Short Gun is a DLC weapon from the Contra collaboration, unlocked by the Lance Bean character. It fires horizontal bursts of multiple projectiles simultaneously, but each projectile decays over distance — losing damage the further it travels. Maximum damage output is limited to close range, where all projectiles connect before decay sets in.

• Fires multiple projectiles simultaneously in the horizontal direction
• Projectiles decay with distance — damage drops off significantly at range
• Full damage is only realized at close range; effectiveness falls rapidly as distance increases
• Low base damage and narrow effective range make it a niche close-range weapon
• Weapon Power-Up (evolution material) grants Revival +1, improving survivability while held

Hold Weapon Power-Up, level Short Gun to MAX, then open a treasure chest after 10:00 (evolved form name to be confirmed).

Weapon Power-Up grants Revival +1 as a passive, so securing the evolution material directly raises run safety throughout the run.

• At point-blank range, all projectiles in the burst connect with a single target — high burst damage potential in tight situations
• Wide horizontal burst provides broad lateral close-range coverage
• Weapon Power-Up grants Revival +1 as a side benefit of holding the evolution material
• Bracer investment extends the effective decay range, partially mitigating the range limitation

• Decay mechanic makes it nearly useless at range — effectiveness drops sharply past short distance
• Low base damage means total output is modest even at close range against multiple enemies
• Horizontal-only fire; no coverage for enemies approaching from front or behind
• Requires surviving 15 minutes with Lance Bean — a character-specific DLC unlock condition

Lance Bean is the prerequisite unlock character and the most natural pairing. Close-range aggressive playstyles that push into enemy clusters to trigger maximum burst hits benefit most. Weapon Power-Up's Revival bonus supports the risk of close-range play.

Short Gun demands close-range positioning. The decay mechanic means that distance is the primary enemy — staying at close range ensures all projectiles connect before damage loss sets in. Against horizontal enemy waves, close the gap and let the burst hit at minimal range.

Weapon Power-Up's Revival makes aggressive close-range play significantly safer. Taking a lethal hit once no longer ends the run, allowing more risky positioning to maintain close range for maximum burst output.

Supplement Short Gun with a weapon that covers vertical or omnidirectional approaches. Short Gun handles enemies approaching from the sides; the companion weapon addresses the front and rear blind spots.

Q. How severe is the damage decay over distance? A. The specific numbers are not disclosed, but the difference between close and long range is significant. Bracer investment raises projectile speed, which extends the range before decay severely reduces damage — partially compensating for the range limitation.

Q. Which stage should I use to unlock Short Gun? A. Any stage works — survive 15 minutes with Lance Bean in any run to unlock Short Gun.

Q. How many times does Weapon Power-Up's Revival trigger? A. Each Weapon Power-Up copy grants +1 Revival. Holding one copy provides one free revive per run. Holding additional copies stacks additional revival opportunities depending on the game's rules.