down the lane and drop from the platform ahead, landing on a lift with a switch. Pelt the switch with your shield to raise the lift, then hop onto the platform that follows, shield jump to the platform on the right, and finally to the chest.
11 - Gold
Continue on from the previous secret, progressing with the mission, and leap onto the next platform. You'll see a padlocked gate to your right as you creep past under the road above. Wander over to the right, climb up the first wall, then leap off the ledge ahead of you to drop behind the locked gate. There ya go, gold for the taking!
12 - Codex and Nightmare Super Shotgun weapon skin (collectibles)
Keep moving along the platform, finding the blue switch ahead. Before you activate it, spin around and fling your shield at the chain suspending a tiny platform. Release the platform, activate the lift, bounce onto it, jump to the platform on the right, and finally to the codex.
The fancy Nightware weapon skin for the Super Shotgun is right next to the codex in the passage above. That wraps up the mission.
*Top picks in Doom The Dark Ages*: Monster-mashing must-haves
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Rory NorrisRory's started more lives than a cat, all courtesy of live service games. He's an expert in troubleshooting Destiny 2, Call of Duty, and the like. He's even managed to lose a thousand hours in The Elder Scrolls Online over the years. When he's not lost in some cave with a bunch of dwarves, he's busy creating videos that dissect the environmental design in his favourite games.
- Engage in the thrilling gameplay of Doom: The Dark Ages, where the environment and mission take you on a quest to conquer the Ancestral Forge.
- As you delve deeper into the game, consider placing a bet on the Seven Secrets challenge, as completing it rewards a Reverent weapon skin for the Accelerator.
- In the spirit of entertainment and competition, strive to win the game, achieve the challenges, and enjoy the diverse range of collectibles, including codex entries, Vagary toys, rubies, and more.
