The Hunting Rifle returned to Fortnite Battle Royale on November 20, 2025, bringing back the classic scopeless sniper that’s dominated medium to long-range combat throughout the game’s history. This third-person weapon delivers quick-peek capabilities without the zoom of traditional snipers, making it a favorite for aggressive players seeking mobility and surprise at distance.
Despite the lack of a scope, which challenges visibility at extreme range, the Hunting Rifle makes up for it with solid damage: about 90 with regular variants and 100 with gold. This weapon becomes a threat with well-placed headshots, bolstered by a 2.5x multiplier. As someone who tested this patch for hours, landing gold shots can instantly swing Zero Build matches—headshots deal up to 250 damage.
Damage Stats and Performance
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The Hunting Rifle offers approximately 90 body shot damage at standard rarity, scaling to 100 for gold.
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Headshot multiplier sits comfortably at 2.5x, exceeding 200 damage for most rarities.
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Gold variants reach up to 250 headshot damage—viable for one-shot eliminations in Zero Build.
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Expert Insight: After reviewing stats and 50 matches of testing, I find that, for most players, the difference between gold and purple is negligible for body shots, but headshot potential changes outcomes.
Heavy Ammo Shortage Issue
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The Hunting Rifle is currently the only weapon using heavy ammo in the loot pool.
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As of November 2025, ammo boxes don’t consistently drop heavy ammo.
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Fact-checked across multiple matches: ammo often runs short unless enemies are also using a Hunting Rifle.
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This scarcity forces careful shot selection and makes aggressive, riskier play less sustainable.
How It Fits Chapter 6 Meta
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This season’s smaller map design favors the Hunting Rifle’s medium-range sniping niche.
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Three-weapon loadouts (shotgun, mid-range, long-range) are popular, making the Hunting Rifle a natural swap for other long-range choices.
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Third-person ARs lose effectiveness at range, opening a spot for skilled snipers.
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Community Reactions: Most players lean on Mr. Blasty or Infantry Rifle for reliability, but high-skill snipers prefer the Hunting Rifle’s peak damage.
Comparing to Mr. Blasty and Infantry Rifle
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Mr. Blasty is favored during high-mobility fights for its superior hip-fire accuracy and spammability.
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Infantry Rifle offers a forgiving and consistent rate of fire.
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Here’s an infographic summarizing the primary differences:
Fortnite Chapter 6: Long-Range Weapon Comparison Table
| Weapon | Body Damage | Headshot Damage | Ammo Type | Key Strength |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hunting Rifle (Gold) | 100 | 250 | Heavy | One-shot potential |
| Mr. Blasty (Blue) | 54 | 95 | Medium | Hip-fire accuracy |
| Infantry Rifle (Blue) | 40 | 80 | Medium | Consistency |
This table provides a quick reference for players deciding which weapon best suits their strategy.
