CS2 Shotguns Explained - Nova, XM1014, MAG-7 and Sawed-Off
CS2 shotguns pay up to $900 per kill and delete enemies up close. Here is how the Nova, XM1014, MAG-7 and Sawed-Off differ and when each one is worth buying.
Shotguns are the most underrated economy weapons in CS2. They are cheap, they delete enemies at close range, and most of them pay a huge $900 per kill. Used in the right spot, a shotgun can win a round and rebuild your economy at the same time.
The $900 Kill Reward
Three of the four shotguns pay $900 per kill, the highest reward in the game. That is triple what a rifle pays. Land two shotgun kills and you have earned $1,800 plus the round, which is why shotguns are a serious anti-eco and eco-defence option, not a joke pick. See SMGs and kill rewards for how these rewards reshape a half-buy.
The Four Shotguns
- Nova ($1,050, $900 reward): pump-action, available to both sides, reliable one-shot potential to the upper body up close.
- XM1014 ($2,000, $600 reward): semi-automatic, both sides, faster follow-up shots but a lower reward and higher price.
- MAG-7 ($1,300, $900 reward): CT-only, tight pellet spread that stays lethal at slightly longer range than the others.
- Sawed-Off ($1,100, $900 reward): T-only, brutal damage point-blank but a wide spread that falls off fast.
How to Use a Shotgun
Shotguns live and die by distance. Hold a tight angle where enemies appear within a few metres and you will win almost every duel; get caught at range and you will lose to anything. Pre-aim the exact spot an enemy will emerge, since you often only get one shot before they react. This rewards the same discipline as good crosshair placement and holding angles.
When to Buy One
- CT eco/force: the MAG-7 on a close-corner site hold is one of the best value picks in the game.
- T anti-eco or close execute: the Sawed-Off or Nova punishes enemies pushing into you.
- Avoid on open maps and long sightlines, where a shotgun is nearly useless.
Takeaway
CS2 shotguns are cheap, high-reward weapons that dominate close range and rebuild your economy fast. The MAG-7 (CT) and Sawed-Off (T) hit hardest for the money, the Nova is the flexible pick, and the XM1014 trades reward for faster shots. Play tight angles, pre-aim, and never bring a shotgun to a long-range fight.
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