Shotguns are useless

[Bosshard]

Shotguns overall arent very useful in this game. Besides crowning witches they do not really have any utility and here's why:


Argument 1: Dealing with commons

While yes shotguns do a big damage per shot and can one shot commons. But its only true at close range and even then (whether to a bug or not) commons often dont die and just stumble which forces you to shoot twice, wasting 2 shells on a single common when the clip is already low at only 8 shells. (And while yes this isnt as much of a big deal for auto shotguns but then if we compare them to their sniper and assault counterparts they still fall behind) On top of that, you already took more time to kill a single common than an smg. Plus even then, if you land all 8 shells it wont be enough to clear a horde and you'll be forced to change to the secondary since the shotguns reloading takes ages. And while smgs wont deal with the horde terribly better as well, but at least smgs have other usage such as having some firepower at mid/long range when in the case of shotguns? Well.





Argument 2: Short effective range

You might argue that the shotguns are meant for close range. For example up close, auto shotties kill off specials quick but not the fastest. It is true that auto shotguns do clear specials pretty quickly. But if you're at least a bit competent u should be able to aim at the head point blank so it shouldnt take you terribly longer to kill them with a sniper or an assault rifle. And with a sniper rifle you can just straight one shot specials with a headshot (except for chargers (he takes two))

On top of that, shotguns become absolutely useless even at mid range which makes you play a role of a hentai girl around smokers. So u are forced to either use the melee which automatically tells your teammates that you're a moron as you're now completely incapable of helping them. Or use pistols which again is kinda stupid considering that you could've just used the sniper or assault rifle and simply avoid the whole issue.





Argument 3: Running Accuracy

You might argue that shotguns are best to shoot on the run. Like shooting off commons that are chasing you. But honestly the assault rifles accuracy is enough to shoot on the run as well and if the commons are a bit further away when most of the shots start to miss, shotguns arent exactly gonna do much of anything as well. They might stumble some at best but thats the best you can hope for.

It might be a bit easier to get through an event or a choke with a auto shotgun if you dont have a bile but that only applies if the horde is not too large and your team is backing you. If a horde goes non stop they will eat you even with a shotgun because you'll simply run out of shells and then zombies wont give you a time to pump in more than 1 or 2 shells into chamber.

If a horde is ripping your incapped teammate the shotgun might be a good way to clear them away but then again if you're close you can just shove them back anyway or just swing a melee.

Plus, on expert due to shotguns high single shot damage you can accidentally one shot your full hp teammate which i guess might as well be a plus if you are a troll looking for a game to ruin.

Plus the shells spread makes it very difficult to assist the team. Like for example clearing off a jockey or a hunter from your teammate when another one is standing in front of is impossible without hitting him as well which sometimes may result in a confusion and your teammate shooting you back or straight up killing you.





Argument 4: Killing a Tank

Since shotguns do high damage up close, isn't that the best gun to kill the tank with? Well, up close, shotguns indeed do a good dmg to the tank but due to their tank dmg penalty they do not deal the most damage. even point blank.

Test: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.destructoid.com/this-is-how-many-bullets-it-takes-to-kill-a-tank-in-l4d2/amp/

Plus, by being close to the tank you make it difficult for your teammates to shoot it as well. As they're now forced to shoot carefully trying not to hit you or they just wont care and will shoot you as well. Either way it results in a dps loss which means it will ultimately take longer to kill the tank than if you were using the rifles and kept your distance.

The only exception is if you're going to melee the tank. In that case it might be worth to close in with the tank but then again, the risk of getting shot by a teammate with a military sniper and then tank downing you afterwards? Is not worth in my opinion.

Versus? Im not even gonna mention that. In versus you should forget about all of this since well, versus tanks are not rushing campaign tanks and will always keep their distance just throwing rocks until they run out of frustration. And when they finally do go for an attack you have to expect other specials attacking soon and concentrate on shutting them down, not the tank as that is basically exactly what he wants you to do.

So anyway using a shotgun just for a slight non existent dps boost, only to be picked by a smoker in the next alley is not worth in my opinion.






Argument 5: Crowning

Now this is the only argument for the shotguns but even here there is arguments against it. First of all there are other ways to kill the witch besides crowning. For example you can just kill a witch with a fast swinging melee. Actually you can do it with any melee as long as you can spam it right.

Second, although it only works in the campaign but you can burn her with a molotov. I know you're saying right now: but she'll catch up and kill you! Well there's a trick for that. After you throw a molotov, quickly go idle while the molotov is still in midair. When it hits the witch she will not agro at the player and will just walk around until she burns to death. I know this is a bug and it should be fixed but since Valve aint gonna fix it, why not.

And lastly, you can stun her with a headshot. I know that only works on "night" maps and you need an ak or a sniper for that but if u do happen to be in that situation you can just headshot her and then simply rush towards her and melee her until she dies. Just dont forget to keep her stunned by shoving her between the swings.

Also apparently u can kill the witch by headshotting her 15 times with a hunting rifle. But u need to be quite far away from her to simply have time to shoot through all 15 rounds and since most of the time witches spawn in chokes, its not really useful info. Plus if u do happen to have a visual contact with a witch that far away, it is probably in the open space in which case u can just walk by her anyways so i wont count that.

And of course we cannot forget the very Witch Crown. The ability to one shot witches is obviously a huge benefit. But yet again, besides the ability to clear witches, shotguns arent really good for much of anything at all. And they're not even the only option for that.





So you see, while shotguns are not technically useless. But the other weapons just have so much more utility that it basically makes them so. The situations in which shotguns can be good are very limited and even then there are alternatives. So it might worth picking it up if you just have it nearby, make some shots here and there but then switch back to your 'normal' weapon. Especially if you dont wanna end up in a smokers tongues and arms or whatever.

Thats all what i had for this discussion

[Primal God]

Bruvkek

[**DeiRowtag]

first time in all the game life i see sometone saying shotgun are useless, impressive

so many pointless and wrong arguement im too lazy to read past the 2nd paragraph i already see someone who doesnt have any game experience sigh.. disapointement, let's enjoy others comments.

just imagine calling people who use melee "moron" that already a proof that you can't even use melee properly

[Vex Hilarius]

tl;dr but you're wrong

[RainingMetal]

I agree that shotguns have their weaknesses, but they're far from useless.

[DISCOCYCHO]

not reading everything, but i do know that snipers are much better than shotguns it's like a one-in-all package. can mow down hordes, big ammo clip (if military rifle), and can pick off anything may it be close or far away. reload speed is long, but not exactly an issue.

however, shotguns are (imo) much more satisfying to use than any other weapon types, and i also always bring magnum as my secondary for long distance shots if needed, which is also satisfying to use.

why care about efficiency? just go play and have fun.

[coasted]

Wow, is this some kind of joke? This is really sad.

[Eat3n]

Originally posted by coasted:

Wow, is this some kind of joke? This is really sad.

+1

[HoloLiveSonic™]

hmm, maybe i should notify the l4d2 competive players to have a talk about this

[Sharpie The Dragon]

They're good for pumping lead into teammates.

[Soleily]

It just means that you're bad using it or it's not your forte.

[Lynfinity]

I see, we have yet another uncultured one on our hands.

Worry not, young padavan. Someday you will discover the beauty of a pump shotgun with a laser sight. And on this very day, you will be ready to join us.

[[{******---Dead4Life---******}]]

wrong

[Knee]

1. Dealing with commons
It looks like you’re talking about pump action shotguns

Counterpoint 1:
SMGs have little to no bullet penetration when dealing with hordes, that compounded with 16% damage drop off per 500 units makes them even worse

Even the pump action shotguns can deal with hordes much better as their bullet penetration is extremely high against flesh targets, saving you ammo, doing lots of collateral damage

2. Short effective range

Counterpoint 2.
Most engagements are close quarters anyway. Zombies aren’t dangerous unless they’re close. Though it’s nicer to snipe them from far away, it’s not much different than waiting for them to get into effective range.

Especially with hordes, if you wait for them to approach they’ll kite themselves into a group that only a shotgun (or sniper) can deal with most effectively due to the cone of a shotgun’s bullet spread.

3. Running accuracy

Counterpoint 3.
I would only agree to this point if the weapons had laser sights enabled.

4. Tanks

This scenario only applies to a solo vs tank, say the whole squad had shotguns the tank would be decimated

5. Crowning

Counterpoint 5.
Even if you don’t successfully crown, you just fire again, any other method risks the witch getting loose, 15 precise shots with a sniper is not a practical nor a safe way with dealing a witch.


Shotguns can kill lots of infected with a single shot across a large conical volume. They can do lots of damage instantaneously. They don’t require you to be motionless to take advantage of their DPS to the fullest. They’re also safe witch handlers (maybe not so much the pump action ones)

[Bane]

Have to disagree, frequently play through expert campaigns with only the chrome shot gun and a single pistol and shotguns are very useful. The only downside to shotguns is their reload

[HoloLiveSonic™]

Originally posted by Knee:

3. Running accuracy

Counterpoint 3.
I would only agree to this point if the weapons had laser sights enabled.

wait, shotguns actually have a accuracy differences with laser sights?