Shotgun

Lore & Background

By Saints Row IV the shotgun remains in the roster alongside far stranger options—plasma weapons, gravity guns, and other sci-fi oddities—but its role is unchanged. It is the first weapon a new recruit reaches for, the one that feels right in the hands when the mission is simply: get in close, make it loud, and walk away before the sirens arrive.

In Their Own Story

The alley behind the 36th Street diner smelled of grease and wet asphalt. The Saint crouched behind a flipped table, shotgun resting across their knees, the pump worn smooth from a hundred dry-drills in the garage. Three figures in black tactical gear rounded the corner, radios crackling. The Saint didn't stand. Didn't need to. One pump, one pull, and the nearest figure folded into a dumpster with a sound like a wet towel hitting concrete. The other two spun, shouting into their comms. The Saint stood, raked the slide back again, and walked out the far end of the alley with the shotgun held low and easy, the muzzle still ticking faintly. Behind them, the diner's neon sign buzzed on, indifferent, the way Stilwater always was.

Reader's Guide

Saints Row 2: Shotguns are available from weapon dealers scattered across Stilwater. The Double-Barrel and Pump Shotgun are the most common entries. They are purchased with cash and slot into the close-range weapon slot. No attachments exist in this title, but the sheer volume of pellets makes them devastating in tight alley fights and vehicle chases where you need to pop tires fast.

Saints Row: The Third: The shotgun roster expands. Dealers stock multiple variants, and the attachment system lets you add extended magazines, suppressors, and cosmetic skins. This is where the shotgun becomes part of the Saint's look—painted, customized, and matched to the outfit. The Double-Barrel remains the iconic pick for one-shot takedowns at point-blank range.

Saints Row IV: The shotgun persists alongside sci-fi weapons. It is less central to the fantasy but still a reliable close-range option. Availability follows the same dealer model.

Saints Row (2022): The reboot retains shotguns in the weapon lineup. They are obtained through weapon vendors and certain mission rewards. The aesthetic continues the franchise tradition of treating a simple pump-action as a statement piece, often paired with the Saints' signature bold, colorful style.

Across all titles, the shotgun's role in the Saints' aesthetic is that of the blunt instrument: no finesse required, just commitment and a willingness to close the distance.

Did You Know?

• In Saints Row: The Third, the shotgun can be fitted with attachments and cosmetic options, making it as much a style choice as a combat tool.
• The Double-Barrel Shotgun is a recurring entry across multiple Saints Row titles, consistently positioned as a high-damage, low-rate-of-fire close-range option.
• Shotguns in the franchise are typically acquired through weapon dealers in free-roam, making them accessible early in a playthrough without needing to complete specific story missions.
• Despite the availability of plasma weapons, gravity guns, and other exotic armaments in later titles, the shotgun remains in the arsenal as a dependable, instantly recognizable close-range weapon.