DOOM: The Dark Ages Fire or Flaming Door Puzzle Solution

Like many of the hidden secrets scattered throughout DOOM: The Dark Ages, the Flaming Door puzzle is an early example of the game encouraging exploration and smart use of your tools. You’ll first encounter this fiery obstacle in the second half of Chapter 2. A broken pipe is blasting flames across a doorway, completely blocking access to whatever lies behind it—and naturally, you’ll want in.

At first glance, you’d think that you’re going to shut the origin from above the flames. Alas, there’s a secret obstacle preventing you from coming up from right over the entrance. Circumnavigating the building to the door of the secret room puts you on the rear side, where one reasonably assumes that one only opens it inwardly. Then what do you use to flee beyond the inferno? The key’s located elsewhere, in the adjacent room, precisely as you realise this.

Location of the Flaming Door

The Flaming Door can be found around halfway through Chapter 2, shortly after acquiring the Shield Saw and starting to notice environmental objects that react to it, such as breakable walls and glowing red locks.

As you look around, you’ll see a busted pipe over a doorway, pouring out enormous flames. The door below is completely impassable by fire. At first, it would seem that you’d need to find where the pipe is coming from above the door, or cut it off from another level—but you’ll find those options closed off or in walls. The solution isn’t above or next to the door, but before it.

How to Solve the Flaming Door Puzzle in DOOM: The Dark Ages

Take a step-by-step guide on what you need to do in order to access the hidden area behind the Flaming Door:

Face the Flaming Door, then turn around

You’ll see a door in front of it—this is your entry into the puzzle solution. It’s shut, and you cannot open it normally, but this room contains the valve that extinguishes the flames.

Look up and to the right of the locked door

On the wall to the right of the door (about halfway up), you’ll spot a metal vent sealed with a glowing red lock. This is your way inside.

Equip your Shield Saw and break the red-hot lock

Aim carefully and throw your Shield Saw at the glowing lock. If you’ve been paying attention to earlier tutorials, you’ll recognise this as a destructible environmental object. The lock will break open, revealing a crawl space into the room.

(Tip: The Shield Saw is more than just a weapon—it’s also your primary tool for interacting with the environment. Get used to looking for red-glowing locks or targets.)

Jump up into the crawlspace above and drop down into the room

You can get to the entrance either by double-jumping or by hopping over from a ledge close by. Inside, drop down to the bottom of the room where the puzzle object is.

Take the valve below the hole in the wall

On the other side of the room, next to the inside of the locked door, is a small hole in the wall. Underneath that hole is a metal valve that is easily overlooked but essential to the puzzle solution.

Activate the valve to put out the flames

Make your way to the valve and engage with it when you’re ready. This will shut down the burning eruption in the doorway on the other end of the hall. You’ll also hear a change in the background sound, confirming that the puzzle has been solved.

Exit the room and return to the Flaming Door

With the fires extinguished, make your way back to the start. Perform a Shield Charge or simply walk through the now unobstructed doorway.

Rewards for Solving the Flaming Door Puzzle?

Your effort doesn’t go unrewarded. Inside the secret area, you’ll find:

• 9 Gold Pieces: Essential for upgrades and progression.
• 1 Life Sigil: A valuable permanent upgrade that increases your health pool.
• 1 Minor Enemy Encounter: Nothing too intense, but a little extra combat for fun.
• Ammo & Health Pickups: Handy if you’re running low after recent fights.

After looting all the objects, check inside the exit gate, and you will see a red-hot metal cross. You can toss your Shield Saw into it to break the lock and open the gate. This will lead you to the main path once again to proceed with Chapter 2.

Pro Tips & Extra Notes

Environmental Puzzles Will Get Progressively Harder

This is the first of many puzzles in the game and is an example of a common theme: employing your Shield Saw to handle heat-sealed objects. There’s more where this came from, including more challenging puzzles and timed ones.

Find Clues

If ever anything glows red or a location feels inexplicably out of the way, check around. A glowing gear, lock, or heat source will usually mean that you can use your Shield Saw to activate it. 

Life Sigils Are Rare

If you want to optimise your survivability and reap mastery rewards later, collecting all the Life Sigils is necessary. Don’t forget any of these hidden locations.

Return Paths Always Exist

No need to fear getting stuck or trapped. DOOM: The Dark Ages allows you to return to the primary level path effortlessly after discovering secrets.