What’s the Best Rarity in Fortnite? A Comprehensive Guide

The short answer to the question of the “best” rarity in Fortnite is: it depends on what you mean by “best.” If we’re strictly talking about the highest tier of rarity, then Legendary (Gold) takes the crown. However, the game isn’t always that straightforward, and several factors influence which rarity is most advantageous in any given situation. This article will delve deep into the rarity system of Fortnite, explore the various tiers, and answer common questions to help you understand the nuances of this crucial element of the game.

Understanding Fortnite’s Rarity System

Fortnite employs a tiered rarity system that affects weapons, skins, and other items. This system uses a color-coding approach, with each color representing a different level of scarcity and, often, power. The standard rarities you’ll encounter are:

• Common (Grey): The most ubiquitous, typically found in abundance. They offer the baseline stats and damage.
• Uncommon (Green): A step up from Common, they are more powerful and are found more moderately.
• Rare (Blue): A solid middle-tier, offering decent damage and utility. They are less common than Green.
• Epic (Purple): Highly desirable, these items boast significant advantages over the lower rarities. They are relatively rare to find.
• Legendary (Gold): The pinnacle of the standard rarity tiers, offering the highest stats and unique perks, but are the hardest to find from ground loot or chests.

While these five tiers make up the core system, there are also other, less common rarities to consider:

• Mythic: Mythic items are often unique weapons tied to specific characters or boss fights. They usually possess incredibly high damage, special abilities, and are not always considered “better” than legendary in all cases.
• Exotic: These items are often purchased from NPCs using in-game currency (Bars) and come with unique gameplay mechanics or specific bonuses that can provide a tactical edge. Exotics are like specialized tools, focusing on specific benefits that may or may not be better than a legendary item depending on the specific exotic.
• Gifted: A special type of item. Gifted rares are more valuable than standard epics, and Gifted epics are more valuable than standard legendaries. It’s a complex system.

The Impact of Rarity on Gameplay

The primary distinction between rarities lies in their stats, particularly their damage output and reload times. A higher rarity generally means:

• Increased Damage: Legendary weapons typically deal more damage per shot than Epic ones, and so on down the rarity ladder.
• Improved Reload Times: The same concept applies to reload times, where higher rarities reload slightly faster.

However, it’s important to note that rarity does not affect a weapon’s accuracy or aiming mechanics. Skill still plays a crucial role in Fortnite; higher rarity weapons can make it easier to deal damage but don’t fundamentally change the game’s mechanics. It’s worth noting that these benefits can also extend to other items such as healing items.

Beyond the Numbers: Tactical Considerations

While Legendary items are statistically superior to Epic items, it is not as simple as “higher rarity equals better.” The best rarity depends heavily on the current tactical situation, the weapons available and your playstyle. For example:

• An Exotic weapon may fit a player’s unique playstyle or build better than a Legendary weapon, even if the legendary has superior raw stats.
• In a chaotic close-quarters combat scenario, the fire rate of an Epic shotgun might be more beneficial than the higher damage of a slower-firing legendary version.
• A player who is proficient with an Uncommon Assault Rifle may perform better than a player who doesn’t know how to use a Legendary Sniper Rifle.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Fortnite Rarities

1. Is Legendary always better than Epic?

Statistically, Legendary weapons generally do 10% more damage than all Epic weapons, making them more potent. However, as mentioned before, other factors can determine which gun is “better” for a specific situation. Always consider the handling, fire rate, and personal preference when choosing a weapon.

2. Is Exotic better than Legendary in Fortnite?

Not always. Exotic weapons are like specialized tools, offering specific perks or unique mechanics that can complement a certain playstyle or build. While these perks can be very powerful, they may not always outperform the raw power of a Legendary weapon.

3. What is better, Mythic or Legendary?

Generally, Mythic weapons are powerful, but whether they are “better” is subjective. Mythic weapons have incredible stats and/or unique abilities, but it comes down to the specific weapon, your playstyle and your skill with that weapon.

4. What rarity is above Mythic?

There is no specific rarity officially ranked above Mythic. Instead of focusing on a singular “better” ranking, the different rarities are situational. Some gifted items are stronger than both legendary and mythic, for example.

5. What’s more rare: Epic or Legendary?

Legendary items are more rare than Epic items, meaning they are harder to find within the game.

6. What’s the most powerful weapon in Fortnite history?

While many have been powerful, the original iteration of the pump shotgun is often cited as the most powerful due to its ability to kill enemies with a single headshot.

7. What is the fastest shotgun in Fortnite?

Auto shotguns have the fastest fire rate among shotguns. However, they often sacrifice some damage in return for their high firing speed.

8. What is the best legendary gun in Fortnite?

The best legendary gun is subjective to the player and their preferences. However, guns such as the Thermal Scoped Assault Rifle, the Burst Assault Rifle, and the Quad Launcher have often been praised.

9. What is the best legendary skin in Fortnite?

Similarly to guns, the best skin is subjective. However, skins such as Catalyst/Drift, Eternal Knight, and John Wick are often highly regarded due to their appearance, style options, and overall popularity.

10. What rarity is the Peely skin?

The Peely skin is an Epic outfit.

11. What are the 5 levels of rarity in Fortnite?

The main five are: Common, Uncommon, Rare, Epic, and Legendary.

12. What’s the rarest Epic item?

It can change, but as of recently, the rarest Epic item is Pizza, with a very low drop rate.

13. Are Gifted Rares better than Epics?

Yes. Gifted items are a separate classification than standard items. In order, Gifted Rare>Epic and Gifted Epic>Legendary.

14. What color is the Rare rarity in Fortnite?

The Rare rarity is represented by the color Blue.

15. Does Rarity affect aiming ability in Fortnite?

No. Rarity does not improve your aim. It only affects damage output, reload speed and sometimes other stats such as movement speed, depending on the item.

Conclusion

While Legendary (Gold) items are the pinnacle of the rarity scale in Fortnite, the “best” rarity depends on a variety of factors. Understanding the nuances of each rarity and how it impacts gameplay will give you an edge. Don’t just blindly pick the highest rarity item you see; evaluate the tactical situation and choose the gear that best suits your playstyle and skill. By doing so, you’ll be able to get the most out of Fortnite’s dynamic gameplay.