The Arch-vile is an extremely powerful demon from the DOOM video game series. They appear as emaciated humanoid figures with withered skin and exposed bones around the midsection. Though they might not look like the strongest of demons, they are highly resistant to attacks and are capable of resurrecting slain creatures.
DOOM II[]
Arch-viles appear late into the game, normally among larger groups of various types of demons. They appear as gaunt humanoids with taut skin, except around the midsection where their bones are exposed. Upon sighting the Doomguy, an Arch-vile will emit a blood-curdling scream similar to that of an Arachnotron. They are fast and tough, withstanding or avoiding attacks whilst conjuring fiery eruptions around the combat zone. These attacks can deal significant damage, so it is necessary to stay on the move.
The Arch-vile's most notable ability is that it can resurrect other demons that have fallen in battle. If the player kills any enemies in an area where an Arch-vile is present, the Arch-vile may bring them back to life to keep fighting. Due to their high speed, weapons with a high rate of fire are recommended when battling these monsters. Alternatively, a single shot from the BFG 9000 ought to be enough to destroy them.
DOOM 3[]
The Arch-vile in DOOM 3 largely looks similar to its DOOM II counterpart (especially in the face and elongated forehead/skull), still emaciated, but does not have the sunken stomach, and has a different, more greyish skin pigment (and its hands look more diseased, but still end with long fingers/claws). It is a large, humanoid demon with deathly pale skin, standing a head taller than a normal human even in its standard semi-crouched pose. Its elongated arms both end in bloody, tumor-like, bloated hands with huge, inward-retracted claws, giving the impression the monster is wearing glowing boxing gloves.
In DOOM 3, the Arch-vile does not resurrect fallen demons as slain enemies disintegrate, leaving no body behind. Instead, the Arch-vile creates dimensional portals to summon lesser demons to assist it in battle. It is able to do this continuously, so it is critically important to dispatch an Arch-vile as quickly as possible. Fortunately, the Arch-viles of DOOM 3 are not quite as durable as those from DOOM II, although they are still rather fast and can cast pillars of fire at the player as well as punch and slash at close range. The Combat Shotgun is recommended for fighting Arch-viles up close whilst the Chaingun and Plasma Gun are suited for attacking from a distance. If available, the BFG and Soul Cube are ideal for ending an Arch-vile encounter quickly.
DOOM Eternal[]
In DOOM Eternal, the Arch-vile has undergone a significant visual design change. Still humanoid, it now appears to be covered in exoskeletal plating, sporting various spiky extensions across its body.
According to the in-game codex, the Arch-vile is descended from the eldest race of demons and stands among other high-born demons as a member of Hell's ruling caste. It possesses superior intelligence and awesome powers of psychomancy, making it one of the deadliest and most feared of Hell's denizens.
In battle, the Arch-vile will attack the Doom Slayer by casting waves of hellfire, similar to the shockwave attacks of the Whiplash. It can also teleport around the battlefield and generate flaming walls to block attacks. Its most insidious power remains its ability to resurrect slain demons, but this time the creatures raised by the Arch-vile are more durable and hit harder than before.
As a Super-Heavy enemy, the Arch-vile cannot be killed with the Chainsaw. It is also more resistant to the tendrils given off by a BFG blast, though a direct hit should still be able to kill it. Otherwise, it is recommended to use the Ballista or the Super Shotgun, using the latter's Meathook to close the gap between the Arch-vile and player.