Look, Fortnite has basically become a different game over the last year. If you haven't played since the OG days or even early Chapter 5, you're gonna feel like a fish out of water the second you drop into Chapter 7. We’re in January 2026 now, and the "Pacific Break" update just flipped everything on its head.
The most jarring change? Almost everything is hitscan now. No more leading your shots like you're trying to predict the future with a heavy sniper. If your crosshair is on them and you click, they get hit. It's fast, it’s sweaty, and it’s honestly a bit terrifying how quickly you can get deleted from 100 meters away.
The Assault Rifles: Why Everyone is Using the Deadeye
If you aren't carrying a Deadeye Assault Rifle, you're basically asking to lose. It's the king of the current loot pool. It has a built-in scope that feels incredibly clean, and the recoil is almost non-existent if you’re tap-firing.
I’ve seen people try to make the Enforcer AR work because it hits like a truck—41 body damage at Legendary is nothing to sneeze at—but it just doesn't have that "laser" feel the Deadeye has. The Enforcer is a returning favorite, but it’s more of a mid-range specialist. If you're caught in a long-distance poke fight against a Deadeye, you’ll probably get flustered by the scope disadvantage.
Then there’s the Tactical Assault Rifle. This thing is weird. It’s technically an AR, but it functions more like a bridge between a rifle and an SMG. It has a high fire rate but low per-bullet damage (around 20). If you're a player who likes to "w-key" into boxes, it’s a great follow-up to a shotgun shot. Just don't expect to win a duel across a valley with it.
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Shotguns and the Return of the "One-Pump"
We finally have a meta where the pump feels like a pump again. The Iron Pump Shotgun is the current gold standard. It’s slow, yeah. You miss a shot, and you're probably dead. But if you land that headshot? You’re looking at upwards of 160+ damage. In a box fight, it's the only weapon that matters.
Some people prefer the Twin Hammer Shotguns. These are dual-wielded, which looks cool, but they function more like an automatic shotgun. You hold the trigger, and they just keep barking. They’re way more forgiving than the Iron Pump. If your aim is a bit shaky or you’re playing on high ping, the Hammers are your best friend.
- Iron Pump: High risk, massive reward.
- Twin Hammers: Forgiving, high DPS, lower "peak" damage.
- Sovereign Shotgun: The middle child. It tightens its spread when you ADS, but most pros are ignoring it for the other two.
The SMG Identity Crisis
SMGs took a weird hit this season. For a long time, they were just "spray and pray" tools, but the Flex SMG changed that in the 39.20 update. It has two modes. Aim down sights, and it slows down to pack a bigger punch. Hipfire, and it turns into a literal garden hose of bullets.
The Dual Micro SMGs are back too, and they're still ammo hogs. You’ll burn through light bullets in about four seconds. They’re fun, but the reload time is a death sentence in a 2v1 situation. Honestly, if you have a Deadeye AR, you might not even need an SMG this season. The AR handles the close-range spray well enough.
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The Oddballs: Arc-Lightning and Katanas
We can't talk about all of the guns in fortnite without mentioning the weird stuff. The Arc-Lightning Gun is... controversial. It doesn't use bullets; it fires a stream of electricity. It’s great for melting builds and annoying people, but the range is garbage. If you're further than two tiles away, you might as well be throwing pebbles.
Then there's the Forsaken Vow Blade. This is a Kill Bill collab item, and it's basically the Typhoon Blade's meaner older brother. It’s mostly a mobility tool. You get two dashes (three if you find the Legendary version), and it lets you close the gap instantly.
Mythics and Boss Loot
If you’re feeling brave, you’ve gotta go after the bosses. Hush’s Deadeye AR is the best gun in the game, period. It’s the standard Deadeye but with a 2.25-second reload and boosted headshot damage.
There's also Brutus’ Twin Hammer Shotguns. They’re heavy, they’re loud, and they’ll chew through wood builds like they’re made of paper.
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The Sniper Situation
There is only one: the Vengeful Sniper Rifle. Here’s the kicker—it’s the only gun that isn't hitscan. It has heavy bullet drop. This makes it feel very "old school" Fortnite. Because everything else hits instantly, using the sniper requires a lot more skill than it used to. You can’t just point and click; you have to account for the travel time while your opponent is lasering you with a hitscan AR.
What You Should Actually Carry
If you want to win right now, your inventory should probably look like this:
- Deadeye AR (Primary)
- Iron Pump Shotgun (Burst damage)
- Forsaken Vow Blade (To get out of bad spots)
- Shockwave Grenades (More mobility)
- Chug Jug (The goat of healing)
The biggest mistake people make is carrying too many guns. You don't need three different rifles. Pick one that fits your aim style and stick with it.
The game is faster than it’s ever been. Between the wingsuits and the katanas, people will be on top of you in seconds. Focus on your "pull-out time"—how fast you can swap from your pickaxe to your shotgun. The Iron Pump is great because it has a quick draw, which is vital when someone dashes into your face with a Forsaken Vow Blade.
Keep an eye on the South Park updates too. The Stick of Truth mythic is a literal game-changer since it lets you control where the storm moves. It's not a "gun" in the traditional sense, but it'll win you a game faster than any rifle will.
To stay ahead, spend some time in Creative practicing with hitscan weapons specifically. The muscle memory from the old projectile-based seasons will actually hurt you here. You don't need to lead your shots anymore—just click the head. Focus on mastering the Deadeye's recoil pattern and the Iron Pump's timing, and you'll be hitting Unreal rank in no time.