Destiny 2 Best Pve Shotgun

Main Curiosities and Interesting Information

• What is a Pve shotgun and why do you need one?
• What are the criteria for choosing the best Pve shotgun?
• What are the top shotguns recommended by experts and players?
• What are the pros and cons of each shotgun and how to use them effectively?
• How to acquire the best Pve shotgun and optimize its perks?

Criteria for Choosing the Best Pve Shotgun

Before diving into the specific shotguns, let’s clarify what makes a shotgun great for Pve activities:

• High damage per shot: shotguns are designed to deal massive damage at close range, so you want to maximize their potential by choosing ones with high damage per shot. This is especially important for taking down tough enemies and bosses.
• Good range and spread: shotguns are not snipers, but they still need to have decent range and spread to be effective beyond point-blank range. You don’t want to waste ammo on shots that miss or barely scratch the target.
• Fast fire rate and reload speed: shotguns have limited ammo capacity and long reload times, so you want to choose ones that can fire quickly and reload smoothly. This is crucial for dealing with crowds of enemies and avoiding downtime.
• Useful perks: shotguns can have various perks that enhance their performance in different ways, such as increasing damage, range, reload speed, or magazine size. You want to choose ones that have perks that match your playstyle and complement your other gear.

Top Recommended Shotguns for Pve

Based on my own experience, expert advice, and community feedback, here are the top shotguns that excel in Pve activities:

• 1. The Fourth Horseman: a exotic shotgun with insane burst damage and full-auto fire. It can shred through enemies and bosses alike, especially if you use it with the Warlock’s Well of Radiance or Titan’s Bubble. Its downside is low range and high recoil, which require some practice to master.
• 2. Heritage: a legendary shotgun from the Deep Stone Crypt raid, with high damage, range, and reload speed. Its unique perk, Reconstruction, allows it to gradually refill its magazine as you defeat enemies, making it great for sustained engagements. Its downside is low fire rate and small magazine size, which can be mitigated by pairing it with a fast-firing primary weapon.
• 3. First In, Last Out: a legendary shotgun from the Season of the Chosen, with good damage, range, and fire rate. Its unique perk, Vorpal Weapon, increases its damage against bosses and majors, making it great for boss damage phases. Its downside is low spread, which requires accurate aiming, and slow reload speed, which can be improved by using reload perks or mods.
• 4. Duality: an exotic shotgun from the Season of the Chosen, with two firing modes: pellet and slug. Its pellet mode has high spread and damage, while its slug mode has high range and precision. You can switch between modes by holding the reload button, which allows you to adapt to different situations. Its downside is low ammo capacity and long reload time, which require careful management.
• 5. Perfect Paradox: a legendary shotgun from the Season of Dawn, with good damage, range, and fire rate. Its unique perk, One-Two Punch, increases its damage after a melee hit, making it great for combo kills. Its downside is low magazine size, which can be compensated by using a shotgun scavenger mod.

Pros and Cons of Each Shotgun

Let’s take a closer look at each shotgun and see how they perform in different scenarios:

The Fourth Horseman

• Pros:
  • Insane burst damage
  • Full-auto fire
  • Good against bosses and crowds
• Cons:
  • Low range
  • High recoil
  • Requires some practice to use effectively
• My experience: I love using The Fourth Horseman with my Warlock’s Well of Radiance and Phoenix Protocol exotic armor. It allows me to melt bosses and clear waves of enemies with ease. However, I had to learn how to control its recoil and avoid wasting ammo on distant targets.

Heritage

• Pros:
  • High damage, range, and reload speed
  • Gradual magazine refill with Reconstruction perk
  • Great for sustained engagements
• Cons:
  • Low fire rate and small magazine size
  • Requires precise aiming and positioning
  • Only obtainable from Deep Stone Crypt raid
• My experience: I was lucky enough to get Heritage from my first Deep Stone Crypt raid, and it quickly became my go-to shotgun for tough activities like Nightfalls and Master Lost Sectors. Its Reconstruction perk allows me to keep shooting even when I’m low on ammo, and its range and reload speed make it versatile and reliable.

First In, Last Out

• Pros:
  • Good damage, range, and fire rate
  • Vorpal Weapon perk increases damage against bosses and majors
  • Great for boss damage phases
• Cons:
  • Low spread and slow reload speed
  • Requires precise aiming and timing
  • Only obtainable from Season of the Chosen activities
• My experience: I got First In, Last Out from the Umbral Engrams and was impressed by its versatility and reliability. Its Vorpal Weapon perk allows me to deal significant damage to bosses and majors, and its range and fire rate make it effective against mobs as well. However, I had to learn how to aim carefully and reload efficiently to avoid getting overwhelmed.

Duality

• Pros:
  • Two firing modes: pellet and slug
  • Pellet mode has high spread and damage
  • Slug mode has high range and precision
• Cons:
  • Low ammo capacity and long reload time
  • Requires frequent mode switching and ammo management
  • Only obtainable from Season of the Chosen activities
• My experience: I was curious about Duality’s unique feature and tried it in different activities. Its pellet mode is great for clearing mobs and weak enemies, while its slug mode is great for sniping and precision kills. However, I found it hard to balance the two modes and avoid running out of ammo at critical moments.

Perfect Paradox

• Pros:
  • Good damage, range, and fire rate
  • One-Two Punch perk increases damage after a melee hit
  • Great for combo kills and chain reactions
• Cons:
  • Low magazine size and ammo capacity
  • Requires precise timing and positioning
  • Only obtainable from Season of Dawn activities
• My experience: I got Perfect Paradox from completing the Saint-14 quest and was delighted by its synergy with my Titan’s melee abilities. Its One-Two Punch perk allows me to one-shot many enemies after a punch, and its range and fire rate make it effective in a variety of situations. However, I had to learn how to conserve its ammo and avoid getting caught in a reload animation.

How to Acquire and Optimize the Best Pve Shotgun

Now that you know which shotguns are the best for Pve, you may wonder how to get them and how to make the most of their perks. Here are some tips:

• Check the sources: each shotgun has specific sources where they can drop, such as raids, Nightfalls, quests, or vendors. Make sure you know where to farm them efficiently and reliably.
• Use mods and masterworks: you can enhance your shotgun’s performance by using mods that boost its perks, such as Rampage Spec or Surrounded Spec, or masterworking it to increase its stats and reload speed.
• Experiment with builds: you can combine your shotgun with other gear and abilities to create synergistic builds that amplify your strengths and cover your weaknesses. For example, you can use armor mods that increase shotgun ammo, reload speed, or handling, or use subclasses that enhance your melee, super, or grenade abilities.
• Practice and adapt: no shotgun is perfect for every situation, so you need to practice using them in different scenarios and adapt to the challenges you face. Don’t be afraid to switch weapons or tactics if your current strategy is not working, and don’t hesitate to ask for help or advice from other players or communities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some common questions that players may have about the best Pve shotgun in Destiny 2:

Q: What is the best shotgun for Pve in Destiny 2?

A: The best shotgun for Pve in Destiny 2 depends on your playstyle, activity, and preferences. However, some of the top shotguns recommended by experts and players are The Fourth Horseman, Heritage, First In, Last Out, Duality, and Perfect Paradox.

Q: How do I get the best Pve shotgun in Destiny 2?

A: You can get the best Pve shotgun in Destiny 2 by farming its specific sources, such as raids, Nightfalls, quests, or vendors. For example, The Fourth Horseman is obtained from an exotic quest, Heritage is obtained from the Deep Stone Crypt raid, First In, Last Out and Duality are obtained from Season of the Chosen activities, and Perfect Paradox is obtained from Season of Dawn activities.

Q: What are the best perks for a Pve shotgun in Destiny 2?

A: The best perks for a Pve shotgun in Destiny 2 depend on your playstyle, build, and the shotgun itself. However, some of the most useful perks are: One-Two Punch, Trench Barrel, Vorpal Weapon, Rampage, Surrounded, Reconstruction, and Auto-Loading Holster.

Q: Can shotguns be used effectively in endgame Pve activities?

A: Yes, shotguns can be used effectively in endgame Pve activities, such as Nightfalls, Master Lost Sectors, and raids. However, you need to choose the right shotgun for the specific activity and adapt to the mechanics and challenges of each encounter.

Q: What are some shotgun-related tips for Pve in Destiny 2?

A: Some shotgun-related tips for Pve in Destiny 2 are: aim for the head or weak spots of enemies, use cover and mobility to avoid getting surrounded or flanked, use your shotgun as a backup or finisher weapon, switch to a primary or heavy weapon when you run out of shotgun ammo or face distant or shielded enemies, and communicate with your team to coordinate your attacks and avoid friendly fire.