Misses can hit so 30% at point blank is actually 100% hit chance. Misses just mean that shots will have variance to where they can land depending on where you aimed but if you are point blank they physically have to travel through the target to get to the destination. Even 1 tile away is basically 100% hit chance due to this.

As a result it's sorta hard to tell your actual hit chance as it's based more off of range than the % chance you are presented with but with this knowledge you can save tu's by manipulating misses to hit. Good example is with shotguns. Why go point blank when you can stay 1 or 2 away and get an extra shot in with 100% hit chance despite the 20%~ it says you'll get

Shotgun is very-very weak.
But, at the same time - extremely useful!
My assaults - are the best killers in squads. They kill in 2-3 times more, than others.
I would say that shotgun even necessary! Thanks to it, I captive 1-3 aliens from each battle, on the hardest difficulty, at 1st in game year.

Yes, one assault alone - is almost useless unit.
To make it work - you should have 2 assaults in squad. And they always should act in pair.

Try it - and you will see magic 🙂🔥

P.S. There is only one case, when shotgun really has no sense - against robots.