starfield shotgun build
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ByArzyeL

Starfield Shotgun Build

The Best Shotgun Build for Starfield! The Build deals massive damage with Shotgun Weapons and is designed to fight in tight spaces! You can use the Build in both Space and Planet Surface but it will be more effective when fighting inside Buildings and Spaceships. Ballistic Shotguns are the easiest to find and use but you can also focus on Particle Beam Shotguns!

Table of Contents

Best Background for Shotgun Build in Starfield

Backgrounds are basically starter classes in Starfield, that offer access to a set of three novice skills. Picking the right background for your build will help you become more efficient at your role early in the game. The Best Background for the Shotgun Build is Gangster!

Gangster Background

The Background gives access to the following skills:

  • Shotgun Certification
  • Boxing
  • Theft

Getting access to the Shotgun Certification skill early in the game is really helpful, since it allows you to be efficient with Shotguns immediately. Boxing and Theft are not that important for the Build and you do not have to rank them up. Theft could help you make extra Credits by pickpocketing NPC but is not necessary. Some good alternative Backgrounds you can use are:

  • Soldier
  • Beast Hunter
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Best Traits for Shotgun Build in Starfield

The focus of the Build is fighting with Shotguns in Space or the Ground. Boosting Oxygen, Health and Damage is your number one priority. Depending on where you plan to spend most of your time, Space or Planets, pick the appropriate Trait. The Best Traits for the Shotgun Build are:

  • Alien DNA
  • Introvert or Extrovert
  • Terra Firma or Spaced
  • Wanted
  • Empath(if you bring Companions along)
  • Faction and Religious

Alien DNA boosts Health and Oxygen but reduces the effectiveness of healing and food items. Introvert boosts Oxygen when adventuring alone while Extrovert boosts Oxygen when adventuring with Companions. Spaced will boost your Health and Oxygen while in Space while Terra Firma will boost your Oxygen on the ground. Wanted offers a boost to damage when you are low on health, which can be helpful when fighting outnumbered or dealing with a stronger enemy. Empath will increase the fighting performance of your Companions, if they like you. If they do not like you they will not be as effective though.

Finally you can pick any Faction specific or Religious specific Trait, if you wish to build up your relationship with one of their corresponding groups. You can only have one of those Social focused Traits in the game active. One for Factions and one for Religions.

Shotgun Certification Skill

Best Skills for Shotgun Build in Starfield

Skills are the core of our Shotgun Build in Starfield! Starfield Skills offer all kind of benefits and can make or break your Build. While we do get access to three Novice Skills with our background, there are a few more we can take to make it truly efficient and powerful. The Core skills of the Build are:

  • Isolation or Leadership
  • Ballistics
  • Shotgun Certification
  • Crippling

These are all the skills you should take for a powerful Shotgun Build in Starfield!

Physical Skills

Boxing is available from the Background but does not help the Build. No need to rank this skill up, you can ignore it. Fitness offers more Oxygen which allows you to take more actions. Weight Lifting helps with carrying more items while Wellness will increase your Health. Gymnastics is a nice skill to have when moving and fighting in zero-g environments! Pain Tolerance will reduce Physical Damage taken. Finally Cellular Regeneration and Rejuvenation will help you get back into the action fast but they are not a top priority for the Build. You can take them later.

Commerce Skill

Social Skills

Commerce will help you make credits in Starfield by selling all the items you are looting! Theft is available from the Background and can help you make some extra Credits from pickpocketing but is not necessary to rank up. Pick Isolation or Leadership to further boost your capabilities, depending on whether or not you have Companions with you.

Ballistics Skill

Combat Skills

Ballistics will boost the damage of all Ballistic based weapons. Shotgun Certification allows you to use Shotguns effectively. Particle Beams is necessary if you also plan to utilize Particle Beam based Shotguns. Rapid Reloading assists with reloading and being faster when fighting. Targeting is a great skill to have when using Shotguns because it boosts accuracy and range when you are not aiming! Armor Penetration makes your weapon to ignore enemy armor. Finally Crippling increases the chance to put enemies in a downed state.

Science Skills

Medicine boosts the effectiveness of Med Packs. Spacesuit Design and Weapon Engineering will help you create better Suit and Weapon mods. Chemistry allows you to create chems to further boost your character.

Boost Pack Training Skill

Tech Skills

Although not necessary for the Build, Boost Pack Training can assist you in combat! You can unlock and use any other skill in the game to enrich the build and make it more personal!

Best Weapon for Shotgun Build in Starfield

The Build is focusing on using Shotgun Weapons to defeat enemies! Ballistic Shotguns are the easiest to find and very effective to use. The game also offers Particle Beam Shotguns that are stronger but harder to find. For a Particle Beam Shotgun you can use the Big Bang Weapon! For Ballistic Shotguns you can use early in the game the Coachman or Pacifier. Upgrade them with their better versions when you are lucky to find them. Later you can use better weapons like Old Earth Shotgun and Breach.

Breach Weapon Mods:

SlotComponent
BarrelLong Barrel
LaserRecon Laser Sight
OpticReflex Sight
MuzzleChoke
Grip and StockTactical Stock
Magazine and BatterySlug Shots/Flechette Rounds
InternalHigh Powered
ReceiverSemi-Automatic

If you wish to learn more about Weapons, you can read my Starfield Weapons Guide!

Best Power for Shotgun Build in Starfield

Powers are unique abilities you can unlock by advancing the main quest line and completing the “Into the Unknown” main mission. Powers offer unique effects to your character and can complement your Build. The Best Power for the Shotgun Build is Phased Time! This power slows down time, allowing you to deal with enemies with ease. A few more powers you can use are:

  • Parallel Self
  • Grav Dash
  • Reactive Shield
  • Solar Flare

If you wish to learn more about Powers, you can read my Starfield Powers Guide!

Best Companion for Shotgun Build in Starfield

Companions in Starfield come with their own unique skills that can assist your character and further complement your Build! Not all Companions are good for every role and type of gameplay. Picking the right Companion with the right skills will help you achieve your goals faster and more efficiently. The Best Companion for the Shotgun Build is Lyle Brewer. A skilled Shotgun focused Companion that can assist in close quarters combat. Other good Companions you can use with the Build are:

If you wish to learn more details about all available Companions, you can read my Starfield Companions Guide!

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