Cyberpunk 2077: My Best Shotguns for 2026 Night City Chaos

I’ve been a Night City merc since the bad old days, and even in 2026, after Update 2.0, 2.1, and the Phantom Liberty shake-up, nothing scratches my itch like a good shotgun. You can be a netrunner god or a sniper with a fancy scope, but when a corridor full of Scavs needs clearing, I want a boomstick that turns gonks into red mist. Shotguns in Cyberpunk 2077 force me to get up close and personal, so I always spec into Body, annihilation perks, and enough armor to eat a few bullets while I close the gap. Here’s my personal ranking of the best shotguns I’ve used in the current version of the game. Some are iconic, some are craftable, and some are just plain nasty.

Here is the quick and dirty breakdown before I dive into the details:

Now let’s get into the bloody details.

10. Crusher — The Corner-Clearing Chaos Cannon

The Crusher is a Power-type, single-barrel shotgun that fires with so much force the pellets ricochet off surfaces and even around corners. That sounds preem, and sometimes it is. I’ve dropped entire groups by aiming at a wall and letting physics do the work. But the damage can swing wildly depending on range, spread, and luck, so it is not the most consistent choice. It fires about 1.5 shots per second with a x3.15 headshot multiplier, and it often needs one or two more shots than other shotguns on this list. I still keep one around for style points, but it is not my daily driver.

9. Bloody Maria — Bleed Them Dry

Bloody Maria is an Iconic variant of the M2038 Tactician. The base Tactician is a Power shotgun that is a little slower than the Crusher and has a smaller headshot damage multiplier, so on its own I would rather use something else. Bloody Maria flips the script with higher consistent damage, extra bleeding, increased knockdown, and dismemberment. When I want to clear a room and leave nothing but limbs and regret, this is a solid pick. The worst part? Reloading eight separate shells when you are empty. That reload feels longer than a Braindance of a tax audit.

8. DB-4 Igla — Double-Barrel Aggression

The DB-4 Igla is another Power-type shotgun, but this one is a double barrel. If you aim down sights, you will be reloading after every shot, but the reload is faster and the reduced spread makes each hit feel like a truck. That makes it perfect for players like me who love to charge forward and drop enemies fast. If you hip-fire, you get two shots before reloading, which adds versatility for dropping two enemies with one blast each. It is not fancy, but it is brutally effective.

7. DB-4 Palica — Smart but Slow

Do not let the similar name fool you: the DB-4 Palica is a different gun. It is still a double barrel, but it is a Smart-type weapon, so the shots home in on enemies with self-guided tech. The catch is that the guided shots are not instant. You pull the trigger, the enemy looks fine for a split second, and then all the pellets rush in like they just got a late invite to the party. That is great if your aim is suboptimal, but the delay can get you flatlined before your damage lands. I use it when I want to relax my aim, not when I need instant results.

6. Headsman — Pellet Storm

The Headsman is another M2038 Tactician variant, and it fires 10 additional hits over the normal 6, for a total of 16. That means you see a ridiculous number of damage numbers pop off enemies, almost hiding their bodies behind the math. It also cuts the ammo count from 8 to 4, so reloading is much faster, and the higher damage output means those four shells hit harder than all eight from a regular Tactician. The biggest drawback is the slow window between shots. If you leave an enemy at low health, they might get enough time to shoot back before you finish them. Still, when it works, it works beautifully.

5. DB-2 Testera — Charge and Conquer

If you love the DB-4 Igla, the DB-2 Testera will feel like a dream come true. It is a Power-type gun with a lot of punch and a quick reload, and it is much easier to get the Legendary variant through crafting. Legendaries can be a real grind, so an easier one is worth its weight in eddies. This shotgun lets me charge straight ahead and drop everything without taking my thumb off the analog stick or my finger off W. It is simple, strong, and reliable.

4. Guts — Rebecca’s Chemical Nightmare

Guts is the Iconic Carnage shotgun that belonged to Rebecca from Cyberpunk: Edgerunners. It is very easy to acquire, so it should be one of the first weapons you hunt down. It adds chemical damage to its shots, and the recoil jerks your screen around like a bad chrome malfunction. Damage numbers go everywhere, and you can shoot enemies off rooftops from ground level with this monster. The reload is longer than I would like and the spread is massive, but it is fun and chaotic in the best way. Sometimes you do not need precision. Sometimes you need a chemical explosion and a laugh.

3. L-69 Zhuo — Smart Cover Shooter

The L-69 Zhuo is another Smart-type shotgun, and it has a slower DPS than most of the other guns on this list. What it lacks in raw damage, it makes up for in survivability. It has incredible range for a shotgun, and because it is Smart, the bullets rush into your targeted enemy. That makes it brilliant for popping out from behind cover, taking a shot, and popping back down. As long as nothing flanks me or gets in my face, I can clear an entire area with ease and rack up experience. It is not the flashiest, but it is one of the smartest.

2. Ba Xing Ching — Adam Smasher’s Army Killer

Go ahead and return Skippy; the Ba Xing Ching is the Iconic variant you should be keeping. It is a variant of the L-69 Zhuo, and it belonged to Adam Smasher. It is superior in every single aspect. Each shot fires 8 projectiles with explosive payloads. The game calls it the perfect arsenal for a one-person army, and I believe it. The biggest con is that you need to complete one of the endings to get it, which means you have to leave a lot of content unfinished if you want to enjoy it on a fresh run. For those who already have it, Phantom Liberty and the 2.x updates are the perfect time to bust it out. It is pure, explosive overkill.

1. Mox — My Go-To Boomstick

The Mox is an Iconic variant of Carnage, which is a Power-type shotgun, and it is my number one pick in 2026. It has a small spread and dishes out plenty of damage, so I can be accurate at longer ranges without sacrificing output. It also has thermal damage that can deal damage over time to any enemy who does not drop from the first hit. That gives me the same pop-out combat style as the L-69 Zhuo, while also being viable in close-quarter hallways or open fields. I can charge into battle, rely on ricochets, or play defensive with this single gun. It is the most versatile shotgun that also hits very hard. If I could only keep one shotgun in my stash, it would be this one.

Final Thoughts from a 2026 Night City Merc

Shotguns are not subtle, and that is exactly why I love them. In the current version of Cyberpunk 2077, with Phantom Liberty and the 2.x combat changes, a well-built shotgun user can still shred through most encounters. Just remember to invest in Body, annihilation perks, and survivability cyberware. If you want early power, grab Guts. If you want smart-weapon convenience, go for the L-69 Zhuo. If you want to feel like a one-person army, chase the Ba Xing Ching. But if you want the best all-around boomstick, the Mox is the choom to trust.

So go out there, pick your favorite, and make Night City remember your name. Just do not blame me when you get addicted to the sound of a double-barrel reload. 😎