Fortnite Ballistic: Weapons and gadgets tier list

Ballistic is one of Fortnite’s newest modes, and it’s the only core experience that presents a first-person perspective. With gameplay similar to Siege X, every player has exclusive access to a powerful gadget, and a unique arsenal of weapons is also available.

If you’re getting started in Ballistic, then you may want to study up on which equipment is the strongest. Here are the best weapons in Ballistic, along with the guns that aren’t worth your time.

We’ve taken a deep look at every weapon and gadget in Ballistic to figure out which are the best. We considered factors like damage, accuracy, and function while ranking the gadgets and guns in Fortnite’s most tactical game mode.

The info below explains the attributes of each tier in our Ballistic list so that you can easily understand our criteria and why each top-tier weapon is considered the best of the best.

There are dozens of different types of equipment to try in Ballistic, and we’ve compiled a simple tier list below that displays every item you can use as of September 2025. While ranking, we took into consideration maximum damage, recoil, abilities, and other basic factors about each weapon and gadget.

Our tiers below give a brief explanation of every weapon and gadget that can currently be used in Ballistic mode.

The Proximity Mine and Fire Grenade are the gold standard for gadgets in Ballistic, as they both allow you to deal high amounts of damage to enemies through strategic placement.

For weapons, you’ll find that the Nemesis, Striker, and Enforcer are all high-damage assault rifles, perfect for the mid-range encounters you’ll often face on Ballistic’s maps. Players seeking a long-range gun will find comfort in the Reaper Sniper Rifle, while the Frenzy Auto-Shotgun is the perfect option for fighting Fortnite enemies in close combat.

Frag Grenades pack quite a punch to enemy groups, but the Recon Grenade is arguably even better because it can help track your foes. Alternatively, the Wall can quickly grant you the high ground or block enemies off, so it’s also an A-Tier gadget.

The Sovereign Sniper only holds four bullets at a time, but it deals massive damage and has a powerful scope. Last but not least, the Thunder Bird SMG is one of the best submachine guns in Ballistic due to its high damage output in close-quarters combat, so it should definitely be on your radar.

B-Tier is home to tons of equipment because most of the weapons in Ballistic are simply average. The Bubble Grenade provides impromptu protection on the battlefield, while Med-Mist can heal your team in a tricky situation.

Moving on to guns, the Veiled Precision SMG has high accuracy, but the Hyper SMG is a better choice if you have good aim. The Drum Gun and Hammer Pump Shotgun are both challenging to learn, but they can take out multiple enemies swiftly if you’re able to hit all of your shots. Finally, the Hand Cannon is a power-packed pistol, though it’s also hard to use at first. B-Tier weapons are powerful, but they’re often difficult for new players to handle.

The Impulse Grenade and Overdrive kits are the only gadgets in C-Tier, with Impulse being the better of the two. Overdrive offers a speed boost, while an Impulse Grenade can launch you or an enemy across the battlefield in an instant.

The Machine Pistol isn’t completely useless, but it has a small ammo clip, so you’d be better off using the Hyper SMG if you’re seeking a close-range weapon in Ballistic mode.

Most of the gadgets and weapons deserved C-Tier or above, but the Ranger Pistol is undoubtedly the weakest weapon in Ballistic. As a starting gun, the Ranger simply can’t outbeat primary weapons like the Enforcer AR due to low damage and a lack of special functions, so we’ve placed it in D-Tier for now.

Ballistic is still very much a new mode compared to Battle Royale and Reload, and its tactical gameplay provides a fresh experience for Fortnite fans. Our list considered the best gadgets in Ballistic, along with the strongest guns, so that you can make an informed choice about how to spend your points mid-match.

Shotguns, SMGs, and even high-powered pistols are all in the arsenal for Fortnite’s first-person mode, granting every player a weapon that meets their expectations.