Official designation: M90 Shotgun
Projectile type: 8-Gauge Magnum 3.5 in (89 mm)
Dual-wield: No
Damage: High
Range: Point-blank
Accuracy: Low
Rate of fire: Low
Autofire capability: No
Magazine capacity: 12 shells
Ammunition (additional): 36 (3 Magazines)
Reload speed: Slow
Melee attack: Medium
Scope: No
Advantages:
A weapon that has barely changed since it was first conceived, the shotgun is a close-range firearm that can stop any Human, Covenant or Flood in its tracks (except for Hunters). Deadly at short distances, it is a weapon that even Elites should fear: it can overload some shields in a single shot. With it, you can make aggressive charges towards foes, punching through flesh and armor before they have the opportunity to return fire. It can also be, in turn, a great means of defense. When pinned down under cover - or having ducked behind a corner to allow the Master Chief's shields time to recharge - any Covenant soldier with the tenacity to rush your position should meet with a venomous rebuke from your M90. The range of the Shotgun has been significantly diminished compared to Halo CE.
Disadvantages
Due to the high spread of its projectiles, the shotgun is useless over any distance other than point-blank. It should always be complemented by a secondary weapon that addresses this major weaknesses (a typical side weapon to this one is the battle rifle). Additionally, the M90 is reloaded one cartridge at a time, giving it the highest total reload time of all weapons, but the quickest per shot reload. Note that you can interrupt the process of loading the shotgun by firing or melee attacking at any time.
Multiplayer Role:
Shotguns can be extremely effective in multiplayer combat, due to their large damage potential. It is best not to reveal this weapon until you need it, unless you have an irresistible urge to be run over by your enemies or gunned down from a distance.
To hide this weapon, you should primarily use it as a backup until you see someone close. The shotgun is a potent defensive weapon, mostly in 'choke points' where the enemy must pass, or in situations where the enemy must get close to you, and it becomes all the more potent as more enemies try to pass.
The shotgun is one of the two feared close-range weapons (the other being the energy sword). However, the user must be able to judge the proper distance between him and his target. If he shoots when he is too far, the blast is ineffectual. Because of its long loading time, it is recommended to shoot with the shotgun until it runs out, switch to another weapon for the rest of the confrontation, then reload after the skirmish.