After bringing back the long-awaited OG mode in Battle Royale, the developers at Epic Games surprised players with Fortnite Ballistic: a new take on the 5v5 first-person tactical shooter subgenre. Although the game is in early access, it has managed to grab the attention of players and is seeing high engagement from players. Here’s a weapon tier list that ranks all the guns and gadgets in Fortnite Ballistic.
Fortnite Ballistic Weapons Tier List – All Guns Ranked
If you’ve played games like CS:GO and Valorant, the core gameplay of Fortnite Ballistic will look awfully familiar to you. It is a battle between attackers and defenders where the former must plant a bomb while the defending team prevents this from happening. Before each round, you can buy weapons, and choosing the right one is crucial to achieving victory.
You earn credits by winning, planting bombs, getting eliminations and just playing, which is then used to buy gear. Economy is important, so it’s important to choose a weapon that is optimal for you, powerful enough to win you battles, and easy to use. Considering these factors, I assembled the weapons in Fortnite Ballistic into the following list.
| Tier | Gun / Weapon |
|---|---|
| S | Striker AR, Reaper Sniper Rifle |
| A | Nemesis AR, Enforcer AR, Hyper SMG, Frenzy Auto Shotgun |
| B | Thunder Burst SMG, Hammer Pump Shotgun, Man Cannon |
| C | Ranger Pistol |
Since the game is in early access, the weapon balance is not in its final stage and will change over time. All the guns work pretty well now, that’s why I couldn’t add a D level for the bad guns (because there aren’t any in my opinion).
S Tier – Best Weapons in Fortnite Ballistic
S-Tier includes weapons that stand out from the pack and are simply the best to use in the game for a competitive advantage. These are also the most expensive weapons to buy but are definitely worth the money considering their power.
| a weapon | Features | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Striker AR | cost: 2,500 Maximum ammo: 30 |
This weapon has an easy to control recoil plot and works well at all ranges. The scope is a pure red-dot optic, but the reload time can seem slow. You will find most if not all players on both teams using this gun because it is just the best. |
| Reaper Sniper Rifle | cost: 5,000 Maximum ammo: 3 |
The holy grail of all weapons in this game is the one-shot lethal Reaper Sniper Rifle. It is the equivalent of Counter-Strike’s AWP and Valorant’s Operator. A high risk, high reward gun that should only be used by players who are confident in their aim. |
A Tier
In A Tier, I’ve listed weapons that are almost as good as their S-Tier counterparts but fall short by a slight margin, which may be due to the overall feel or effectiveness of the gun in combat.
| a weapon | Features | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Nemesis AR | cost: 2,500 Maximum ammo: 25 |
Similar to the Striker AR but has slower fire and five fewer bullets. Getting a higher ranged weapon is almost always better in such fast paced, low TTK games, which is why I don’t prefer the Nemesis. That said, I like the holo sight on it more than the red dot optic. |
| Enforcer AR | cost: 2,000 Maximum ammo: 12 |
Don’t go by the name, this is a DMR. It’s very powerful, but you have to keep in mind its low ammo count and recoil kick. You can either tap to fire the Enforcer or hold the fire button for a continuous spray. |
| Hyper SMG | cost: 1,500 Maximum ammo: 30 |
One of my favorite weapons in the game that works great up close. Although ARs are intended for medium-long ranges, this SMG performs quite well at those ranges as well. |
| Frenzy Automatic Shotgun | cost: 1,600 Maximum ammo: 8 |
If you’re looking to run a Shotgun in Fortnite Ballistic, try the Frenzy. It is very easy to use compared to the pump Shotgun and can easily take out players with a few hits when you are close. |
B Tier
B Tier lists the weapons which are average in my opinion and can give good results in the hands of an experienced player. I don’t choose these over the S and A Tier guns when playing for wins, but using them from time to time can be fun.
| a weapon | Features | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Thunder Burst SMG | cost: 1,100 Maximum ammo: 27 |
This is an explosive Machine Gun with a Holo sight, just like the one on the Nemesis AR. You can hold the fire button to fire continuous bursts. It feels weaker than the Hyper SMG, so ranked a level lower. |
| Hammer Pump Shotgun | cost: 900 Maximum ammo: 6 |
Let me just say that this weapon is extremely deadly up close when you land the shot in the center of the hitbox, potentially killing the enemy in a single shot. But it can be difficult to control and the pumping action is slow. |
| Hand Cannon | cost: 800 Maximum ammo: 7 |
If you want a powerful pistol, equivalent to the Desert Eagle, this is the gun for you. It packs a punch, but I think it needs a little sanding to become a more desirable option. |
C Level
In C Tier, I put the starting weapon—Ranger Pistol—because it’s nothing special and very mediocre. You have enough money to buy the Hand Cannon in the first round, but only do so if you’re sure you won’t need a shield and consumables (ie grenades). One magazine of this pistol carries 12 bullets and presents a clean iron sight; it is only good as a sidearm and serves its purpose well.
All Grenade Gear and Consumable in Fortnite Ballistic, Ranked
Before a Fortnite Ballistic match begins, players are asked to choose one of five Flex Gadgets: Frag Grenade Kit, Bubble Grenade Kit, Proximity Mine Kit, Impulse Grenade Kit, and Recon Grenade Kit. For the entire match, you will have access to purchase your chosen device in addition to two consumables available to all players: Flashbang and Smoke Grenade.
Next, here is my initial ranking for all grenades in Fortnite Ballistic based on their usability, listed from best to worst:
- Recon Grenade Kit: Throw this at the bomb site or where you think the enemy is hiding to reveal their location to you and your team. I used this device the most.
- Bubble Grenade Kit: This provides a temporary shield that you can see through but cannot shoot, providing you with brief protection from incoming enemy projectiles.
- flash: Flashbang will completely blind the affected enemy for a few seconds making them vulnerable. But use this consumption with extreme caution so as not to blind your own teammates.
- Smoke grenade: This can be used by the attack team to cover the bomb site with smoke before planting the bomb or to cover a thrust.
- Frag Grenade Kit: I haven’t seen instances where the powerful Frag Grenade is very effective, but it can certainly be used to take out enemies holding a position.
- Proximity Mine Gear: This mine is best used to prevent the defenders from deactivating the bomb.
- Impulse Grenade: Impulse Grenades knock back the affected player, but I don’t see this being very useful in Fortnite Ballistic.
This is not an absolute ranking, as how useful a device is depends on the player and how they use it. Be sure to try different tools to find out what works best for you. More importantly, coordinate with your teammates to use the devices where they are required for maximum efficiency.
For more on Fortnite, check out Fortnite Chapter 5 Codes for Skins, V-bucks, & Free Items (December 2024) in Pro Game Guides.
