Whether it be new additions or saying goodbye to old favorites, there are constantly changes being made to the array of weapons to choose from in Fortnite. We are going to be taking a look at each weapon type and talk about the best one of each kind, so you know what to look for next time you hop out of the Battle Bus.
Epic Games is always making new additions and taking away old favorites from the weapon pool in Fortnite creating a constant fresh experience for players. However, with all of this movement happening regarding the choice of weapons players have, it can be hard to figure out which guns are good, and which guns are not the best. Well, fear not in this article we are going to look at each weapon class and pick the best choice each one has to offer, so you’ll know what to look out for!
Before we get into each weapon class’s best choice, there are some things to keep in mind. Rotating Mythic Weapons like the Lightsabers and the Kamehameha are not going to be part of this list. Often weapons like this don’t stick around long enough, or they are just in a league of their own when it comes to how good they can be. We also won’t be taking a look at any Exotic Weapons, as they also are in a category of their own. Finally, Consumable Items won’t be talked about, however, Explosives and Utility will be discussed.
Starting with the Assault Rifles it’s a tough choice to make, however, I’m going to go with the new EvoChrome Burst Rifle for the best pick here. This is a very close call, as both the Ranger Assault Rifle and The Hammer Assault Rifle are really solid choices as well and you could justify picking them for personal reasons. However, the capabilities that the EvoChrome Burst Rifle has is just super solid. The EvoChrome Guns can be found in Chrome Chests and sometimes as floor loot, and they are a very unique type of new weapon added to the game.
The EvoChrome guns have a new mechanic in which the rarity of the gun will increase the more damage the gun deals, so if you pick one of these up early on, you will likely have a purple or gold version towards the end of your game if you are hitting shots. This mechanic isn’t the only reason why this gun is so strong, if you hit an opponent with just one burst of a clip, it can completely melt their health bar. Just like its distant relative, the original Burst Rifle, this thing also shreds builds, so it’s overall just extremely solid to have in your arsenal.
Another tough choice between two solid weapons is the discussion of the new Cobra DMR against the Hunter Bolt-Action Sniper rifle, however, I do think the Cobra DMR is a bit better. While the Hunter Bolt-Action Sniper can pack a bigger punch, especially if it is a headshot, it is limited by its magazine size and its reload time. While having a better magazine than the recently rotated Heavy Sniper Rifle, it lacks the massive damage that it had. You could justify using either of these choices, but I feel that the Cobra DMR just barely edges out the Hunter Bolt-Action Sniper.
Where the Cobra DMR shines is its versatility as a long-range weapon. The Cobra DMR has a higher fire rate and larger clip size at ten bullets as opposed to the three bullet clips the Hunter Bolt-Action Sniper Rifle has. The Cobra DMR is also more forgiving to use than the Hunter Bolt-Action Sniper, making it all around a better pick-up at times. It also can be devastating to take a shot from the Cobra DMR to the head, and two good shots can send someone packing their bags to the lobby. So yes, while it is a much safer pick than the Hunter Bolt-Action rifle regarding the skill ceiling it has, it is by no means inferior, and it is this low risk that in turn pays out a high reward when it comes to the Cobra DMR.
While not many people consider grabbing a Pistol of any sort when they are grabbing weapons for their loadout, it is still important to keep in mind when you need a weapon in a pinch. The Sidearm Pistol can melt people if it is in the right hands. A solid trigger finger and good tracking are all it takes for this gun to go from a bad pick to a great pick. Since there isn’t much of a choice to go with since the Revolver was recently vaulted, let’s talk about what the Sidearm Pistol is capable of.
The main reason the Sidearm Pistol is a solid choice is that it can provide a great early game option in the right hands. It has a solid fire rate and DPS, so in the early game, it can melt shields if you hit your shots. It also can be a great gun to hold onto when you can’t seem to find that SMG you are looking for. At the end of the day, It isn’t meant to be carried around the entire game, it serves as a great option when you really need a gun and can be replaced relatively quickly if need be.
It’s finally made its return; the coveted Silenced Submachine Gun is back in Fortnite at the start of Chapter 3 Season 4. This thing is an absolute monster in the right hands. The range and accuracy this thing has for an SMG make it absolutely devastating when used correctly. This thing can laser opponents before they even knew what hit them. Now the Rapid Fire SMG is not bad by any means, and it definitely has a better rate of fire than the Silenced Submachine Gun. The drastic differences between the two can make deciding which is better hard. However, the Silenced Submachine Gun is just the overall more reliable choice.
SMGs in general are very solid weapons to consider holding onto and the Silenced Submachine Gun is the best choice currently available. Overall, it has a very good fire rate and solid DPS which is what you want from an SMG. Following up a shotgun shot with an SMG to finish the job is always something you want to look for, and the Silenced Submachine Gun can do that, while also being a great choice on its own. The Rapid Fire SMG can perform well, but if you want a safer pick, the Silenced Submachine Gun is the way to go.
Shotguns are arguably the most iconic type of gun in Fortnite and for good reason, they pack a huge punch and a vital for putting together a good loadout. For the choice here, right now the most reliable selection is the Lever Action Shotgun. The Prime Shotgun, Ranger Shotgun, and EvoChrome Shotguns are not horrible by any means; however, the Lever Shotgun is currently the best choice for the gun type. The EvoChrome is a unique idea like its rifle counterpart its rarity upgrades with damage, however, the bullet spread is completely horizontal, meaning you must be close to good damage out of it. The Prime Shotgun is a unique concept as well, however, it has the second smallest clip size out of the four choices and the shots that you get after the first one can be underwhelming. Lastly, while the one shot in its clip packs a punch, the Ranger Shotgun is just a bit too high risk for high-pressure scenarios.
For the Explosives category, we have to choose between the Firefly Jar and the Grenade. Both choices do their designated job well, and it’s tough to consider one over the other because most times you won’t be holding onto them for too long. One upside that the Firefly Jar has is that you can collect Fireflies all over the map, making the weapon a pretty versatile choice when you want to clear an area in a pinch. As for the Grenade, it does its job well and can lead to some cheeky kills, however against a good enemy they can be tough to use correctly.
Along with the accessibility the Firefly Jars have, they also have that lingering burn effect that destroys both player-made and naturally generated structures. This makes them a great choice in both Regular and Zero-Build mode for trying to flush enemies out of an area. The only thing that should be kept in mind is like any Explosive, these can also hurt you so be careful pushing any area you decide to torch.
There are a lot of great Utility items to consider putting here, as they are all unique and do their job differently. Rarity is also something to consider because some Utility Items are only a certain rarity. However, with all things considered, Shockwave Grenades are going to take the number one spot for now. Trust me as much as I love the classic Boogie Bomb and Port-A-Bunker, objectively speaking, the Shockwave Grenade has an edge on them.
The Shock Wave Grenades are just a very solid choice for traversal and initiating or retreating from fights. They provide so much utility in so many different ways, and while the item may be a bit streamlined with how it can be used, that doesn't take away from the fact that it is still a very good item to hold onto. The only gripe I have with Shockwave Grenades is the fact that they are epic rarity (purple), meaning they can be difficult to find. However, with all things considered, overall, the pros outweigh the cons, and they are just too good not to put on this list.
Overall, the weapon pool in Fortnite is very diverse and there are a lot of solid choices to pick from when you are making a loadout in-game. Hopefully, this list helps you next time you are stuck between two weapons to pick from in-game! What did you think of the list? What weapons do you think are the best for each category?
