Fortnite Season 7 has officially arrived, bringing a whole host of changes to the battle royale. Confirmed to be themed around an alien invasion, the new Fortnite season adds an array of futuristic weaponry with unique properties for players to discover.
The new season of Epic Games' popular free-to-play title is a major departure from the "Primal" Season 6. A good portion of the map has been changed, altering many of the map's named locations. Most of the familiar enemy AI is gone, including predators and spire guardians being eradicated from the island.
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In addition to aliens invading from the skies above, Fortnite's IO Guards have resurfaced from the ground below. Both sides bring their most advanced technology, creating a truly sci-fi-powered arsenal to the latest season. Here's a breakdown of the new Season 7 weapons:
One of the unique weapons introduced in Fortnite, the Kymera Ray Gun, is an alien weapon able to fire a continuous laser beam rather than individual shots. Only needing to stop to recharge, this new gun doesn't work so well on structures, so a clear line of sight is recommended against opponents. Available in Rare, Epic, and Legendary rarities.
Created by the IO, the self-proclaimed "Island defenders," the Pulse Rifle is the game's latest AR variant. The Pulse Rifle has unique characteristics in that it fires faster from the hip and provides slower but more accurate shots when aiming down sights. Available in Rare through Legendary, players can test their might against the new mini-boss, Dr. Slone, to try acquiring the Mythic Slone's Pulse Rifle.
Not only have Sniper Rifles made their triumphant return, but Fortnite is adding an entirely new sniper as well. The Rail Gun is a powerful sniper that can shoot directly through structures and surfaces, although there is a catch. Rail Guns have a visible targeting beam, potentially tipping off enemies of an impending shot. The high-tech long-range gun appears to be a replacement for the fan-favorite Heavy Sniper Rifle.
Another new weapon from IO, the Recon Scanner, is a unique utility weapon. As divulged by its appearance, the Recon Scanner shoots like a grenade launcher, but its rounds act very differently. Essentially a more targeted version of the now-vaulted Flare Gun, the new firearm launches Recon Bolts, which create a sphere on impact marking all opponents and chests within. While there's a limited amount of launchable Bolts, the Recon Scanner regenerates ammo automatically.
The culprit behind the random UFO abductions towards the end of last season, Saucers are a new pilotable weaponized vehicle for players to get their hands on. Attainable by shooting one down, Saucers come equipped with the famous abduction beam. An energy cannon is the ship's offense, launching explosive projectiles akin to the boat missile launcher.
While Fortnite's primal weapon crafting system may be gone, crafting has taken on a new form in the new season. Rather than animal bones and mechanical parts, players can pick up Nuts and Bolts, which allow them to craft familiar weapon variants. For example, combining the new crafting ingredient with an Assault Rifle yields a Burst Assault Rifle. An SMG can become a Rapid Fire SMG, a Shotgun to a Lever Action Shotgun, and so on.
That wraps up all of the new weapons currently available in Fortnite Season 7. However, they certainly aren't the only new ones players will see. Fortnite's official website states it's "only a matter of time" before new items arrive in the game. Considering this season is crossing over with Rick and Morty, expect Portal Guns or some other crazy Rick Sanchez inventions.
Fortnite is available now for Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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Source: Epic Games