A modder has already brought Doom: The Dark Age's new 'Shield Saw' to the 1993 original, and it's pretty close to perfect

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Yes, you can even throw it.

Image of the Doom: The Dark Ages Shield Saw modded into OG Doom
(Image credit: Id Software (via Craneo))

The OG Doom community has done it again: Less than 24 hours after Bethesda announced Doom: The Dark Ages at the Xbox Games Showcase, modder Craneo has added a functional Shield Saw—it's a shield that is also a saw—into the original Doom.

The mod converts the famous Doom chainsaw into the soon-to-be-famous Shield Saw. It's essentially the same as the original lumberjack tool, with a couple of significant upgrades: It looks really cool, it will protect you from incoming damage (it's a shield, after all), and yes, you can throw it to mess up the bad guys Captain America style.

I tried out the Shield Saw myself and if anything, it's a little too good: When the shield is raised (via the right mouse button) it blocks all incoming damage, no matter where it comes from. I allowed myself to be surrounded by zombies and imps, and took zero damage, even after moving to stand beside an explosive barrel, which did eventually explode—no harm done. Turning my back on a notoriously aggressive pinky demon returned the same result: Shield up, no damage. In your face, Pink!

I mention that point not to complain, but simply to point out that the Shield Saw mod isn't perfectly refined yet. But of course it isn't: Craneo made the mod in roughly the same amount of time I need to decide what I'm going to eat for supper. To stretch that analogy further, I think of it a bit like a trip to Fast Eddie's: It may not be the best burger in the world but it's pretty damn good, and I got it in 12 seconds.

Others were equally impressed:

(Image credit: Twitter)

(Image credit: Twitter)

Craneo hasn't indicated if they're going to keep working on the mod to make it a little less OP, or if it is what it is, and that's just fine. They have, however, hinted that the other big innovation in ultraviolence in Doom: The Dark Ages—the one I like to call the Skul-Gun, and no that's not a misspelling—could be on tap next:

(Image credit: Craneo)

For now, you can snag the Doom Shield Saw mod here.

Andy Chalk
Andy Chalk
US News Lead

Andy has been gaming on PCs from the very beginning, starting as a youngster with text adventures and primitive action games on a cassette-based TRS80. From there he graduated to the glory days of Sierra Online adventures and Microprose sims, ran a local BBS, learned how to build PCs, and developed a longstanding love of RPGs, immersive sims, and shooters. He began writing videogame news in 2007 for The Escapist and somehow managed to avoid getting fired until 2014, when he joined the storied ranks of PC Gamer. He covers all aspects of the industry, from new game announcements and patch notes to legal disputes, Twitch beefs, esports, and Henry Cavill. Lots of Henry Cavill.