Shotguns are quite numerous in Destiny 2 and most often you’ll find players with at least one equipped in their current loadout. Why? Because there’s no better way to outright delete an enemy that is too close for other weapons to handle. Shotguns, like in real life, are the kings in close-quarters combat and cause massive amounts of damage.
That being said, it’s by no means an easy weapon to master. You need to know just how close you need to get without putting yourself in danger. Some shotguns take special or heavy ammo and you need to be aware of your ammo usage. Even primary ones that have unlimited ammo tend to have small magazine sizes and slow reload speeds. A person just spraying slugs around will quickly find themselves surrounded without time to reload. This is a great way to get yourself killed and most other Guardians will laugh at you for being so foolish.
You’ll mostly find shotguns being wielded by Titans who thrive by getting up in your face. A common much-beloved trait is ‘One-Two-Punch’, where tapping someone with a shotgun gives you extra damage to your melee attack. This isn’t just enjoyed by Titans, as every class can make use of a good shotgun. Below is a current top ten list of shotguns you should consider giving a try or adding to your arsenal.
10. Seventh Seraph CQC-12 (Best for PVE and PVP)
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“Word into law, held at gunpoint.”
Seventh Seraph CQC-12 is a classic shotgun that is great for both PVP and PVE play. However, as you can now only get it when Xur sells it, it finds itself on the bottom of the list. Just because it’s at the bottom doesn’t make it a bad gun, that is far from it. It’s just that shotguns are judged also by how easy an average player can get them, and what Xur sells each week is completely random. It may be frustrating to get, but it’s worth checking with Xur to see if he is selling a good roll when it is available.
With that out of the way, Seventh Seraph CQC-12 shines in that it doesn’t have a lot of perks. At first, that might seem like a bad thing, but it means that this gun doesn’t have a lot of ‘bloat’ perks to shift through. Just about every perk available for this gun is good and can be mixed and matched around for any type of gameplay.
For PVP, Quickdraw and Vorpal Weapon will give you the edge to react to players who have activated their supers. You can draw your gun as soon as you see them coming and then unload right into their heads. People might feel invincible when they pop a Storm Trance or any high DPS super, but this combo will stop them in their tracks. Auto-Loading Holster and Trench Barrel in PVE means you won’t have to stop your carnage. Give this one a try before it is sunsetted, I promise you won’t regret it.
Weapon stats: (Base)
Damage type: Solar
Impact: 65
Range: 53
Stability: 54
Handling: 60
Reload Speed: 64
Rounds Per Minute: 80
Magazine: 6
What makes Seventh Seraph CQC-12 awesome:
Has faster movement speed and better sights than most shotguns.
Solar damage is great for popping solar shields in PVE.
PVP Godroll combo shuts down Guardians who feel overconfident in their super.
Full of great perks. There’s something for everyone.
How to get Seventh Seraph CQC-12:
Randomly sold by Xur for 50 Legendary Shards and 1k Glimmer.
"The logic is ineluctable: Those who die deserve oblivion." —Kuldax
Perhaps one of the coolest drops to get from the Moon, Blasphemer is just as deadly as it is intimidating. It’s flexible, allowing use for both PVP and PVE and finding play in just about everything. Being a slug shotgun, it can deal a massive amount of damage and gives great precision kills. In the hands of the steady, it will kill just about anything in its path.
The rolls you will want to look for are both Surplus and Swashbuckler. Fourth Time’s the Charm is a great roll too if you can’t get Surplus. Surplus gives you boosted stats for having full abilities, and Swashbuckler increases the damage of the gun after both melee and Blasphemer kills. It’s a combo that feeds off each other and loops into tons of damage being dealt to whoever dares to get in your way.
Fourth Time’s the Charm is also great as it returns two ammo for every rapid precision kill, so this trait is best for a player that has steady hands and nerves. It’s harder to get a precision kill than it is to just body-shot a mob, so this gun rewards players who prefer a more precise level of gameplay. Regardless, it’s good for just about anything, and most players will find a use for Blasphemer.
Weapon stats: (Base)
Damage type: Kinetic
Impact: 70
Range: 89
Stability: 46
Handling: 49
Reload Speed: 49
Rounds Per Minute: 65
Magazine: 6
What makes Blasphemer awesome:
As a Kinetic weapon, it does not need special or heavy ammo.
Does not take up an exotic slot.
Rewards players with a precision-based build.
Available to drop often, increasing the chance of good rolls.
Fit for just about any kind of activity.
How to get Blasphemer:
Complete the Altar of Sorrows activity on the Moon.
Blasphemer drops as a reward from Altar of Sorrows on a rotating schedule that resets every day.
8. Riiswalker (Best for PVP)
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"No. I will not allow a Fallen to fight in the Banner, that right is reserved for Guardians alone. But if you insist, I may allow a Guardian to carry a Fallen-forged weapon into battle. You are a weaponsmith, are you not?" — Lord Saladin to an Unknown Eliksni
A great weapon to drop from the Iron Banner pool, this weapon exists within a realm between Crucible and Trials of Osiris. It’s harder to get than a Crucible drop, but much easier to get than a Trials drop. Thus, it takes a little more skill for a player to play enough Iron Banner to get a chance at this weapon. Thus, it stays near the bottom of the list, at least for now.
For rolls, you want to look for Quickdraw (or Slideshot) with the Iron Reach perk. This sacrifices stability for a better range, so if you know how to handle your gun, this can be a worthy trade-off. As a lightweight gun, it needs a different playstyle compared to the heavier and more aggressive frames. You will need a bit of finesse to use this weapon effectively and can take a bit of practice to get the feel of it.
The sheer amount of perks alone means that you will most likely find a perk combo that works the best for you, and thus can fit with most playstyles. It pays to have a shotgun in PVP that is both flexible and open to experimentation.
Weapon stats: (Base)
Damage type: Kinetic
Impact: 65
Range: 69
Stability: 49
Handling: 61
Reload Speed: 66
Rounds Per Minute: 80
Magazine: 6
What makes Riiswalker awesome:
As a Kinetic weapon, it does not need special or heavy ammo.
Does not take up an exotic slot.
Possibly one of the best lightweight shotguns.
Lots of perks let Riiswalker fit with just about any build/playstyle.
How to get Riiswalker:
Play Iron Banner matches.
Use Iron Banner tokens for a chance to get Riiswalker.
7. Xenoclast IV (Best for PVE and PVP)
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"Nice chitin. It'd be a shame if someone broke it." —Liu Feng
Xenoclast returns in the Witch Queen DLC to once again, wreck havoc across the Sol system. Good for both PVP and PVE, it can find use in just about any kind of player and any kind of playstyle. It takes some experimentation, but it’s a solid and reliable shotgun that is worth having around.
For PVP, you will want to look for Surplus (or Slideshot) and Killing Wind. This combo will let you chain damage across the opposing team, letting you take down one combatant after another. Sometimes opposing teams make the mistake of clustering together, so this gun will let you punish them for their foolishness.
For PVE, you will want to look for Field Prep/Auto-Loading Holster with One-Two Punch. This will allow you to get a shot off on an enemy and then follow it up with a boosted melee attack. This combo is enough to drop most enemies and conserve ammo at the same time.
However, with so many perks to choose from, it can fit in with just about any kind of build. The hard part is finding a drop with the perks you want, but it’s worth it to find a shotgun that will compliment your loadout. It’s great not only for Crucible but also for Vanguard Strike playlists to grind for that sweet, sweet bright dust.
Weapon stats: (Base)
Damage type: Arc
Impact: 65
Range: 52
Stability: 60
Handling: 69
Reload Speed: 59
Rounds Per Minute: 80
Magazine: 6
What makes Xenoclast IV awesome:
Does not take up an exotic slot.
Great for both PVP and PVE.
Lots of perks let Xenoclast fit with just about any build/playstyle.
Arc damage is great for popping arc shields in playlist activities.
How to get Xenoclast IV:
Vanguard Strike playlists and Engrams.
Randomly sold by Xur for 50 Legendary Shards and 1k Glimmer.
If you want a shotgun that doesn’t behave like an actual shotgun, Lord of Wolves is for you. It’s like a strange fusion between three different kinds of weapons. It does elemental damage like a fusion rifle, fires in bursts like a pulse rifle, and has the spread of a shotgun. It might sound strange, but it’s a fun shotgun to use! It can annihilate most mobs in front of you and deals even more damage if they have a solar shield up. In PVP you’ll find that it has more range than you think and it takes only a few bursts to kill another Guardian.
Lord of Wolves also stands out because of its ammo use. You have a big clip size and you’ll find yourself not needing to reload as often as a result. However, to use this weapon with max efficiency, you should put on scavenge mods to be sure you’ll always have special ammo to keep the pain train going. In Crucible, you want to be sure you kill your target and not let anyone run-up to steal your resulting dropped ammo. After this shotgun received a nerf, it’s not recommended to use the “Release the Wolves” feature in PVP, but try it out in PVE and see how you like it. It’s weird, it’s unique, and you are going to have a great time with this shotgun.
Weapon stats: (Base)
Damage type: Solar
Intrinsic Perk: Shrapnel Launcher- Powerful short-range Solar burst.
Exotic Perk: Release the Wolves [Alternate Weapon Action]- Swap to a longer, more powerful burst.
Catalyst completion trait: Fang and Claw- Increases reload speed while Release the Wolves is active, and increases stability when it is not.
Impact: 68
Range: 28
Stability: 59
Handling: 46
Reload Speed: 64
Rounds Per Minute: 640
Magazine: 6
What makes Lord of Wolves awesome:.
Can outright delete an opponent when playing PVP game modes and most mobs in PVE.
A unique and fun weapon to use, it feels like three different weapons in one.
Easy to use and understand for new and old players alike. Just point and delete.
Bigger click size means more pain for fewer reload times.
How to get Lord of Wolves:
Opening Fated Engrams purchased from Xur.
Opening Exotic Engrams dropped during high-level activities.
“I don't know how it works. You just keep taking damage and keep firing."
It takes a bit of a chance to get, but First in, Last Out is a fantastic shotgun that belongs in any arsenal. Full of great perks and traits, it’s very hard to choose just what counts as a god roll. It’s so flexible, it can fit any style of PVE play and just about any trait can be considered useful. However, I recommend a combo of Outlaw and Vorpal Weapon to look for when planning to take down a boss. As a slug shotgun, it offers the range and damage needed to turn even someone like Taniks into chunky salsa.
It doesn’t only just chew through bosses, but Champions can also feel the sting of it. Being an arc weapon, it takes only a few shots to pop an arc shield and then finish off the unfortunate enemy now rendered helpless. Thus, it’s great to use in Vanguard Strikes and is always useful no matter what strike you are pulled into. With great DPS and its lethality, you won’t have trouble getting those bounties finished.
The only downside is that it does take luck to acquire and it does use special ammo. It’s important to keep an eye on your ammo usage when using First In, Last Out. You will need to know just when to shoot and when to conserve what you have. If you are more disciplined, it can be just what you need when facing down a hoard of mobs coming right at you.
Weapon stats: (Base)
Damage type: Arc
Impact: 70
Range: 71
Stability: 60
Handling: 51
Reload Speed: 51
Rounds Per Minute: 70
Magazine: 6
What makes First In, Last Out awesome:
With many perks available, there’s something for every playstyle.
With the right perks, it becomes a boss killer.
Strong enough to be used in high-level PVE play, like raids.
Arc damage lets you pop arc shields and cause massive damage.
Does not take up an exotic slot.
How to get First In, Last Out:
Drops randomly from any world’s Legendary Engrams.
Randomly sold by Xur for 50 Legendary Shards and 1k Glimmer.
A lot of people love Found Verdict and it’s not hard to see why. It’s one of the few shotguns that challenge Felwinter’s Lie, another PVP shotgun, and the two often battle it out for the top spot. It will always be a valid choice when choosing your arsenal for PVP, and if anything, will probably be around for a long time.
As a raid weapon, you can only find this gun in the Vault of Glass. Don’t despair though, as it can drop during three encounters, and using all three of your characters gives you nine chances a week to get a good roll. Save up your spoils for getting re-rolls after it drops for you and with luck and time, you can find yourself a shotgun right for you. The amount of luck and work it takes pushes it down the list from Felwinter’s Lie, but some Guardians like the challenge and take great pride in finally getting the roll they want.
For rolls you are going to want both Surplus (or Slideshot) and Opening Shot. This combo rewards players that hang onto their abilities by giving them a boost to damage. Not only that, but it also gives the opening shot to an attack a ton of extra damage. Combine these traits and, this gun can easily put down most enemies with one singular shot. The result is a lot of PVP players getting saltier than an ocean. In the end, it’s up to you if you want to put in the work to get this shotgun, but I do recommend you give it a try.
Weapon stats: (Base)
Damage type: Arc
Impact: 80
Range: 47
Stability: 34
Handling: 33
Reload Speed: 51
Rounds Per Minute: 55
Magazine: 5
What makes Found Verdict awesome:
With the right perks, it will one-hit kill most enemies.
Can be used in PVE, but shines in PVP.
Decent reload speed made even better with the Surplus trait.
Does not take up an exotic slot.
How to get Found Verdict:
Can only be found in the Vault of Glass raid.
Tends to drop during the Conflux, Oracle, and Gatekeeper encounters.
Can be bought from the Cache of Kabr at the end of the raid for 20 Spoils of Conquest. (Only if you have already found the Found Verdict and want to try another roll.)
Vault Caches can be bought for 60 Spoils of Conquest for a chance to get a Found Verdict if it has yet to drop for you in the raid.
Once Found Verdict drops, it can be found in secret chests throughout the raid.
If you need help finding a fireteam to get through the raid, try joining a clan, most of which have a dedicated channel/board for those looking for a raid team.
3. The Chaperone (Best for PVP)
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"My mother had a shotgun we called the Chaperone. Kept us alive out there before we got to the City." —Amanda Holliday
Perhaps the best (and deadliest) exotic shotgun in Destiny 2, Chaperone is a consistent sight on the PVP battlefield. For those with good aim and steady hands, you’ll get the most out of its Roadborn perk, which gives you bonuses for your precision kills. That being said, it’s a constant source of salt in the PVP scene, as it can kill you from a distance. Nothing makes you feel quite as much rage (or embarrassment) as realizing someone sniped you with a shotgun.
That being said, it can be used in PVE as well. Its great range stat and high damage results in one-hit killing most mid-tier enemies and doing precision damage to bosses. However, it shines more in PVP and thus is recommended for that purpose. It takes a bit of time to go through the quest, but it is well worth it to those who have the Beyond Light DLC. Just stick with it and you’ll have a great shotgun faster than it takes to grind for random drops.
It also helps that this gun doesn’t need special or heavy ammo, so you have unlimited slugs to work with. As the reload speed is slow, you are going to want to make every shot you have count. Thus as mentioned before, it’s great for the more precise player with calm nerves. In the right hands, it can dominate the PVP battlefield.
Exotic Perk: The Roadborn- Precision kills briefly grant bonus handling, range, and precision damage with this weapon.
Catalyst completion trait: Masterworks the weapon.
Impact: 75
Range: 100
Stability: 37
Handling: 82
Reload Speed: 37
Rounds Per Minute: 70
Magazine: 6
What makes The Chaperone awesome:
Has several ornaments to change the appearance of the weapon, all of which look good.
As a Kinetic weapon, it does not need special or heavy ammo.
Rewards players who aim for precision kills.
Great range which allows flexibility in positioning.
In the right hands will land consistent one-hit kills.
How to get The Chaperone:
Own the Beyond Light DLC.
Go visit Shaw Han in the Cosmodrome. Talk to him and he will have the ‘Blast from the Past’ exotic quest available to take from his inventory.
Defeat 100 combatants. Stronger combatants give more progress.
Defeat combatants with your Super and abilities: Supers give more progress. Once done, talk to Shaw Han in the Cosmodrome.
Speak with Amanda Holliday in the Tower.
Defeat 100 enemy combatants and complete three public events on Europa. Once done, Talk to Amanda Holliday in the Tower.
Defeat 150 enemies with Precision damage, and 100 with Shotguns in either Gambit or Crucible. Guardian kills give more progress.
Speak with Amanda Holliday and she will give you The Chaperone.
2. Heritage (Best for PVE)
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A single word etched inside the barrel: "Wilhelmina-1."
Widely considered the best weapon to drop from the Deep Stone Crypt raid, Heritage delivers consistent high damage and faster reload speed compared to other shotguns. It takes time to grind for it as it only drops during one encounter in the whole raid, but it’s well worth the time and effort to get it. Not only does it look awesome, but Heritage is perhaps the best shotgun for PVE and will help you out of many jams.
For rolls, you are going to want to shoot for Reconstruction and Recombination. This combo slowly reloads your gun up to double capacity and the damage of the next shot increases after an elemental final blow. This means you can use your abilities to cause some damage to some low-level mobs and then pull out your shotgun to hit the boss with a large amount of damage. Auto-Loading Holster is another great trait, as your gun will auto-reload while holstered after a bit of time.
Heritage will quickly and easily delete most low-level enemies within one to two shots and does amazing damage to any high-level ones. Because it is also a Kinetic weapon, it also deals 10% more damage. That kinda damage is nothing to turn your nose up at, especially when you find yourself surrounded and need to clear a room fast.
Weapon stats: (Base)
Damage type: Kinetic
Impact: 70
Range: 76
Stability: 67
Handling: 78
Reload Speed: 51
Rounds Per Minute: 70
Magazine: 6
What makes Heritage awesome:
As a Kinetic weapon, it does not need special or heavy ammo.
Looks awesome.
Unique perks make it unstoppable in end-game PVE.
Does not take up an exotic slot.
Considered the best slug shotgun in the game.
Can also be used in PVP if paired with the right build.
How to get Heritage:
Can only be found in the Deep Stone Crypt raid.
You will need the Beyond Light DLC.
Drops from the Atraks-1, Fallen Exo encounter in the Deep Stone Crypt raid.
Purchased from the Security Spoils cache at the end of the raid for 20 Spoils of Conquest. (Only if you have already found the Trustee and want to try another roll.)
Crypt Caches can be bought for 60 Spoils of Conquest for a chance to get a Vision of Confluence if it has yet to drop for you in the raid.
If you get a drop from the Atraks-1, Fallen Exo encounter, they then can also randomly drop from the two secret chests in the raid.
If you need help finding a fireteam to get through the raid, try joining a clan, most have a dedicated channel/board for those looking for a raid team.
1. Felwinter's Lie (Best for PVP)
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“I just like the name. Doesn't mean anything.” - Lord Felwinter to Lord Timur
Felwinter’s Lie has been a constant in PVP for a very good reason. Not only can it turn a Guardian’s head into a fine mist, but it can do it over a longer distance than most shotguns can reach. Shotguns that use pellets tend to suffer at longer ranges. Pellets spread outwards, so to get the maximum amount of damage, you need to get in close to minimize this spread.
Felwinter, however, has a very tight pellet spread, which allows you to not have to get so close when fighting another Guardian. This frees up your range and gives you a little more flexibility when positioning yourself. With a combo of Surplus and Opening Shot, you are going to do a lot of damage very fast.
The one thing shotguns suffer from is reload speed. With Surplus, not only is reload speed increased but so is your handling and stability stat with each fully charged ability. Paired with Opening Shot, which gives you increased accuracy and range with your opening attack, it becomes an absolute beast. The meta constantly changes, and you are starting to see Felwinter’s in both Trials and Crucible again, so be prepared to make a lot of people angry at you should you bring this shotgun into PVP.
Weapon stats: (Base)
Damage type: Solar
Impact: 80
Range: 47
Stability: 27
Handling: 33
Reload Speed: 41
Rounds Per Minute: 55
Magazine: 4
What makes Felwinter's Lie awesome:
Easy to get for all players.
Does not take up an exotic slot.
Tight pellet spread makes for consistent one-hit kills.
Best pellet shotgun in Destiny 2.
Gives you more flexibility in positioning.
Gives the best range for any shotgun currently in-game.
How to get Felwinter's Lie:
Found under the ‘Legacy Gear’ tab in the Exotic Kiosk in Tower.
Purchase for 75,000 Glimmer, 100 Legendary Shards, 2 Enhancement Prisms, and 1 Ascendant Shard.
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Starhorse, aka The Impossible Horse, reminds you to have fun and put some enemies in thier place.
In conclusion, it is recommended to keep at least one shotgun with you when playing Destiny. Bungie may have nerfed shotguns, but they are still a fun weapon to use. If you feel overwhelmed and need some breathing room, a shotgun will more than take care of that. Shotguns do more damage at point-blank range, so if you are cornered, use that close range to your advantage. You don’t need to be in a specific class to enjoy a shotgun, you just need to be the type to like to solve their troubles up close and personal. Being a Guardian, trouble is going to find you, so why not be prepared for it? Go out and find the one you like the best and have fun turning your enemies into a fine red mist.
A cryptid hailing from the Pennsylvanian countryside, April can be found in her cave playing various games from D&D to Fallout. Gifts of dice are needed to prevent attacks on livestock.
Gamer Since:
1995
Favorite Genre:
FPS
Currently Playing:
Destiny 2
Top 3 Favorite Games:
The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth, This War of Mine, DOOM
