Vagary (Doom: The Dark Ages) (2025)

The vagary is a returning enemy which occurs in Doom: The Dark Ages. The most notable difference from the previous incarnation is a more monstrous appearance that lacks any resemblance to a human female. The vagary is heavily armored and can attack with wide volleys of fireballs.

Appearance[edit]

The vagary retains the silhouette of a creature with a humanoid torso and a spider-like body, though it lacks the pair of pedipalps which the Doom 3 version of the monster possessed.

It is mostly encased in mechanical armor which has many spikes, and the armor's distinctive features include three small and four large exhausts on its back, from which black smoke comes. Skull motifs are present on its left shoulder pad and as a small skull on its chest with a pattern resembling eight spider legs or ribs. In the center of the chest below the skull is a yellow or orange orb; in the absence of armor, it is revealed to be part of the vagary rather than the armor itself. Also on the armor, at the tips of the legs there is a red inverted cross symbol.

The uncovered parts of the demon's body are:

• the abdomen of the spider body, which is here not transparent as it was in the Doom 3 species;
• part of the left shoulder;
• the right shoulder, which is fully uncovered.

The monstrous skull-like head has a red inverted cross on its forehead, and has long black hair on the sides, two red eyes of different sizes on its right side, and a metal eyepiece with some small spikes on the left. Its upper jaw and two lower mandibles are studded with teeth of various sizes.

Champion variant[edit]

The vagary champion variant has gold armor, only the front pair of legs is covered in armor, has a gold eyepiece, and has dark bluish-gray skin.

Tactical analysis[edit]

The vagary is first introduced at the end of the Sentinel Barracks, with this one being a stronger champion variant. After this it will reappear throughout the game as a super-heavy demon. The vagary has multiple ranged attack patterns, some can be parried and others cannot.

The following ranged attacks do not contain Hell surges:

• The vagary spits out puddles of damaging brown goo that slow the player's movement.
• A constant barrage of small fireballs fired from its shoulder cannon.

The following ranged attacks contain Hell surges:

• A wide spread of large fireballs is fired from the vagary's arm cannon in bursts of two. In both bursts, only one of the projectiles can be parried.
• The arm cannon fires three walls made of vertical columns of fireballs that rush forward from the vagary, one after the other. For each wall, one random column of fireballs can be parried.

Getting within melee range will result in either a swipe from its claws (a fast swipe that cannot be parried, or a Hell surge swipe with more obvious buildup) or if attacking from the side or behind; a strike from one of its legs which cannot be parried.

Players are to take advantage of Hell surge attacks to heat up and destroy the vagary's three sets of armor: one on its chest, and two more for its left and right sets of legs. Hell surge swipes can be used to falter the demon and deal damage.

Lore[edit]

The black morass of Hell's swamps churn, spawning the vagary. The vagary are without master or oath, sworn only to walk a ruinous path of suffering. Despite this, Prince Ahzrak's whispers of blood, carnage, and agony drew them to his command. They are said to drink the despair of the damned and feed on misery in the way a leech feeds on lifeblood.

Pre-release[edit]

The vagary could be observed in the Developer Direct event on January 23, 2025 and in the second trailer released in April 24, 2025.

Gallery[edit]

• Champion vagary.

• The vagary's collectible toy.

• The codex entry image.

• Concept art.

Trivia[edit]

• The vagary is the first monster concept originating entirely from Doom 3 to appear in the modern games, though the visual design of the Hell knight was also previously retained.
• The champion vagary is the first boss in the game, just like its previous iteration in Doom 3.
• The color scheme of its toy is based on concept art rather than on the in-game model.