Fortnite weapons tier list for Chapter 5 Season 2 & best guns

If you're wondering what the best guns are in Fortnite then you've come to the right place as we've ranked all of the weapons currently in the game.

Morgan Truder

10th May 2024 10:05

Images via Epic Games

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We're now deep into Fortnite Chapter 5: Season 2, and there have been plenty of changes to the loot pool along the way - so with that in mind, I've ranked all the weapons currently available to pick up in the game.

Now that the Avatar techniques like Waterbending and Firebending have been vaulted, this list has changed up once again. The good news is that Star Wars weapons including the classic Lightsaber and the brand-new Wookie Bowcaster are here!

Editor Note:

Updated on May 10, 2024, to add the new Star Wars weapons.

What are the best weapons in Fortnite?

Any loadout needs to have balance, so you ideally want a Reaper Sniper Rifle for long-distance takedowns, a Nemesis Assault Rifle for mid-range battles, and a Frenzy Auto Shotgun for when your opponents get up close and personal.

On top of that, I'd recommend the Wings of Icarus for making a quick getaway if things turn south. For your final loadout slot, it's a good idea to stock up on Shield Potions or Medkits for healing yourself after a heated gunfight.

There’s no doubt there'll be a little bit of personal taste here, especially depending on which range you’re in whilst scrapping. For example, in a close-range battle, some may opt for a fast-firing SMG whilst others (like myself) prefer a powerful shotgun.

Having said that, some weapons simply are better than others when it comes to the amount of damage they can deal or how useful they are in specific situations. I've ranked them all from S-Tier (the best) to C-Tier (the worst) below, including the new Mythics.

S-Tier weapons

Weapon	Rarity	Description	Image
Wookiee Bowcaster	Mythic	The new Bowcaster is incredibly versatile, as you can either tap to fire small bolts of energy or hold the fire button down for some extra damage. Even better, give it a full charge and it'll add some explosive power into the mix. I'm already a big fan of this weapon as its damage potential is huge.
Reaper Sniper Rifle	Common Uncommon Rare Epic Legendary	A sniper rifle works well when trying to fight from a range, and although you can put sniper scopes on ARs now, it still doesn't come close to a weapon like this. Right now the Reaper is the only true Sniper Rifle available, but the good news is that it's excellent for anyone who's got a steady hand.
Chains of Hades	Epic	The Chains of Hades require practice to get right, but if you can master it then it's an invaluable addition to your loadout. There aren't many melee weapons that I'd recommend over guns, but this is one of them. Also, it's just a lot of fun to yank enemies (or your teammates!) towards you.

A-Tier weapons

Weapon	Rarity	Description	Image
E-11 Blaster Rifle	Mythic	The E-11 Blaster Rifle has made a long overdue return for the latest Star Wars crossover event, and I'm very glad because it's an excellent gun - partly because it has unlimited ammo, and partly because of the iconic 'pew pew' sound it makes.
Frenzy Auto Shotgun	Common Uncommon Rare Epic Legendary	Right now, this is the best shotgun in the game due to its fast, automatic firing rate. If you find yourself very close up it can get you out of a jam. You also reload this gun all at once, which is unusual for a shotgun. Sadly, we have had to move it down though because the DPS was significantly nerfed in the last patch.
Harbinger SMG	Common Uncommon Rare Epic Legendary	The Harbinger SMG has been introduced this season with the Mythic only found by defeating Hades. The new gun boasts a magazine size of 30 and can shred through enemies. The only downside is the longer you fire it in a burst the less accurate it becomes.
Nemesis AR	Common Uncommon Rare Epic Legendary	The Nemesis AR might have a slower rate of fire than the Warforged Assult Rifle, but it reloads much faster and deals a higher amount of damage per bullet, so it's great if your accuracy is on point.
Huntress DMR	Common Uncommon Rare Epic Legendary	The Huntress DMR finally offers a good alternative to the Reaper Sniper Rifle, allowing more players to be threatening from range. The weapon is almost a hybrid between a sniper and an AR. The Mythic version can be found by defeating Zeus.
Wings of Icarus	Epic	The Wings of Icarus can destroy structures and damage groups of enemies with a powerful dive bomb attack, but they're best used as a traversal item. Being able to fly will help you quickly escape a losing fight or keep ahead of the incoming storm. I'd recommend always having them in your loadout where possible.

B-Tier weapons

Weapon	Rarity	Description	Image
Warforged Assault Rifle	Common Uncommon Rare Epic Legendary	Sometimes I think this might be one of the best guns around, as the damage on offer is huge and a magazine size of 35 is amazing. The problem, like a lot of the new weapons, is the recoil can be a pain, and without mods it's almost out of control. Ares holds the Mythic version.
Drum Gun (SMG)	Rare Epic Legendary	The newly introduced Drum Gun is different to what we have seen before, as this time around it's an SMG. It's a good weapon that can be devastating up close, but it uses the same ammo as an AR preventing it from being higher on the list for ammo use reasons.
Hand Cannon	Rare Epic Legendary	The Hand Cannon was unvaulted this season, but if you've played Fortnite for a while you'll know this weapon well. It has huge potential but requires extreme accuracy to be effective.
Ranger Pistol	Common Uncommon Rare Epic Legendary	It may say Pistol on the tin, but due to its high fire rate that's automatic, the Ranger Pistol is essentially an SMG. It has a small magazine of 15, but the reload speed is incredibly fast.
Gatekeeper Shotgun	Common Uncommon Rare Epic Legendary	The Gatekeeper Shotgun can be devastating if you're accurate. The only issue is the magazine size as it only holds three shells, making it one for high-skilled players. You can make the magazine size larger on a mod bench, which then makes the weapon considerably better. The Mythic version can be found on Cerberus.
Thunderbolt of Zeus	Mythic	With the Thunderbolt of Zeus, you can rain down three devastating blasts at your enemies in quick succession. It's great in theory (and I've eliminated plenty of enemies with them), but any opponent that sees it coming will easily be able to dodge your thunderbolts and take you out while you're charging up the final strike.

C-Tier weapons

Weapon	Rarity	Descriptions	Image
Cluster Clinger	Uncommon	I love the Cluster Clinger and if I wasn't trying to be objective here it would be right at the top. You throw one of these and chaos ensues. It can stick to any surface and shoot out small explosions in close proximity. Sadly, as fun as it is, it has quite a limited use case (like destroying enemy structures).
Thunder Burst SMG	Common Uncommon Rare Epic Legendary	I'm not a huge fan of burst weapons in Fortnite and that's why the Thunder Burst SMG is so low down. Admittedly, it's still an SMG so it can come in handy, but in comparison to other close-range options, it's not as effective. The magazine size is 27, and the recoil is pretty heavy without mods.
Hammer Pump Shotgun	Common Uncommon Rare Epic Legendary	If you're on the hunt for a high-damage shotgun, this will be a great option. The problem is the fire rate is very slow compared to other shotguns this season, as well as having a painfully slow reload speed with a magazine size of only 6.
Darth Vader's Lightsaber	Mythic	I've always loved the Lightsabers in Fortnite, but they're controversial for a reason - they're just not that good! Whether you're swinging the Lightsaber at nearby opponents or throwing it at distant enemies, you're always left too vulnerable. It has some potential in one-on-one matchups, but don't bother if you're up against a duo, trio, or squad.

You might notice that Waterbending, Airbending, Firebending, and Earthending are no longer in the table above. That's because they were vaulted when the Avatar collaboration came to an end at the start of May.

More weapons will likely be released or unvaulted as the season progresses, so with that in mind, I'll continue to keep this page up to date as changes are made or if an update tweaks a gun's effectiveness.

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