Shotgun: Difference between revisions

}}The '''Shotgun''' is the default primary weapon for the [[Engineer]] and the default secondary weapon for the [[Soldier]], [[Pyro]], and [[Heavy]]. It's a sawed-off, pump-action shotgun, with a dark metal barrel, and a wooden stock and forearm.

The Shotgun has the same statistics on all classes, with the exception of slightly different reload times. It holds 6 shells at a time, firing  10 bullets in a 9x9 pattern with the 10th bullet overlapping the center bullet. This naturally leads to the shotgun landing more bullets at closer ranges, making it an excellent option for dealing burst damage. This is supplemented by its large base damage of 6 per bullet, 150% damage ramp-up for 9 damage per bullet at point-blank, and a fast firing speed of about once every 0.6 seconds. Despite being relegated to a sidearm, the Shotgun is one of the most reliable weapons in the game, and its deadliness should not be underestimated.

The strategy and usage of the Shotgun is slightly different for each class, with a shared theme of increased mobility, mid-range viability, and close-range damage:

* On Soldier, the Shotgun is used to supplement the low clip size of the [[Rocket Launcher]], being a backup weapon in case he cannot reload his rockets in time, or if usage of such would cause him to explode. It is also used for finishing off enemies that are running away, where the slow velocity of the rockets may not reach them in time. In addition, it functions as an anti-Pyro weapon, countering the [[Flame Thrower]]'s ability to airblast away his rockets.

* On Pyro, the Shotgun is used to shoot enemies that are out of range of their Flame Thrower, in addition to dealing more damage per second than the Flame Thrower against a singular target. It is often used as the main weapon against an enemy that is suffering afterburn, and offers the Pyro a degree of mobility that is not viable when using the Flame Thrower. In addition, it is highly effective against enemy Pyros, or other enemies hiding [[water|underwater]].

* On Heavy, the Shotgun is used for mobile assaults, such as when chasing an enemy that is hiding out of sight of his [[Minigun]], or when travelling in a space where the Minigun cannot be spun-up in time. The high ammo consumption of the Minigun also makes usage of the Shotgun a necessity when sources of ammo are scarce.

* On Engineer, the Shotgun is used as his primary weapon, and is his best source of damage when he is caught without a [[Sentry Gun]]. When defending his buildings from enemy assault, the Shotgun can supplement Sentry damage and kill enemies before they have a chance to destroy it. It is especially effective against enemy [[Spy|Spies]] who get too close to his encampment.

* In old versions of Team Fortress 2 Classic, the [[Medic]] had the Shotgun as an alternative primary weapon. However, it was considered harmful for his class design, as players preferred to fight with the Shotgun instead of healing teammates.