The Vaulting of the Drum Gun: A Deep Dive into Fortnite’s Balancing Act
The Drum Gun was initially vaulted primarily due to its overpowered nature. When first introduced, its high damage output, large magazine size, and relatively controllable recoil made it dominant in close to mid-range engagements. This dominance skewed the Fortnite meta, making other weapons less viable and creating a less diverse and ultimately, less enjoyable gameplay experience.
The Drum Gun’s Rise and Reign
The Drum Gun, often described as a hybrid between an SMG and an AR, quickly became a player favorite upon its initial release. Its strengths were undeniable:
- High Rate of Fire: Allowed for rapid damage output, melting opponents quickly.
- Large Magazine Size: Reduced the need for frequent reloads, allowing for sustained engagements.
- Decent Accuracy: Despite its high rate of fire, the recoil was manageable, especially in close to mid-range combat.
- Versatility: Effective in both build fights and open-field skirmishes.
However, these strengths combined to create a weapon that was simply too powerful relative to other options in the loot pool. Players overwhelmingly favored the Drum Gun, leading to less strategic weapon selection and a homogenization of gameplay.
The Impact on the Meta
The Drum Gun’s dominance had several negative effects on the overall Fortnite meta:
- Reduced Weapon Diversity: Players were less inclined to experiment with other weapons, as the Drum Gun offered a more reliable and effective option in most situations.
- Aggressive Playstyle Emphasis: The weapon’s characteristics favored an aggressive, push-oriented playstyle, potentially overshadowing more defensive or strategic approaches.
- Balancing Issues: Epic Games, the developers of Fortnite, aim to create a balanced and diverse gameplay experience. The Drum Gun’s skewed power level disrupted this balance, necessitating its removal.
The Vault and Subsequent Returns
Acknowledging the need for balance, Epic Games made the decision to vault the Drum Gun on September 11, 2018. This removal allowed other weapons to shine and encouraged a more varied and strategic approach to combat.
However, the Drum Gun’s popularity ensured it wouldn’t stay vaulted forever. Epic Games has periodically unvaulted the Drum Gun for limited-time events, often with slight tweaks to its stats. These returns allowed players to enjoy the weapon while mitigating its previous dominance. For example, it was unvaulted during the Winterfest event in Update v11.31 (December 19th). The Midas’ Drum Gun, a Mythic variant, has also made appearances, such as in Chapter 4 Season 4, obtainable by eliminating Revenant Kado Throne. These additions have provided fun diversions without permanently disrupting the game’s balance.
The Ever-Evolving Meta
Fortnite’s meta is constantly evolving, influenced by weapon balance changes, map updates, and the introduction of new items and mechanics. The decision to vault or unvault weapons is a crucial part of this evolution, aimed at keeping the game fresh, engaging, and balanced. The Drum Gun’s history serves as a prime example of how a single weapon can significantly impact the game’s dynamics. Researchers at places like the GamesLearningSociety.org study the impact of games like Fortnite on learning and engagement.
The Future of the Drum Gun
Whether the Drum Gun will return again in the future remains to be seen. Epic Games continues to monitor weapon performance and player feedback, using this data to inform future balancing decisions. It’s possible that the Drum Gun could reappear with further adjustments, or perhaps in a new Mythic form, always keeping in mind the need to maintain a balanced and enjoyable gameplay experience for all players.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About the Drum Gun
1. What does it mean for a weapon to be “vaulted” in Fortnite?
In Fortnite: Battle Royale, when an item is Vaulted, it becomes temporarily or permanently unavailable in the game and cannot be found by players in normal gameplay modes. Vaulting is a balancing mechanic used by Epic Games to adjust the meta.
2. What made the original Drum Gun so overpowered?
The original Drum Gun’s combination of a high rate of fire, large magazine size, and manageable recoil made it exceptionally effective in close to mid-range combat. Its overall damage output was higher than many other weapons, making it a dominant choice.
3. When was the Drum Gun first vaulted?
The Drum Gun was first vaulted on September 11, 2018.
4. Has the Drum Gun ever been unvaulted?
Yes, the Drum Gun has been unvaulted several times for limited-time events or in different forms, such as the Mythic Midas’ Drum Gun. Update v11. 31 (19th December): Unvaulted the Drum Gun in both rarities for the Winterfest event.
5. What is Midas’ Drum Gun, and how does it differ from the standard version?
Midas’ Drum Gun is a Mythic variant of the Drum Gun. It typically possesses enhanced stats compared to the standard versions, such as higher damage, improved accuracy, or a faster reload speed. Chapter 4: Season 4: Midas’ Drum Gun can be obtained by eliminating Revenant Kado Throne at Eclipsed Estate, inside Inner Sanctum. It could be previously obtained by getting in Eclipsed Estate’s, Sanguine Suits or Relentless Retreats vault and stealing it from the collection display. It now has the same stats as Jules’ drum gun.
6. Is the Drum Gun an SMG or an AR?
The Drum Gun is often described as a hybrid weapon, combining characteristics of both an SMG and an Assault Rifle (AR). It offers the high fire rate of an SMG with the stopping power and range of an AR.
7. How did Midas get his golden touch?
In Greek mythology, Midas was granted the ability to turn everything he touched into gold as a reward from the god Dionysus. Midas famously requested that anything he touched would turn to gold, although when he discovered the peril of his wish, he begged Dionysus to reverse the spell.
8. How did Midas get rid of his golden touch?
To rid himself of the golden touch, Midas was instructed by Dionysus to wash his hands in the river Pactolus. He told Midas to go to river Pactolus and wash his hands. Midas did so: he ran to the river and was astonished to see gold flowing from his hands.
9. Has the Drum Shotgun ever been in Fortnite?
Yes, the Drum Shotgun has been in Fortnite. Chapter 4: Season 3: Update v25. 00: Unvaulted the Drum Shotgun in Common to Legendary, and added a Mythic version.
10. What are some other notable weapons that have been vaulted in Fortnite?
Some other notable weapons and items that have been vaulted in Fortnite include: Cloak Gauntlets, Cybertron Cannon, Drum Shotgun, Enhanced Flapjack Rifle, Explosive Repeater Rifle, Flapjack Rifle, Grapple Glove, Grenade.
11. What Fortnite items have never been vaulted?
The two items in question are the Shield Potion and Small Shield Potion. They were added to the game during the pre-season and Chapter 1 Season 2 respectfully and have never been vaulted.
12. What is the Havoc Pump Shotgun, and why is it significant?
The Havoc Pump Shotgun is a powerful shotgun known for its high damage output. The Fortnite Mythic Havoc Pump Shotgun kills in a single shot. It’s a coveted weapon due to its potential to eliminate opponents quickly.
13. Why might Fortnite remove a player’s skins?
This usually happens when a refund request has been made or a chargeback has been issued with your payment provider. When this happens, our system automatically removes items that have been purchased within 30 days to cover the cost of the total V-Bucks refunded.
14. What is ODM Gear, and why was it temporarily removed?
ODM (Omni-Directional Mobility) Gear is a mobility item that allows players to quickly grapple and maneuver around the map. The ODM Gear item has now been vaulted from tournaments and Arena mode. Epic Games has disclosed that it decided to remove the item because a bug was making it impossible to enter build mode after using it.
15. What weapons were removed in Fortnite Chapter 3, Season 4?
Fortnite: All Weapons And Items Removed For Chapter 3, Season 4 Grapple Gloves, Heavy Sniper Rifle, Striker Burst Rifle, Stinger SMG, Charge SMG, Two-Shot Shotgun, Striker Pump Shotgun, Auto Shotgun.