I Call Shotgun (Optimal PvE/PvP Build) [1.0.5.10 – Big Two-Shot Explosive Nerf]

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I used to be of the opinion that explosive shotgun builds were the best combat build in Fallout 76, but lately I feel that many other weapons can compete just fine (as long as they’re bloodied/junkie’s/furious explosives…). Still, shotguns are an incredibly powerful weapon and I feel this build can bring out their greatest potential. I’ll go through each perk choice and explain my reasoning before going on to equipment, and by the way.. thanks for reading~

STRENGTH:
Blocker is a top tier defensive perk in both PvE, where many of the strongest enemies don’t have guns, and PvP, where melee players will come swinging at you with huge damage numbers and armor penetration from 75-100%. It should be considered standard. Additionally we’re taking ALL of the shotgun damage perks. The 1st rank are obviously the most important, but we’ve got the extra points so we might as well upgrade our shotguns from destroying planets to destroying galaxies.

PERCEPTION:
The only thing we take here is concentrated fire. Get to shoot the head (or cripple those wings) and get a scaling damage bonus, pure gold.

ENDURANCE:
Despite being heavily nerfed, explosive is still a best in slot legendary effect, and has the best damage increasing perk tied to it. This means that in PvP situations Fireproof will be mandatory against anyone who comes to fight with an explosive weapon.

CHARISMA:
Lone Wanderer is an exceptional perk that pretty much everyone will want to take, and can be swapped for team perks when you aren’t flying solo. Tenderizer won’t help on the first hit, but after that it pulls a little more weight than the increased weapon damage ranks because it stacks multiplicatively with them. We leave it at rank 1 though, since the upgraded increases in damage are pitiful. Field Surgeon tries to make sure your stimpacks can do anything before you get downed, but can be swapped out for team perks during teamplay. I leave Suppressor out because it doesn’t work in PvP, and PvE content is much easier to survive in.

INTELLIGENCE:
Snoresville standard. Gets you all the crafting perks. Demolition Expert turns explosive shotguns into the best weapons in the game (this is a lie, they were probably already the best weapons in the game),and this will also affect any other explosives you might be carrying around.

This also gives room for nice swaps like Power Patcher and Licensed Plumber (if you’re cheap) for repairing, and Chemist for doubling our chems.

AGILITY:
You want as much of this stat as you can, not only for the nice perks but also for the increased action points. AP is king in this game. AP gives life (dodges) and AP gives death (crits). The more you have of it the better. Action Boy/Action Girl is standard on every character because of this. First rank of adrenaline gives you a wonderful stacking damage boost. First rank of Born Survivor gets you the nice no-animation stim effect, the extra points aren’t really needed since you’ll be healed the same amount anyway, we’re just here so we don’t have to stop shooting to heal. Dodgy is MANDATORY for PvP. It competes with your crits but get over it, if that other guy has a good weapon (like an explosive shotgun…) he has more than enough damage to one-shot you, so you’re going to stack every single % resist in the game until he’s doing as close to a single-digit percentage of his original damage as possible because fuck him we want to win and we can’t do that if we’re dead. For PvE it can be dropped, however, if wanted as it competes with your crits and gets countered hard by multiple enemies and automatic weapons, which are both abundant in PvE. Enforcer is disgustingly good, and probably more mandatory on shotgun builds than the shotgun damage perks. It seems like each pellet gets a chance to cripple, because this will go off incredibly reliably, and is the best way to bring a Scorchbeast to the ground. Mister Sandman is a situational perk, but seeing as you can silence pump and combat shotguns it can be a HUGE increase to your damage. Escape Artist and Sneak are used to help you get more use out of Mister Sandman. If you really don’t care for the sneaking perks, you can take them off to make room for rank 5 Adrenaline.

Make sure to swap Ammosmith for crafting your precious ammo, and White Knight for repairs.

LUCK:
Class Freak is pretty MANDATORY on any build making use of mutations. They’re already good, but with Class Freak they’re downright overpowered. Serendipity is one of the best defensive perks out there, and stacks nicely with all your other % resist, especially in PvP, but this DOES NOT WORK IN POWER ARMOR. So like, swap in more damage perks or something when you put on the tin can, and PvP without the tin can (I’ll explain later in the gear section). Starched Genes is pretty standard, to keep all those sweet mutations on so you don’t accidentally cure them with radaway or a decontamination arch, and it also keeps away any mutations you might not want. Bloody Mess increases our damage a little more than 2nd/3rd ranks of the Shotgunner perks since it applies separately from them. Additionally, affecting every weapon type is a nice little cherry on top.

Also remember to swap Super Duper for all your crafting/cooking needs!

GEAR (and stuff):

• Explosive Shotgun (when available): Ideally this will also be a bloodied or junkie’s combat shotgun with reduced VATs cost or DR while aiming. Honestly any explosive shotgun will do though. This should be modded out with a an armor penetrating magazine, a reflex sight, and a silencer if you’re using Mister Sandman.
• Sidearm/s: Stuff to clear weak mobs, and kill/build your crit from afar.
• ASSASSIN’S ARMOR (PvP): Mandatory for PvP, 40% from this, 30% from Dodgy,  25% from Med-X by my calculations brings an enemy player’s damage down to about 32% without accounting for ANY damage/energy resistance. Throw in 45% from Blocker against those melee users and you have them hitting you for about JUST 17% OF THEIR FULL DAMAGE. Ideally this will be Heavy Combat Armor with BoS Paint, and also have the increased AP regeneration and damage reduction while standing still effects. PvE alternatives can swap Assassin’s effect for Unyielding, Life Saving, or Chameleon.
• Shielded Underarmor: Ideally this will be a Raider underarmor. Agility is the best stat+, but you could settle for Luck (Vault Suit).
• Stimpacks/Super Stims: H button on PC saves you a hotkey. Try not to need to use these yourself, if you can just let Born Survivor do its thing.
• Radaway: Hotkey this (if you need it). Mainly for us losers who can’t even get a buddy to share Rad Sponge with in nuke zones. Feels bad.
• Med-X/Overdrive: Hotkey these. Med-X is great for both PvP and PvE. Overdrive for PvE.
• Sweet Roll: Hotkey this. Pop this when all hell is about to break loose, the HP isn’t much but the extra AP might just determine a fight. (especially in PvP).
• Mirelurk Softshell Cakes: More agility means more AP. Also look for +Max AP and AP Regen food.
• Small Guns Bobblehead: If you have them and can stand the emotional turmoil of parting with one.

CONCLUSION:
So there you go. Thanks for reading. Congratulations, Bethesda finally had to balance their game. Are the nerfs enough? We’ll have to see.

Also check out my build guide at https://www.falloutbuilds.com/builds/thebuildguide/ (I mean if you feel like it or something…)