The Warzone best shotgun loadout to help you devastate up close

Modern Warfare best shotgun — (Image credit: Activision)

The best Warzone shotgun is always going to be a bit of a sticking point, especially with the Pacific Caldera map changing everything. For us, the best Origin 12 loadouts will solve a lot of problems up close, and if you need a dependable shotty in your loadout then this will fill that gap nicely. While it might seem unremarkable in its base form (it is), get the right attachments and it becomes lethal in Call of Duty Warzone, with a fire rate that compensates for the lower damage per shot. Obviously this should be an Overkill perk back-up option, but take a look at some of the best Origin 12 loadouts, as well as some alternatives if you're after something else in Warzone.

Modern Warfare and Warzone best shotgun: Origin 12

If you're not sure what other options to pair with a shotgun then check out our Warzone best guns guide.

The Origin 12 seems like a no-go at first glance. Initially, at least, it appears to have the least damage out of nearly all the Warzone shotgun options on paper, but the fact that it's a semi-auto weapon completely negates that. It has a big fire rate, and magazine, that means the low damage quickly stacks up thanks to how fast and constantly you can fire. it just pumps out rounds and as long as you're getting up close with the enemy and landing hits, that smaller damage per round suddenly isn't a joke. If you trust your aim, and ability to close the gap fast, then the Origin 12 can utterly dominate a one on one.

Best Origin 12 build: Small maps

Modern Warfare best shotgun: Origin 12 — (Image credit: Activision)

Any shotgun is going to excel on small maps like Rust, Shoot House, and of course... Shipment. If your goal is to grind towards Damascus camo, using the Origin 12 on Shipment is going to make it fly by. And for that, you're going to want attachments that help you to keep shooting from the hip, because aiming down the sights will just slow you down.

Barrel: FORGE TAC Impaler
Laser: 5mW Laser
Underbarrel: Commando Foregrip
Ammunition: 25 Round Drum Mags
Rear Grip: Rubberized Grip Tape

Best Origin 12 build: Run n Gun

When you're using the Origin 12 on larger maps or in Warzone, chances are you're going to be legging it about the place getting in the faces of the enemy team as much as possible. So you want increased mobility, but since you'll be in some tricky situations at slightly longer range than is ideal, you need some ranged damage too.

Muzzle: Choke
Barrel: FORGE TAC Precision
Optic: Monocle Reflex Sight
Stock: No Stock
Rear Grip: Stippled Grip Tape

Best Origin 12 build: Hardcore

Finally, if you're rocking the Origin 12 on hardcore, you need to tailor it differently. Range is important because there's nothing worse than your otherwise lethal shots not even reaching your target, but you want to be less mobile because hardcore naturally plays slower.

Muzzle: Monolithic Suppressor
Barrel: FORGE TAC Precision
Laser: Tac Laser
Optic: PBX Holo 7 Sight
Underbarrel: Merc Foregrip

Other shotgun options

Modern Warfare best shotgun: 725 — (Image credit: Activision)

If you don't want to destroy players with the Origin 12, the 725 is the next choice for the best shotgun because it has such incredible range. Throw a few range attachments on it and you've got yourself a marksman rifle, making it perfect for bigger maps but not very useful on the small ones.

If that doesn't do it for you either, level up the Model 680 until you unlock the Dragon's Breath Rounds. These do incendiary damage so as you can imagine are incredibly frustrating for your enemies, although the Origin 12 is still the top choice.