The Pepper Shaker is a unique and versatile weapon in Fallout 76, introduced with Patch 28 in July 2021. It combines the characteristics of a shotgun and a heavy gun, making it a standout choice for players looking to diversify their arsenal.
Features and Perks
Automatic Heavy Weapon: The Pepper Shaker is an automatic heavy weapon with a rotating barrel, initially functioning as a shotgun minigun. It can be modified to use fusion cells or plasma cartridges, offering flexibility in combat scenarios.
Tradable: The weapon itself is tradable, allowing players to acquire it from other players if they miss the event where the crafting plan is available.
Magazine and Levels: It has a standard magazine size of 50 rounds and is available at levels 35, 40, 45, and 50.
Legendary Effects: The Pepper Shaker can be crafted with legendary effects, such as increased magazine size or fire rate, making it highly customizable.
Obtaining the Pepper Shaker Plan
The plan to craft the Pepper Shaker is primarily available during the Meat Week event, specifically through Event Grahm's Meat-cook. It can also be found in player vendors or acquired through trading with other players.
When building a powerful arsenal in Fallout 76, acquiring valuable items like the Pepper Shaker can be costly, involving significant investments of Fallout 76 caps, which serve as the game's primary currency. Players often engage in various activities, such as completing quests, trading with other players, or exploring the map to earn these caps. This economy plays a crucial role in the game's trading dynamics and encourages interaction and cooperation among players.
Mods and Customization
The Pepper Shaker offers several mods that can be purchased from vendors like Regs in Vault 79 for gold. These mods include:
Single Barrel: Fires 16 projectiles at once, ideal for quick enemy elimination.
Double Barrel: Offers the highest damage per shot with a fire rate of 61.
Hex Barrel: Provides the highest fire rate of 82 but with slightly lower damage.
Fusion Magazine and Plasma Magazine: Allow the use of different ammunition types.
Builds and Strategies
The Pepper Shaker is particularly effective in builds that combine heavy gun and shotgun perks. It excels in scenarios requiring high damage output, such as against Behemoths or Scorchbeasts. A popular build includes using the Quad legendary effect, which increases the magazine size to 200 rounds, along with a Hex Barrel for increased fire rate and a Laser Magazine for additional energy damage.
The Pepper Shaker is a unique and powerful addition to any Fallout 76 arsenal, offering versatility and customization options that make it a favorite among players. Its ability to function as both a shotgun and a heavy gun, combined with its modifiable ammunition types, makes it a valuable asset in various combat situations. Whether used for support or as a primary damage dealer, the Pepper Shaker is a weapon that can significantly enhance gameplay experience in the Wasteland.