If you are jumping into Fortnite Chapter 7 on PlayStation, Xbox, PC, or Switch and wondering which guns actually got better after the latest balance update, the short answer is this: Holo Rush SMG, Flex SMG (especially the new Mythic), and the Sovereign Shotgun are the biggest winners, while the Tactical AR and Enforcer AR get small but real damage bumps. The Tactical Pistol was mentioned in early balance previews but does not have clearly confirmed live buffs yet, so it remains more or less unchanged for now.
| Weapon | Role | Main strengths | Main drawbacks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Holo Rush SMG | Close / short‑mid | High fire rate, buffed damage, scoped aim | Weak long‑range, slower reload |
| Flex SMG (Mythic) | Close | Huge DPS, large mag, boss‑tier power spike | Must contest Bigfoot, burns light ammo |
| Sovereign Shotgun | Close / mid | Strong ADS consistency, smoother cadence | Lower burst than Iron Pump/Twin Hammers |
| Tactical AR | Mid‑range | Better DPS post‑buff, controllable recoil | Still weaker than Deadeye at long range |
| Enforcer‑type AR | Mid / upper mid | Higher per‑shot damage after buff | Slower fire rate, punishes misses |
For most zero build and casual Battle Royale players, the best way to adapt is to lean into a close‑ to mid‑range loadout built around one strong shotgun, a buffed SMG, and a long‑range rifle to handle Deadeye AR users. The return of Shockwave Grenades and new movement options like the K‑pop Demon Hunters mask and Flowberry Mist effects make it much easier to force fights at the right distance for these buffed weapons.
Main weapon buffs in the latest Fortnite update
Holo Rush SMG – higher damage, bigger mag
The Holo Rush SMG was already part of the Chapter 7 loot pool as a fast‑firing, scoped SMG that chews through light ammo, and it now gets a direct damage and magazine buff.
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Damage: Epic confirmed higher damage across SMGs like Holo Rush in the K‑pop Demon Hunters update notes and recap coverage. Earlier baseline stats put uncommon Holo Rush at 14 body damage with 11.8 fire rate; the new values increase that damage per shot while keeping fire rate the same, improving overall DPS.
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Magazine: The magazine size is increased compared to the original Chapter 7 launch stats, giving you more bullets to work with before the relatively slow reload kicks in.
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Role: Scoped SMG that can double as a pseudo‑AR at short to mid range, but still loses to full rifles at long range.
In real matches, you feel this most when you commit to full sprays: tracking a running target or finishing a cracked opponent is noticeably safer now because you are less likely to run dry mid‑spray.
Flex SMG and the new Bigfoot Mythic
Flex SMG gets grouped in with Holo Rush in Epic’s recent buff wave, with higher damage and larger magazines advertised across the SMG family. The big headline, though, is the new Mythic Flex SMG tied to the Bigfoot boss in Fortnite Chapter 7.
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General buff: SMGs like Flex gain higher damage and better handling in the latest update, making them feel snappier and more reliable in close‑range trades.
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Mythic Flex SMG: You can obtain a Mythic version by defeating the Bigfoot boss on the Chapter 7 island, which then drops a powerful Flex SMG alongside other loot.
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Role: Classic spray weapon for cleaning up after a shotgun shot, or for melting players at box‑fight distance when you hold good positioning.
If you enjoy contesting boss POIs, securing the Mythic Flex SMG is one of the biggest power spikes you can get from this patch.
Sovereign Shotgun and AR buffs: what changed?
Sovereign Shotgun – smoother ADS fire rate
The Sovereign Shotgun is a Chapter 7 shotgun that trades raw burst damage for consistency and range when aimed down sights.
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Identity: Medium‑damage shotgun with tighter spread and stronger performance when ADS, but with a noticeable fire‑rate penalty compared to hip‑fire.
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Buff focus: Recent patch coverage and balance rundowns confirm that the Sovereign Shotgun has been buffed, specifically improving how it feels when aimed, so players are less punished for ADS in close‑quarter fights.
This makes Sovereign more viable if you are the type of player who naturally aims down sights for every shotgun shot, especially in zero build where peeking and precision matter a lot.Tactical AR and Enforcer AR – small damage bumps
Alongside the headlining SMG changes, the update increases damage on some rifles, including Tactical AR and Enforcer‑style rifles.
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Tactical AR: Receives a small damage increase per shot, improving its DPS while keeping the same controllable burst‑style recoil profile.
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Enforcer‑type ARs: Also gain higher damage per bullet, which fits their identity as slower but harder‑hitting rifles.
These buffs make mid‑range rifles slightly more forgiving, but they do not change the fact that Deadeye AR remains the premium long‑range beamer in Chapter 7.
Tactical Pistol – why the “buff” is still unclear
Before this update went live, Epic promoted SMG and pistol buffs together, suggesting the Tactical Pistol would also see improvements. However, public stat roundups and community testing have not produced clear, confirmed new damage or range values for the pistol yet.
Given the lack of reliable numerical evidence, it is safest to treat the Tactical Pistol as functionally unchanged for now and avoid over‑selling any supposed buff. You can still use it as a backup sidearm, but it has not jumped into the top tier in the same way Holo Rush or Flex have.
Mobility changes that indirectly buff SMGs and Sovereign
One of the most important parts of this update is not a weapon at all: it is the mobility tools added or highlighted in the K‑pop Demon Hunters update.
Key movement tools now in play include:
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Mask / Void‑style teleport item: Works similarly to previous Void Mask gear from Chapter 6, letting you throw a projectile and teleport to it, giving strong control over where and when you fight.
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Shockwave Grenades: A staple mobility item that lets you instantly break line of sight, close the gap, or escape bad positions in both builds and zero build.
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Flowberry Mist: A throwable mist that grants shields and the Flowberry movement effect, letting you reposition quickly while topping up your health and shields.
These tools matter because Holo Rush, Flex SMG, Tactical AR, and Sovereign all perform best inside mid‑range, where their time‑to‑kill is competitive, but they can be shredded by Deadeye AR at very long range. Extra mobility helps you avoid staying in bad sightlines and instead force close‑range engagements where your buffed guns shine.
An example from real matches: you might Shockwave onto a rooftop, teleport with the mask behind an opponent holding a Deadeye angle, open with a Sovereign ADS shot, then swap to a buffed Holo Rush SMG to clean up before they can react.
Recommended loadouts with the new buffs
Here are some practical loadout ideas that take advantage of the latest buffs in Fortnite Chapter 7.
Zero Build aggressive loadout
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Main shotgun: Iron Pump Shotgun or Twin Hammer Shotguns for raw burst kill potential.
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SMG slot: Holo Rush SMG or Flex SMG (Mythic Flex if you control Bigfoot).
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Rifle slot: Deadeye AR or a buffed Tactical AR for longer sightlines.
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Mobility: Shockwave Grenades plus the Demon Hunters mask.
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Utility: Flowberry Mist or standard heals to sustain pushes.
Safer mid‑range / support loadout
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Main rifle: Deadeye AR for consistent beams across the map.
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Secondary: Buffed Tactical AR or Enforcer‑style AR to handle medium fights where recoil control matters.
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Close‑range: Sovereign Shotgun or Holo Rush SMG as a backup when players dive onto you.
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Mobility and heals: Same as above—Shockwaves, mask, Flowberry, and shield/heal mix.
