In *Once Human*, the Shrapnel build has emerged as one of the most devastating playstyles, excelling at dealing widespread damage through cascading shrapnel effects. This build is designed to exploit enemy weaknesses by triggering explosive collateral damage across multiple unhit body parts, making it especially effective against large or multi-limbed Deviants. By focusing on critical hit chance, magazine capacity, and shrapnel amplification, this build turns every firefight into a relentless storm of destruction. Think of it as launching a precision-guided firework into the heart of the enemy—each shot sparks a chain reaction of explosive impacts. Below is a complete breakdown of the optimal Shrapnel build, including the best weapons, armor, mods, and synergistic abilities to dominate the battlefield.
What is the Shrapnel Build?
At its core, the Shrapnel build revolves around triggering shrapnel explosions that deal additional damage to unhit enemy parts upon each successful hit. These effects are amplified by critical hits, which not only double the shrapnel chance but also boost critical damage. Combined with high fire rate and sustained magazine output, this build ensures near-constant shrapnel procs, creating a devastating feedback loop of damage. The goal is to maintain pressure, stack critical bonuses, and dismantle enemies piece by piece—efficiently and explosively.
| Slot | Item | Mod |
| Primary Weapon | SOCR – The Last Valor | Shatter Them All, Shrapnel Smash, or Shrapnel Souvenir |
| Secondary Weapon | DE.50 Wildfire | Vulnerability Amplifier |
| Melee | Long Axe | Portable Territory |
| Helmet | Beret or Gas-Tight Helmet | Momentum Up or Fateful Strike |
| Face | Lonewolf Mask | Targeted Strike or Shrapnel Carnage |
| Gloves | Lonewolf Gloves | Crit Amplifier or Crit Booster |
| Shoes | Bastille Shoes | Covered Advance or Slow and Steady |
| Top | Lonewolf Jacket | Healing Fortification |
| Bottoms | Lonewolf Pants | Bullet Siphon or Deadshot |
Primary Weapon – SOCR – The Last Valor
The cornerstone of the Shrapnel build, the SOCR – The Last Valor, is a high-rate-of-fire assault rifle with a built-in 4% chance to trigger shrapnel on each hit. This effect damages random unhit enemy parts and doubles on critical hits, which also apply a 30% bonus to critical damage. This synergy makes it ideal for sustained engagements and Deviant dismantling. To craft the Tier V version—recommended for maximum performance—obtain the blueprint via the Wish Machine through mini-games or purchase it directly for 8,000 Starchrom from the Blueprint Shop.
Recommended Attachments:
- Large Brake: +4 Range, +20 Accuracy, -8 Stability
- Reflex Sight: Zoom Level 2.0x, Aiming Speed +5.0%, Stability +5
- Tactical Laser Sight: +19 Accuracy, +12% Aiming Speed
- Extended Rifle Mag: Magazine Capacity +8, -13% Reload Speed
Secondary Weapon – DE.50 Wildfire
The DE.50 Wildfire complements the build by applying “The Bull’s Eye” debuff, increasing target vulnerability and enhancing shrapnel effectiveness. Alternatively, the Recurve Crossbow can be used to apply the same debuff on weakspot hits, granting a 15% critical rate boost against marked targets for 10 seconds—perfect for setting up high-damage bursts with the primary weapon.
Melee Weapon – Long Axe
While not a primary damage source, the Long Axe adds strong utility. Its “Fortress Warfare” ability activates on heavy attacks, creating a protective zone that grants Heavy Armor to nearby allies. This significantly improves team survivability during intense encounters, making it a valuable support tool in co-op scenarios.
Armor Set – Lonewolf Gear
The Lonewolf armor set is the optimal choice for the Shrapnel build, offering critical rate boosts and increased magazine capacity. Its set bonus, “Lone Shadow,” increases critical damage with each successful critical hit, stacking up to 10 times—perfect for maintaining escalating damage output. Each piece’s blueprint can be purchased from the Blueprint Shop via the Wish Machine for 3,000 Starchrom.
Recommended Weapon Mods
- Shrapnel Souvenir: Automatically reloads the magazine upon triggering shrapnel, ensuring uninterrupted fire.
- Shrapnel Smash: Grants +1% critical hit rate per shrapnel trigger, stacking up to 20 times.
- Crit Amplifier: Increases critical hit rate by 10% and critical damage by 15%.
- Momentum Up: Boosts fire rate by 10% in the first half of the magazine and weapon damage by 30% in the second half.
Recommended Armor Mods
- Targeted Strike (Face): Increases damage against marked targets.
- Crit Booster (Gloves): Further enhances critical hit chance.
- Covered Advance (Shoes): Improves movement speed while aiming, aiding repositioning.
- Bullet Siphon or Deadshot (Bottoms): Improves ammo efficiency or boosts critical damage, depending on playstyle.
For an enhanced gaming experience, players can run *Once Human* on PC using BlueStacks. With the precision of a keyboard and mouse and the advantage of a larger screen, gameplay becomes smoother, more responsive, and far more immersive. [ttpp]
