What is Hitscan in Fortnite?

Some weapons in Fortnite can feel a tad iffy compared to others, and some players out there might question just why that is. Considering Fortnite constantly re-invents itself and its combat, it’s no surprise that weapons from 2017 feel a lot different when compared to the guns from 2024, and Fortnite’s introduction of hitscan and bullet drop weapons will be essential to understanding how the game works.

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Fortnite players can rejoice over the return of hitscan weapons in Chapter 6 Season 1, and players who want to understand what this actually means, and why it’s so important for the gameplay going forward, can find the answers they need below. With Fortnite usually having two different types of weapons hitscan and projectile-based, it’s essential to understand each of them to know what to look out for when it comes to shooting at targets with confidence.

Hitscan in Fortnite, Explained

• Examples of a hitscan weapon: Assault Rifle, SMG, Pistol

What is hitscan in Fortnite? Hitscan weapons have non-physical bullets that are fired from the weapon. This means that the bullets fired have no travel time or gravity to pull on, so aiming at a target and pulling the trigger will see that target take damage instantly if a weapon is aiming at them. In essence, a hitscan weapon requires players to point and shoot at their enemy to see damage dealt, without having to compensate for distance, and players just need to make sure their reticle and bloom is on the target.

Hitscans were incredibly popular across shooter games because all players needed to do was aim and shoot with no calculations on whether or not players had to aim up to compensate for gravity. Hitscan weapons were removed for the entirety of Chapter 5, but Chapter 6 Season 1 has brought hitscan weapons back into the meta, where every weapon is now hitscan so that players can enjoy a classic approach to gameplay without the requirement for more modern gunplay.

The valid reasons that people preferred hitscan weapons came from the fact that bullet drop requires calculation, realism, and often unreliable exaggeration, whereas hitscan was a simplicity of point at a target and shoot them, so many rejoice over the return of hitscan weapons in Chapter 6 Season 1’s Battle Royale.

Bullet Drop in Fortnite, Explained

• Examples of a projectile weapon: Bolt-Action Sniper

Projectile weapons fire a physical bullet that has gravity physics attached to it, meaning that the bullet fired has to be compensated for speed and travel distance before the bullet drops from the pull of gravity. Projectile weapons were in Fortnitewith Snipers and DMRs, but they have since been completely removed for Fortnite with Chapter 6 Season 1 and the impending arrival of Fortnite OG.

This means that a bullet drop weapon shoots out projectiles that shoot actual bullets that have to travel to opponents, providing time to dodge or even miss despite aiming at them since players will need to adjust their aim based on distance. Projectile weapons dominated Fortnite Battle Royale as a more modern and realistic way to play across Chapter 5, but have since been retired.