How to Get the Tactical Shotgun in 99 Nights in the Forest
Where the Tactical Shotgun comes from (Ruby Chests in the Cultist Stronghold, or a Workshop recipe), its real stats (8 pellets, up to 150 close-range damage, 3-shell mag), how to manage its rare ammo, and when it beats the Rifle.
The Tactical Shotgun is the close-range king of 99 Nights in the Forest — most guides call it the best gun in the game. It fires 8 pellets per shot but uses only one shell, so it one-shots wolves and shreds cultist hordes. The catch is ammo: it is rare and must be crafted. This page is the practical "how do I get one and is it worth it" — its tier ranking lives on Best Weapons.
Last verified: 2026-09-30.
The Two Ways to Get a Tactical Shotgun
| # | Route | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ruby Chest | The reliable route. Ruby Chests are the rarest chests and show up most in the Cultist Stronghold reward room. A Ruby Chest downgrades to a Gold Chest once opened, so be first. |
| 2 | Workshop crafting recipe | The Tactical Shotgun can appear as a random crafting recipe at the Workshop. Luck-dependent, but check it each run. |
The Cultist Stronghold is the realistic farm — it resets about every 20 minutes and is the single most repeatable Ruby Chest source in the game. See Cultist Stronghold for how to run it. When you pick one up, it always comes loaded with 43 shotgun ammo (3 in the tube, 40 in reserve).
What It Actually Does
The numbers below are consistent across the dedicated entity wiki, deltiasgaming, breezewiki and rosenberryrooms, all checked 2026-09-30.
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Pellets per shot | 8 (uses only 1 shell) |
| Damage per pellet | 10 (20 headshot) |
| Max close-range damage | ~150–160 per shot |
| Magazine | 3 shells |
| Reload | 5 seconds |
| Firerate | 2 seconds |
| Range | Close only — damage falls off fast with distance |
The headline is point-blank damage: at close range it puts out up to ~150 per shot and one-shots wolves, rabbits and frogs. The downside is the 3-shell magazine and 5-second reload, so you always want a sidearm (a Revolver or Rifle) ready while it reloads.
Ammo Management
Shotgun ammo is the real limiter, not the gun:
- Ammo Crate — buy shells with Scrap. One box costs 20 to craft.
- Ammo Furnace — if you have an Oil Drill, this makes ammo. Biofuel also feeds the furnace, so a biofuel setup is a backdoor to free shells.
- The pickup trick — each shotgun you find comes with a fresh 43 ammo. If you find a second one in a Ruby Chest, drop your empty one and grab the new — instant 43 more. Unreliable, but it works.
When the Shotgun Beats the Rifle
| Situation | Better pick |
|---|---|
| Crowds (Cultist Stronghold, night raids) | Shotgun — 8 pellets clear a pack |
| Single big target at range (Bear, Alpha Wolf) | Rifle — longer reach, less reload penalty |
| Close-quarters defense of camp | Shotgun — burst damage |
Both are S-tier. Most players carry the Shotgun for crowds and the Rifle for bruisers — see Best Weapons for the full ranking.
Sources
The Ruby Chest / Cultist Stronghold route and the 8-pellet, ~150 close-range, 3-shell / 5-second-reload stats are consistent across 99-nights-in-the-forest.com, deltiasgaming, breezewiki and rosenberryrooms, all checked 2026-09-30.
Related Pages
- Best Weapons — where the Shotgun ranks among S-tier guns
- Cultist Stronghold — the Ruby Chest farm that gets you one
- How to Get the Rifle — the ranged alternative for single big targets
- How to Get the Revolver — the sidearm to cover the reload
- How to Get Biofuel — fuels the Ammo Furnace for free shells
- How to Get Scrap — what the Ammo Crate costs
Keep Reading
How to Get the Rifle in 99 Nights in the Forest
Every way to get the Rifle: the Gunsmith Shed, Iron and Legendary Chests, and the Pelt Trader's third trade. Plus what it actually does for damage, and how it compares to the Revolver.
Best Weapons in 99 Nights in the Forest
Which weapons are worth carrying: the consensus top tier across published tier lists, the only damage numbers anyone has published, where each weapon actually drops, and the early-game ladder that gets you there.
Chainsaw: How to Get It, and Why It Is Not Actually the Fastest Axe
The exact Chainsaw crafting recipe, where it drops, where each material comes from, and the comparison most guides skip: the Strong Axe fells a tree in one hit while the Chainsaw needs two — so the Chainsaw is about automation and craftability, not raw speed.