Many players in Apex Legends believe that shotguns are the best secondary weapon for their AR or SMG. Compared to all the weapon classes in Apex Legends, shotguns are unmatched in dishing out sudden large bursts of damage. Their massive damage per shot is why shotguns will always be part of the meta. With the recent shotgun buff in season 16, players will have an easier time landing their shots and seeing more damage.
Controller class legends will make great use of shotguns when they are defending an indoor area and will force close-quarter fights with their shotguns. There are four shoguns in Apex Legends, and they all handle differently from each other. Many players claim that shotguns are based on preference; however, there are many factors to help rank the best shotgun. Damage, reload time, and pellet spread are all essential factors in determining which shotgun outperforms the rest in Apex Legends.
4 Mozambique Shotgun
For the longest time, the Mozambique was considered by many to be the weakest weapon in the game. Players created the Mozambique here meme as it was the least desirable loot in the outlands. The Mozambique remained a poor-performing weapon until its buff in season 9. The buff added value to the Mozambique, and it instantly became a dependable weapon for players off drop and in arenas until the mode was removed. The buff added two extra bullets and tightened the spread, and this helped the Mozambique become a dependable secondary until players loot a better shotgun.
The Mozambique has three pellets shaped like a triangle with a surprisingly small spread and can shoot consistently at medium distances. Pairing the Mozambique with a high-tier shotgun bolt will supercharge the gun and vastly increase its DPS. The base Mozambique has a DPS of 99 and will increase to 134 with a purple bolt. The fast rate of fire and tight spread will be lethal in close range if enemy players underestimate how powerful the Mozambique can be. The reload times are quick and will come in handy in many encounters.
3 EVA-8 Auto
The Eva-8 is considered to be the Mozambique's older sibling and far more reliable in almost every, and it only lacks in range when compared to the Mozambique. With two more bullets, the EVA-8 has more room for error and packs a better punch. As of season 16, the EVA-8 supports the Double Tap Trigger hop-up. The Double Tap Trigger is among the best hop-ups, but it can be a double-edged sword. Missing shots will be more punishing as players will need to wait longer to fire their next shot and will consume more ammo.
A purple bolt is essential to get the most out of the EVA-8, as it vastly increases the DPS and allows the weapon to become lethal at close ranges. The starting DPS is 129 and increases to 167 with a purple bolt. Playing with a Double Tap Trigger will allow players to release more damage but will have a longer delay between shots. This delay makes it essential for players to take extra time to ensure their aim is accurate.
The Eva-8 has eight pellets in the shape of the number 8 and will give players a hard time shooting targets at a far range.
2 Mastiff Shotgun
On paper, the Mastiff sounds weaker than the Eva-8, but the secret lies in its time to kill. The weapon deals more damage per hit than the Eva-8 and will give players an easy time landing high-damage shots. The Mastiff has a fast TTK that helps it shred enemies as long as you land your shots. The Mastiff is risky as it has a longer delay between shots but hits harder than the Eva-8 and Mozambique.
Using a purple bolt will make missing shots less devastating as it will increase the fire rate drastically. The Mastiff is best used as a secondary as it pairs great with an automatic weapon. Players should use their primary weapon to deal the most damage they can, then finish off their opponent with the Mastiff's sudden damage.
The Mastiff has eight pellets in a horizontal line and has the most different pattern of all shotguns. Aiming at the shoulders will ensure that most of the pellets land as it is the widest point of a legend.
1 Peacekeeper
None of the other weapons in Apex Legends are as eye-catching as the Peacekeeper. The Peacekeeper is among the strongest weapons in Apex Legends but requires practice to perform well with the gun. Compared to the Mastiff, the Peacekeeper has one more pellet and can inflict more damage with each shot. The peacekeeper has a lower fire rate than all shotguns but makes up for it with its overwhelming damage potential.
Landing headshots with the Peacekeeper is capable of unleashing devastating damage that will guarantee the advantage. A headshot will deal around 110 damage or 99 if no pellets hit the head. The Peacekeeper will pair great with an SMG as it will deal 99 damage consistently in the hands of an experienced player. Players using an SMG will only need to crack an enemy's shield and switch to their Peacekeeper to secure the kill.
The Peacekeeper has 11 pellets in the shape of a star and can be charged to shoot for longer ranges.
Apex Legends is currently available for Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.