Far Far West has plenty of ways to build around guns, spells, and mobility, but the Shotgun stands out when you want a setup that can tear through elites, clear hordes, and still melt bosses on higher difficulties.
This Shotgun build pairs heavy close-range damage with Sheriff Stars mobility, movement-focused Jokers, and simple spell combos that work from early progression through Nightmare mode.
1. Best Shotgun Build in Far Far West
Shotgun
The best Shotgun build uses the Shotgun as the primary damage weapon and Sheriff Stars as the secondary mobility weapon. The playstyle is aggressive, but it is not reckless. You move close enough to make the Shotgun damage count, then use Sheriff Stars, movement speed, double jumps, and spell combos to reposition before hordes surround you.
| Build Slot | Best Choice | Main Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Weapon | Shotgun | Main DPS, elite killing, boss melting, horde pressure |
| Secondary Weapon | Sheriff Stars | Movement, repositioning, double jumps, acid reactions |
| Shotgun Unique Joker | Overblast | Adds extra pellets for missing rounds in the magazine |
| Sheriff Stars Unique Jokers | Jump Star and Scavenger Star | Double jumps, movement speed, and pickup range |
| Best Spells | Strikes, Drain, Mino | AoE damage, healing, lightning puddles, corruption mines |
| Best Damage Joker | Glass Cannon | Major weapon damage boost at the cost of max HP |
| Best Mobility Jokers | Disgrace and Speedy Gonzalez | Movement speed for survival and Speedster scaling |
| Best Scaling Joker | Speedster | More damage and fire rate based on movement speed |
This build is strongest when you treat speed as both defense and offense. Speedster rewards faster movement with increased damage and fire rate, while Disgrace, Speedy Gonzalez, and Scavenger Star make it much easier to stay alive in higher difficulties.
2. Upgrades for the Shotgun Build
Shotgun Stats
The Shotgun should be upgraded around accuracy first, then clip size, reload speed, and damage scaling depending on whether you already have Overblast. Accuracy is more important than it may look because this build often has to kill dangerous enemies from 10 to 20 meters away instead of always fighting directly in their face.
| Shotgun Upgrade | Priority | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Accuracy | Highest early priority | Makes more pellets connect at range, which improves real damage against elites, bombers, machine gunners, and snipers. |
| Clip Size | Highest priority after Overblast | Directly increases Overblast value because missing rounds add extra pellets. |
| Reload Speed | Very high priority | Keeps the Shotgun active after mag dumping and helps recover from empty magazines. |
| Damage | Good before Overblast | Useful while leveling before the build fully shifts into Overblast scaling. |
| Fire Rate | Useful before Overblast and with scaling Jokers | Helps unload faster, especially once damage and movement bonuses are active. |
3. Best Shotgun Joker
Shotgun Unique Jokers
Overblast is the key Joker for this Shotgun build. It makes the Shotgun shoot an extra pellet for every round missing in the magazine, which turns clip size into direct damage scaling. The deeper you are in the magazine, the harder the Shotgun hits.
| Joker | Rarity | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Overblast | Unique Shotgun Joker | Shoots an extra pellet for every round missing from the magazine. |
| Rush Blast | Unique Shotgun Joker | Makes the first bullet in the magazine 100% accurate and shoot farther away. |
Rush Blast is useful because it turns the first shot into a more accurate long-range opener, but this build takes Overblast because it increases total damage much more heavily. With a large magazine, the final shots become extremely powerful because each missing round adds another pellet.
4. Best Jokers for Damage, Reloading, and Scaling
Shotgun Jokers
The Shotgun Joker setup should support three things: faster killing, faster reload recovery, and stronger scaling as the run progresses. Overblast is mandatory for the final version, but the supporting Jokers are what keep the build consistent before and during Nightmare runs.
| Joker | Rarity | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Relentless | Common | Gives a major damage boost when below 30% HP. |
| Swift Shot | Common | Adds fire rate while aiming. |
| Run and Reload | Green | Helps keep reloads safer while repositioning |
| Rampage | Green | Adds movement speed after killing enemies. |
| Reload Mastery | Blue | Reloading an empty clip is 50% faster. |
| Lucky Strike | Blue | Gives a chance to deal double damage. |
| Machine Gun | Legendary | Increases fire rate every 50 damage dealt. |
| Speedster | Legendary | Increases damage and fire rate the faster you are. |
| Overblast | Unique | Adds an extra pellet for every missing round in the magazine. |
| Rush Blast | Unique | Makes the first shot 100% accurate and shoot farther. |
If you gain an extra Joker slot through prestige, Rampage becomes an excellent addition because the extra movement speed helps both defense and Speedster damage scaling. If you need to remove something to fit it in, Swift Shot is the easiest card to replace once the build has stronger movement-based scaling.
5. Sheriff Stars Stats
Sheriff Star
Sheriff Stars are not here to replace the Shotgun as your main damage source. They are here to give the build movement, double jumps, repositioning, and acid reactions. This weapon lets you escape surrounded fights, jump over enemy heads, recover thrown stars, and move around the battlefield without relying only on normal running.
| Sheriff Stars Upgrade | Priority | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Pickup Range | Highest priority | Makes it safer and easier to recover thrown stars without standing directly on enemies. |
| Fire Rate | Useful | Helps throw stars faster when using them for damage, pressure, or elemental reactions. |
| Lifesteal | Useful sustain | Adds extra survivability during long fights. |
| Draw Speed | Helpful | Makes weapon swapping and Sheriff Stars use feel smoother. |
The most important Sheriff Stars upgrade is pickup range. At base range, you have to get very close to recover thrown stars, which is dangerous against assassins, claw enemies, and dense hordes. With more pickup range, you can jump over enemies, recover stars more safely, and keep the weapon active longer.
Why Sheriff Stars Use Acid Damage
The Sheriff Stars should use acid damage in this build because they interact with the spell setup. When enemies are electrified by lightning puddles from Strikes, acid Sheriff Stars can trigger lightning explosions. This lets the secondary weapon help burst down elites and tougher enemies instead of only acting as a movement tool.
6. Best Sheriff Stars Jokers for the Shotgun Build
Sheriff Star Jokers
The Sheriff Stars Joker setup should focus on mobility, pickup range, and fast pressure. Jump Star and Scavenger Star are the most important unique Jokers because they define the movement side of the build.
| Joker | Rarity | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Relentless | Common | Damage boost when below 30% HP. |
| Rampage | Green | Movement speed after kills. |
| Running Gun | Blue | Useful mobility-focused option. |
| Lucky Strike | Blue | Chance to deal double damage. |
| Machine Gun | Legendary | Increases fire rate after dealing damage. |
| Jump Star | Unique | Gives two double jumps while holding Sheriff Stars. |
| Scavenger Star | Unique | Gives +30% movement speed and +100% pickup range. |
Jump Star and Scavenger Star are the main reason Sheriff Stars belong in the build. Together, they let you escape fights that would otherwise trap a Shotgun build.
7. Hero Upgrades for the Shotgun Build
The Hero upgrades should make the build safer, faster, and more consistent. The Shotgun already supplies damage once Overblast is active, so the character side should focus on staying alive, casting spells more often, and keeping enough movement speed to avoid dangerous situations.
| Hero Upgrade | Priority | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Health | High | Gives more room for mistakes, especially with Glass Cannon reducing max HP. |
| Spell Cooldown Reduction | High | Lets you cast Strikes, Drain, and Mino more often for AoE, sustain, and control. |
| Speed | High | Improves kiting, dodging, repositioning, and Speedster scaling. |
| Jump Height | Useful | Works well with Sheriff Stars double jumps and makes repositioning easier. |
| Ammo Bag | Low / leftover points | Useful if you have points left, but not as important as health, speed, or cooldown reduction. |
Prioritize health, spell cooldown reduction, and speed before spending leftover points on jump height or Ammo Bag.
8. Best Hero Jokers for the Shotgun Build
Hero Jokers
The Hero Joker setup should give you movement, sustain, damage, and better mid-run scaling. The final setup uses Chad, Disgrace, Speedy Gonzalez, Soul Siphon, and Glass Cannon.
| Joker | Rarity | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Relentless | Common | Large boost when below 30% HP. |
| Last Dance | Common | Strong low-HP option. |
| Heavy Drinker | Common | Increases healing from bottles. |
| Soul Siphon | Green | Adds sustain. |
| Speedy Gonzalez | Green | Adds movement speed. |
| Care Package | Green | Utility alternative if you do not need more movement or sustain |
| Chad | Green | Reveals the Wandering Trader and gives a discount. |
| Chunky | Blue | Damage option, but lower priority than Glass Cannon for this setup |
| Stons | Blue | Chance-based extra Joker option. |
| Disgrace | Blue | +30% movement speed, but removes mount use. |
| Battle Mage | Epic | Cooldown option if you want more frequent Strikes, Drain, and Mino casts |
| West Wizard | Epic | Spell-focused option. |
| Second Wind | Epic | Revives you at 50 HP when reaching zero HP, then goes on cooldown. |
| Glass Cannon | Legendary | +40% weapon damage, -25% max HP. |
| Cantrip One-Trick | Legendary alternative | 20% cooldown reduction if your spells are 35 seconds or less. |
Glass Cannon is the best damage Joker for this build because the Shotgun scales so well with weapon damage and Overblast.
Why Chad Is Important in Nightmare Runs
Chad is one of the most useful Hero Jokers because it reveals the Wandering Trader and gives a discount. The Wandering Trader sells Jokers during the run, and buying more Jokers before the boss can make a huge difference on Very Hard and Nightmare.
Each Joker bought from the trader becomes more expensive afterward, so the discount helps you buy more power before the cost climbs too high. On higher difficulties, this matters because the game expects you to stack mid-run Joker bonuses instead of fighting the boss with only your starting setup.
9. Best Spells for the Shotgun Build
Strikes Spell
The best spell loadout is Strikes, Drain, and Mino. These are all level one spells, which makes the build strong from early progression while still scaling into late-game and Nightmare mode. The spell setup gives you AoE damage, healing, lightning puddles, corruption mines, and elite control.
| Spell | Type | Main Use |
|---|---|---|
| Strikes | Level 1 Lightning Spell | Creates a straight line of lightning and leaves lightning puddles. |
| Drain | Level 1 Voodoo Spell | Deals 20 damage and heals 20 health from an enemy. |
| Mino | Level 1 Cactus Spell | Places a mine that explodes when an enemy steps on it. |
| Corruption | Higher-level Voodoo alternative | Turns enemies in an AoE into allies. |
Use Strikes to create lightning puddles, Mino to punish clustered enemies with mines, and Drain to recover health during long fights. The setup works best when you combine those effects instead of casting each spell in isolation.
Best Spell Combos
Strike + Mino Spell Combo
These spell combos give the best damage and makes enemy clearing easier and faster.
| Combo | Effect | Best Use |
|---|---|---|
| Strikes + Mino | Strikes detonates the mine into a star-shaped lightning pattern with multiple lightning puddles. | Clearing hordes, cursed spots, and clustered enemies. |
| Strikes + Drain | Drain creates candles where the lightning puddles are, giving extra healing. | Sustain during large fights and long objectives. |
| Drain + Mino | Turns the mine into a pink corruption mine. | Converts enemies into temporary allies when they trigger it. |
| Acid Sheriff Stars + Electrified Enemies | Acid hits can create lightning explosions on electrified targets. | Bursting elites after Strikes creates lightning puddles. |
10. Shotgun Build Progression Route
The build is strong because it does not need late-game spells to function. You can begin with the basic spell package, build the Shotgun around accuracy, then transition into Overblast scaling once the unique Joker is available.
| Progression Stage | Main Priority | What to Focus On |
|---|---|---|
| Early Game | Accuracy and basic survivability | Upgrade Shotgun accuracy, use Strikes, Drain, and Mino, and take early sustain or low-HP Jokers like Relentless, Last Dance, and Heavy Drinker. |
| Before Overblast | Reliable Shotgun damage | Prioritize accuracy first, then damage, fire rate, reload speed, and clip size. |
| After Overblast | Clip size and reload speed | Dump heavily into clip size because every missing round adds another pellet. Add reload speed so empty reloads do not leave you exposed. |
| Sheriff Stars Progression | Pickup range | Increase pickup range first, then improve fire rate, lifesteal, and draw speed as needed. |
| Character Progression | Health, cooldown reduction, speed | Build enough health to offset Glass Cannon, enough speed to kite, and enough cooldown reduction to keep spell combos available. |
| Nightmare Preparation | Overblast, mobility, and mid-run Joker scaling | Have Overblast before Nightmare, use Sheriff Stars mobility, and buy Jokers from the Wandering Trader before the boss. |
11. How to Play the Shotgun Build in Combat
This build is built for close-range damage, but the safest way to play it is to control when enemies get close.
- Start fights by checking enemy types: Look for bombers, snipers, machine gunners, liches, horsemen, assassins, and birds before focusing on basic enemies.
- Use Shotgun bursts on elites: Later Overblast shots should go into high-health targets instead of basic grunts.
- Use Strikes + Mino for clustered enemies: This combo creates strong AoE and makes cursed areas easier to clear.
- Use Drain when health drops: Drain gives immediate healing and can create extra healing candles when used with lightning puddles.
- Swap to Sheriff Stars when surrounded: The double jumps let you escape and turn a bad fight into a manageable one.
- Do not drag multiple hordes together: Clear enemies in sections. Nightmare becomes dangerous when several packs stack on top of each other.
- Watch your reload windows: The Shotgun is strongest near the bottom of the magazine, but you still need safe space before reloading.
- Keep moving before enemies box you in: Movement speed is part of your damage scaling and your main defense.
