Vanguard devs confirm Shotguns are finally getting nerfed

Andrew Highton
combat shotgun with bid red x over it in cod vanguard

After being the talk of the community in the game’s first two weeks of release, Sledgehammer Games has confirmed that Vanguard’s Shotguns are finally getting a much-needed nerf.

Despite players and fans praising the Call of Duty: Vanguard launch as one of the “smoothest” in CoD history, one thing has stood out more than most – Shotguns.

In particular, the Combat Shotgun. CoD is no stranger to having a dominant Shotgun that can cause headaches for players with the Streetsweeper, SPAS-12, Model 1887s, and more, all being mega-powerful down the years.

But now in Vanguard, it’s been the time of the Combat Shotgun and other strong candidates that are making life hell for some players. Thankfully, Sledgehammer Games has decided it’s time to put this to an end as they have confirmed a nerf is coming.

das haus map in cod vanguard

Players have complained that Vanguard’s chaotic and frantic Das Haus map has been ruined by the Combat Shotgun.

Not only that, but turning the Double Barrel Shotgun into its Akimbo form turns the gun into an absolute monster, and players feel that enough is enough.

Sledgehammer Games have agreed and tweeted out that “We’re here to perform a shotgun exorcism” and accompanied the intent with an amusing GIF.

It definitely feels like the 33-second V2 Rocket Nuke was the final nail in the coffin, and players might have to become slightly less reliant on Shotguns moving forward.

We expect the fix to arrive in this week’s Call of Duty: Vanguard patch notes, and it remains to be seen how badly they are hit.


For more interesting CoD: Vanguard content, check out its best Assault Rifles, best SMGs, and our ranking of every Vanguard weapon in the game.

Image Credit: Activision / Sledgehammer Games

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