Summary
7 Days To Diespent a record 11 years in Early Access. As a result of this, the game was released with great balancing and few bugs. In an era whenzombie survival gamesare two for a penny, it is a testament to the developers that7 Days To Diestill stands up so well after a decade.
The game features a full range of weapons, from simple bats to advanced sniper rifles. However,shotgunsseem to fit the zombie-killing trope well. They are fun to use, easy to craft ammo for, and can literally blow zombies apart when used up close and personal, such as during a blood moon while protecting aplayer-built base.
ThePipe Shotgunhas only one use in7 Days To Die:killing a single zombie in one shot. However, it comes with two caveats: It has to be a standard zombie, and the player has to score a headshot at close range. If the zombie is still alive after firing the lone shell this gun can load at a time, the player is in trouble. That being said, this is one of the bestearly-game beginnerweapons.
Veteran players of7 Days To Diemay remember the old blunderbuss weapon. The Pipe Shotgun is very similar, and can be used in the same way. Craft 2 or 3 of these shotguns, put them on the quick bar, load them each with a single shotgun shell, and switch from one to the next, shooting one shell from each.
Recommended Pipe Shotgun Build
This build is intended to do as much single-target damage as possible with the single shell the Pipe Shotgun can load. It is capable of killing most normal zombies in a single shot, as long as the player targets the head, and is within 2–3 meters.
TheDouble Barrel Shotgunin7 Days To Dieis a surprisingly capable weapon. It is best used as a pair, with two separate weapons on two separate hot bar buttons. This somewhat overcomes the 2-shot capacity, doubling that number to 4, which is plenty to take down a couple of standard zombies.
It needs to be fired by aiming down the iron sights for the best results, and this needs to be done from very close range; melee range, ideally. The general tactic for a group of zombies is to move in, unload both barrels from both weapons, and then back up whilst reloading. Then rinse and repeat.
Recommended Double Barrel Shotgun Build
This build is intended to be used up close, and maximize headshot damage whilst aiming down the iron sites of the Double Barrel Shotgun, looking for as many headshots as possible.
ThePump Action Shotgun, in the right hands, can be used for all the content in7 Days To Die, even the endgame. With the rightbuild and skills, this is a devastating weapon. The player has the option of using armor-piercing slugs in the later stages of the game, but this is entirely optional.
Another great use of the Pump Action Shotgun is to load it with breaching charges to open locked containers and safes. This saves the player the time needed to find a steady source of lockpicks.
Recommended Pump Shotgun Build
This is designed as a mission running orPOI clearingbuild. It maximizes damage at a suitable range, and increases the number of shells the weapon can have loaded.
TheAuto Shotgunis an absolute monster of a weapon in7 Days To Die. There is no other weapon that can clear endgame POIs and run level 5 and 6 trader missions so efficiently. It is best used with a sidearm, as the reload is a little slow, so a good sidearm means the player can switch weapons and issue a coupe de grace when needed.
The real secret to using this weapon effectively is making sure it is equipped with a drum magazine mod. This basically doubles the ammo count.
Recommended Auto Shotgun Build
This is an endgame, huge DPS build that works well for everything, even late gameblood moon defense. It really shines when used indoors though, and can rip apart whole groups of zombies in seconds.
