Rocket launcher/Doom 3

"A portable self-propelled rocket designed for demolition and debris removal, this model has been modified for use as a military weapon."

- PDA Description

The Rocket Launcher in Doom 3 is a weapon that mostly remains faithful from its classic iteration. It's a heavy, man-portable anti-tank weapon that fires high-explosive rockets which can deal significant damage to any target while dealing additional damage from the explosion. It is first found halfway through the single-player campaign, atop a shelf in the Recycling Sector. Ammunition is generally scarce until the player reaches Delta Labs, and is known to be particularly abundant in Hell.

Weapon Schematics
The Rocket Launcher fires high-explosive rockets that travel only slightly faster than the bursts fired from the plasma gun. Originally a tool designed for non-combat related purposes, the weapon was remodified for military application, as one rocket is very devastating enough to instantly kill any lightly armored target before knocking them back on their feet. However, precautions should be made when using this weapon in enclosed spaces, as the high explosions the rockets possess can critically harm the operator if used inappropriately.

The Rocket Launcher loads from a 5-rocket magazine. To load the weapon when it is empty, the rockets are inserted into the compartment located on the side of the weapon. While the weapon lacks the HUD ammo counter that is featured in many of the other weapons, this can be mitigated by looking at the weapon itself as it shows how many rockets are still available in the current clip. Rockets generally come in a small pack of 5, or in a large pack, consisting of 10 rockets.

Mysteriously, rocket projectiles can distort enemies' fires from Mancubus or Sabaoth. Therefore like the bursts fired from the Plasma Gun, the Rocket Launcher can also be used as a deterrent to stop enemy projectiles, albeit with lower rate of fire and magazine size.

Its time interval between firing has also been increased, which limits its ability to bombard opponents. Ammunition for the Rocket Launcher is in the form of 5 or 10 shot magazines.

Tactical usage
Due to the scarcity of ammunition, the Rocket Launcher should mostly be reserved for more powerful enemies or large groups of lesser demons. Therefore, it is not a very viable when facing against the Trite, Tick, Lost Soul/Forgotten One, and Cherub, as the low health the individual enemies possess will make one rocket a wasteful overkill.

Close combat is dangerous if not suicidal, especially near ledges, since the splash damage of the rockets are much stronger than before. Medium range combat is most effective with the weapon, with the physics engine sending enemies flying, often in several pieces. The slow speed of the rockets makes long range combat difficult, unless it is being used against a large, slow-moving target. Like rockets from the demons, your own rockets can be intercepted with weapons fire, though this rarely happens outside of random coincidence.

The weapon is most effective against tougher enemies such as the Hell Knights, Mancubi, and Arch-vile, though it can also be used in enclosed spaces successfully against Cacodemons, Revenants, and Chaingun Commandos. The Chaingun Commando can especially make the Rocket Launcher a very solid choice to use against them, as their high health allows them to withstand two rockets (one with a headshot).

While it provides only minimal blowback in single player for rocket jumps, in multiplayer it makes a useful, albeit health-draining, height booster for your jumps.