Having the appropriate tool for the task is crucial in Fortnite if you want to secure Victory Royales, particularly in the later phases of a match when strategic options are limited. Shotguns can be game-changing, so here's our ranking!
In the initial stages, a sniper rifle proves ideal for dealing with distant foes and evading potentially troublesome direct conflicts. However, as the match advances and the playable area shrinks, it might be wise to swap it out for a more suitable alternative, such as a shotgun.
Within Chapter 3 Season 3, a limited selection of these elongated firearms is available, but they are highly coveted by players aiming to cover all aspects, as they prove exceedingly dependable when situations become intensely close-quarters.
Clearly, not all shotguns function in the same manner, as some excel in distinct aspects such as rate of fire, DPS, and reload time. Depending on your preferred style of play, you may favor one shotgun over another. With that being said, we have taken the initiative to assess and rank the shotguns that we believe are currently the finest in the game.
Fortnite: Best Shotguns Ranking
As previously mentioned, Chapter 3, Season 4 introduces a limited assortment of shotguns, consisting of a total of four distinct options. Despite their small number, each shotgun operates in a unique manner and serves its own specific purposes. Additionally, to facilitate meaningful comparisons, we have opted to utilize the values of the epic versions.
1. Lever Action Shotgun
This shotgun delivers a significant impact! The lever action shotgun made its debut in Chapter 2, Season 5. It possesses a moderate spread that can be reduced by aiming accurately. Particularly at higher rarity levels, it exhibits remarkable strength: the lever shotgun inflicts 10.4-12.7 damage per individual shot. With its ability to fire 9 bullets, the Epic variant of this shotgun has the potential to deal up to 109 damage in a single shot. Additionally, it boasts a headshot multiplier of 1.5x.
Furthermore, boasting a magazine capacity of 6 rounds, missing a shot becomes less consequential. It's worth noting, though, that reloading between shots may require a significant amount of time. Nevertheless, the lever-action shotgun undeniably stands out as our premier choice for this season.
2. Ranger Shotgun
The Ranger Shotgun has also made its return! Initially introduced in Chapter 3, Season 2, this firearm surpasses most shotguns in terms of long-range effectiveness. However, it's important to note that the weapon's exceptional performance is reserved for players with exceptional accuracy, as it can only be loaded with a single cartridge. This implies that missing a shot initially leaves you vulnerable. Conversely, if your aim is true, the damage inflicted on your opponent can be so severe that you might even finish them off with a pickaxe afterward.
The Ranger Shotgun has also made its return! Initially introduced in Chapter 3, Season 2, this firearm surpasses most shotguns in terms of long-range effectiveness. However, it's important to note that the weapon's exceptional performance is reserved for players with exceptional accuracy, as it can only be loaded with a single cartridge. This implies that missing a shot initially leaves you vulnerable. Conversely, if your aim is true, the damage inflicted on your opponent can be so severe that you might even finish them off with a pickaxe afterward.
With a precise body shot, the epic version of this shotgun inflicts 127.8 damage, complemented by a headshot multiplier of 1.5x. It can deliver a maximum damage of 165, making it an enticing prospect, wouldn't you agree?
3. EvoChrome Shotgun
The arrival of Chrome brought forth the EvoChrome Shotgun and EvoChrome Burst Rifle, exclusively obtainable from chrome chests. The crucial aspect to consider is the effective infliction of damage upon your adversaries, as these weapons possess a unique trait of evolving as you deal more damage with them. The pinnacle of their evolution is attaining the Mythic rarity, and once achieved, their impact becomes truly explosive!
The challenge with this firearm lies in its notable horizontal dispersion but lack of vertical dispersion. Consequently, the weapon exhibits a wide spread, posing difficulties in landing all bullets precisely on your opponent's head. Each evolution enhances the weapon's statistics and reduces the spread, but reaching that stage requires engaging in battles with the weapon beforehand.
4. Prime Shotgun
Wrapping up our list is the Prime Shotgun, which made its debut in Chapter 3, Season 3, and appeared highly promising in theory. This four-round firearm operates similarly to an automatic shotgun. What makes it particularly intriguing is its ability to deal 50% more damage with the first shot. However, in practice, the first-shot shotgun turns out to be a disastrous disappointment. To truly inflict damage, one would need to reload right after the initial shot, as all subsequent shots prove utterly useless and fail to cause any harm. Yet, in the midst of intense building battles, who has the luxury of time for such actions? Therefore, while it may be effective in the hands of accurate players who can land headshots with an epic variant or higher, we cannot recommend this weapon for “normal” players.
And there you have it! We hope this concise guide assists you in making more informed decisions when looting on the Fortnite island.
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