Best guns in Fortnite Chapter 2: Ultimate weapon tier list

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Epic Games have completely redone the weapon pool in Fortnite with the release of Chapter 2, so you’ll need to know which ar the best guns to have in your loadout. Here’s our Fortnite Chapter 2 weapons tier list – ranked from best to worst. 

With there now being only eight guns in the game, Epic have implemented what they call a “streamlined weapon arsenal”, as each weapon now has all five rarities, as opposed to the previous system which capped off how rare certain guns could get.

That said, some weapons are still worth using over others, and we’ve ranked them from best to worst based on factors such as usability, damage, reliability, and more.

• Read More: Best guns in Apex Legends Season 3: Ultimate weapon tier list

This list can and will be changed when / if Epic add more weapons, vault some, and implement buffs and nerfs throughout the seasons in Chapter 2.

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S-Tier

These are weapons that are of very critical importance, and should be picked up and kept in your inventory every match from start to finish. All five rarities of the weapons in this list are viable enough to use.

Assault Rifle

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DAMAGE PROFILE

• Common: 30
• Uncommon: 31
• Rare: 33
• Epic: 35
• Legendary: 36

The Assault Rifle has been around ever since Fortnite was first released, and it remains arguably the most viable and consistent weapon in the game.

Its ability to be fired as both an automatic and semi-automatic makes it a good option for short, medium, and long range gunfights, and you always know what you’re getting with this gun.

And in case you forgot, the Epic and Legendary versions are still the SCAR, which is one of the most sought-after weapons available.

Tactical Shotgun

DAMAGE PROFILE

• Common: 71
• Uncommon: 75
• Rare: 79
• Epic: 83
• Legendary: 87

So far in Chapter 2, the Tac Shotgun seems to be the more popular choice rather than the Pump, as its higher fire rate does make it more usable in the current state of gunfights.

The fact that you can shoot it faster makes it more forgiving to missed shots, which makes up for the less damage.

That said, with shotguns in particular, you should always go with the one you feel more comfortable using, even if it goes against the rankings in this list.

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Submachine Gun

DAMAGE PROFILE

• Common: 17
• Uncommon: 18
• Rare: 19
• Epic: 20
• Legendary: 21

Much like the AR and shotgun weapon classes, SMGs are also an important part of the Fortnite meta, so you should always look to carry one in your inventory.

In Chapter 2, there are essentially two SMGs available under one name – the regular SMG for the first three rarities and the Compact SMG for the last two.

The weapon’s very high fire rate and decent enough damage makes it an absolute must-have, as it can be a definite gamechanger in close-quarter fights.

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A-Tier

The guns in this list are still very good and important options to have in your inventory. They rank lower than S-Tier because they have qualities that make them slightly not as good as the higher-tier weapons.

That said, you shouldn’t rush to drop them if you come across an S-Tier gun, because the higher rarities of these weapons are probably worth carrying over the lower rarities of the ones listed above.

Pump Shotgun

DAMAGE PROFILE

• Common: 70
• Uncommon: 80
• Rare: 90
• Epic: 100
• Legendary: 110

For whatever reason, the Pump Shotgun has fallen behind the Tac in popularity so far in Chapter 2: Season 1. That said, it is still more than a good-enough option and you should definitely pick one up if you find yourself without a shotgun.

It does have a very wide range of damage when comparing the five rarities, so this is one of those guns that’s worth upgrading if you find an upgrade bench on the map.

• Read More: How to upgrade weapons in Fortnite – upgrade bench locations

While its lower rarities might not be as strong, if you come across an Epic or Legendary version, those may be good enough to even use over a Tac, despite the considerably lower fire rate.

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Burst Assault Rifle

DAMAGE PROFILE

• Common: 27
• Uncommon: 29
• Rare: 30
• Epic: 32
• Legendary: 33

The Burst Assault Rifle is an interesting weapon because its Epic and Legendary versions are of a brand new design never seen before in Fortnite.

It’s definitely a very usable and good option, but the fact that it deals less damage and fires in bursts makes it a bit less reliable than the regular AR, due to how the bloom and hit registration RNG work.

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B-Tier

These are reliable options to have, and will help you get the job done. That said, they are not of critical importance, so you shouldn’t hesitate dropping them for a valuable item.

Rocket Launcher

DAMAGE PROFILE (Reload Time)

• Common: 70 (4.7)
• Uncommon: 85 (4.1)
• Rare: 100 (3.6)
• Epic: 115 (3.1)
• Legendary: 130 (2.5)

One of the most noticeable changes when it comes to weapons in Chapter 2 is that the Rocket Launcher has become a lot more prevalent, mainly due to the fact that there are now lower rarities of it.

As always, the Launcher is a very versatile weapon, as it can be used to both destroy a lot of builds at once and inflict serious damage to enemies.

• Read More: How to use the boat in Fortnite Chapter 2

However, it’s not as critical as the higher-tiered weapons in this list, and considering that inventory spaces are limited to five, it’s not something that you should always look to pick up.

This is especially true for the lower rarities, which just don’t do enough damage and take way too long to reload to be effective.

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C-Tier

The weapons in this list are average, and should only be carried if there are no better alternatives. They will usually be limited in their usage, meaning that they can’t be used in more than one way.

That said, they can still be viable if used correctly, especially the higher rarities, so don’t hesitate to use them as you would other comparable weapons until you can find a better option.

Pistol

DAMAGE PROFILE

• Common: 24
• Uncommon: 25
• Rare: 26
• Epic: 28
• Legendary: 29

This Pistol has and likely always will be a middle-of-the-pack gun, as its not really one that you want to be carrying around in the endgame phase of matches.

However, it can still pack a punch at close range, especially for those with a good trigger finger, and should be treated as an poorer alternative to the SMG until you find one.

The cream of the crop for this class are the Epic and Legendary variants, which also have a design that’s new to Fortnite.

Bolt-Action Sniper Rifle

DAMAGE PROFILE (Reload Time)

• Common: 95 (3.3)
• Uncommon: 100 (3.2)
• Rare:  105 (3.0)
• Epic:  110 (2.5)
• Legendary: 116 (2.3)

Sniper Rifles have always had a place in Fortnite, but they are obviously very limited in their usage and are only viable when engaging in long distance gunfights.

In the right hands, the Bolt-Action can be deadly, but it’s just not consistent and versatile enough to justify being ranked higher in this list, and the spot it takes in your inventory should be used for more valuable items.

Only carry this weapon if you are very confident in your sniping ability, and even then you should really only go for the Epic and Legendary variants, as the other rarities don’t do enough damage and take too long to reload.