Best Fortnite OG Chapter 1 Season 1 Weapons

Key Takeaways

• Tactical Shotgun suits less precise players with a fast fire rate & a larger magazine size.
• Assault Rifle offers versatility for close to medium-range combat with varying damage.
• Pump Shotgun leads the way in close-range damage & headshot multipliers for lethal impact.

Fortnite OG has made its debut, sending players back to the original Chapter 1 map. Players diving into Fortnite OG will be greeted with a fresh nostalgia trip, embarking on a journey across some familiar locations and mechanics—this time enhanced by the updated Chapter 5 movement system, keeping the game fast-paced and ramping up the action.

In addition to the return of the very first Fortnite Battle Royale map, players can also get their hands on a whole roster of legacy weapons that function almost identically to their Chapter 1, Season 1 counterparts. Of course, with a diverse loot pool, the meta of Fortnite OG is bound to differ from Chapter 6. While the choice of weapons ultimately comes down to personal preference, some options are undeniably better than others. Here are the best Fortnite OG weapons for Chapter 1 Season 1, ranked.

8 Semi-Auto Pistol

Fast Firing Handgun With Excellent DPS

Kicking off this list is the Semi-Auto Pistol, a weapon that most players may choose to ignore entirely. While the Semi-Auto Pistol is far from the best choice in Fortnite OG, it is a considerably good option to use as a spray weapon until players get their hands on a solid Assault Rifle. While the weapon is described as semi-auto, players can, in fact, fire a barrage of rounds just by holding the trigger, and the damage of the weapon is not to be overlooked either.

Compared to the likes of the Tactical Submachine Gun, the Semi-Auto Pistol narrowly ranks higher in overall DPS when comparing the two lowest base rarities of either gun. While the highest rarity of the Tactical Submachine Gun does outperform the Semi-Auto Pistol, the difference is relatively small, and the Semi-Auto Pistol is undoubtedly much easier to find, making it a great entry weapon on this list.

7 Burst Assault Rifle

Heavy-Hitting Burst Fire Weapon

Next up is the Burst Assault Rifle, a weapon that serves as a fan favorite for a niche portion of the player base. The Burst Assault Rifle, as many might expect, is a three-round-burst weapon ideal for medium-ranged engagements. Compared to the regular Assault Rifle, it’s easy to see why some players may choose to drop it altogether. The delay between each burst shot is relatively low, and overall, the Assault Rifle is much more forgiving for less accurate players.

However, the Burst Assault Rifle is undoubtedly a heavy hitter, sporting a higher possible damage output than the Assault Rifle at all rarities if each burst shot hits its mark. The weapon also boasts a 2.5x headshot multiplier that can result in a quick kill if all bullets in a burst hit their target. Of course, with the weapon’s kick, it can often be difficult to maximize its actual damage potential, which may deter some players from using it entirely.

6 Bolt Action Sniper Rifle

Heavy-Hitting Long Range Weapon

The Bolt Action Sniper Rifle is a weapon that demands a decent amount of skill to use, as it is one of the few ranged weapons to feature bullet drop in a season dominated by hitscan weapons. However, players should not let that deter them from picking it up, as in the right hands, the Bolt Action Sniper Rifle is an excellent choice. It comes equipped with a scope for precision aiming and delivers significant body damage to quickly chip away at opponents’ health, making it an ideal weapon for long-range engagements.

The biggest advantage of the Bolt Action Sniper Rifle is its ability to eliminate opponents with a single headshot, regardless of rarity, in both regular Battle Royale and Zero Build modes—even if the target has full health. Of course, the weapon’s bullet drop and travel time must be considered when firing at a distance, meaning players will need to lead their shots when aiming at moving targets, or adjust their scope above the target when firing from a distance.

5 Grenade Launcher

Fast-Firing Explosive Weapon

Up next is the Grenade Launcher, a powerful weapon that many players may be unfortunate enough to face. The Grenade Launcher is an effective tool for crowd control, perfect for firing into a squad of enemies thanks to its fast fire rate. If players find themselves perched on a hilltop or encounter opponents setting up a base for the endgame, launching several grenades in their direction is often more than enough to take them down.

Of course, with a weapon as powerful as the Grenade Launcher, there are some caveats to consider. Firstly, its accuracy is not the best, as each grenade has a fuse timer and will often bounce off surfaces before exploding. Pair this with how skilled some players are at building, as well as the weapon’s limitations when firing at targets above, and the Grenade Launcher becomes more of a situational weapon.

4 Rocket Launcher

High Damage Explosive Weapon

Up next is yet another explosive weapon in Fortnite OG: the Rocket Launcher. This weapon is definitely on the slower side when compared to the likes of the Grenade Launcher, capable of firing only a single shot at a time and burdened with a sluggish reload speed. These attributes might make the Rocket Launcher seem less appealing compared to the Grenade Launcher for some players, but there are a few key attributes that make this weapon a great pick.

Firstly, the Rocket Launcher excels in sheer firepower, boasting an impressive amount of damage that outshines virtually every other weapon in the game. On top of that, it offers a decent amount of precision, as each rocket is guaranteed to explode upon contact with anything it hits. Though the travel time of each rocket is relatively slow, the Rocket Launcher proves to be an excellent tool for flushing out players camping within buildings or boxes. It also serves as a fantastic weapon to deal significant damage to enemies from height, especially if players are a little closer to their targets.

3 Tactical Shotgun

Fast-Firing Shotgun For Close-Range Gunfights

Entering the top three is the Tactical Shotgun, a favorite among players who prefer speed. Out of the two Shotguns in Fortnite OG, the Tactical Shotgun boasts the fastest fire rate, thanks to its semi-automatic design. With the ability to fire rounds much faster, partnered with the weapon’s greater ammo capacity and its wider pellet spread, the Tactical Shotgun is undoubtedly the more forgiving option for less accurate players compared to the Pump Shotgun. Players can simply spray and pray from the hip with this gun and still land their shots relatively easily.

Of course, with a faster fire rate comes a trade-off in damage, and the weapon’s wider pellot spread does make the Tactical Shotgun significantly less effective than the Pump Shotgun at medium range. However, these drawbacks do not necessarily make it an inferior choice. It can hold its own against players using the Pump Shotgun, especially if they miss their shots. Add the fact that the Tactical Shotgun allows for faster follow-up shots and is less reliant on precision, and it becomes a solid and dependable weapon choice.

2 Assault Rifle

Versatile Weapon For Close & Medium Range

In second place is the Assault Rifle, the go-to weapon for medium-range gunfights. The Assault Rifle is by far one of the more versatile weapons, capable of taking down opponents from afar thanks to its solid damage output, while also serving well as a spray weapon up close if players fire from the hip. Though the weapon may not be as precise as the likes of the Scoped Assault Rifle or the Burst Assault Rifle at long range, due to its moderate bloom when firing from afar, it performs quite well at most ranges.

While the damage values of the Assault Rifle from Common to Rare are definitely solid for the most part, seeking out an Epic or Legendary variant can give players one of the best weapons in the game. This is thanks to the weapon’s large increase in headshot damage. With an Epic Assault Rifle in hand, players can take out full-health opponents in just three headshots in regular Battle Royale. However, in Zero Build, they may require an additional headshot or two body shots to achieve the same result.

1 Pump Shotgun

Heavy-Hitting Close-Range Weapon

Coming in at the number one spot is the Pump Shotgun, one of the most popular weapons in the game. The Pump Shotgun leads the way in sure firepower when it comes to close-range weapons, dishing out upwards of 90+ damage if players hit all of their pellets on their target. The weapon also comes with a solid damage multiplier when hitting opponents in the head, easily one-shotting in regular Battle Royale, but needing a second follow-up shot in Zero Build, if enemies are at full health.

Though the weapon’s biggest strength is its sheer firepower, it does sport a fairly slow reload time, along with a slow fire rate. However, adding another Pump Shotgun to a player’s loadout can offset both drawbacks with the Double Pump method, essentially increasing their overall fire rate and allowing them to fire more shots without reloading. With Shotguns being the most-used weapons for opening and finishing a gunfight, it’s no surprise that the Pump Shotgun is the top pick.