Why are shotguns so worthless?

[Quix]

They are LOUD as all get out, they typically have small magazine sizes, and they are no good for actually killing anything because they are so inacurate.

I can't count the number of times I have lined up what should have been a clean headshot on an incoming zed, waited until it was mere feet away from me and fired only to have it knock the zombie down but not kill it. So I walk up getting even closer to it on the ground and fire again, no joy it still doesnt die even though I am fireing at a range of about 2 feet.

Sure the pellet spread might hit more than one zombie in a bunch and maybe even knock more than one down if they are tightly packed enough and you are close enough, but that hardly offsets the fact that they cant score a headshot to save your life (litterally).

Am I alone in this, or do other people find them to be an absolute waste of space in the game?

[Saintanik]

I wasnt a fan of them, but perhaps the knock-down effect rather than the killing power is their appeal.. i.e. so you and anyone you have tagging along can easily dispatch large groups with finishing moves?

Personally I preferred to stick with a pistol or rifle and just headshot them all as they charge at me.. but perhaps the shotgun/knockdown route is an alternative strategy for those that arnt fond of careful aiming.

[SwissArmyKnife]

Shotgun Specialized Hero + Shotgun + anywhere with a ladder = zombie multi-kill or easy Shotgun Challenge

Basically anywhere you can stand over zombies and rain gunfire directly down.

Works well with a heavy weapon knockdown and direct fire into their prone bodies.

Still have to be sure you have a getaway though...I try to focus these kind of attacks near an Enclave so I don't risk my own people if I draw too many zombies.

[M.]

Shotguns do what they are best at: spraying pellets. Specialized skill is a must to get the best out of them though.
Got to use a few, with no skill. You just have to aim high and it's often an insta decap. At least, it was for me.

[Anzariel]

They're great against ferals and hordes. Ferals will be knocked down even after a meat shot and the shotty can headshot multiple enemies in a row with a single shot. Compared to other weapons it is mostly useful when you're running away and a huge line of zeds are following you. Line them up behind a corner and, as they turn and straighten out, unload on their faces.

[Hellrazer001]

I did not think they were as good as they should be when doing the Shotgun Hero unlock, a Shotgun point blank to the face would take your head off, but nearly every single normal zombie, I shot in the head a few feet in front of me, ended up taking between 2 and 5 shots to kill, no matter which shotgun I used.

[Kommando]

I am partial to The Mustaches' Bone Saw shotty. That thing owns infestations.

[nobrien]

Originally posted by Hellrazer001:

I did not think they were as good as they should be when doing the Shotgun Hero unlock, a Shotgun point blank to the face would take your head off, but nearly every single normal zombie, I shot in the head a few feet in front of me, ended up taking between 2 and 5 shots to kill, no matter which shotgun I used.

The pellets fire in a certain angle, if mobs to close no good,have to aim just above alot of the time, i used a wall to see the spread it is nearly exactly the same each time so once you can see where they will fly its much easyer.

Im partial to the the auto shoty 14 shot mag.

[Gnarl]

I was bummed Job was shotguns. I thought he'd have a .50 cal rifle for sure.

[The Major]

Mickey was the sniper, so I'm not too suprised Job was shotguns. On that note: If you have a Shotgun Specilized survivor, such as Job, it actually becomes a very nice killing tool. The passive effect from the shotgun spec is it increases the "Kill Zone," meaning if there's a group of Zeds, you just line up in the general area of their heads and pull the trigger. Boom. AA12 ftw. Only complaint is really that the shotguns are loud as HELL. Wouldn't be suprised if they're actually considered louder then explosions XD. But, when crap goes down a shotgun is definitely a nice weapon to have.

Me personally, I prefer rifles or assault rifles. ESPECIALLY since the mouse fix

[Quietus Reaper]

They are pretty lame. If they could be silenced then at least that would be something. As it is now you need a full shotgun spec hero to make it remotely useful, and even then it's more of a hassle than a benefit.

[Hellrazer001]

Level 7 Breakdown, Shotgun is lethal " for you :)" any loud bang in the wrong spot and you have 80 zombies coming from all directions lol, I think the Judge has the best Shotgun, or maybe the russian Shotgun is pretty ok too, but I virtually never use one, same with a .50 cal they are loud like a cannon.

[Øhjens]

With a maxed out killzone, shotguns are pretty fun. However I feel like shotgun shells are the most rare type of ammunition.

[SwissArmyKnife]

Playing on BD 9 now and I have found 2 uses for shotguns.
1. Feral Control - knocks back almost every time (depending on distance), even without Shotgun spec
2. Besieged missions - firing from the windows down into the zombies tearing apart the boards and firing into the back of Big'Un heads when they stun themselves

Any other time, it's been easier to just swap back to a silenced pistol if I need ranged damage (bloaters/screamers).

[happyscrub]

Shotguns suck because of bad game design. The zombies are practically immortal until you kill their head. Just about any other zombie game doesn't work that way. It's like they all are wearing body armor.

You bearly touch their head and it explodes like a watermelon. But shoot them with a shotty in pointblank range to the body and it just tickles.

[Mytheos]

Just aim for the knee caps, I mean low slice works for edged right? ( That move causing zombies to bleed out makes me roll my eyes every time )