NoLagVPNKey Takeaways
- The MX Guardian shotgun dominates the META due to its exceptional time-to-kill and ease of use in close-quarters combat.
- Many shotguns are outclassed in Warzone Ranked, struggling to compete with the faster TTK and mobility of other weapon classes.
- Weapon tier rankings are based on statistical performance, practical application, and current meta trends, providing an objective assessment of each shotgun's viability.
This tier list ranks shotguns in Warzone Ranked, providing an overview of the current meta in March 2025. The tier system ranges from META, representing the best-performing weapons, to E, indicating the least effective. Weapons are evaluated based on statistical performance, including time-to-kill (TTK), recoil control, mobility, and practical application in various combat scenarios.
The current meta in Warzone emphasizes fast TTK and mobility, favoring weapons that excel in close-quarters engagements. This ranking considers recent game updates and patches that may have influenced weapon performance, ensuring the tier list reflects the most up-to-date information.
META Tier
META tier weapons represent the absolute best choices in the current Warzone environment. These weapons consistently outperform others due to superior stats, ease of use, and adaptability across various combat situations, making them the top picks for competitive play.
MX Guardian
Tactical Stance
The MX Guardian shotgun is a META-tier weapon in Warzone due to its exceptional close-range performance. Its key strengths include a rapid time-to-kill and manageable recoil, making it easy to control in tight spaces.
Statistically, the MX Guardian boasts a high fire rate and significant damage output, allowing for quick eliminations. While its effective range is limited, it excels in building interiors and close-quarters engagements, making it a dominant choice for aggressive players.
D Tier
D-tier weapons in Warzone are considered below average, often struggling to compete with higher-tier options. While usable, these weapons have significant disadvantages in key performance areas, making them less effective in most combat scenarios.
KV Broadside
- Tactical Stance
The KV Broadside resides in the D tier due to its mixed performance in Warzone. While it boasts a very fast time to kill, its slow mobility and ADS speed hinder its effectiveness.
The KV Broadside's strengths are overshadowed by its handling issues, making it difficult to use in fast-paced combat situations. It struggles against more versatile weapons and is only viable in very specific, close-quarters scenarios.
Bryson 800
The Bryson 800 is placed in the D tier due to its underpowered performance in Warzone. As a pump-action shotgun, it lacks the fire rate and damage output to compete with meta weapons.
The Bryson 800's statistical performance reveals a lower time-to-kill compared to other shotguns, making it less effective in engagements. It struggles in most combat scenarios due to its slow handling and insufficient damage.
Expedite 12
- Tactical Stance
The Expedite 12 is categorized in the D tier due to its limited effectiveness in Warzone. This semi-automatic shotgun suffers from moderate damage and a very short damage range, making it unreliable in most combat situations.
The Expedite 12's statistical performance shows a lower damage output compared to other shotguns, resulting in a slower time-to-kill. It struggles in medium-range engagements and is only marginally effective in extremely close quarters.
Lockwood 300
The Lockwood 300 resides in the D tier due to its impracticality in Warzone. While its double-barrel design can deliver a one-shot kill with the trigger action attachment, it requires reloading after every shot, severely limiting its fire rate.
The Lockwood 300's statistical performance is inconsistent, excelling in single-shot damage but suffering in sustained engagements. Its niche use-case and slow handling make it a situational pick at best.
Bryson 890
- Tactical Stance
The Bryson 890 is placed in the D tier due to its underpowered performance in Warzone. As a pump-action shotgun, it lacks the fire rate and damage output to compete with meta weapons.
The Bryson 890's statistical performance reveals a lower time-to-kill compared to other shotguns, making it less effective in engagements. It struggles in most combat scenarios due to its slow handling and insufficient damage.
Riveter
The Riveter is placed in the D tier due to its inconsistent performance in Warzone. While it's a full-auto shotgun, its damage output and range are underwhelming compared to other weapons.
The Riveter's statistical performance shows a lower damage per shot, resulting in a slower time-to-kill unless nearly all shots connect. It struggles in medium-range engagements and is only marginally effective in extremely close quarters, making it a niche pick at best.
Lockwood 680
The Lockwood 680 is placed in the D tier due to its inconsistent performance in Warzone. While it can be modified to excel in most scenarios, it lacks the base stats to compete with meta weapons.
The Lockwood 680's statistical performance is inconsistent, requiring specific attachments to be viable. It struggles in fast-paced engagements due to its slow handling and inconsistent damage output without ideal attachments.
Haymaker
The Haymaker is placed in the D tier due to its limited effectiveness in Warzone. While it offers a high rate of fire for a shotgun, its damage output is insufficient to compete with meta weapons.
The Haymaker's statistical performance reveals a lower damage per shot, resulting in a slower time-to-kill unless nearly all shots connect. It struggles in medium-range engagements and is only marginally effective in extremely close quarters.
Reclaimer 18
The Reclaimer 18 is placed in the D tier due to its limited effectiveness in Warzone. While it offers a high rate of fire for a shotgun, its damage output is insufficient to compete with meta weapons.
The Reclaimer 18's statistical performance reveals a lower damage per shot, resulting in a slower time-to-kill unless nearly all shots connect. It struggles in medium-range engagements and is only marginally effective in extremely close quarters.
Lockwood MK2
The Lockwood MK2 is placed in the D tier due to its limited effectiveness in Warzone. While it offers a high rate of fire for a shotgun, its damage output is insufficient to compete with meta weapons.
The Lockwood MK2's statistical performance reveals a lower damage per shot, resulting in a slower time-to-kill unless nearly all shots connect. It struggles in medium-range engagements and is only marginally effective in extremely close quarters.
MX Guardian
- Tactical Stance
The MX Guardian is placed in the D tier due to its limited effectiveness in Warzone. While it offers a high rate of fire for a shotgun, its damage output is insufficient to compete with meta weapons.
The MX Guardian's statistical performance reveals a lower damage per shot, resulting in a slower time-to-kill unless nearly all shots connect. It struggles in medium-range engagements and is only marginally effective in extremely close quarters.
Stormender
The Stormender is placed in the D tier due to its limited effectiveness in Warzone. While it offers a high rate of fire for a shotgun, its damage output is insufficient to compete with meta weapons.
The Stormender's statistical performance reveals a lower damage per shot, resulting in a slower time-to-kill unless nearly all shots connect. It struggles in medium-range engagements and is only marginally effective in extremely close quarters.
Stormender
The Stormender is placed in the D tier due to its limited effectiveness in Warzone. While it offers a high rate of fire for a shotgun, its damage output is insufficient to compete with meta weapons.
The Stormender's statistical performance reveals a lower damage per shot, resulting in a slower time-to-kill unless nearly all shots connect. It struggles in medium-range engagements and is only marginally effective in extremely close quarters.
Conclusion
In March 2025, the shotgun meta in Warzone is characterized by a dominance of a few top-tier options, with most shotguns falling into the D tier. The MX Guardian stands out as the clear META choice due to its superior TTK and ease of use.
The distribution of shotguns across the tiers indicates a significant power gap, with lower tiers struggling to compete effectively. Future meta shifts may depend on upcoming patches that adjust weapon balance or introduce new attachments, potentially shaking up the current hierarchy.
Methodology
The methodology for this tier list involved a comprehensive evaluation of each shotgun in Warzone. Weapons were tested in live matches and private lobbies to gather data on time-to-kill (TTK), recoil patterns, mobility, and effective damage ranges.
- TTK was weighted most heavily (40%), as it directly impacts weapon lethality.
- Recoil control (25%) was also a significant factor, affecting accuracy and ease of use at various ranges.
- Mobility (20%) was considered for its impact on engagement speed and maneuverability.
- Damage range (15%) was factored in to assess weapon effectiveness at different distances.
Higher tiers prioritize weapons with faster TTKs, manageable recoil, and good mobility, making them versatile and effective in diverse combat scenarios.