Gnasher Shotgun

The Gnasher Shotgun, also known as simply the Gnasher, is a fictional firearm weapon featured in the Gears of War video game franchise. First appearing in the original Gears of War, the Gnasher is the standard-issue shotgun for Coalition of Ordered Governments ("COG") soldiers, although it is also carried by the enemy Locust Horde, particularly the Grenadier class of Locust Drone.

Because of its wide spread and high power, the Gnasher is traditionally one of the most used weapons in the series' multiplayer modes. It is also widely regarded as a controversial and divisive firearm in weapon balance debates. The developers of the Gears of War series have on a number occasions responded to player feedback about the Gnasher Shotgun, with its ammo capacity, magazine size, and firepower downgraded and upgraded through gameplay updates due to balance concerns. The Gnasher was also affected by technical issues which manifested as a lack of consistency for hit-detection in Gears of War: Ultimate Edition and Gears of War 4, which prompted the developers to investigate and attempt to address the issue.