TF2 Weapon Reviews: The Shotgun

TF2 Weapon Reviews will be exactly what they sound like.

   This weapon review will be different from any other weapon review, as it will be explaining three basic weapons, as opposed to the loadout slot of a specific class. These weapons are the Shotgun, the Pistol, and the Shovel. The Shovel is just used as an example, the same stats apply to the stock melee weapons of the Pyro, Demoman, Heavy, Medic, and Sniper. I will be reviewing those three weapons over the next three Weapon Reviews.

   The Shotgun is the primary weapon for the Engineer, and the stock secondary weapon for Soldier, Pyro, and Heavy. It hold six shots when fully loaded, and carries 32 ammo.This weapon fires 10 pellets per shot that each do 6 damage per pellet for base damage, dealing 24-67 damage at medium range per shot. At close range, the Shotgun can do up to 90 damage if all pellets hit, which makes it able to kill even a full-health Heavy in four shots. Crits do 18 damage per pellet, dealing 180 damage if all hit, which is enough damage to kill any class except the Soldier and Heavy in one direct hit. The time between attacks is 0.6 seconds, and the reload time for all six rounds is 3.5 seconds. The Shotgun reloads shell by shell.
   The Shotgun is a powerful and underrated weapon that newer players will ignore completely. However, an experienced player knows to be wary, as an accurate shooter can easily kill almost any class at close range, while still being able to do solid damage to crowds at medium range, due to the large pellet spread of the weapon. It carries six full 'clips,' including the six shots you start with, as well as two extra shots. That is more than enough rounds to do serious damage with such a basic weapon. At long ranges, however, the power of this weapon becomes less than that of a Pistol shot, making it bad for precise, powerful shots.
   As a Soldier, the Shotgun is incredibly useful in close combat, as it does more damage than your Shovel, and your Rocket Launcher would do just as much damage to you. The Shotgun is not nearly as good for the Pyro, due to the Flamethrower being mainly a close range weapon anyway, however it is quite effective against enemy Pyros. The Shotgun is pretty much useless for the Heavy compared to the Minigun at similar ranges. However, when your Minigun runs out of ammo, a Shotgun can be your greatest ally. The Shotgun is the Engineer's base weapon and the basis behind all of the Engineer's primary weapons (except the Pomson, but that will be discussed later.) As such, it is your primary source of damage when your Sentry isn't built, or for defending against Spies. As I said, the Shotgun is a powerful weapon at close ranges, making it worthy of use when it is needed.