DOOM’s multiplayer modes hearken back to a frenetic old-school style of gameplay in which the action is nonstop and far more intense than what you may have become accustomed to with other contemporary games. When it comes to playing multiplayer, you should understand several important things immediately:
Speed: This game is fast—incredibly so. There is no time to slow down, and definitely no safe place for you to camp. Don’t even think about trying to play stealthy! Take off running (and jumping), preferably along a well-rehearsed route that leads you past several powerup spawns, and don’t stop until the match is over.
Equality: A player’s level and Echelon don’t gain them abilities or perks that provide an unfair advantage. Once you’ve reached Level 17 and unlocked the last of the weapons (which doesn’t take long), you can rest assured that your success and failure will be completely based on your skill with respect to those whom you play against. Everyone is given the same tools; it’s how you use them that makes the difference. Those with a higher Echelon may have some customization options you don’t have, but that’s not why they may be better at the game. The only exception to this is Hack Modules, which are unlocked randomly through post-match rewards and by leveling up.
Patience: With the exception of the Demon Rune that drops on the first kill of Soul Harvest, the power weapons, powerups, and Demon Runes don’t spawn until much later into the match. There is no need to rush the power weapon spawn point, as it won’t appear until 1:45 has elapsed. It’s also advisable to not rush a power weapon the moment it spawns unless you’re certain that there are no enemies in the area.
Suicide: The map can be your friend, but it’s a fickle relationship you share. Every one of the nine maps has hazards and places where you can fall to your death. Learn to use your thrusters for a Double Jump to escape plummeting to your demise. Also, avoid backpedaling unless you are certain that you’re not about to walk off a cliff.
Pickups: Don’t pass on an opportunity to collect any of the pickups scattered around the map. If it’s yellow, green, or blue, pick it up because it’s good for you! Health and armor pickups are key to staying alive because you are going to take damage—a lot of it! Similarly, Ammo Crates are critical to your survival, especially once you get better at staying alive. Just because you don’t have to reload any of the weapons doesn’t mean they don’t run out of ammo. Keep them topped off!
Make no mistake: this is a difficult game to master, but proficiency comes with practice. Focus on learning the maps, understanding how the weapons work with their lone Weapon Modifiers (all weapons have a single multiplayer-specific modifier that you can use), and maintaining an unpredictable, constant motion. Evasiveness is every bit as important to your success as securing the BFG or the Demon Rune.