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For a straightforward early run in How to Fish, keep spending on melee weapons to a minimum, save for the shotgun, and use dynamite to gather fish or quest materials rather than to fight at close range. The shotgun-first order is a guide recommendation, not a required build: a specialized co-op speedrun may prioritize an upgraded pistol instead. Prices below are reported by community guides and may not match every mode or the current shops.
What should you buy first?
- Use inexpensive melee early. Buy only what helps with opening catches and the first island; avoid sinking money into melee upgrades that delay your ranged weapon.
- Save for the shotgun. NerdsChalk Staff lists it at $150 in its 2026 guide. The recommendation is to skip the pistol on a normal playthrough and make the shotgun your first major weapon purchase.
- Consider dynamite for gathering. Guides list it at $25 and describe it as useful for collecting several fish or quest materials. It is a utility purchase, not a substitute for a combat weapon.
- Upgrade the shotgun gradually. Add damage when tougher creatures become a practical obstacle, rather than spending every available dollar on upgrades immediately.
- Consider the assault rifle later. The guide names it as a later purchase; it does not establish a universal point at which every player should stop upgrading the shotgun and switch.
These prices and priorities come from guides published before the September 28, 2026 Islet Update. Check the shop in your current game before committing to an exact buy order.
How much do the shotgun upgrades cost?
NerdsChalk Staff’s August 2026 shotgun guides report the following 12-step bullet-damage price sequence. These are guide-reported figures, not confirmed prices for every mode or for the game after the Islet Update.
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| Upgrade step | Reported cost |
|---|---|
| 1 | $20 |
| 2 | $30 |
| 3 | $40 |
| 4 | $200 |
| 5 | $250 |
| 6 | $300 |
| 7 | $1,500 |
| 8 | $2,500 |
| 9 | $3,000 |
| 10 | $4,240 |
| 11 | $6,120 |
| 12 | $8,340 |
The guides give $26,540 as the total for the complete 12-step damage path. Treat that as the cost reported for the guide’s listed sequence, not a guaranteed current total.
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There is also a mode and patch caveat: a walkthrough dated August 28, 2026 says its community-run price table came from a multiplayer run, that upgrades appear cheaper in solo play, and that prices can change between patches. Use the in-game shop as the final authority on what your run will cost.
Should co-op players change the first weapon priority?
For ordinary co-op progression, the shotgun-first recommendation remains a reasonable default: it favors straightforward progress over a specialized route. The target guide describes a different pistol-focused approach for planned co-op speedruns, where players coordinate shared cash and a particular handoff route. It does not show that this speedrun strategy is generally better, so do not treat it as the standard choice for an unplanned run.
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When should you stop upgrading the shotgun and save for the assault rifle?
There is no universal breakpoint established by the guides. Keep buying damage upgrades while they address the creature or progression obstacle currently slowing you down; start saving for the assault rifle when the next shotgun upgrade is less useful to your immediate route than the later weapon. Because the quoted costs are guide snapshots and the current update added content, compare actual shop prices and your available cash rather than following a fixed level number.
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It can be worthwhile when you need to gather multiple fish or quest materials, but guides advise against using it as a close-range combat weapon. In the official Patch 1.0.11 announcement on September 1, 2026, Dazed Games warned: “You will now die from your own explosives even with friendly fire disabled”. Use distance and avoid treating disabled friendly fire as protection from your own blast.
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What changed in the current update?
Dazed Games announced that Islet Update 1.1.0 released on September 28, 2026, adding a weapon, mini islands, creatures, a mini-boss, items, bait, an NPC, achievements, and an outfit. The announcement does not name the new weapon or state its shop price, availability, or effect on the opening weapon route. Since pre-update guides cannot settle those details, inspect the current in-game shop and item descriptions rather than assuming their lists cover the new content.
The September 1, 2026 Patch 1.0.11 announcement also says purchasable iron sights were removed and changed explosive self-damage behavior. Advice based on older attachment lists or explosive behavior may therefore be out of date.
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Sources
- NerdsChalk Staff, “How to Fish Shotgun Path: Early Weapons, Upgrades, and Spending Tips”, updated August 30, 2026.
- All Things How, “How to Fish: Every Purchasable Item and What It Does.”
- How-to-fish.world, “How to Fish Guide: Full Walkthrough and Boss Route,” dated August 28, 2026.
- Dazed Games via Steam Community, “The Islet Update 1.1.0,” September 28, 2026.
- Dazed Games via Steam, Patch 1.0.11 announcement, September 1, 2026.
- NerdsChalk Staff, “How to Fish Shotgun Build: Bullet Costs, Lure Setup, and Attachments,” updated August 24, 2026.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
