Fortnite Weapon Tier List: Best Guns for Build and Zero Build

Let me start with the thing everyone asks me for: a fortnite weapon tier list. In plain words. No fluff. I’ve been ranking guns in shooters for over a decade, and I’ve played Fortnite since the early chaos of shopping carts and broken pumps. In my experience, people don’t want theory first. They want answers. What’s the best shotgun right now. Which AR beams. Is the SMG still king up close. Are mythic weapons worth chasing. How do Zero Build fights change my loadout. And can we please stop losing to that one sweaty kid with the drum? We’ll get into all of it—best guns in Fortnite, meta loadouts, shotgun ranking, snipers vs DMRs, and how rarity and mods actually matter.

Why I Rank Weapons The Way I Do

I’m not a spreadsheet robot. I use numbers, sure, but I also use feel. Vibes. Panic. The moment when your shield cracks and your brain forgets how fingers work. What I think is, a good ranking must survive real fights. Not just target dummies.

Also, quick note: a “tier list” is a way to sort things by power. If you want the history lesson, the idea has been around for ages in fighting games and MOBAs. Here’s a clean write-up on the concept if you like nerdy origins: tier list (Wikipedia). I keep mine practical and easy.

The Simple Rules I Use

• Time-to-kill matters the most. Faster wins.
• Consistency beats lucky spikes. I’ll take steady beams over one lucky headshot, most days.
• Recoil, bloom, and aim assist matter. If a gun fights you, it’s not your friend.
• Reloads and ammo economy count. Dead while reloading is still dead.
• Zero Build and Build are different worlds. Cover vs. cranking. I score twice when needed.
• Rarity isn’t everything, but it helps. A blue beam can beat a gold potato.
• Mods and attachments can flip a matchup. Don’t ignore them.

And yes, I track updates. Epic swings hard with patches. If you want the freshest notes, I check this page before I queue: Fortnite official news. When the numbers move, so do my takes.

The Current Meta, In Plain Words

I’ll talk by weapon class first. Because your brain picks tools, not just names. If a certain gun isn’t in the loot pool the day you read this, swap to the closest cousin. The logic stays the same.

Shotguns (the heartbeat)

Shotguns run close fights. Always have. I’ve always found that the ideal shotgun does three things: hits hard on the first shot, lets me follow fast, and forgives a small miss. Some pumps dunk harder but punish whiffs. Tac-style shotguns are easier but have lower peaks. And the drum? It’s a spray-and-pray bully in tight rooms. My take:

• Pump-style: High burst. Slow if you miss. Great in Build when you can peace control and pre-aim a corner.
• Tactical/auto: Lower burst, faster follow-ups. Better for Zero Build where you don’t get perfect peeks.
• Drum/chaos guns: Melt at point-blank. Weak mid-range. Don’t chase at 10 meters and cry about it.

Build vs. Zero Build for shotguns

• Build: Pumps shine. You edit, flick, one-pump, and reset. If you’re accurate, you farm clips.
• Zero Build: Autos and tacs get more love. You often wide swing from cover; you need forgiving shots.

Assault Rifles and Marksman Rifles

An AR defines your mid-range. Red-dot styles are great for beams but can have kick or falloff. Holo sights feel safer but bloom more. Marksman rifles and DMRs bridge to long range. When I’m in Zero Build, I value an AR that sticks to heads and doesn’t balloon. In Build, I care more about hip-fire feel while strafing after an edit. Little things, but they add up.

• Classic ARs: Good all-rounders. Great for tracking people in the open.
• Red-dot beams: Laser when stable. Can punish you if you panic spray.
• DMRs: Tag and pressure from safety. Strong in trios for support fire.

SMGs

SMGs are break-in tools. They shred walls. They clean up low HP targets. If your shotgun flick misses, the SMG covers your sin. But spray control matters. The best SMGs have big mags, fast reloads, and stable first shots. Twin mags help newbies and old hands like me on tilt.

Snipers and Long-Range

Snipers swing games when they can one-shot. When they can’t, they still break shields and force moves. I use them to start fights on my terms. And to make people stop peeking. DMRs are more forgiving, letting you tap-tap-tap while moving. A solid DMR turns you into a storm shepherd.

Explosives and Specials

Rocket launchers, shockwave-based tools, and other weird toys. These are fight shapers. In Build, a rocket breaks boxes and nerves. In Zero Build, shockwaves win rotations and chase weak squads. I’m fine dropping a sniper to carry mobility. Living is a good DPS multiplier.

My Go-To Loadouts (By Mode)

I tweak for each mode. I don’t marry guns. I date them. If they treat me bad, I swap fast.

Zero Build (simple and mean)

• Slot 1: AR or DMR with a friendly sight. Stable beam, mid-long range.
• Slot 2: Auto/Tac shotgun. Quick follow-ups.
• Slot 3: SMG with solid mag. For close burst and clean-up.
• Slot 4: Mobility (shockwaves, grapples). You need it.
• Slot 5: Heals (big pots or slurp if lucky).

If I find a mythic AR that beams, I let the SMG go and trust my shotgun for close. Works if the AR has a quick pull and decent hip-fire.

Build Mode (peeks and peace control)

• Slot 1: Pump-style shotgun. High burst for edits.
• Slot 2: SMG for wall pressure and chase.
• Slot 3: AR. Doesn’t have to be perfect. Just good enough.
• Slot 4: Mobility (shockwaves or hammer-style tools when in pool).
• Slot 5: Heals.

In Build, the shotgun does heavy lifting. Your AR is mostly for rotates and mid-fight pressure. SMG is your drill.

Quick Reference Tables

Overall Tiers by Role

Note: This is role-based. If a specific named gun isn’t in the loot pool today, use the closest role-match. Rarity assumes “Rare/Epic” baseline.

Damage Comfort Zones

I like simple ranges. If I can trust a gun in that bubble, it’s a keeper.

Mod and Attachment Preferences

Weapon mods change feel a lot. I don’t get precious. I take what makes the gun do its job easier.

How I Test Stuff Without Losing My Mind

In my experience, you learn more from ten real fights than 100 bot wipes. But I do both. I warm up with quick bot lobbies or Team Rumble to test recoil and reload spots. Then I hit real matches. I fight early on purpose. If a gun can’t carry me out of a hot drop, it won’t save me late, either.

• Hot drop with the gun I’m testing. If I live twice out of five, we’re cooking.
• Force the gun’s range. Shotgun? I push. DMR? I kite and tag.
• Swap attachments. Feel the change. Keep mental notes, not just damage numbers.

If you want to see how I break down real games, I post play-by-play takes and small data notes in my match analysis section. It’s where I get nerdy about why that panic reload cost me a win. Fun times.

Patch Swings And Staying Sane

You blink. They nerf your favorite AR. Now your aim feels like soup. That’s okay. I adjust with simple swaps:

• AR nerfed? Pick a DMR for mid-long. Keep an SMG to patch close fights.
• Shotgun nerfed? Go auto/tac or lean more on SMG for burst. Use cover smarter.
• Snipers buffed? Carry one. It opens pushes. Your team will thank you.
• Mobility vaulted? Play edges and cars. Don’t greed third parties without a way out.

I don’t get attached to names; I get attached to jobs. If the meta flips, my loadout still covers: close burst, mid-range beam, movement, and heals. That model survives every season I’ve played.

Extra Notes For Controller vs. Mouse

Touchy topic. Easy words. Both work. You just pick tools that fit your hands.

• Controller: Aim assist helps tracking up close. SMGs and autos feel great. Red-dot ARs beam if you steady.
• Mouse and keyboard: Flicking pumps is nicer. Long-range DMR and snipers feel precise. Recoil control is fine; bloom is still bloom.

What I think is, controller users should lean into stability and big magazines. Mouse players can push burst and range. No need to fight your setup.

Little Fights That Decide Games

Some moments look small but decide everything. Here’s what I watch for:

• Reload windows: Count shots. If your SMG hits empty mid-spray, you’re gifting a fight.
• Crosshair discipline: Don’t aim at toes. Chest first, head second. Let recoil climb to head if it wants.
• Peeking: Shoulder peek, don’t face-tank. Wide swing only if you know their reload timing.
• Audio: Suppressors and sound positions matter. Sound wins rotations.

A Word on “Balance” Without Going Full Professor

People toss around “game balance” like it’s magic. It’s not. It’s trade-offs. Burst vs. fire rate. Precision vs. forgiveness. Epic buffs one knob and something else jumps. I like it that way. The meta moves. You learn. By the way, if you want a quick overview of the base game’s wild success and how it bends over time, the entry for the battle royale is handy: Fortnite Battle Royale (Wikipedia). Nice context when you want to remember how far the loot pool has come.

Okay, So What’s “S Tier” to Me Right Now?

I’ll say it clean, without naming every specific gun that may or may not be in today’s pool. Think roles.

• S Tier:
  • Red-dot AR that beams at 40–80m.
  • High-control SMG with fast reload or twin mag.
  • Pump-style shotgun if you main Build and can aim cold.
  • Mythic ARs if they exist this season. Always busted, always worth.
• A Tier:
  • Auto/Tac shotguns, all day.
  • Classic ARs that don’t fight you.
  • DMRs for team play and safe tags.
  • Snipers when they break shields or one-shot head.
• B Tier:
  • Wild-bloom SMGs that only work in hugs.
  • Explosives in Zero Build unless you’re griefing cars.
  • Oddball pistols unless mythic/legendary with perks.
• C Tier:
  • Stuff you pick up off spawn then toss. Starter guns. You know them when you feel them.

If you’re here for a literal fortnite weapon tier list with labels, the tables above are the map. And yes, I keep mine flexible. Epic loves chaos. I’m here for it.

How I Actually Play Circles

Gear is half the fight. Circles and timing are the rest.

• Early game: I fight fast. Better to die learning than hide and learn nothing.
• Mid game: I third-party like a gremlin. Beam on shield crack, push with mobility.
• Late game: I hold power positions. AR out. Shotgun ready. I don’t ego peek snipers. Anymore. Usually.

Why People Lose With “Top Tier” Guns

This one stings. I’ve done it too. Here’s the truth.

• Wrong ranges: Using a DMR at 15m. Or a drum shotgun at 12m. Don’t.
• Greedy reloads: You heard the footstep. You still reloaded. Why.
• Bad crosshair starts: You aim low, spray high. Start higher. Trust me.
• No mobility: You win a fight. Storm says hi. You die anyway.

Do I Change For Arena or Tournaments?

A bit. I tighten choices. No “fun” pick slots. I run beam AR, reliable shotgun, SMG or sniper based on team role, mobility, heals. If my teammate is a crack shot with DMR, I skip mine and stack utility. Jobs, not egos. If you want to see how those choices play out in real games, I break down plays in my match analysis posts too.

Small Habit Stacks That Make You Better

• Count to five on autos. If you haven’t hit a shield crack, reposition.
• Pre-aim likely doors. Don’t stare at floors.
• Pop minis the second you can. Not after a montage attempt.
• Check ammo after every fight. Reload now, not later.

Common Questions I Get in DMs

Rapid-fire answers. Real talk.

• “Is mythic worth dropping a purple shotgun?” Usually yes if it’s an AR and you already have an auto/tac shotgun. If it’s a mythic pistol, think harder.
• “Should I carry sniper or more heals?” Solo Zero Build: heals. Duos/trios: someone carry sniper if it’s strong this season.
• “AR or DMR for ranked?” If you’re solo and shaky on recoil, classic AR. If you have good aim and patience, DMR punishes hard.
• “Drum shotgun, trash or treasure?” Treasure at 0–5m, trash at 10m. Know the range or it betrays you.
• “Controller player here, what should I main?” High-control SMG + auto/tac shotgun + a stable AR. Ride aim assist where it shines.

Stories From Too Many Seasons

I once lost a 1v1 because I tried to clip with a pump when an auto would do. Missed two shots. The other guy didn’t miss his spray. Lesson burned in. Another time, I won a trio endgame with nothing but a blue DMR and shockwaves. I just tagged and herded folks into bad spots while my team cleaned up. You don’t always need the shiniest gun. You need the right job tools and a calm head for eight seconds. That’s the whole game sometimes.

Also, for anyone new who got here from a search rabbit hole, yes, Fortnite has this big wild history and many modes. If you’re curious about the core, a clean overview helps: Fortnite Battle Royale background. But honestly, the only way to learn your aim is to, you know, aim. I can talk all day. You still gotta click heads.

Look, I keep my fortnite weapon tier list nimble on purpose. I’d rather be mostly right and fast than perfect and late. If a patch drops tomorrow and red-dots get a recoil nerf, I’ll slide to classic ARs and won’t sigh about it. If drum shotguns show up again in full terror mode, I move with cover and don’t take 8-meter duels. Calm. Adjust. Win.

FAQs (stuff people ask me in chats)

• Is there a “best loadout” for every season? Not really. There’s a best job setup: close burst, mid beam, mobility, heals.
• How often should I change guns mid-match? If you find a clear upgrade in the same role, swap right away. Don’t hoard.
• Are gold guns always worth it? Most of the time, yes. But a purple gun you love can beat a gold gun you hate.
• Should I carry two heals or one heal and extra utility? In Zero Build, one mobility slot is non-negotiable. Then at least one heal. The fifth slot is flex.
• Why do I beam in creative but miss in real games? Nerves, angles, audio, third parties. Practice with chaos, not just perfect ranges.

Anyway. I’ll keep playing, keep testing, keep tossing guns in S and yanking them back down when Epic sneezes. That’s the fun. I’ll update my notes when the next big change hits. If you see me in a hot drop, say hi. Or don’t. I’m probably counting my shots and trying not to reload in the open. And that’s me done for now on the fortnite weapon tier list thing. I need snacks.

Daniel Moore

I’m Daniel Moore, and I live for the thrill of the game. Get energetic live commentary, detailed match analysis, data-backed betting predictions, and official team rankings right here.