Doom Eternal: The Ancient Gods Part One introduces a new item that helps you during your playthrough. Support Runes, like the Runes in the game’s main campaign, grant you special abilities during combat scenarios, which can help to turn the tide in your favor against the hordes of Hell.
There are three Support Runes to locate in Doom Eternal’s first expansion, with one to be found in each new mission. However, you can only equip one at any given time, so select the one that is most suited to your playstyle. You will find a brief description of each Support Rune below, and a detailed walkthrough on where to locate them, below.
- Desperate Punch – Blood Punch deals double damage when your health is 75 or less
- Break Blast – Destroying a demon’s weak point generates a concussive blast that affects nearby enemies
- Take Back – When a demon kills you and causes an extra life to activate, you can regain that extra life if you kill that enemy within a short timeframe
UAC Atlantica Facility
The first Support Rune can be acquired by beating the Slayer Gate in this mission. Slayer Gates were in Doom Eternal’s main campaign too, but for those unaware of them, they are special areas that gift you exclusive rewards if you manage to defeat the waves of enemies that are sent your way.
Slayer Gates require Slayer Keys to open them. The Slayer Key on this level is found towards the end. First, defeat the Tyrant on your way to the Automap station. A door will unlock behind it once it’s beaten. Head inside and grab the map. From there, look to your left, and climb up the boxes that have health potions on top. Turn around so that the body of water is on your left. You’ll be able to make out some swing bars from there.
Swing across them to avoid the turret fire. Dash from the last bar to a small platform with a breakable wall in front of it. Smash through the wall, and follow the path around to get the Slayer Key. Drop back down, and take the first exit on your left to find the Slayer Gate. Complete it to get the Support Rune.
Blood Swamps
After your first encounter with a Marauder on this mission, follow the path to your left. Instead of using the bars to swing across to the next objective marker, drop down into the water past the wall-mounted flamethrowers.
Turn left, and break through the wall. Follow the path up and around until you encounter the Support Rune. Interact with it to unlock your next option.
The Holt
The final Support Rune is given to you after you beat this level’s Slayer Gate. To acquire the Slayer Key, punch down the tree after the mission’s first major battle.
Head up the fallen trunk, and leap to the platform above. Instead of following the path around to the next objective marker, turn left, and jump up to a higher platform. Turn left again, and walk to the edge past the health kit. You will see the Slayer Key across a small gap.
Jump and dash across to grab it. From there, drop down to the platform above the trunk. Head along the right-side path, and kill any demons that spawn. The Slayer Gate is to your right where two paths converge. Beat it to get the last Support Rune.
