5 Best Shotguns in Call of Duty: Warzone (Season 6)

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Summer has been an avid gamer ever since she was a young girl. She graduated from the University of California Davis in 2019, and completed an inte... Read more

Reviewed by Benjamin Barr

Shotguns are underrated and often overlooked in Warzone. While other classes of weapons like ARs and SMGs steal the spotlight, shotguns tend to fall out of favor for most players due to their limited range, slow reload time, and slow rate of fire. Despite their setbacks, shotguns undoubtedly deliver some of the highest amounts of damage, and impact the meta more than most players may realize.

Warzone’s newest shotgun additions have especially shaken up the meta, and given the game more interesting and devastating loadout combinations. In this guide, we’ll be highlighting the top four best shotguns for melting the competition in Warzone Season 6.

5 Best Shotguns in Warzone Season 6

What is the best shotgun in Warzone? As of now there are a total of ten shotguns in Warzone, making it a relatively small but lethal class. Below, we’ll look at the four shotguns that stand out from the rest this season and explain why they’re set apart.

1. JAK-12

Warzone’s deadliest hip-fire shotgun

Even after being nerfed, this explosive close-ranged beast remains above its competitors.

Why is it one of the best? This relatively new shotgun has stayed at the top because it has the tightest hip-fire spread of all the shotguns in Warzone. Its insanely powerful hip fire allows you to hit your killshots without having to aim down the sights. It is an easy to use, fully automatic steamroller that is quick to act in stressful close-quarter situations.

It has a reliable three-shot kill range, and a faster reload time than its competitors. It also has a high fire rate, and can carry up to 32 rounds per mag so you can put more shots on your target before reloading. While it’s mainly meant for close-range combat, its ease of use coupled with its solid mobility and high-damage hip-fire make it a dependable and popular choice.

What are its best attachments? The JAK-12 has many different powerful loadouts. This is our pick for the best Shotgun loadout in Warzone. It will close the gap between close and mid-range, and will maximize your damage output. The ZLR J-3600 Torrent Barrel will increase your range and tighten spread, while the 5mW Laser and Stippled Grip Tape will give you the mobility that you need. Sleight of Hand, a perk that decreases the reload time for weapons by 50%, will allow you quickly get back to the action after a short reload. Finally, 8-R Dragons Breath rounds that deal extreme incendiary damage will be the icing on top of this explosive and efficient build.

How do I get it? You’ll need to get three hip-fire kills using shotguns in seven different matches. Once again, playing modes like Plunder or Team Deathmatch will help you get there faster because they allow you to respawn. These modes give you more chances to engage with your enemy, and achieve your objective.

2. Gallo SA12

Warzone’s most lethal close-quarters shotgun

An absolutely devastating beast that will make you wonder why you ever underestimated shotguns in the first place.

Why is it one of the best? Many would argue that the Gallo is better than the JAK-12 because of its better TTK (time to kill) and better mobility. That said, many would also argue that they are tied. Its unbelievable damage output coupled with its ease of control in stressful close-combat battles make it stand out amongst all other shotguns. Since its release during Season 4, it has become one of the most popular secondary weapons.

This semi-automatic shotgun melts enemies faster than most other shotguns, which is why it is so good at sweeping through buildings. Although its largest magazine is only 12 rounds, it deletes enemies with only two or three. Because of its fast rate of fire and ease of use, it very well may transform the close-range metagame in Warzone.

What are its best attachments? The Gallo’s biggest faults are its slow reload speed and its high recoil. The below build focuses on giving the Gallo some medium range power, increasing hip-fire accuracy, and widening the shotgun’s pellet spread so that you won’t have to worry so much about aiming down the sights.

The Duckbill Choke muzzle will give you medium range damage, and will increase pellet spread. The 24.6” Ranger barrel will boost bullet speed and damage range. The SWAT 5mw Laser Sight will make the Gallo even more deadly during close-range combat by improving its hip-fire accuracy. The STANAG 12 Rnd Tube will allow you to unload more rounds before reloading in those high-stress situations when you are against multiple enemies. Lastly, the Field Tape will substantially boost the Gallo’s flinch resistance, which will increase your accuracy.

How do I get it? All you need to do is reach Level 34 in Warzone. This task may take a few hours, but consider playing modes like Plunder to get more experience and level up faster.

3. .410 Ironhide

Warzone’s new bold and robust powerhouse

The newest addition to the class that will bring shotguns back to the forefront.

Why is it one of the best? This new shotgun was introduced to the shotgun lineup during season 6 and poses a challenge for even the most seasoned player. But once mastered, it deserves mention in any best shotgun Warzone list. Although it is difficult to use and challenging to modify with attachments, its long-range capabilities and massive damage output make it one of the most powerful shotguns in Warzone.

It has the longest range out of all the shotguns in its class, and it is a reliable one to two-shot killer. It mixes aspects of the rifle and the shotgun together to give you something more versatile, and deadly than your average shotgun.

What are its best attachments? When it comes to attachments, the .410 Ironhide is a bit complicated. No matter which attachment you add, there’s not a significant change in its performance. However, enhancing its long-range capabilities will give you a strong upper hand over other shotguns and even SMG’s. The V-Choke will increase the spread of pellets when aiming, while the 22.3” Ranger barrel will improve your damage range. The Stagnag 8 RND Tube allows you to put more shots on your target, which makes the Ironhide’s slow reload time a little more bearable. Lastly, the Marathon Stock will help you stay out of your enemies sights by increasing your mobility, while the Diamondback Reflex will slightly boost your accuracy.

How do I get it? To unlock this new weapon, you’ll need to get to Tier 15 in the battle pass, or purchase a blueprint. If you want to level up quickly, you will want to choose Plunder over Battle Royale. Plunder lets you revive throughout the match, which ultimately helps you get the most experience out of each game.

4. R9-0

Warzone’s most adaptable shotgun

What was once the most broken shotgun remains one of the best.

Why is it one of the best? Although the R9-0 has been in and out of the meta due to its nerfs, it still remains a top choice because of its high burst damage. Similarly to the JAK-12, you can deliver disgusting damage without having to aim down the sights. The R9-0 can also be converted into a formidable mid-range weapon with certain attachments.

Because it’s a magazine-fed shotgun, it can constantly be firing its rounds. This single characteristic places it above most shotguns, since most shotguns have a very slow reload time. Although this is a more difficult shotgun to use because of its unique double-pump mechanic, it is one of the best once it is mastered. It can use Slugs as its main ammunition, which increase it’s range. It can also melt the competition with Dragon’s Breath rounds, which deal massive incendiary damage.

What are its best attachments? This particular loadout will allow you to deliver high damage in close-ranged combat without having to aim down the sights. The Monolithic Suppressor increases your stealth and range, while the FORGE TAC Sentry tightens pellet spread. Sleight of Hand will give you a faster reload time, which will allow you to get your shots off faster. The low-power 1mW Laser will boost your hip-fire accuracy and help you stay hidden. Lastly, the Merc Foregrip will decrease vertical recoil, and give you more control from the hip for those stressful close-quarter battles.

How do I get it? The R9-0 is unlocked at level one, so you can use it right away.

Honorable Mention: Best Shotguns in Warzone

The following shotgun, while powerful, is slightly overshadowed by the previous top four. However, its ease of use allows it to have many different and extremely dangerous loadout combinations.

5. Origin 12

Warzone’s most underrated shotgun

Sometimes you just want to return to the classic showstopper that started it all.

Why is it one of the best? Although the Origin 12 may have a lower damage output than most of the other shotguns in Warzone, don’t let that statistic fool you. Despite being nerfed, it is still a very reliable and formidable shotgun that has solid damage range and hip-fire accuracy. Because it is one of the easiest weapons to use in the game, it can be outfitted in many different and devastating ways.

While its damage output may look unimpressive, a drum magazine allows it to get off more rounds than its competitors. This semi-automatic weapon quickly releases its rounds to deal a surprisingly heavy amount of damage, which makes it extremely powerful during close-quarter combat. While it may not deal as much hip-fire damage as its competitors do, its ease of use and fast fire rate definitely make up for this shortcoming.

What are its best attachments? There are many different loadouts you can do for the Origin 12, however the below loadout puts more of an emphasis on damage range and accuracy.

The Monolithic Suppressor and the 8 Round Slug Mags will improve damage range. However, if you aren’t a fan of slugs and would like to get more rounds off on your enemies instead, then go with the 25 Round Drum Mags. Although Slugs do more damage from a distance, the 25 Round Drum mags will give you more of an advantage in close-combat situations. The 5mW Laser will boost hip-fire accuracy, while the Stippled Grip Tape will allow you to have better mobility and faster aim down sight speed. Lastly, the PBX Holo 7 Sight will provide a clearer sight picture which increases your accuracy when you are aiming down your sights.

How do I get it? To unlock the Origin 12, your character needs to reach Level 31 in Warzone.

Join the High Ground

Shotguns are definitely making a comeback this season, and will continue to reshape the meta in surprising and exciting new ways. Although many players overlook shotguns due to their setbacks and low popularity, they are a force to be reckoned with and should definitely be considered when preparing your loadouts for Season 6.

While shotguns may require much more practice and patience than other weapons, their devastating damage output makes them an extremely reliable and fun addition to any loadout. We hope you enjoyed our list of the best Warzone shotguns! Don’t forget to follow us on social media and subscribe to our newsletter.

Happy gaming!

5 Best Shotguns in Call of Duty: Warzone (Season 6)