Best Shotguns in MW3 Warzone

Several hard-hitting rifles dominate the long-range meta in Warzone, but that’s a different story up close. If you like to end your close-range engagements with a bang, nothing does it as well as a shotgun. Let me show you the best shotguns in MW3 Warzone.

Related: How to farm XP in Vortex MW3

Best shotgun builds for Warzone

I’ve got three deadly shotgun builds for you to try, each with strengths and weaknesses. You’ll need a steady hand to use these weapons to their fullest. Still, knocking a team out with a shotgun is one of the most satisfying power plays you can pull off in Warzone.

Lockwood 680

The Lockwood 680 is a devastating pump action shotgun and can kill a fully armored opponent in two shots. The issue is your accuracy will be tested, especially against opponents who slide cancel and jump around with SMGs. 

You must be close for a two-shot kill, but the TTK is impressively fast if everything goes your way. If you use cover, you can outplay opponents and punish them for chasing you into buildings.

Lockwood 680 attachments

• Barrel – Hammerforged Long Barrel
• Laser – Stovl TAC Laser
• Muzzle – XTEN Full Choke
• Guard – Mazutek XRAY Skeletonized Guard
• Stock – Sawed Off Mod

Haymaker

If you like the idea of a shotgun in Warzone but are put off by the pump action, why not take the Haymaker for a spin? The Haymaker is semi-automatic, with a respectable fire rate. The build below uses Dragon’s Breath rounds, which are horrendous to fight against. You’ll take multiple hits to kill with the Haymaker, but your opponent will be hard-pressed to retaliate when all they can see is sparks and fire.

The Haymaker hits hard and is far more forgiving than the Lockwood 680. If you don’t mind the variable shots to kill, you can do a ton of work with this semi-automatic monster.

Haymaker attachments

• Barrel – Imperator Long Barrel
• Muzzle – Bryson Choke
• Ammunition – 12 Gauge Dragon’s Breath
• Magazine – 20 Round Drum
• Stock – No Stock Mod

Riveter

If you prefer to use your shotguns with more of a “spray and pray” style, I recommend the Riveter. This obnoxiously powerful weapon is fully automatic, making it easy to use. Aiming takes a backseat, although it does have some drawbacks. The Riveter is quite inconsistent, and you may lose fights against opponents who are landing their shots.

Still, you can take names with this shotgun and have an enormous magazine for follow-ups. We use .410 Gauge Incendiary rounds, which are tough to play against in the build below.

Riveter Attachments

• Barrel – SA Draven-20 Long Barrel
• Underbarrel – Bruen Bastion Angled Grip
• Ammunition – .410 Gauge Incendiary
• Magazine – 30 Round Mag
• Stock – Demo D50 Buffer Tube

Should I use Shotguns or SMGs in Warzone?

I’d argue that SMGs like the WSP Swarm are easier to get value from in close-range combat. SMGs are more consistent, and you won’t lose a gunfight if you miss a few shots. Shotguns can do immense damage per shell, but you must ensure you hit your target.

If you’re accurate, Shotguns can stand toe-to-toe with SMGs, but holding down the trigger and spraying is usually easier. Out of every build above, I recommend the Lockwood 680. The two-shot kill is devastating, and it feels great when it happens. If you put the time in and learn what you can get away with, the Lockwood can keep up with the hardest hitters in the meta.

If you’re looking for a long-range weapon to complement your shotgun, why not try the RAM-7? Check out our build guide for the attachments.