Obtaining the shotgun for the first time in Resident Evil is something of a right of passage. Whether you play as Chris or Jill, the shotgun represents the first substantial upgrade toward fighting off the horrors of the Spencer Mansion, and discovering its impressive power and destructive capability quickly establishes it as the de facto substitution for the handgun (assuming you can find ammo, that is). Shotguns remain one of the staples of the Resident Evil series since their introduction as an important weapon in the original, and the best shotguns in Resident Evil continually stand out as some of the best and most useful weapons in each game.
Of course, not all shotguns are created equal, resulting in some “boomsticks” being more useful than others. Resident Evil 4 would introduce not one or two but a whopping 4 total shotguns, and later games would continue this trend by giving players a wide variety of weapons in the shotgun category whose usefulness extends far beyond the typical close-range zombie decapitator that the original Resident Evil‘s shotgun is. There are more than 30 different shotguns across the Resident Evil series (including different versions of returning favorites in the modern remakes), but these are the 15 best shotguns across all of Resident Evil.
15. Shotgun
©Resident Evil weapon model - Original
- Appears In — Resident Evil 0
- Weapon Type — Pump-action
Before players get the Shotgun, they’re left to contend with using Resident Evil 0‘s abysmal Hunting Gun. Thankfully, that lesser shotgun gets quickly outclassed by the standard pump-action model early on in the game, meaning players can safely toss the Hunting Gun aside in favor of this far superior boomstick. Like most shotguns in the franchise, RE0‘s Shotgun is best at close range. Its 7-shell capacity makes conserving ammo important, but boxes of shells are never too far away once players obtain the weapon. And, just like the original pump-action model in Resident Evil, RE0‘s shotgun is devastating against zombies up close, with a quick upward aim capable of decapitating zombies in a single shot.
14. W-870
©Resident Evil weapon model - Original
- Appears In — Resident Evil 2 (2019)
- Weapon Type — Pump-action
The W-870 gets a bad rap despite it being a perfectly serviceable (and arguably great) shotgun. While the update to the classic shotgun from Resident Evil 2 loses a bit of its strength in the remake, it’s still an indispensable piece of equipment for how useful it is in dealing with the zombies swarming the Racoon City Police station. There’s no denying that the weapon does receive a bit of a nerf in comparison to its power in the original RE2, but the W-870 is still a great close-range option for dealing with weaker foes in the earlier hours of the game. Plus, players can still find the custom parts for this shotgun and upgrade it into something that is almost (but not quite) as good as the Custom Shotgun from the original Resident Evil 2.
13. Western Custom
©Resident Evil weapon model - Original
- Appears In — Resident Evil 3: Nemesis
- Weapon Type — Lever-action
As the first old-school lever-action shotgun in the Resident Evil series, RE3: Nemesis‘ Western Custom earns a special place on this list. Fitting, then, that simply acquiring the weapon requires completing one of the more challenging battles Nemesis has to offer — beating the optional fourth and fifth fights with Nemesis on Resident Evil 3‘s Hard Mode. Once players unlock the Western Custom, they’ll find that it quickly outclasses the game’s standard shotgun in terms of its stopping power and destructive force. Using this shotgun on a group of enemies at mid-to-close range is sure to result in taking out most (if not all) foes, making the Western Custom one of the most powerful weapons in Resident Evil 3: Nemesis.
12. Riot Gun
©Resident Evil weapon model - Original
- Appears In — Resident Evil 4 (2005)
- Weapon Type — Pump-action
While not the first M4-style shotgun in the Resident Evil franchise (that honor goes to the Assault Shotgun from the 2002 Resident Evil remake), Resident Evil 4‘s Riot Gun goes down as one of the best weapons in one of the best Resident Evil games. The initial standard shotgun players acquire is a decent enough weapon, but the Riot Gun outperforms it by nearly every metric. The Riot Gun is more effective at long distances, has a tighter shot spread for better accuracy, and starts at a base power level that dwarves the standard shotgun. You can fully upgrade the capacity and power of the Riot Gun for relatively cheap as well, making it one of the best mainstays in Leon’s arsenal throughout Resident Evil 4‘s runtime.
11. M3
©Resident Evil weapon model - Original
- Appears In — Resident Evil 5
- Weapon Type — Pump-action
The M3 in Resident Evil 5 takes the place of Resident Evil 4‘s Riot Gun and quickly earns its place as one of the best shotguns in the series thanks to its power and precision. A substantial upgrade from RE5‘s initial shotgun (the Ithaca M37), the M3 has some of the greatest power potential of any weapon in the game. After fully upgrading the M3, it has as much power as a Magnum, and its spread-type shot allows it to be more effective against enemy mobs than the Magnum. Further, ammunition for Shotguns is way more common than Magnum ammo, making a fully upgraded M3 a must for the second half of Resident Evil 5. In terms of which weapon players will likely spend the most time with in RE5, few options compared to the M3.
10. M21
©Resident Evil weapon model - Original
- Appears In — Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
- Weapon Type — Break-action
The M21 is unique among Resident Evil‘s best shotguns. Not only is it the first shotgun players get in RE7, but it also has the smallest capacity of any shotgun on this list. The M21 only holds two shells, but what it lacks in ammunition it makes up for in stopping power. The M21 far outclasses the later shotguns players can get in RE7 in terms of its power and effectiveness at close range. Taking on the Molded becomes far less scary when all it takes is one well-aimed blast from the M21 to send them flying. The second shotgun players can acquire in Resident Evil 7‘s base game (the M37) might be more accurate, but RE7‘s first-person perspective makes up-close and personal encounters more common. As a result, the M21 reigns supreme as the game’s best shotgun.
9. Assault Shotgun
©Resident Evil weapon model - Original
- Appears In — Resident Evil (2002)
- Weapon Type — Pump-action
Like the later Riot Gun introduced in 2005’s Resident Evil 4, the Assault Shotgun is a substantial upgrade over the standard shotgun in 2002’s Resident Evil remake. In general, enemies in the Resident Evil remake are far more dangerous than in their original forms. As a result, players need to be more careful about conserving ammo and making sure they can come out on top in an encounter before engaging with enemies. Saving Richard and bringing him the Serum in enough time to prevent him from dying sees him gift you his Assault Shotgun, and having this powerful firearm can make all the difference in terms of surviving the Resident Evil remake’s first few hours. Its 10-round capacity does tend to burn through shotgun shells, though, so careful aiming is still a necessity.
8. M3
©Resident Evil weapon model - Original
- Appears In — Resident Evil 3 (2020)
- Weapon Type — Pump-action
The sole shotgun players get in the Resident Evil 3 remake, the M3 ends up being one of the best shotguns in the series. Initially, the weapon doesn’t seem all that impressive. It only holds 4 rounds, lacks accuracy anywhere but right on top of enemies, and its reload speed isn’t great. However, once players find all three of the M3’s upgrades, it becomes one of the most useful weapons in the game and a great mainstay for taking down zombies and other smaller foes. And, like in the Resident Evil 2 remake, careful aiming of the shotgun up close is a great way to turn a zombie’s head into so much gory confetti.
7. W-870
©Resident Evil weapon model - Original
- Appears In — Resident Evil 4 (2023)
- Weapon Type — Pump-action
One of the biggest shocks in the Resident Evil 4 remake is how it changes the shotguns. Previously one of the more important weapon types in the original, the different shotguns receive various buffs or nerfs that significantly change their usefulness in the remake compared to their original incarnations. While the original Resident Evil 4‘s standard shotgun becomes useless after obtaining the Riot Gun, the same can’t be said about the remake’s W-870. This starter shotgun packs quite a punch and remains a solid choice for Leon’s arsenal even into the late game. While it doesn’t have the same mid-range capability as the Riot Gun, the W-870 has the highest damage potential of any shotgun with a staggering 20.2 power when fully upgraded.
6. Striker
©Resident Evil weapon model - Original
- Appears In — Resident Evil 4 (2005)
- Weapon Type — Semi-auto, Drum magazine
The Striker is undoubtedly one of the best shotguns to ever appear in the Resident Evil series. Specifically, the Striker from the original Resident Evil 4 is a strong contender for one of the best weapons in the game. Without even getting into how the weapon is a cornerstone of RE4‘s best speedrunning strategies, the Striker shines through its incredible capacity. When fully upgraded, players can have a whopping 100 rounds at their disposal in the shotgun’s drum magazine, turning Leon into an unstoppable shotgun-blasting machine. The weapon is great at both close and mid-range and can be fired from the hip, making it a comfortable middle ground between the power of a shotgun and the utility of a handgun.
5. Shotgun
©Resident Evil weapon model - Original
- Appears In — Resident Evil (1996)
- Weapon Type — Pump-action
The classics, as they say, never go out of style, and that idiom holds true for the original Resident Evil‘s shotgun. Whether playing as Chris or Jill, obtaining the Shotgun in Resident Evil is a pivotal moment, marking the first time players begin to feel like they have a fighting chance against the zombies and other terrors roaming the hallways of a strange mansion. There are no upgrades or bonus parts to speak of with the original Shotgun, just a powerful and simple weapon that, with just the right flick of the D-pad before firing, can make short work of any zombie shambling your way. There are many other weapons that players will acquire in Resident Evil (including the ultra-powerful Magnum), but the Shotgun reigns as the best weapon in the game thanks to how it will be most players’ go-to.
4. SYG-12
©Resident Evil weapon model - Original
- Appears In — Resident Evil Village (2021)
- Weapon Type — Semi-auto, Drum magazine (after fully upgrading)
The Thor’s Hammer semi-auto shotgun introduced in the Not a Hero DLC for Resident Evil 7 makes a return in Resident Evil Village as the SYG-12. What’s great about the SYG-12 is that it starts strong as the most powerful and useful shotgun in the game and only gets better as Ethan upgrades it, quickly becoming one of the player’s best lines of defense against the Lycans and other baddies in Village. The only downside to the SYG-12 is that players obtain it late in the game. But with Resident Evil Village having a New Game + mode, taking a fully upgraded SYG-12 through the early parts of the game makes them laughably trivial, even on harder difficulties. It’s safe to say that the next mainline Resident Evil has its work cut out for it in topping Village‘s best shotgun.
3. Riot Gun
©Gameplay screenshot - Original
- Appears In — Resident Evil 4 (2023)
- Weapon Type — Pump-action
Just like in the original, the Riot Gun in 2023’s Resident Evil 4 remake is the best shotgun in the game, bar none. Once players acquire the Riot Gun, it’s likely that they may have put some upgrades into the earlier-obtained W-870, making them question switching over to a new shotgun. Fortunately, the Riot Gun is an upgrade over the W-870 by just about every metric. It has a larger capacity, a tighter shot spread, is effective at mid-range, and has an exclusive upgrade that nearly doubles its impressive power and is available fairly early on in the game.
Resident Evil 4 has some bosses that can handily take Leon out in just a single attack, so having a hard-hitting weapon that’s effective at range is a must. In those scenarios, the Riot Gun will be your best friend, and it remains one of the best offensive options at Leon’s disposal.
2. Hydra
©Resident Evil weapon model - Original
- Appears In — Resident Evil 5
- Weapon Type — Break-action (tri-barrel)
One of the most powerful shotguns in all of Resident Evil, RE5‘s Hydra is in a league all its own. This triple-barrel shotgun is just as effective at long range as it is up close, and its best-in-class firepower puts all other shotguns in Resident Evil 5 to shame. The dual-threat of the Hydra’s versatility and power make it a must-have in any arsenal, even if it does require that players fully upgrade the Ithaca M37 before they can unlock it for purchase. There are several points in Resident Evil 5 where the Majini will threaten to overwhelm the player, but even the densest enemy mobs are no match for the Hydra.
1. Custom Shotgun
©Resident Evil weapon model - Original
- Appears In — Resident Evil 2 (1998)
- Weapon Type — Pump-action, semi-automatic
The best shotgun in the Resident Evil series and a strong contender for the best video game shotgun of all time, the Custom Shotgun from the original Resident Evil 2 is an example of a perfect video game weapon. The standard shotgun that Leon acquires is good on its own, but once players acquire the stock and the long barrel to transform it into the Custom Shotgun, the weapon becomes the best line of defense against any threat that Resident Evil 2 can throw at you. Taking the Custom Shotgun into one of RE2‘s many boss fights makes them laughably easy, with several of the William Birkin fights ending after just a few shots from this powerful boomstick. The RE2 remake brings back the Custom Shotgun upgrades to the standard W-870, but it still pales in comparison to the power of the original.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Resident Evil 2 gameplay screenshot.