Fortnite Balancing Update: Changes to Reaper Sniper Rifle, Frenzy Auto Shotgun, and More!

Key Highlights:

• Fortnite’s latest balance update makes significant changes to several weapons, including the Reaper Sniper Rifle, Frenzy Auto Shotgun, Waterbending Mythic, and Chains of Hades.
• The Reaper Sniper Rifle and Frenzy Auto Shotgun have received nerfs.
• The Waterbending Mythic, introduced with the Avatar: The Last Airbender crossover, has been buffed, with increases to its projectile speed, fire rate, and damage per strike.
• The Chains of Hades have been significantly buffed, with increases to the damage of its melee combo and pull attack.
• Hand Cannons have had their drop rate increased and can now be found in rare chests.

Fortnite’s Newest Balancing Update

Fortnite’s latest balance update has introduced several changes to the game’s weapons, including significant nerfs and buffs. The official Fortnite Status X/Twitter account tweeted out the changes which you can check out below:

Hey everyone! We've made the following balance adjustments to the weapons below:

⛓️‍💥 Chain of Hades melee combos and "pull" attack now deal more damage!

🔫 Hand Cannons have increased drop rates and will now drop from Rare chests.

💧 Waterbending has a significantly faster… pic.twitter.com/FS82RMbWOy

— Fortnite Status (@FortniteStatus) April 5, 2024

Reaper Sniper Rifle

A weapon that has often drawn criticism from fans, has received a significant nerf.

Its bullet speed and chest drop rate have been reduced, resulting in a 116% increase in bullet drop.

This change significantly hampers the weapon’s long-range effectiveness, and it remains to be seen how popular this change will be among players.

• The occurrence rate of discovering the Reaver Sniper Rifle in chest loot has been diminished by a factor of 1.6, making it notably scarcer.

Frenzy Auto Shotgun

Previously considered one of the most powerful weapons in the current meta, has also been nerfed.

Its fire rate and headshot multiplier have been lowered, making it a less dominant option in close-quarters combat.

• A decrease of 0.20 has been applied to the Fire Rate
• The critical damage multiplier has undergone a reduction from 1.75x to 1.65x

Waterbending Scroll

On the other hand, the Waterbending Mythic, introduced with the Avatar: The Last Airbender crossover, has received a substantial buff.

Its projectile speed, fire rate, and damage per strike have all been increased, making it a more viable and effective option for players.

• The Fire Rate has surged by 20% Damage has received a boost of 2 points, now dealing 24 damage instead of the previous 22.
• The Crit Damage Multiplier has been enhanced by 0.25, elevating it to 1.5x and empowering critical hits to inflict 36 damage.
• The Projectile Speed has been doubled, significantly increasing the velocity at which projectiles travel.
• Hitscan Distance has undergone a substantial buff, approximately increased by 6.25 times, extending the effective range of the weapon.

Chains of Hades

The Chains of Hades have also been significantly buffed, with increases to the damage of its melee combo and pull attack.

These changes make the Chains a much stronger option, as the initial throw and entire combo can now knock an enemy with full shields.

• The 1st hit now deals 55 damage, up from 40.
• The 2nd hit now deals 55 damage, increased from 40.
• The 3rd hit now inflicts 80 damage, up from 70.
• The Hookshot secondary attack has been bolstered to deal 60 damage, up from 40.

Hand Cannons

Finally, Hand Cannons have had their drop rate increased and can now be found in rare chests, addressing a long-standing complaint from players about the weapon’s scarcity.

Impact on the Fortnite Meta

These weapon changes will likely have a significant impact on the Fortnite meta. The nerf to the Reaper Sniper Rifle may push players to explore alternative long-range options. Potentially leading to a resurgence of Bows, which some fans feel would fit the current Greek mythology-themed season better.

The tried and trusted assault rifle is usually always the back-up option after snipers get nerfed though.

The Frenzy Auto Shotgun’s nerf may open the door for other shotguns to become more viable, shaking up the close-quarters combat dynamics.

The Waterbending Mythic’s buff and the Chains of Hades’ increased strength could also lead to more players incorporating these unique items into their loadouts.

As the Avatar: The Last Airbender event continues, the changes to the Waterbending Mythic and other weapons will likely influence how players approach the game’s various modes and challenges.

Additionally, the increased Hand Cannon drop rate may lead to more diverse weapon loadouts and strategic options for players.

Overall, Fortnite’s latest balance update has introduced a range of changes that could significantly alter the game’s meta.

The battle royale’s Chapter 5 Season 2: Myths & Mortals theme has been a little underwhelming.

The Midas event was a nice touch but with the cries from fans for the return of OG Fortnite, that’s never a good sign that the latest season is going to plan.