Screengrab via Epic Games Screengrab via Epic Games Screengrab via Epic Games Screengrab via Epic Games Screengrab via Epic Games Screengrab via Epic Games Footsteps. Stashes of wood. A gun is loaded..
You hear the sound of an enemy pushing you into Fortnite . What's next ? You will need a close range weapon. An assault rifle? No. And you didn't take an SMG. So what is left?
It's time to take the pump.
Shotguns are an important part of all Fortnite metas . From the double-pump days of not being able to win without equipping a Tactical Shotgun, they've been vital to outplaying opponents from the start. The main reason they are so popular is that they reward accuracy. If you have nimble hands and aiming discipline, a shotgun will be deadlier than an SMG..
While guns come and go as Epic Games recycles them from the vault, there are still more than a few alternative shotguns for players to pick up as they go through all seasons of Fortnite . Personal taste will play an important role in terms of selecting the best pump shotgun for you. But on the numbers side, some will just outrun others based on the overall damage they deal.
Here are the best shotguns in Fortnite ..
Double shotgun
Screengrab via Epic Games Damage: 114/120, DPS: 216.6 / 228, Magazine size: 2, Reload time: 2.8s / 2.7s
The Dual Shotgun deals the most damage of all shotguns in Fortnite . But great power comes with great drawbacks. Despite dealing the most damage, the Dual Shotgun is limited by its average magazine.
You will only have two balls to play with, so there is no room for error. The double shotgun's range is also shorter than other shotguns, reducing its versatility. You will need to cover a lot of space to make sure the bullets hit their target. Once you get to a position where you can easily operate your shots with a double shotgun as no enemies will be able to get in your way.
Primitive Shotgun
Screengrab via Epic Games Damage : 216.6 / 228 / 239.4 / 250.8 / 262.2, DPS: 216.6 / 228 / 239.4 / 250.8 / 262.2, Magazine size : 12, Reload time : 3.9s / 3.8s / 3.6s / 3.4s / 3.2s
Epic doesn't add a new weapon every day to Fortnite . But when he does, he suddenly becomes the centerpiece of his respective season. The Primitive Shotgun was introduced to Fortnite in Season 6 of Chapter 2.
The Primitive Shotgun may seem unorthodox at first glance compared to other options given its unique mechanics. It plays more like a tactical shotgun, but with a higher rate of fire.
It has a much higher rate of fire than any player would expect from a shotgun, which also has its drawbacks. The Primitive Shotgun has a lower range than the Tactical. It's a great tool for dominating opponents, especially in close-range construction fights. The Primitive Shotgun can also help you clean up walls, and you can get its full power by combining it with another shotgun that can be swapped out when you run out of ammo.
War shotgun
Screengrab via Epic Games Damage : 57/60/63, DPS: 96.9 / 102 / 107.1, Magazine size : 8, Reload time : 5.3s / 5s / 4.7s
The War Shotgun may not be the best alternative in Fortnite when it comes to stats, but it's the easiest shotgun to use. While recoil isn't an issue for most shotguns, scattering bullets can be an issue if you're not shooting up close.
The higher the scatter, the more balls you will miss. The War Shotgun has the slowest scatter ratio, which greatly increases its range. As soon as he's in the rotation, he quickly becomes a crucial pick in any gear.
But it can still be combined with a Tactical Shotgun, as the low dispersion of bullets can make it more difficult to take an enemy one-shot in a close combat situation. The low dispersion in close quarters requires being very precise with your shots while the higher dispersion ratio allows for a little more error.
Specialized Shotgun
Screengrab via Epic Games Damage : 92/100/108, DPS: 64.4 / 70 / 75.6, Magazine size : 5, Reload time : 4.8s / 4.4s / 4s
The Specialty Shotgun is one of the most controversial weapons in Fortnite history . From defining metas to no longer being viable at all, the Specialty Shotgun has gone through a few changes, but it remains one of the best options for considering its take as soon as it is present.
Considering the delay between each shot, it is best to stay on the lookout as much as possible with a specialized pump shotgun. Players used to bypass this time by rotating around two specialized shotguns, but Epic has made an update to remove this.
Most players combine the Specialty Shotgun with SMGs. The ideal scenario is to shoot the target with the specialized shotgun and then quickly swap it out with an SMG to finish it off.
Charge Pump Shotgun
Screengrab via Epic Games Damage : 88/93/98/102, DPS: 74.8 / 79.05 / 83.3 / 86.7 Magazine size : 4, Reload time : 4.5s / 4s / 4.1s / 3.9s
When you land in a popular area, you won't have time to be demanding on the loot. The competition around the site will reduce the numbers that will come out alive, so it will be necessary to be able to fight as soon as possible. Finding a charge pump shotgun probably won't be at the top of your list, but it is a weapon that can be lethal in the right hands.
The Charge Shotgun has a unique feature that allows players to charge their shots to deal more damage. Charging adds a very significant delay between shots, but you'll also have the option to shoot multiple times for less damage.
The real power of the Charge Shotgun comes from the fact that few people get their hands on the Shield Potions after they land. By charging up a shot from behind a wall and catching the opponent by surprise with a focused shot, you can easily knock them down. Ideally, you will need to swap out the Charge Shotgun for something else later in the game, since successfully completing this technique will be very difficult in the later fights of the game.
Tactical Shotgun
Image via Epic Games Damage : 72/76/80/84/88, DPS: 108/114/120/126/132 Magazine size : 3.9, Reload time : 6.3s / 6s / 5.7s / 5.4s / 5.1s
It can be hard to remember a meta where Tactical Shotguns weren't viable, unless it was in the vault. It is one of the most versatile shotguns in the game.
The Tactical Shotgun's high rate of fire and wide dispersion of bullets make it the basic choice for close quarters combat. The design of the weapon allows players to spray, which may be the only way to take out the opponent while in full panic mode.
While there are better alternatives, in terms of overall damage, the Tactical Shotgun is the weapon of choice for many Fortnite players . It is easy to use and does not require additional effort.