Saiga-12

File:Gun-saiga-01.png
 File:Loot-weapon-saiga V1.png
The **Saiga-12** (Russian: **Сайга-12**) is a powerful Shotgun that uses the 12 gauge Ammunition.

## Background

The Saiga-12 is a 12 gauge Shotgun available in a wide range of configurations, patterned after the Kalashnikov series of rifles. Like the AK rifle variants, it is a rotating bolt, gas-operated gun that feeds from a tilted box magazine. All Saiga-12 configurations are recognizable as Kalashnikov-pattern guns by the large lever-safety on the right side of the receiver, the optic mounting rail on the left side of the receiver and the large top-mounted dust cover held in place by the rear of the recoil spring assembly.

## Info

It fires 5 quick rounds, making it commonly thought of as the most powerful Shotgun in Surviv.io, along with the USAS-12, and the Super 90. It is one of the rarest guns in the game, coming in eighth to the PKP Pecheneg, M249, AWM-S, M4A1-S, CZ-3A1, M1 Garand (All Golden Airdrop exclusive weapons) the SV-98, and the USAS-12, though it is possible to find more than one Saiga-12 in a match. It is a great weapon to use at close range battles.

The Saiga's high fire rate combined with the overall stats of a Shotgun makes it one of the strongest weapons in-game. The gun offers a high DPS at both close and mid-range. It is preferable to other Shotguns such as the MP220 and the M870 as it has both a high fire rate and a mag size of 5, yet it has the same damage and range of the buckshot shotguns.

## Sounds

* Firing
* Reloading
* Swapping To

## Strategies

* To use this weapon efficiently, it is recommended that the player equips high-level Equipment as they will be dealing with fully-automatic Assault Rifles or LMGs at close-to-mid range.
* With a shotgun-only playstyle, it's recommended to pick this gun up along with an MP220 or an M870 depending on your skill level. If this gun is not available, two MP220 will do the trick just fine.
* Saiga-12 is a Shotgun, so it can deal a high amount of damage. Besides, with the high fire rate, it is easy to win most mid-range and close-range battles.
* It usually can kill average-geared players in a matter of seconds, so it is a very useful item for rushing into buildings.
* Use the Saiga-12 with the M4A1-S. It is an amazing combo if you can use it correctly, but it is extremely rare to get these Weapons. Instructions: Start with the Saiga-12, keep doing your damage until you run out of ammo in your round. Once you run out, start to spin left and right as you quick-switch(scroll) into the M4A1-S. Fire away with it and finish off your opponent with Saiga-12. Some people call this the "quick switch ditch" because you ditch the Saiga-12 and go back to it.
* Another deadly combo is the M249 and the Saiga-12, because of the high fire rate and obstacle damage of the M249 could be used to shred players at mid range, while the Saiga-12 is used at short ranges.
* Due to its high DPS, use the Saiga-12 for tearing through high-armored enemies.
	+ You can also use the Saiga-12 to break enemy cover quickly and kill the enemy without reloading due to its clip size of 5.
* Though the Saiga can kill a user without all 5 rounds, it is good to think/use the remaining rounds after the first 2 or 3 as backup in case you miss or fail to kill them, and fortunately, they will fire quickly, so you should have them down in no time.

 File:4EADCA51-D3BA-4894-8097-BBD0FA6720C5.jpeg
## Countering

* As is the case with most shotguns, the Saiga-12 lacks any adequate range to deal with even assault rifles at mid-range. If you see the characteristic barrel of the Saiga, back up and engage from a distance if possible.
* At close range, you can rush Saiga-12 users with an MP220. The MP220 has a faster fire rate than the Saiga-12 and is able to deal lethal damage in 0.2 seconds, while the Saiga-12 takes 0.4 seconds. If you miss or fail to kill them, the user may kill you with the remaining rounds, so it is a good idea to carry backup shotguns.
* You could use snipers/DMRs (SV-98, M1 Garand) or a highly accurate pistol/assault rifle (P30L/AN-94) at a long range to outgun the Saiga-12.
* With sufficient cover, you can constantly peek and retreat to waste your opponent's clip. While they are reloading, you can use an assault rifle to whittle down their health, and then repeat when they've finished reloading.

## Rarity

The Saiga-12 is rare, and can be found in Air Drops and rarely crates.

## Links

* https://surviv.io/img/loot/loot-weapon-autoshotgun.svg
* https://surviv.io/img/loot/loot-weapon-saiga.svg

## Trivia

* In real-life, many Saiga-12's are semi-auto only. However, many full-auto conversion kits for the Saiga exist (although a real-life converted Saiga-12 would probably have a higher fire rate than its in-game counterpart). This is likely to balance the gun in-game.
* Saiga shotguns are based on the Kalashnikov series of rifles.
* The United States sometimes uses the Saiga-12 in SWAT teams.
* The magazine for the old Saiga-12 seems to be much larger than an actual 5-round Saiga magazine, possibly being able to hold 8 or 10 rounds at most. It could just be an extended magazine pinned to only accept 5 rounds. This is likely to balance the gun in-game.
* As of v0.7.1 "Danger close", the icon and overworld sprite for Saiga-12 was changed.
* When fighting a Saiga-12 player, don't go in range as it will kill you in seconds before you can deal enough damage to kill them. Rushing Saiga players will work, but if they have max armor, they can still survive both the shots without dying (no headshots), the best counter is to keep your range, or hide behind an obstacle then peek out and shoot, but this is risky, since the Saiga can tear through obstacles in 2 hits and still have 3 more bullets, which is more than enough to kill you.
* The old Saiga looks similar to the Vepr 12, a semi-auto shotgun that is also similar to the Saiga-12. The old icon also lightly resembles an AK47, and this is due to both the Vepr-12 and the Saiga-12 being patterned after the Kalashniokv rifles, of which the AK47 is a part of.

Screen Shot 2019-07-28 at 8.50.06 PM.pngA Saiga-12 as ground lootSaiga12Acc.pngA fellow survivr holding the Saiga-12 and firing it. (old)