Fortnite Tier List: Best Weapons in Chapter 7 Season 3

Fortnite has completely revamped its arsenal of weapons in Chapter 7 Season 3, with the new season bringing a much more focused loot pool. The release of these new weapons has impacted the meta significantly and emphasized a shift towards raw firepower. Check out our comprehensive Fortnite tier list to know more about the best weapons in Chapter 7 Season 3.

Fortnite Weapon Tier List – June 2026

Tier	Weapons
S	Chaos Exploder Rifle, Chaos Reloader Shotgun
A	Surgical Burst Rifle, Striker Pump Shotgun, Flex SMG
B	Stinger SMG, Maven Auto Shotgun, Ranger Pistol, Hunting Rifle
C	Extending Focus Shotgun, Lancehead Pistol

Best Fortnite Meta Loadout in Chapter 7 Season 3

The meta in Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 3 largely revolves around being quick on your feet during combat and traversal. Here is our best Fortnite meta loadout you should use in Battle Royale and Zero Build matches:

• Chaos Exploder AR
• Chaos Reloader Shotgun
• Flex SMG
• Seven Sliders
• Chug Jug/Big Shield Potion/Minis

The Chaos Exploder Rifle is easily the best weapon in Chapter 7 Season 3, and lets you pack a punch with its explosive power, which also causes splash damage to enemies. For the next slot, the Chaos Reloader Shotgun maintains its status as one of the most powerful weapons from Chapter 7 Season 2, with its power and holster reload mechanic making it a great choice for fast-paced battles.

The Flex SMG is a returning weapon to the loot pool and grants players two different firing modes, making it an incredibly versatile weapon to have in your loadout. Meanwhile, the Seven Sliders are one of the most useful mobility items, allowing you to slide around and even slow down time when ADS-ing for precise aiming.

Best Fortnite S-Tier Weapons

Chaos Exploder Rifle

The Dark Voyager really knows how to exude power with his weapons, as the Chaos Exploder Rifle has become one of the most broken weapons in Fortnite history. Much like the Cube Rifle from Chapter 7 Season 2, this weapon features exploding cubes as its ammunition and deals both impact damage and splash damage.

Stat	Weapon Stat
Body Damage (Impact)	33
Body Damage (Explosion)	6
Structure Damage (Impact)	33
Structure Damage (Explosion)	10
Headshot Damage	48.9 (1.3x multiplier)
Fire Rate	3.4
Magazine Size	32
Reload Time	3.6s

At any range, the Chaos Exploder Rifle can be the only weapon you need. It can shred down walls, cause splash damage, and can be extremely accurate when tapfiring. Even though Epic has nerfed the Chaos Exploder Rifle already, it is still a powerhouse in Chapter 7 Season 3.

Chaos Reloader Shotgun

One of the newer shotguns on the Fortnite tier list, the Chaos Reloader Shotgun, is a beast. Despite coming with just one shot in the chamber, this shotgun can easily whittle your enemy’s health down in an instant, leaving them open to a follow-up with an SMG or AR. The best part about this shotgun is its unique reload mechanic, which automatically reloads the shotgun while it is holstered.

Weapon Stats (Legendary)

Stat	Weapon Stat
DPS	184
Body Damage	157
Structure Damage	74
Headshot Damage	175 (1.2x multiplier)
Fire Rate	1.2
Magazine Size	1
Reload Time	1.8s

This mechanic can be a lifesaver during build fights, whether you’re using Simple Build or not. With the Chaos Reloader, you can try shooting an enemy and then reposition yourself to a different spot or place a build in front of you. This allows you to be ready with another shot from the Chaos Reloader, and it can just as easily be the only weapon you need during build fights.

Best Fortnite A-Tier Weapons

Surgical Burst Rifle

The burst meta is finally making a comeback to Fortnite with the Surgical Burst Rifle, which might be the best burst weapon added to the game. The Surgical Burst Rifle is an incredibly accurate and smooth rifle to use, and it can absolutely laser players at a distance before they even realize that you are there.

Weapon Stats (Legendary)

Stat	Weapon Stat
DPS	162.12
Damage	28
Structure Damage	29
Headshot Damage	42 (1.5x multiplier)
Magazine Size	30
Fire Rate	5.79
Reload Time	2.52s

With decent damage and pinpoint precision, the Surgical Burst Rifle is a great choice for players who like taking on fights from mid to long range. Additionally, the weapon has a Mythic variant called The Voidblade’s Surgical Burst Rifle, which players can get by defeating the Voidblade Fortnite boss.

Striker Pump Shotgun

A blast from the past, the Striker Pump Shotgun, makes its return after being absent from the game for two whole chapters. And yes, it still packs just as big a punch as before. Being the primary pump shotgun this season, the Striker Pump Shotgun is powerful and reliable. There aren’t any gimmicks here, just a really good shotgun that has one-shot potential at higher rarities.

Weapon Stats (Legendary)

Stat	Weapon Stat
DPS	82.41
Damage	123
Structure Damage	55
Headshot Damage	227.5 (1.85x multiplier)
Magazine Size	5
Fire Rate	0.67
Reload Time	4.41s
Max Damage Cap	201

The weapon is perfect for players who still use the good old Pump Shotgun – SMG combo that has been in the game ever since its release. Pairing the Striker Pump Shotgun with a weapon like a Flex SMG or a Stinger SMG, there is not much better you can do in terms of firepower in Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 3.

Flex SMG

For possibly the most versatile SMG in recent Fortnite history, the Flex SMG allows players to dominate at multiple ranges with multiple fire modes. When hipfiring, the weapon works amazingly well when paired with a shotgun, being the perfect follow-up to a massive shotgun blast.

Weapon Stats (Legendary)

Stat	Weapon Stat
DPS	225
Damage	18
Structure Damage	17
Headshot Damage	27 (1.5x multiplier)
Magazine Size	38
Fire Rate	12.5
Reload Time	1.98s

When aiming down sights, the weapon switches to a more focused and poweful fire mode. While the fire rate is slower, it works amazingly well at medium ranges. Overall, at close and medium ranges, the Flex SMG packs a punch, even if you’re playing in bot lobbies in Fortnite.

Best Fortnite B-Tier Weapons

The B-tier weapons in Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 3 are the guns that aren’t exactly incredible, but they can definitely be useful in certain situations. For starters, the Stinger SMG absolutely melts at close range, but its kick can be tough to manage at medium-range battles. The Maven Auto Shotgun, on the other hand, can be a fun weapon to use, but it largely fails to stand up to the one-shot potential of the Striker Pump and the raw damage output of the Chaos Reloader Shotgun.

The Ranger Pistol is, well, a pistol. It’s a good weapon to find at spawn, where enemies are unarmed, and you can gun them down with ease. But during the match, it lacks any real use in your loadout. The Hunting Rifle, despite being a fan-favorite and easily one of the best snipers in the game, truly only shines for players with incredible aim. While it can work at basically all ranges, missing a shot from the Hunting Rifle while going up against an enemy with a shotgun is a guaranteed death sentence.

Best Fortnite C-Tier Weapons

The C-tier weapons in Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 2 have massive drawbacks. The Extending Focus Shotgun has a fun gimmick with its 3-round volley extending its range, and two different fire modes. However, the weapon just feels extremely underwhelming, no matter how it’s used. It might be good at close-to-medium ranges, but you are better off using an SMG or an Assault Rifle at that point.

John Wick’s pistol of choice, the Lancehead Pistol, just feels really inconsistent while using it in a match. It has this weird weapon bloom that while firing, it acts more as a distraction rather than a built-in weapon recoil. The Lancehead Pistol also has a fun gimmick, where you can throw your magazine when reloading, which can net you some bonus damage. However, the magazine only acts as a break while your enemy can take aim with a shotgun and send you back to the lobby.

Best Fortnite Assault Rifles

Tier	Assault Rifle	Best For
S	Chaos Exploder Rifle	Ranged damage and explosive power
A	Surgical Burst Rifle	Close-to-medium range

Among the assault rifles in Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 3 tier list, the Chaos Exploder Rifle is a clear winner. The weapon has been wreaking havoc on the Shattered Coast map ever since the release of Chapter 7 Season 3. Despite going through multiple nerfs, it still absolutely shreds on the battlefield, with its splash and impact damage making it a force to be reckoned with.

The Surgical Burst Rifle is a good alternative for players who like precision more than raw power. It’s incredibly accurate, features a smooth burst firing rhythm, and can put out great damage with higher rarities. It’s just an overall well-designed Assault Rifle.

Best Fortnite SMGs

Tier	SMG	Best For…
S	Flex SMG	Versatility
B	Stinger SMG	Close range encounters

The Flex SMG is easily the best SMG to have in your loadout in Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 3. Not only does it feature an incredibly fast fire-rate while hipfiring, but you can be more precise and punchy with your shots if you ADS with it. This makes it a really versatile weapon, functional at multiple ranges.

The Stinger SMG is a good alternative choice. Despite being less versatile and having a strong kick to it, the Stinger SMG can easily get the job done when you’re breaking into enemy boxes.

Best Fortnite Shotguns

Tier	Shotgun	Best For
S	Chaos Reloader Shotgun	Fast-paced combat
A	Striker Pump Shotgun	One-shot potential
B	Maven Auto Shotgun	Players with weaker aim
C	Extending Focus Shotgun	Ranged shotgun battles

The Chaos Reloader Shotgun is the best shotgun in Chapter 7 Season 3, and its auto-reload makes it a fun weapon to play around with. While the Dark Voyager’s Obliterator (Mythic Chaos Reloader Shotgun) from last season is definitely missed, the Uncommon – Legendary rarities are no joke either.

Pump-action shotguns have always dominated Fortnite, and the Striker Pump Shotgun continues this tradition. Despite its slow fire rate, the Striker Pump Shotgun possesses one-shot capabilities that put it above its peers, especially when paired with items like Overdrive Grenades. FNCS pros also prefer this weapon in their matches.

The Maven Auto Shotgun is a good, fast-firing alternative in Chapter 7 Season 3, and can be a good choice for players who don’t exactly land all of their shots in close-range encounters. The Extending Focus Shotgun, with its underwhelming damage and awkward pellet spread, is outperformed by every other shotgun this season.

Best Fortnite Sniper Rifles & Marksman Rifles

Tier	Marksman Rifle	Best For
S	Hunting Rifle	Long-range engagements

Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 3 only features one marksman rifle, which is the good old Hunting Rifle. One of the most versatile weapons in the loot pool, if you are good with your aim, you can use the Hunting Rifle to dominate at basically any range during a fight.

Best Fortnite Mythic Weapons

Tier	Mythic	Best For
S	The Voidblade’s Burst Rifle	Immense stopping power and smooth burst rhythm
B	Wolfe’s Maven Auto Shotgun	Boost to the base variant
C	Reacher Extending Shotgun	Ranged damage
A	Mythic Striker Pump Shotgun	A small upgrade to a powerful shotgun
B	9mm Baba Yaga	Situational but useful with a fun gimmick

Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 3 features five primary Mythic weapons. Among these, the Voidblade’s Burst Rifle and Mythic Striker Pump Shotgun are easily the best. Even though they are simply more powerful variants of their base weapons, their base weapons are already quite strong. The same goes for Wolfe’s Maven Auto Shotgun.

The Reacher Extending Shotgun, much like its base weapon variant, lacks any real use with its underwhelming performance. Meanwhile, the 9mm Baba Yaga, once again, has a fun gimmick, but its recoil just makes it extremely distracting.

Best Fortnite Pistols

Tier	Pistol	Best For
C	Lancehead Pistol	Situational, but can be powerful
B	Ranger Pistol	Taking enemies out at spawn

The Pistol category in Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 3 is quite lacking, just like last season. The Ranger Pistol is a good off-spawn weapon, and can have some functionality mid-match with its higher rarities. However, the Lancehead Pistol is just inconsistent with its damage and distracting with its screen shake, making it not much of a viable choice.

Now that you know the top weapons in the Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 3 tier list, which ones are you grabbing the next time you drop from the Battle Bus? Let us know in the comments!