Fallout 76 offers a lot of choices, especially in the combat department. You can use dozens of different weapons and armor sets to fight off everything the Wasteland throws at you throughout your adventure. One of the weapon types you can use in Fallout 76 is shotguns, which act as one of the best close combat weapon types in the game.
Shotguns are an underused weapon type in Fallout 76, and although there aren't many of them, they're still worth equipping if you know how to handle them. This guide will explain everything you should know about how to get the best shotguns, the best perks to equip, and how to properly distribute your SPECIAL stats for maximum potential.
Updated April 4, 2023, by Sean Murray: Shotguns still aren't the best weapons in the game, but we still salute Fallout 76 players that remain dedicated to their boomstick. That's why we've updated this guide with a few formatting tweaks for better readability.
The Best Weapon For A Shotgun Build
Although there aren't a lot of shotguns to choose from, there's still a large enough selection that you should pick the weapon that best suits your individual preferences. There are three shotguns you should know about if you want to create the strongest shotgun build possible.
Gauss Shotgun
Gauss weapons are powerful in the Fallout franchise, but the Gauss Shotgun takes it to the next level because it allows you to charge your shot for maximum damage, and bullets you shoot explode upon impact, which deals area damage. Gauss Shotguns deal 80-105 base damage.
You can buy the Gauss Shotgun plans from Samuel once you become an ally of the Settlers. Next, you'll need to craft the Gauss Shotgun at a Weapons Workbench with six Circuitry, 15 Screws, four Springs, four Silver, eight Wood, seven Steel, 14 Aluminum, and two Legendary Modules.
Quad Double-Barrel Shotgun
The Double-Barrel Shotgun is a solid weapon, but it isn't particularly strong. However, the Quad legendary effect makes the Double-Barrel Shotgun one of the best weapons in Fallout 76 since you can shoot four times as many bullets without reloading your weapon.
The Quad Double-Barrel Shotgun isn't at any set location in Fallout 76, so you'll have to earn it by defeating legendary enemies or through legendary crafting.
Combat Shotgun
The Combat Shotgun is one of the strongest shotguns in Fallout 76. It deals 60-90 base damage, and you can fire eight times before needing to reload.
You can find multiple Combat Shotguns at the southern entrance into Watoga; however, they don't have legendary effects.
You can also get Combat Shotguns by defeating Mole Miner Diggers throughout the Wasteland and by searching the barn at the Southhampton Estate. You may find additional Combat Shotguns as loot after defeating enemies or by searching inside containers.
The Best Legendary Effect For A Shotgun Build
Legendary effects can make your weapons more powerful by granting them special bonuses. Since you'll often be trying to hit multiple enemies simultaneously while using a shotgun, the Explosive effect is powerful on shotguns.
Explosive makes your bullets create an explosion upon impact, which deals extra damage to all enemies in the area. The Explosive effect is particularly useful if you plan to fight hordes of enemies.
The Best Stats For A Shotgun Build
Your SPECIAL stats, Perk Cards, Legendary Perks, and mutation are all important to focus on while creating a new build. Although there's room for personal preference within all of these categories, there are some SPECIAL stats and Perk Cards that are useful for a shotgun build regardless of your preferences.
The Best SPECIAL Stat Allocation For A Shotgun Build
SPECIAL stats are the most important feature you can use to customize your build for maximum efficiency. You start with one point in each stat upon creating your character and earn an extra SPECIAL point each time you level up until level 50, which gives you 56 points in total.
Legendary Perks can also increase your SPECIAL stats beyond 56 total points.
There are a few SPECIAL stats you should prioritize for a shotgun build, as you'll see below. However, you can redistribute some of your points depending on which Perk Cards you want to equip. Additionally, you may want to adjust your Perception stat if you plan to use VATS.
|
SPECIAL Stat |
Number Of Points |
|---|---|
|
Strength |
14 |
|
Perception |
12 |
|
Endurance |
6 |
|
Charisma |
3 |
|
Intelligence |
8 |
|
Agility |
8 |
|
Luck |
5 |
The Best Perk Cards For A Shotgun Build
Each Perk Card offers a unique effect that will make your character stronger.
You earn Perk Cards as you level up, and each card requires a certain amount of free SPECIAL stat points. For example, if you have three free Perception points, then you can equip a Perk Card that requires three Perception points.
The following eight Perk Cards are the base cards you should equip if you're using shotguns in Fallout 76. Since shotguns are close-range weapons, there are a few Perk Cards you can equip to maximize your HP and the healing your character receives from stimpacks.
|
Perk Card |
Base Effect |
SPECIAL Stat Requirement |
Level Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Enforcer |
Shotguns Gain A 5% Chance To Stagger Opponents And A 10% Chance To Break A Limb |
1 Agility |
Level 30 |
|
Shotgunner (+Expert Shotgunner & Master Shotgunner) |
Shotguns Deal 10% More Damage |
1 Strength |
Level 10 |
|
Concentrated Fire |
You Can Target Individual Limbs In VATS |
1 Perception |
Level 2 |
|
Skeet Shooter |
Shotguns Have Better Spread And Accuracy |
1 Perception |
Level 10 |
|
Bloody Mess |
All Weapons Deal 5% More Damage |
1 Luck |
Level 42 |
|
First Aid |
Stimpacks Restore 15% More HP |
1 Intelligence |
Level 2 |
|
Scattershot |
Shotguns Reload 10% Faster And Weigh 30% Less |
1 Strength |
Level 18 |
|
Life Giver |
+15 HP |
2 Endurance |
Level 50 |
The Best Legendary Perks For A Shotgun Build
Legendary Perks are similar to Perk Cards; however, they're only available once you reach level 50. You unlock a new Legendary Perk slot when you reach levels 50, 75, 100, 150, 200, and 300.
These six Legendary Perks are useful for a shotgun build, especially if you're playing in a group setting. Depending on what type of armor or secondary weapons you use, there may be other Legendary Perks that are also useful for your build.
|
Legendary Perk |
Base Effect |
|---|---|
|
Taking One For The Team |
While Part Of A Team, You Deal 20% More Damage To Enemies After They Attack You |
|
Far-Flung Fireworks |
Enemies Have A 10% Chance To Explode When You Defeat Them Using A Ranged Weapon |
|
Ammo Factory |
You Get 50% More Ammo When You Craft Ammunition |
|
Legendary Strength |
Gain 1 Strength And Strength Point |
|
Legendary Perception |
Gain 1 Perception And Perception Point |
|
Legendary Endurance |
Gain 1 Endurance And Endurance Point |
The Best Mutation For A Shotgun Build
There are many mutations to acquire in Fallout 76, but some are more useful than others for a shotgun build. The best mutation to pair with shotguns is Speed Demon because it grants you 20 percent faster movement speed and allows you to reload 20 percent faster.
However, you'll also become hungry and thirsty faster while the Speed Demon mutation is active.
You can get mutations by taking radiation damage. Radiation is present in many locations throughout the Wasteland, and you can also eat irradiated food or swim in water to take radiation damage. Radiation is dangerous for your character, so make sure to be cautious while interacting with it.