The shotgun is one of the most satisfying guns in Abyssus, with devastating close range firepower that comes at the cost of leaving you vulnerable if you handle positioning badly. The other guns can have you sit back and be safe, but the shotgun forces you to rush headlong into the thick of it, and rewards aggressive play with huge damage. It gets more proficient with practice, but with the right build and strategy, it can carry you a long way through the game’s toughest expeditions.
Unlocking the Shotgun
The shotgun becomes available relatively early, but you’ll have to prove yourself before it’s yours. To unlock it, head to the Abandoned Temple and take down the mini-boss waiting there. After the fight, push forward into the next chamber and check the side of the room—you’ll spot the shotgun tucked away. Grab it, and from your next run onward you’ll be able to equip it.
This premature unlock means you can start testing shotgun builds earlier, which is great if you’re a fan of high-risk, high-reward playstyles.
How the Shotgun Works
Contrary to most other weapons in Abyssus, the shotgun is highly customizable despite sharing one ammo pool between its primary and secondary fire modes. You will always be able to have six shots per reload, but how you fire them depends on the adjustments you unlock.
The catch is that no matter how you build it, the shotgun is always best up close. Its damage and range drop significantly at distance, so if you want to utilize it, you need to stay mobile, control space, and commit to close-fighting rather than staying at a distance with the backline.
Constructing the Shotgun
As the shotgun is a reward for aggressive playstyle, your build will aim to optimize fire rate, crowd control, and survivability. It’s easy enough to find yourself swamped with enemies surrounding you in close combat, so it’s just as important to have ways of dealing with swarms as raw damage.
Best Fire Modes
Primary and secondary fire settings are best represented as follows:
- Full Automatic (Primary Fire): This turns your shotgun into a full auto gun, which enables you to vaporize enemies before they can even get up. The increased fire rate makes it a much better option for groups. It is unlocked by quadruple killing with your shotgun.
- Pressure Shot (Secondary Fire): Stuns during secondary fire mode, which is invaluable in the moment of need. By stuttering enemies in front of you, you buy precious seconds to reposition or finish them off. You’ll unlock this after reaching 1,000 meters using Buckshot’s Knockback.
Sustained shooting combined with proper stuns makes you a closer killer in close range while keeping deadly swarms at bay.
Best Ability for Shotgun Users
Since you’ll be reloading quite a bit with the shotgun, the Anchor ability is definitely the most reliable choice. Anchor gives you a secure, effective way to punish enemies as you’re forced to halt and reload. Instead of leaving yourself open, you can use a weak spot to turn it into an opportunity to kill remaining stragglers.
This synergy makes the shotgun feel much smoother to use, particularly in lower depths where reload timing errors can prove fatal.
Aspects That Work Well With Shotgun
Aspects are randomized per run, but if fortune favors you, some work particularly well with a shotgun build:
- Barrier Aspects (First Priority): Since you’ll always be up close and personal, Barrier keeps your health level topped up by offering you some much-needed protection. The way to go here is Energizing Barrier, which enables you to dish it out while taking it on the chin.
- Frost Aspects (Secondary): Pressure Shot already stuns and Frost effects synergize on freeze for even greater control. Quick Freeze allows you to lock up whole groups of enemies before tearing them apart.
- Tentacle Aspects (Ability): Tentacles summon allies to battle with you, which works well against the shotgun’s slower reload speed. They help whittle down enemies when you’re forced to move. Ocean’s Embrace is a favorite here, boosting safety and damage.
These Aspects paired work offense and survivability, enabling you to push further without getting swamped.
Recommended Charms
As with Aspects, Charms are random, but some really improve your shotgun runs:
- Gun Meets Face: Boosts damage to enemies in ten-meter range, perfect for the shotgun playstyle.
- Bandage: Gives a chance to avoid taking damage and can be a game-saver when the enemy is approaching.
If you come across either, they should be prioritized.
