Fortnite needs SMG and sniper buffs to break assault-rifle shotgun meta

Pcgamer says Fortnite's loot meta is still dominated by an assault-rifle and shotgun combo, and argues that both SMGs and snipers need major buffs to make loadouts less repetitive.

The piece notes the scoped Deadeye AR remains the best gun in the pool despite several nerfs, and that only a few revolvers briefly disrupted the meta in 2025. It says SMGs have been neglected since Chapter 5's Thunder Burst in 2024, are routinely outclassed by rifles at mid-range and shotguns up close, and often only work as a third weapon between shotgun blasts. The author suggests SMGs should be low-recoil, high-damage weapons with accurate hipfire and limited range, and that assault rifles' fire rates and hipfire accuracy should be reduced—comparing a desirable trade-off to the slower Spire Rifle from Chapter 6 Season 3.

The article also calls out a lack of impactful sniper options, noting the Vengeful Sniper Rifle currently deals just 85 damage to the body and has a slow fire rate that produces lower DPS than assault rifles. It argues better snipers and SMGs would make Fortnite feel more dynamic, and points to the creative, over-the-top weapons from the Simpsons mini-season as examples of where Epic could experiment—suggesting ideas like an SMG that increases sprint speed or masks footsteps, or a sniper that marks nearby enemies when you scope.

Key Topics

Culture, Fortnite, Epic Games, Smg, Sniper Rifle, Deadeye Ar