KF2 Support Guide: Shotgun Damage, Skills and Ammo Tips

This is a compact damage-focused guide to the Support perk by a level 20 Support player who plays Normal through Hell on Earth. The aim is to deal maximum damage in short shotgun bursts, with priority on Scrakes, Fleshpounds and especially Sirens.

Level bonuses

Every Support level gives:

• 3% more door weld health
• 20% more weapon penetration (this applies to the starting shotgun too; each full 100% lets a bullet hit one more zed)
• 1% more damage with Support weapons
• 1% more maximum ammo
• Every 5 levels, +1 carry weight, up to 20 at level 25

Recommended skills

• Tactical Reload - you fire a lot of shells, so faster reloads matter more than bigger magazines, especially early when you load one shell at a time.
• Salvo - Berserkers are the tanks, not Support, and the 30% is large.
• Tight Choke - at level 25 you already have around 500% penetration, so extra piercing is not needed.
• Resupply Pack - helps the whole team; SWAT is the better staggerer anyway.
• Zed Time: Barrage - best in early waves and still useful later; no more reloading a shell when Zed Time starts.

A dream level 25 loadout: AA-12, the starting shotgun, the Double Barrel and the Medic pistol.

Arsenal and ammo tips

• Line up weak zeds and shoot through them to save ammo.
• Use the Double Barrel on Sirens. It saves expensive ammo, and you can also use it in emergencies or on Scrakes and Fleshpounds. It staggers most enemies, Scrakes included.
• Skip the M4 and the automatic trade-in; keep the Double Barrel and starting shotgun until you can buy the AA-12 without selling the Double Barrel.
• You do not need headshots all the time: with ~500% penetration and ~25% extra damage, body shots through a line of zeds are efficient.
• Stand away from the trader, but within reach, so teammates can grab ammo from your backpack before trading.
• If a teammate is Support, take their ammo and armor to save dosh.
• Ammo gets less of a problem as you level (1% more capacity per level, plus Resupply Pack).
• Do not run unless the team runs; your damage handles Scrakes, Fleshpounds and Sirens.
• Meleeing a Scrake mid-attack interrupts it and buys time for a Double Barrel shot to the face.
• Caulk n' Burn works against being surrounded (aim at the feet) but receives no Support damage or ammo bonuses.

See also the Support guide with basic roles and in-depth Support skills.