title: "Boomstick — Sawed-Off Named Shotgun Guide & Stats (TU22.1)" description: "Boomstick named sawed-off shotgun guide for The Division 2: damage, RPM, builds, talents, and PvP usage." weapon: "Boomstick" class: "Shotgun" subtype: "Sawed-Off" baseDamage: 100000 rpm: 120 mag: 2 reload: 1.5 headshotMultiplier: 1.5 updated: "2026-04-25" patch: "TU22.1"
At a Glance
The Boomstick is the named sawed-off shotgun in The Division 2 and one of the most distinctive weapons in the game. It carries a two-round magazine, fires at 120 RPM, and produces 100k base damage per shell — the highest base damage of any non-exotic shotgun. It is the meta PvP shotgun and has been since launch, surviving multiple patch cycles without ever losing its place at the top of the Dark Zone tier list.
In TU22.1 the Boomstick remains the dominant close-range PvP weapon. The two-shot magazine, the 1.5-second reload, and the highest per-shell damage in the family combine into a weapon that can two-tap any agent in normalized PvP and reload faster than they can return to cover.
For PvE the Boomstick is more situational. The two-round magazine punishes missed shots harder than any other shotgun and the close-range optimal makes it less flexible than a pump or a full-auto. But for the specific role of close-range burst damage — a Hunter HVT engagement, a tight room clear, a 1v1 in the Dark Zone — there is nothing else like it.
Stats
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Base Damage | 100,000 |
| Rounds Per Minute | 120 |
| Magazine | 2 |
| Reload Time | 1.5 s |
| Headshot Multiplier | x1.5 |
| Optimal Range | 0–6 m |
| Damage Falloff Start | 4 m |
| Damage Falloff End | 18 m |
The 100k base damage is the highest per-shell number of any non-exotic shotgun in the game. With twelve pellets and a slightly tighter spread cone than the M870, an upper-chest hit at three meters lands in the 1.4–1.6 million damage range against an unbuffered red on Challenging. With Strega Glass Cannon active, the Boomstick reliably one-shots reds on Heroic and two-shots most purples.
The two-round magazine is the smallest in the shotgun family and the defining feature of the weapon. You fire two shots, you reload. There is no third option. The 1.5-second reload is the fastest of any shotgun, however, which makes the magazine constraint significantly less punishing than it sounds.
The optimal range of 0–6 meters is the shortest in the family. Past four meters, falloff is brutal. Past six meters, the Boomstick stops being a viable weapon and becomes a thrown brick.
Talent
The Boomstick is a named weapon and rolls a fixed talent: Boomerang. Boomerang grants the weapon a chance to refund a shell after a kill, effectively producing a third shell without a reload. The talent is not the strongest in the shotgun family but it is interesting and produces the occasional clutch moment.
In PvP, Boomerang is functionally irrelevant because most engagements end inside two shells anyway. In PvE, Boomerang provides a small amount of magazine flexibility on multi-kill scenarios.
The Boomstick cannot be re-rolled to a different talent. If you want a sawed-off shotgun with a different talent profile, you are looking at the wrong weapon — the Boomstick is the only sawed-off in the game.
Top Builds
Strega Glass Cannon Boomstick
The signature PvE build for the Boomstick. Strega backpack triples weapon damage on explosive ammo and Glass Cannon doubles damage in and out. The 100k base damage scales catastrophically under both buffs, producing one-shot kills on Heroic reds and reliable two-shots on purples. The two-round magazine matters less when every shell is a kill.
Hunter's Fury Boomstick
The signature PvP build. Hunter's Fury close-range brand stacks scale with the Boomstick's 6-meter optimal range and produce the strongest burst-damage package in the Dark Zone. Pair with The Catharsis or Memento for the talent stack and a Vigilance chest for the headshot scaling.
Heartbreaker Boomstick
A respected PvE alternative. Heartbreaker scales weapon damage with hits taken while ammo is in the magazine, and the Boomstick's two-shell magazine means the stacks reset after every reload. This sounds bad but it actually works because the per-shell damage is so high that you only need a handful of stacks to one-shot anything in your optimal range.
PvE-PvP
In PvE the Boomstick is a specialist tool. It is not the best shotgun for boss DPS — that is the AA-12 — and it is not the best shotgun for one-shot reds in a multi-target room — that is the M870. But for any specific kill where you need maximum burst damage in under two seconds, the Boomstick is the answer.
In PvP the Boomstick is the meta close-range weapon. The two-shot kill on most agents in normalized PvP is unmatched and the 1.5-second reload means you are back in the fight before your opponent has finished rolling. Aim for the upper chest. The Boomstick is the strongest 1v1 shotgun in the Dark Zone in 2026.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Highest base damage of any non-exotic shotgun
- 1.5-second reload is the fastest in the family
- Meta PvP shotgun with consistent two-shot kills
- Pairs perfectly with Strega Glass Cannon
- Synergizes with Hunter's Fury for close-range PvP
Cons
- Two-round magazine is the smallest in the family
- 6-meter optimal range is the shortest in the family
- Boomerang talent is fixed and underwhelming in PvE
- Punishes missed shots harder than any other shotgun
- Falloff past 6 m is severe
FAQ
Is the Boomstick the best PvP shotgun? Yes, by a comfortable margin. The two-shot kill at close range and the 1.5-second reload combine into a package that no other shotgun can match in normalized PvP. The AA-12 is competitive on sustained DPS but the Boomstick wins burst-damage 1v1s.
What is the best talent for the Boomstick? Boomerang is fixed on the weapon. There is no choice. If you want a different talent, you need a different shotgun.
Can the Boomstick one-shot reds on Heroic? Yes, with Strega Glass Cannon, fully buffed Hunter's Fury, or a top-tier Heartbreaker stack. Without those force multipliers, expect a clean kill on a body shot at three meters or less.
Is the Boomstick worth using in PvE? For specific scenarios, yes. Hunter HVT executions, named boss bursts, and tight room engagements all favor the Boomstick. For general patrol clearing or extended boss fights, an AA-12 or Super 90 will perform better.
Closing
The Boomstick is the highest-burst-damage shotgun in The Division 2 and the meta PvP weapon for close-range agents. It does not have the magazine of an AA-12 or the range of a Super 90, but its two-shell burst potential is unmatched and its 1.5-second reload makes the magazine constraint significantly less punishing than it looks on paper.
In 2026 the Boomstick remains in the top tier of named shotguns. It is not the meta PvE pick for sustained content but it is the best burst-damage tool in the game, and on a Strega Glass Cannon or Hunter's Fury build it produces engagement outcomes that no other shotgun can replicate.
Last reviewed: 2026-04-25 · TU22.1 · Verified vs in-game