The Gauss Shotgun in Fallout 76 is a formidable close-quarters combat weapon, renowned for its explosive area damage and high stopping power. It stands out as one of the most valuable weapons in the game, particularly effective in dispatching enemies at close range. This article will delve into how to obtain, craft, and effectively use the Gauss Shotgun in your gameplay.
Obtaining the Gauss Shotgun Plan
To craft the Gauss Shotgun, you first need to acquire its plan. The plan can be purchased from two vendors: Minerva and Samuel. Minerva appears irregularly throughout the month, offering plans at a lower price but with unpredictable availability. Samuel, on the other hand, is consistently found near the elevator in the heart of Foundation.
Crafting the Gauss Shotgun
Once you have the plan, you can craft the Gauss Shotgun at a Weapons Workbench. Ensure you have the Science 1 Perk Card to craft energy weapons. The materials required include:
Aluminum: 14
Circuitry: 6
Legendary Module: 2
Screw: 15
Silver: 4
Spring: 4
Steel: 7
Wood: 8
This advanced weaponry comes at a steep cost, but its power makes it worthwhile.
Specifications and Features
Type: Ranged
Class: Shotgun
Effects: Charge shots by holding.
Bullets create explosive area damage with a 15% bonus.
Ammo: Electrom Cartridge
Magazine Capacity: 8
Fire Rate: 67
Range: 84
Accuracy: 26
Action Point Cost: 35
Weight: 7.0
Effective Use in Gameplay
The Gauss Shotgun excels in close-quarters combat, especially when paired with a VATS (Vault-Tec Assisted Targeting System) build. VATS ensures all pellets hit the target, maximizing damage. Legendary perks like Anti-Armor, Bloodied, Quad, and Vampire can further enhance its effectiveness. The Vampire effect, in particular, provides significant healing benefits by counting each pellet's explosive damage twice.
When preparing to craft the Gauss Shotgun in Fallout 76, it's essential to manage your resources effectively, especially considering the high cost in Fallout 76 caps required to purchase materials and plans from vendors like Minerva or Samuel. This investment is worthwhile given the shotgun's impact in battles, but optimizing your supply of caps allows you to maintain a diverse arsenal and adapt to changing circumstances in the game.
Recent Updates and Controversies
There have been claims of the Gauss Shotgun being nerfed, which might affect its performance. However, it remains a powerful choice for shotgun builds, especially with the right legendary effects and perks.
The Gauss Shotgun is a powerful addition to any Fallout 76 arsenal, offering explosive area damage and high stopping power. While it may require significant resources to craft and maintain, its effectiveness in close combat makes it a valuable asset for players looking to dominate in tight spaces. Pairing it with a VATS build and the right legendary effects can turn it into an unstoppable force on the battlefield.