The Village of Khalim serves as the first level in Doom: The Dark Ages. This stage guides you through essential gameplay mechanics, teaching you how to parry, execute melee attacks, and effectively defeat the forces of hell, both in spirit and in action.
Even though this is mainly a tutorial level, there are numerous secrets and collectibles waiting to be discovered. We’re here to help you uncover all seven of them as you embark on your quest to achieve 100 percent completion in Doom: The Dark Ages.
The First Secret – Life Sigil
After you pick up the gauntlet and defeat the Imp, you’ll enter a burning building with a wall you can climb. However, hold off on climbing that wall just yet. Instead, look to your left to find a boarded-up doorway. Use your shield charge to break through it, and you’ll discover a Life Sigil pressed against a metal gate.
The Second Secret – The Imp Toy
As you continue through the main area, you’ll come across a blue key-locked gate. You can’t open it right away, so keep it in mind as you proceed. After defeating the cultists and acquiring the blue key, you’ll drop back into a courtyard with the blue gate waiting for you to unlock it. But before doing so, take a left to return to the previously locked gate. Open it up to find the Imp Toy.
The Third Secret – The Combat Shotgun Skin
Once you unlock the blue-locked gate, you’ll enter a section where you need to close four Demonic Portals. After sealing the first portal, turn left. Destroy the second portal and follow the tunnel down. You’ll be trapped with a swarm of enemies until you eliminate them. Don’t forget to grab the Life Sigil while you’re here. After exiting the tunnel, take a right.
This location is also where you find the Shredder.
Look for a cave entrance across the gap. Run and jump over to reach it. Inside, you’ll find plenty of explosive canisters. Various enemies, including a Pinky Rider, will spawn, but you can eliminate most of them by shooting the canisters. Afterward, collect the Nightmare skin for the Combat Shotgun and follow the path upwards, back to where you closed the second portal.
The Fourth Secret – The Soldier Toy
Return through the shaft where you found the Life Sigil and into the arena with the Shredder (the spot from where you jumped to reach the cave with the shotgun skin). Once you’re in the open area, move towards the glowing beacon in the distance, leading you to the edge of a cliff. Drop down onto the cliff below and follow it into a cave. Inside, you’ll discover armor, health packs, ammo, and the Soldier Toy.
Be ready! After you grab the Soldier Toy, an Imp Stalker will attack you.
The Fifth Secret – The Secret Key and Life Sigil
North of the clearing where you found the Shredder, you’ll find another massive portal. After sealing that portal, cross the bridge to find the Secret Key hidden on the right side of the mountain. Return to the first portal to unlock the gate in the initial area using the “Secret Key.” Open it to receive another Life Sigil.
The Sixth Secret – The First Codex
Northern of the first portal, across a bridge and in front of a mountain, you’ll find another portal. After sealing this one, climb the wall to the right to reach the top, where a codex will be visible.
Note that this Codex isn’t counted as a “secret,” which is why this guide has seven secrets even though the game suggests there are only six in this stage.
The Seventh Secret – The Second Codex
After you’ve sealed all the portals, passed through the church, and engaged in the battle against the enemies near the cliffs, the main pathway will open. Instead of continuing straight, turn to the right and scale the wall. At the top, you’ll find the second codex.
