Top Shrapnel Build In Once Human – Max DPS Setup [2025 Update]

Shrapnel builds in Once Human are all about unleashing a relentless barrage of projectiles, shredding through hordes of Deviants and even challenging the toughest bosses. If you're looking to maximize your damage output and dominate the battlefield in 2025, you've come to the right place. This guide will break down the ultimate Shrapnel build, focusing on the best weapons, talents, and gear to turn you into a walking, talking (and shooting) artillery platform. Get ready to rain down destruction!

This build prioritizes sustained damage and area-of-effect (AoE) capabilities, making it incredibly effective for clearing out large groups of enemies and dealing consistent damage to single targets. We'll cover everything you need to know, from selecting the right weapons to optimizing your talent tree and crafting the perfect gear. Let's dive in!

1. Core Weapon: The Shrapnel Cannon (Obviously!)

The cornerstone of any Shrapnel build is, unsurprisingly, the Shrapnel Cannon. While other weapons can supplement your damage, the Cannon is your primary damage dealer. You'll want to prioritize getting a high-quality version of this weapon as early as possible.

  • Stats to Look For: Focus on stats like Damage, Fire Rate, and Magazine Size. Crit Chance and Crit Damage are also beneficial, but less crucial than the core damage stats.
  • Attachments:
    • Magazine: Extended Magazine is a must-have to increase your sustained damage output.
    • Barrel: A barrel that increases accuracy or reduces recoil will help you maintain consistent fire on your targets.
    • Optic: A mid-range optic is ideal for engaging enemies at a comfortable distance.

2. Secondary Weapon: The Support Shotgun

While the Shrapnel Cannon excels at sustained damage, a shotgun provides crucial burst damage and crowd control for close-quarters encounters.

  • Recommended Shotgun: The "Breaker" shotgun is a solid choice, offering a good balance of damage and fire rate. Look for one with high damage per pellet.
  • Why a Shotgun? Shotguns provide a quick and devastating response to enemies that get too close, preventing them from overwhelming you. They also excel at staggering enemies, giving you breathing room to reload and reposition.
  • Attachments:
    • Magazine: An extended magazine or a magazine that increases reload speed is beneficial.
    • Barrel: A choke barrel can tighten the pellet spread, increasing your effective range.

3. Talent Tree: The Path to Shrapnel Mastery

Your talent tree is crucial for maximizing the effectiveness of your Shrapnel build. Focus on talents that enhance your weapon damage, fire rate, and survivability.

  • Core Talents:
    • Weapon Specialization (Shrapnel Cannon): Invest heavily in talents that directly buff the Shrapnel Cannon's damage, fire rate, and reload speed.
    • Ammo Capacity: Increasing your ammo capacity allows you to sustain fire for longer periods, maximizing your DPS.
    • Damage Resistance: Survivability is key. Invest in talents that increase your damage resistance and health.
    • Critical Hit Chance/Damage: While not the primary focus, increasing your critical hit chance and damage will provide a significant boost to your overall DPS.
  • Specific Talent Recommendations:
    • "Rapid Reload": Significantly reduces reload time, allowing you to maintain a higher rate of fire.
    • "Armor Plating": Increases your damage resistance, making you more durable in combat.
    • "Focused Fire": Increases your accuracy and stability while firing, improving your ability to land shots consistently.
  • Avoid: Talents that focus on melee combat or other weapon types that don't synergize with the Shrapnel Cannon.

4. Gear Optimization: Stats That Matter

Your gear plays a vital role in rounding out your Shrapnel build. Prioritize gear with stats that complement your weapon and talent choices.

  • Key Stats:
    • Damage: Obviously, increasing your overall damage is a priority.
    • Fire Rate: A higher fire rate translates to more projectiles on the field, increasing your DPS.
    • Armor: Provides crucial damage resistance, allowing you to survive longer in combat.
    • Health: A larger health pool gives you more room for error and allows you to withstand more damage.
    • Critical Hit Chance/Damage: As mentioned before, these stats provide a significant DPS boost when optimized.
  • Specific Gear Pieces to Look For:
    • Chest Armor: Prioritize armor with high armor and health stats. Look for bonuses that increase your damage or fire rate.
    • Helmet: A helmet with critical hit chance or damage is ideal.
    • Gloves: Gloves that increase your fire rate or reload speed are highly valuable.
    • Boots: Boots that increase your movement speed can help you reposition quickly and avoid enemy attacks.

5. Territory Point Allocation: Buffing Your Build

Territory Points offer another layer of customization and optimization for your Shrapnel build.

  • Prioritize Damage: Allocate points primarily to damage-enhancing nodes. Look for nodes that specifically increase weapon damage or overall damage output.
  • Survivability is Key: Don't neglect survivability. Invest points in nodes that increase your armor, health, or damage resistance.
  • Utility Nodes: Consider investing points in nodes that improve your movement speed or resource gathering efficiency.

6. Playstyle and Tactics: Maximizing Your Effectiveness

Even with the best gear and talents, your playstyle is crucial for maximizing the effectiveness of your Shrapnel build.

  • Maintain Distance: The Shrapnel Cannon is most effective at medium range. Maintain a safe distance from enemies to avoid taking unnecessary damage.
  • Prioritize Targets: Focus on eliminating high-priority targets first, such as ranged enemies or enemies with special abilities.
  • Use Cover: Utilize cover to protect yourself from enemy fire and reload your weapon safely.
  • Mobility is Key: Use your movement speed to reposition quickly and avoid enemy attacks.
  • Shotgun for Close Encounters: When enemies get too close, switch to your shotgun to deal burst damage and create space.
  • Coordinate with Teammates: If playing in a group, coordinate with your teammates to focus fire on high-priority targets and provide support.

7. Adaptability and Experimentation

While this guide provides a solid foundation for a top-tier Shrapnel build, remember that Once Human is a constantly evolving game. New weapons, talents, and gear are frequently added, so it's important to stay adaptable and experiment with different combinations to find what works best for you. Don't be afraid to try new things and tailor your build to your specific playstyle and preferences.

Conclusion: Unleash the Shrapnel!

By following this guide, you'll be well on your way to creating a devastating Shrapnel build that can handle any challenge Once Human throws your way. Remember to prioritize your weapon selection, talent tree optimization, gear stats, and playstyle to maximize your damage output and survivability. Get out there and unleash the shrapnel! This 2025 update ensures you're ready to dominate the battlefield with a build that's both powerful and fun to play. Good luck, and happy hunting!