Best Shotguns in BO7

Why Shotguns Dominate BO7 Zombies

Shotguns delete elites, clean up point-blank hordes, and pair beautifully with ammo mods like Shatter Blast or Dead Wire. They shine on Liberty Falls’ close-quarters alleys and Terminus’ corridors, and they scale into high rounds thanks to massive damage multipliers. This guide ranks the best shotguns, outlines attachment stacks, and explains how to integrate them into contract farming builds.

Meta Snapshot (Season 1)

Building the Haymaker 97 “Cryo Hammer”

• Muzzle: Full Choke – keeps pellets grouped so every shot hits the elite weak point.
• Barrel: Long Range – extends one-shot range to 11 meters with PaP tier two.
• Laser/Underbarrel: Hipfire laser or foregrip depending on preference.
• Stock: Tactical Stock for sprint-to-fire.
• Mag: Extended Drum for long defenses.

Ammo Mod: Shatter Blast for elite melting, Cryo Freeze for crowd slows when playing solo.
Field Upgrade: Ring of Fire or Frenzied Guard.
Recommended Perks: Juggernog, Speed Cola, Stamina Up, Elemental Pop.

Use the Haymaker as the main boss killer. In high rounds, rotate between chest and headshots to dodge armor plates, then swap to your AR for add clear.

SG-12 “Courier” Contract Build

• Focus: Mobility and sustained DPS for escort/bounty contracts.
• Attachments: Full Choke, Rapid Fire Barrel, Lightweight Stock, 10-Round Drum, Laser for hipfire.
• Ammo Mod: Brain Rot to create AI teammates during escort events.
• Equipment: Decoys + Tesla turret to anchor objectives.

The SG-12’s reload animation is short enough that Speed Cola tier one keeps it snappy. Use it when you expect to hold objectives in tight spaces. It underperforms against Round 40 elites, so keep a secondary AR ready for late game.

Striker “Storm Sweeper”

The Striker excels at clearing hordes during Pack-a-Punch defenses and network assaults.

• Attachments: Salvo Choke, Stub Barrel, Inferno Laser, Lightweight Stock, Arcane Drum.
• Ammo Mod: Napalm Burst for DoT stacking.
• Playstyle: Hip-fire exclusively while strafing. Its pellet spread covers entire hallways, letting you maintain control when multiple doors open.

Downside: burns ammo fast. Mitigate by running Resupply contracts and carrying an ammo box streak.

Lockwood 680 “Slug Surgeon”

For players who prefer surgical headshots, the Lockwood’s slug conversion (via the Slug Barrel attachment) turns it into a pseudo-sniper.

• Attachments: Slug Barrel, Sight of choice, Cushion Stock, Smooth Pump, Extended Magazine.
• Ammo Mod: Dead Wire or Brain Rot depending on role.
• Use Cases: Taking disciplined shots at Stormcallers from the Overlook balcony or Terminus catwalk.

Its reload speed requires Speed Cola tier two. Pair with Energy Mine for emergency breathing room if you miss a slug.

Double Barrel “Boomstick” (C Tier)

Fun but impractical. Even with PaP upgrades, the downtime after firing both barrels is punishing. Use only for seasonal challenges or novelty runs. If you insist:

• Attachments: Choke, Short Barrel, Sawed-Off Stock, Fiber Laser, Quick Reload Perk.
• Ammo Mod: Cryo Freeze for crowd control to cover the reload gap.

Contract Farming with Shotguns

Shotguns excel at escort and bounty contracts because they nuke elites without chewing through as much ammo as LMGs when spec’d correctly.

1. Before Contract: Craft decoys, drop a Tesla turret, and ensure you have at least two plates.
2. During Escort: Stand slightly ahead of the drone and pre-aim choke points. A single Haymaker mag clears waves.
3. Bounty Hunts: Pop Ring of Fire, unload a drum at point blank, and the target evaporates.
4. Post Contract: Ammo crates spawn near the console; refill before starting another.

Attachment Theory

• Chokes: Necessary for pellet control. Full Choke for general use, Salvo for Striker builds focusing on hipfire coverage.
• Barrels: Long Range barrels add meaningful pellets at distance. Rapid Fire barrels trade accuracy for DPS—great on SG-12.
• Stocks: Movement-based stocks like Tactical or Lightweight offset the slower sprint-to-fire.
• Lasers: Vital for hipfire accuracy. Choose blue lasers for stealth or green for maximum spread control.

Ammo Mods and Perk Synergy

• Shatter Blast: Best for Haymaker/Lockwood to penetrate armor.
• Cryo Freeze: Provides crowd slows for solo players or teams without reliable stuns.
• Napalm Burst: Synergizes with Striker’s pellet count to ignite entire hordes.
• Brain Rot: Turns zombies into allies during escort/defense objectives.

Perks to Prioritize:

1. Juggernog (survivability)
2. Speed Cola (reload speed)
3. Stamina Up (positioning)
4. Elemental Pop or Deadshot (extra damage/convenience)

Scorestreak Pairings

• Tesla Turret: Drop next to objective hold areas. Works while you reload.
• Napalm Strike: Clears choke points when you need breathing room.
• Plate Box: Shotguns invite close combat; keep extra plates on hand.

Salvage and Upgrade Tips

• Always upgrade to at least PaP tier two before round 20.
• Swap ammo mods when elite types change (Shatter for Manglers, Dead Wire for Disciples).
• Share weapon stash purchases: give the team your spare PaP’d shotgun when you switch builds mid-match.

Final Thoughts

Shotguns are the backbone of BO7 Zombies elite control. Choose the Haymaker for all-purpose dominance, grab the SG-12 for mobile contracts, or enjoy the Striker for horde shredding. Match the attachment stack to your role, maintain perk uptime, and you’ll never feel underpowered when elites pour into your objective rooms again.