Best Shotgun?

[Artrysa]

Now I know that there's a double barrel out there that does a ton of damage because it shoots both barrels when aiming, but I'm more looking for something that can be used to clear out groups. I don't wanna have to reload after every shot. So a pump-action or semi-auto would be great but I don't know which one would be good. Anyone know which is or are the best?

[whatdoesthisbuttondo?]

Early game, the most effective by far is the "DB-2 Satara", that one is a double-barrel tech shotgun (charge attack does massive damage and shoots through walls).

You do need to reload after two shots, but the reload is fast enough and it is way more effective than the pump-action "Tactitian", which has a horrible reload after your 8 rounds are out.

If you absolutely do not want double-barrel, the "Crusher" is a good option, semi-auto shotgun with a 12 round magazine that is quick to reload.

[Spyder Byte]

The L-69 ZHUO Legendary Smart Shotgun is a beast. Since it Homes in on targets, it makes it great for Netrunners. It's so OP that I only use when I absolutely need to. Game gets real boring, real quick, using it.

[Prometheus]

For group clearing a smart shotgun (requires a smart link hand mod) is very good. Individual pellets can home on different targets so firing near the center of a group of enemies will get you a meaningful spread of damage.

[jjwinel]

Only ones i've really used is the Crusher, which I like for its fast reload. Bloody Maria? Think that's the name. Think its a reward from Dino and Headsman, downside is capacity on that one.

[Strandly]

I used a generic legendary one for a while but once I got the Bloody Maria I never went back.

[jjwinel]

Originally posted by Strandly:

I used a generic legendary one for a while but once I got the Bloody Maria I never went back.

I do really like the Bloody Maria but I find myself using the Crusher more often mostly because of the faster reload.

[dwarfpcfan]

Can;t remember the name but my favorite was a random find a double barrel shotgun that looked like an antique (in the period of the game) had really high damage and with the right build I saw how to turn it into the basically 1 hit kill of everything not a boss.

That said after finishing the game. I think shotguns are the weakest gun type in the game especially when compared to revolvers and riffles. hand guns like Archangel or Comrades hammer are ludicrously easy to abuse. And rifles can shoot through walls, set enemies on fire or worse.

It's even more egregious in that two of the best rifles in the game can be obtained as soon as you finish the prologue (Fenrir and Pslams)

[proci85]

The best shotgun is heavily dependent on your playstyle.

The Sovereign is great, but you need epic crafting to get one. It also shoots both barrels when zoomed, so you really need to plan ahead with that one, but if you like playing Doom, you will like this one. The DB2 Testera (tech variant) works similarly, but there is no legendary (nor iconic) variant in the game. The VDBs in Pacifica (around the southern waypoint) drop the DB2.

The Headsman is probably my favourite. Its a pump-action variant with 4 ammo and a ton of damage. You need to plan ahead with it to reload. And you need crafting. Bloody Maria is similar, but you need to do gigs for that. There is one rare M2038 that you can get by the cyberpsycho at the Pacifica pier if none of the others are available.

The crusher has higher fire rate, but lacks damage. The ammo consumption is a bit high, although it is a viable alternative for hacking builds relying on critical hits.

Smart shotguns usually lack damage compared to the other two types. The L69 is good, but its very rare. There is one legendary / iconic L69 variant, the Ba Xing Chong: However, you need 18 points into tech (for legendary crafting) and that weapon is only available after finishing the game.

The carnage could be good, but there are three issues. Firstly, it requires 10 strength to be useful. Secondly, it is a rare sight on the streets, so finding one early on is difficult, while later on the Headsman simply does the same job better. Thirdly, the reload speed makes its usefulness limited. There is an iconic variant (The Mox) that would be great, if you wouldn't get it around the time you already cleaned out Night City.

[Bogmore]

Shotguns are only close up weapons. I've been trying one on my last run through and I honestly find them almost useless at low level, even fully updated.

[Pheex]

I use mostly Testera and Igla variants. Double barrel but you oneshot nearly everyone and the reload, especially perked is extremely quick so you can clear out entire groups running around oneshotting endlessly.

[Kuroneko]

Carnage can 1 Shot Enemies if it's Legendary & is fully Upgraded with Damage Mods installed. And Yup you will need to have good Defense if you plan to run up to an Enemy & kill them at point Blank ( Or close by ). Of course if there are a lot of other Enemies close by but if it's just 1 or 3 then you will be ok.