Fortnite Chapter 2 Season 3 is already a month old, which means we’ve had plenty of time to play this new meta with all of its new and returning items and weapons. It’s fair to assess the current state of Fortnite and rank all weapons accordingly.
We have several returning weapons on this list along with some new ones, but many of the returning weapons are in a different state than they were from past seasons. The Burst AR received a new job that made it more viable and the Tac shotgun was nerfed on the ground. Now, let’s take a look at where everything is in Fortnite Season 3 (skip to the end if you want the full list without explanation).
S Tier
Level S is small this season. Most of the weapons in Fortnite are relatively balanced. This time we don’t have any Brigus’ Miniguns or Skye’s Scar. Drum Gun is still in the game, but a substantial nerf dropped him to level A at most.
The two most powerful items / weapons in Fortnite are Jules Grappler and Kit’s Shockwave Launcher. These do no damage to opponents, but completely nullify high ground and allow players to gain maximum mobility. Late game circles with Shockwave Launcher are also a nightmare for those on low ground, who can launch into the storm with few resources.
A level
A is the largest tier on this list, including Scar, Burst AR (epic-mythical rarities), Jules’s drum pistol, shotgun (epic-mythical rarities), compact SMG, rapid-fire SMG, rifle hunting (Epic- Legendary Rarities), and role-playing game.
The epic and legendary rarities for the AR Burst and Charge Shotgun are pretty much the same as the mythical rarities, with the exception of the clip size. You would rather have the mythical one, but they don’t make much difference.
The RPG will likely never leave level A, as it gives you the ability to deal significant damage and destroy structures. The hunting rifle did so due to its rangeless capabilities. If you have good aim, you can use this weapon as a single-shot shotgun. People slept in the Rapid-Fire SMG earlier in the season, but some players now prefer it over the compact SMG, which also reaches level A due to its clip size and DPS potential. Then we have the Scar: a fan-favorite weapon that always belongs to A.
Level b
B Tier is home to most of the weapons you’ll carry until you find something a little better, with a few gameplay-specific exceptions. Many players prefer the Tac shotgun over the load, but there’s no question that Season 3 nerfs hit the Tac incredibly hard, pushing the epic and legendary versions one level.
We also have the epic and legendary variants of Sniper and Harpoon Gun at this level. Both are incredibly useful for certain situations, but they are not a must-have burden all the time.
Level c
The Burst AR received an update in Season 3 that amounted to a benefit, making it much more viable. Still, most players would prefer a normal AUG or AR in most cases. The rest of these weapons are similar. You would prefer to have upgraded versions of the Hunting Rifle and Sniper if you are going to carry one.
The Flare Gun is new and worth continuing in some cases. It can offer great utility by showing you where players are while igniting burning structures and dealing damage when you need it. Still, these flare guns are situational and most players would prefer a harpoon gun if they had to choose one.
Level D
Level D is made up of useful elements that are generally not ideal. You can do some work with an epic / legendary pistol and a Tac shotgun, but most players probably want something better before jumping into combat.
Season 3 Tac is highly dependent on your playing style. Some people hate the Charge and choose the Tac over it at every turn. However, you can’t deny that the new Tac hits like a water pistol when you compare it to its season 2 version. The new Tac has to be at level D this season. Hopefully that changes.
E Tier
Tier E is the worst tier on this list, as there are no true Tier F weapons out of the can, which is not worth mentioning. The basic pistol is probably the worst weapon in the game, although you would rather take it as your first weapon over a sniper.
Fishing rod is useful, but you would always prefer to have a harpoon gun. You can now ride Sharks, but they are not as useful as a boat. These two generally fall to the bottom of the list.
There you have it: FortniteINTEL Season 3 weapon tier list. This shook things up a lot since last season, which had a few more weapons. Looking at this list, the overall bootie looks much more balanced this season, with the obvious exception of the two legendary mobility elements. Fortnite is in good shape right now. Hopefully, it won’t stagnate for another three months like the last two seasons did.
Do you agree? Disagree? Do you think we made a horrible mistake? Let us know your thoughts on Twitter @FortniteINTEL.
