A Shotguns devastating damage makes this category one of the best there is for weapon damage. While Shotguns are powerful, they have a lot of recoil and are not great at range. Shotguns in DayZ have several different ammunition types that include Slugs, Rubber Slugs and Buckshot. Slugs are better used at range, Rubber Slugs are for inflicting high shock damage, and Buckshot causes a lot of damage but lacks in range. Combining this with the different Shotguns in DayZ gives you a variety of options for how you want to use Shotguns based on the situation you're in.

Shotguns can have a variety of actions, including break-action, pump-action, and semi-automatic. Pump-action shotguns utilize a pump handle to load the chamber, semi-automatic shotguns use the recoil from the fired bullet to load the chamber, and break-action shotguns require manual breaking open to load or empty the chamber. Short-range: Shotguns are often far more successful at close range than rifles are at longer ranges.

Shotguns are uniquely suited for close-range shooting and hunting compared to other types of weaponry because of their smooth bore barrels, capacity to fire many bullets at once, and choice of ammunition. They are frequently utilized by police enforcement, sport shooters, and hunters for home protection and close-quarters fighting.