Shotguns

Mass Effect
Shotguns refers to both a type of weapon and the unlockable combat-oriented talent that gives proficiency in them, available to Soldiers, Vanguards, the Krogan Battlemaster, and the Quarian Machinist.

Shotguns are particularly deadly at close range and can grant the Carnage ability by leveling up in them enough. The shotgun is stored on the small of the back in its collapsed form, below your character's assault rifle and sniper rifle. Shotguns should be monitored closely when being used as they are prone to quickly overheating.

Shotguns have a rate of fire of 0.8, i. e. one shot every 1.25 seconds.

See also: Shotgun Guide. === Talent Ranks===


 * Level 1: Increases damage by 5%. Increases accuracy by 10%.


 * Level 2: Increases damage by 8%. Increases accuracy by 14%.


 * Level 3: Increases damage by 10%. Increases accuracy by 17%.


 * Level 4: Carnage


 * Level 5: Increases damage by 12%. Increases accuracy by 20%.


 * Level 6: Increases damage by 14%. Increases accuracy by 22%.


 * Level 7: Increases damage by 16%. Increases accuracy by 24%.


 * Level 8: Advanced Carnage


 * Level 9: Increases damage by 18%. Increases accuracy by 26%.


 * Level 10: Increases damage by 19%. Increases accuracy by 28%.


 * Level 11: Increases damage by 20%. Increases accuracy by 30%.


 * Level 12: Master Carnage

=== Carnage===

Carnage is an unlockable talent used with shotguns to fire a concentrated fireball-like blast from the shotgun, causing it to deal massive amounts of damage to anything it strikes.

Several enemies, notably Geth Shock Troopers and Geth Destroyers, use Carnage at the beginning of a battle. Luckily the blast is often slow enough to dodge and takes a while to recharge.

The shot fired with Carnage has perfect accuracy, and can be used as long-range shots for which shotguns are normally not ideal.

Carnage

 * Fires blast of particles inflicting weapon damage +50% to any enemy within 2 m of its impact point.
 * Recharge Time: 45s.
 * Accuracy Cost: 40%.

Advanced Carnage

 * Inflicts weapon damage +100% within 2 m of its impact point.
 * Recharge Time: 45s.
 * Accuracy Cost: 40%.

Master Carnage

 * Inflicts weapon damage +150% within 3 m of its impact point.
 * Recharge Time: 45s.
 * Accuracy Cost: 40%.

=== Classes=== The following classes can use the Shotguns talent: === Shotgun types=== Below is a list of types of Shotguns and their base stats:
 * Soldier Unlockable
 * Vanguard Unlockable
 * Krogan Battlemaster Unlockable
 * Quarian Machinist Unlockable

Mass Effect 2
Shotguns in Mass Effect 2 are powerful close range weapons that fire eight projectiles per shot. The shotgun is available to the Soldier and the Vanguard, but can be chosen by any class as a weapon specialization while on one of the main quests. The following squadmates utilize shotguns: Grunt, Jack, Jacob and Tali.

M-23 Katana Shotgun

 * DPS (HP / Armor / Barriers / Shields): 85 / 85 / 128 / 128
 * Default ammo: 5 / 10
 * Default shotgun.

M-27 Scimitar Assault Shotgun

 * DPS (HP / Armor / Barriers / Shields): 103 / 103 / 154 / 154
 * Default ammo: 8 / 16
 * Large capacity shotgun. Found during Samara's recruitment mission.

M-300 Claymore Heavy Shotgun

 * DPS (HP / Armor / Barriers / Shields): 164 / 206 / 206 / 206
 * Default ammo: 1 / 10
 * Single shot, powerful shotgun. Can be acquired for Vanguards and Soldiers during the Collector Cruiser mission. Available as a research upgrade for Grunt.

M-22 Eviscerator Shotgun

 * DPS (HP / Armor / Barriers / Shields): 168 / 210 / 210 / 210
 * Default ammo: 3 / 12
 * A longer-range shotgun with armor-piercing loads. Available for download through the Cerberus Network as of February 9th|source

=== Upgrades===

Shotgun Shield Piercing (Microphasic Pulse)
Cost: 15,000 Platinum

Increases damage by 50% against shields and biotic barriers. Improves shotguns, heavy shotguns and assault shotguns for your entire squad. With the addition of a phasic module to the mass effect field generator, each slug is encased in a phasic envelope before it is fired at a target. This disrupts any mass effect field protecting the target, resulting in superior penetration.

Note: Changes the letter designation from M to S (i.e. S-23 Katana Shotgun)

Shotgun Extra Rounds (Thermal Sink)
Cost: 25,000 Platinum

Shotguns, heavy shotguns and assault shotguns double their rounds. This bonus affects the entire squad. More efficient heat-sink materials improve the absorption an dissipation of heat. Allows for smaller, easier-to-carry heat sinks.

Note: Changes the letter designation from S to X (i.e. X-23 Katana Shotgun)

Shotgun Damage 1-5 (Synchronized Pulsar)
Cost: 2,500/5,000/7,500 Platinum

Provides +10% shotgun damage. Improves shotguns, heavy shotguns, and assault shotguns. This upgrade improves the weapon's mass effect field generator, increasing the mass and acceleration of each round fired.

Note: For each damage upgrade, a letter designation will be added to the name of the weapon. 1/5 = a, 2/5 = b, etc.