# Shotgun

> Use Shotgun when one direct action should punch through a narrow lane instead of a single point. It fits moments where quick close-range pressure should catch the target and the immediate depth behind it.

- Skill: `hmbown/shotgun` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add hmbown/shotgun`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/hmbown/shotgun/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: Hmbown (https://skillmd.com/u/hmbown)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/hmbown/shotgun

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# Shotgun

Fire a short burst that hits the nearest problem and anything stacked just behind it.

## Overview

Use Shotgun when one direct action should punch through a narrow lane instead of a single point. It fits moments where quick close-range pressure should catch the target and the immediate depth behind it.

This is the secondary Codex compatibility rendering of a metaphorical battle-chip pattern with a shipping-now execution model.

Canonical chip family: Shotgun
Codex shelf: Direct Fire and Breach
Provider target: Codex compatibility surface.

## When To Use

- One direct strike is too narrow, but a broad-area move would be wasteful.
- You need to pressure a tightly stacked lane of related targets or concerns.
- The right move is a short burst that opens space immediately.

## Workflow

1. Identify the narrow lane where a burst will do more than a single-point hit.
2. Aim at the closest meaningful target and include only the depth directly behind it that actually matters.
3. Fire once, inspect what the burst cleared, and decide whether to follow with a cleaner cut or a wider chip.

## Deliverables

- A compact burst of work that clears or pressures a small stack of related targets.
- A short note on what the burst reached and what remained out of range.

## Guardrails

- Do not use Shotgun when the target is singular and surgical precision matters.
- Do not widen the burst just because the first pass feels underpowered.
- If the situation needs sustained room control, switch to a control chip instead.

## Default Invocation

Use Shotgun to fire one compact burst down the nearest useful lane: hit the target, catch only the immediate depth behind it, and report what the burst actually cleared.