All Fortnite ARs: The Ultimate Guide to Assault Rifles in Battle Royale
Unlock the power of precision, range, and rapid fire — your survival in Fortnite may just depend on mastering every Assault Rifle in the game.
When you drop onto the ever-shifting map of Fortnite Battle Royale, your first instinct is to grab the nearest weapon — but not all guns are created equal. Among the arsenal of options, Assault Rifles (ARs) remain the backbone of every serious player’s loadout. Whether you’re pushing squads in Zero Build or holding angles in competitive modes, understanding all Fortnite ARs is non-negotiable. This guide dives deep into every current and recent AR, their stats, ideal use cases, and tactical advantages — so you can dominate the battlefield with confidence.
Why Assault Rifles Rule the Roost
Fortnite’s combat meta rotates constantly, but ARs have endured as the most versatile class. They offer the perfect balance between range, damage, fire rate, and ammo availability. Unlike shotguns that demand point-blank precision or snipers that require patience and positioning, ARs let you engage enemies at mid to long range while still being effective up close with hip-fire or quick-scoping.
Epic Games has iterated on AR designs over the seasons, introducing variants like burst-fire, automatic, suppressed, and even exotic models. Knowing which AR to pick, when to swap, and how to maximize their potential can be the difference between Victory Royales and early eliminations.
The Current Lineup: All Fortnite ARs in Chapter 5 (as of Season 3)
Let’s break down the active Assault Rifles you’ll encounter in the field. Stats are based on Epic’s official weapon balancing as of mid-2024.
1. MK-Seven Assault Rifle
- Rarity: Common to Legendary
- Fire Mode: Fully Automatic
- Damage: 28–31 per shot (depending on rarity)
- Fire Rate: 6.5 shots per second
- Magazine: 30 rounds
The MK-Seven is the spiritual successor to the classic SCAR. It’s reliable, consistent, and forgiving for newer players. Its spray pattern is manageable, and it shines in mid-range sprays and suppression fire. Pros use it to zone enemies during rotations or to soften up targets before closing in with a shotgun.
Pro Tip: Pair it with a Bolt-Action Sniper for long-range poke and a Pump Shotgun for close-quarters finishers.
2. Burst Assault Rifle
- Rarity: Uncommon to Epic
- Fire Mode: 3-round burst
- Damage: 36 per burst (12 per bullet)
- Fire Rate: 3 bursts per second
- Magazine: 24 rounds
This weapon rewards precision. Each burst requires control — tap too fast, and you’ll waste ammo. But land all three shots, and you deal 108 damage per second, outpacing most automatics. Ideal for players with steady aim and good trigger discipline.
Case Study: During the FNCS Major 3 Grand Finals, top player “Queasy” used the Burst AR to eliminate two opponents behind cover by precisely timing bursts between their peeks — showcasing its power in tactical engagements.
3. Suppressed Assault Rifle
- Rarity: Rare to Legendary
- Fire Mode: Fully Automatic
- Damage: 26–29 per shot
- Fire Rate: 7.0 shots per second
- Magazine: 30 rounds
Stealth meets firepower. The suppressed muzzle hides your position on the minimap and reduces audio cues. Perfect for flanking, third-partying, or sneaky rotations. While slightly weaker than the MK-Seven, its concealment factor makes it invaluable in high-stakes matches.
Tactical Insight: Use this when pushing late-game circles. Enemies won’t hear you coming — and by the time they locate your gunfire, it’s often too late.
4. Exotic AR: The Dub (Drum Gun)
- Rarity: Exotic (Quest Reward)
- Fire Mode: Fully Automatic
- Damage: 20 per shot
- Fire Rate: 8.3 shots per second
- Magazine: 50 rounds (!)
Acquired by completing specific character quests (currently from The Ageless Champion), The Dub is a beast in sustained firefights. Its massive magazine and blistering fire rate make it ideal for suppressing entire squads or melting structures. Downsides? Lower damage per bullet and heavy recoil. Master it, and you’ll control the pace of engagements.
Warning: Ammo consumption is extreme. Always carry extra mags — or better yet, pair it with a harvesting tool to break boxes for quick reloads.
Retired But Not Forgotten: Legendary ARs of the Past
While not in the current loot pool, understanding past ARs helps contextualize Fortnite’s evolution:
- SCAR: The original meta-defining AR. Balanced stats made it a favorite for years.
- Heavy Assault Rifle: High damage, low fire rate. Brutal in skilled hands but unforgiving for recoil.
- Infantry Rifle: Introduced in Chapter 3, this burst-fire rifle bridged the gap between ARs and DMRs.
These weapons shaped competitive play and still influence how current ARs are balanced. Many pros argue the SCAR’s removal shifted the game toward more aggressive, shotgun-heavy playstyles — a trend Epic has since tried to counterbalance with weapons like the MK-Seven.