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Is Exotic the Best Gun in Fortnite? A Deep Dive into Rarity and Power

The short answer to “Is exotic the best gun in Fortnite?” is: not always, but it’s complicated. While exotic weapons hold a special place in Fortnite due to their unique perks and limited availability, they don’t universally outclass other rarities. The true answer depends on several factors including your playstyle, the specific weapons in question, and even the current meta. Let’s break down what makes exotic weapons special, how they compare to other rarities, and what it really means to be “the best” in Fortnite.

Fortnite Weapon Rarities: A Hierarchy of Power

Understanding the weapon rarity system is crucial to evaluating exotic weapons. Fortnite employs a color-coded system indicating a weapon’s strength and availability, ranging from weakest to strongest:

Common (Gray): Found virtually everywhere, these are the most basic weapons.
Uncommon (Green): A step up from common, offering slightly improved stats.
Rare (Blue): Less common than uncommon and provides more enhanced performance.
Epic (Purple): High-tier weapons with significantly better damage and stats.
Legendary (Orange/Gold): Usually the most powerful weapons found through standard gameplay, with high stats and reliability.
Mythic (Gold): Often unique and extremely powerful weapons tied to specific characters or locations. Usually possessing altered fire rate and unique stats compared to other weapons.
Exotic (Light Blue): Limited-time weapons with unique perks or abilities, usually purchased with in-game bars from specific NPCs.

As the rarity increases, generally speaking, a weapon’s damage, reload time, and magazine size improve. However, this isn’t always a linear progression. Mythic weapons often introduce new elements like altered fire rates or special abilities, which sets them apart from standard weapons of other rarities. Exotics are unique as they provide specialized benefits usually through distinctive traits or enhancements that no other type of gun has, rather than a straight increase in stats.

Exotic Weapons: The Unique Factor

Exotic weapons are not simply higher-rarity versions of existing weapons. They’re designed to be specialized tools, often filling particular roles or synergizing with specific playstyles. They are usually tied to specific NPCs scattered around the map, where players need to spend bars accumulated throughout the match to acquire them. This limited availability makes them highly sought after and adds an extra layer of risk-reward to obtaining them.

Exotic weapons usually feature unique perks that give them distinct advantages. For example, they might have:

Increased fire rate
Additional accuracy
Unique scopes or sights
The ability to highlight nearby enemies
A different damage profile

These unique qualities make Exotic weapons very powerful in the right hands, but they’re not a guaranteed upgrade in every scenario.

Exotic vs. Mythic vs. Legendary: The Power Struggle

The question of whether exotics are the “best” often leads to comparisons with other high-tier weapons, specifically mythic and legendary guns. While legendary weapons provide a consistent standard of high power, mythic weapons can introduce gameplay-changing mechanics. Exotics, however, offer specialized advantages.

Mythic Weapons: Often more powerful than legendary weapons, mythics can drastically change the course of a match due to the unique abilities they possess. They’re usually found in specific locations after defeating a tough boss.
Legendary Weapons: These represent the pinnacle of regular weapon progression. They offer great stats and are reliable in most situations.
Exotic Weapons: They do not always have the sheer power of mythics or the reliable consistency of legendaries. However, their unique perks can make them incredibly powerful in specific situations, or for specific playstyles.

The issue is, “best” is subjective. A mythic weapon might be objectively stronger in terms of raw damage output, but an exotic with a particular perk that suits your playstyle might be more effective. It’s crucial to understand that exotic weapons are powerful for their specialization, not necessarily for having the highest damage or stats.

The “Best” Weapon: It’s About Context

Ultimately, the “best” weapon in Fortnite depends on the user and the circumstance. An exotic sniper rifle might be amazing for long-range engagements, but it’s less useful in a close-quarters fight. Similarly, a mythic shotgun might be devastating up close, but it’s less effective at medium range.

Factors to consider when evaluating the best weapon for you:

Your Playstyle: Are you an aggressive player, a defensive one, or something in between?
The Situation: Are you in a wide-open field or a tightly enclosed building?
Your Loadout: How well does the weapon fit with your other items?
Your Skill Level: A weapon that’s effective in skilled hands might be less useful for a beginner.

Exotic weapons, with their specific advantages, should be evaluated on how well they suit your needs in a particular situation. They shouldn’t automatically be deemed “best” without considering those factors.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the strongest weapon in Fortnite ever?

The Infinity Blade is often cited as the most overpowered weapon ever featured in Fortnite. Its ability to decimate opponents while granting mobility was largely considered too powerful for the game. Other contenders include the Combat Shotgun and the Drum Gun, both known for their high damage output and rapid fire rate.

2. What are the seven levels of weapons in Fortnite?

The seven levels of weapon rarities in Fortnite, from weakest to strongest, are: Common (gray), Uncommon (green), Rare (blue), Epic (purple), Legendary (orange), Mythic (gold), and Exotic (light blue).

3. Is mythic better than legendary in Fortnite?

Generally, mythic weapons are considered better than legendary weapons in terms of raw power and unique abilities. However, “better” is subjective and depends on player preference. Mythic weapons are often tied to boss encounters and have distinctive traits that make them stand out.

4. What is the best legendary weapon in Fortnite?

There is no single universally “best” legendary weapon, as it depends on the season and player preferences. However, historically, some of the most favored legendary weapons include the Thermal Scoped Assault Rifle, the Burst Assault Rifle, and the Quad Launcher.

5. What are the best 5 weapons in Fortnite currently?

The best weapons often change with each season. However, a good loadout can sometimes include the Sharp Tooth Shotgun, Scoped Burst SMG, Twin Mag Assault Rifle, Rocket Ram, and a Suppressed Sniper Rifle.

6. What is the most hated weapon in Fortnite?

The Infantry Rifle is often cited as one of the most frustrating weapons due to its inconsistent performance. It was intended as an assault rifle but functioned poorly in that role, leading to frustration.

7. What is the best gun skin in Fortnite?

The best gun skin is subjective, but popular choices include Eternal Zero, Golden Black, Magma, Neon Pulse, and Ones And Zeros, which all have different styles and vibes to suit different players.

8. What was the first best gun in Fortnite?

In Fortnite’s early days (Fortnite OG), the Pump Shotgun was considered one of the best, if not the best, and strongest weapons in the game. Its high damage and close-range effectiveness made it a staple for many players.

9. Are exotic weapons always worth buying in Fortnite?

Exotic weapons are not always worth the investment, they depend on your playstyle, the situation, and the specific gun’s capabilities. While they often offer unique perks, the cost of acquiring them may not always be justified, especially if you are comfortable with standard weapons.

10. What color guns are best in Fortnite?

Gold (Legendary) and purple (Epic) guns are generally considered the best because they typically have higher damage output, accuracy, and stats than lower rarity weapons.

11. What does DPS mean in Fortnite?

DPS stands for “damage per second.” It refers to the amount of damage a weapon can deal over time. A high DPS means a weapon can quickly eliminate opponents.

12. What rarity is above mythic in Fortnite?

In most scenarios, Mythic is the highest weapon rarity in Fortnite. However, in some rare situations, items can be further upgraded to Divine rarity via specific in-game mechanics.

13. What’s more rare, epic or legendary?

Legendary weapons are more rare than epic weapons. Epic weapons are represented by purple and legendary weapons are represented by orange/gold.

14. What guns are considered rare in Fortnite?

Some examples of rare weapons throughout Fortnite’s history include the Assault Rifle, MK-Seven Assault Rifle, Hunting Rifle, and Rocket Launcher, but their availability can change with each new season.

15. How many guns should you carry in Fortnite?

Most players tend to carry two primary weapons (like an assault rifle and a shotgun or SMG) and also a range of other items. It’s recommended that players keep one slot for mobility items and the rest for healing and weapons.

Conclusion: Exotic Weapons and the Quest for Power

Exotic weapons in Fortnite are undoubtedly powerful and offer unique advantages, but they are not a guaranteed path to victory. The question of whether they are “the best” depends entirely on the individual player, their playstyle, and the specific situation in the game. While they might have unique perks, knowing how to use other weapons effectively and having a varied loadout is usually the key to success in Fortnite.