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Fortnite Chapter 5 Season 2 has just received another patch, with a very divisive weapon buff as one of the key talking points. Although the main focus of the v29.10 update was for the LEGO Fortnite game mode, with a steering wheel added and three new vehicles, Battle Royale also got some adjustments.
Among the latest Fortnite patch notes, the Hand Cannon and Drum Gun have been unvaulted, the Olympian boss gods have been given a health shake-up, and a new Banana of the Gods consumable item has been released. A general balance to weapons has also been rolled out, with one change sure to split the Fortnite community.
More deadly from a distance
We are still waiting on an official announcement from Epic Games for more information. However, data miners have found some interesting information regarding a change to the most divisive weapon in Fortnite. According to the reliable @HYPEX on X (formerly Twitter), “Reaper Sniper & DMR’s bullets now have less bullet-drop & faster speed”.
This means that shots will fire truer to your crosshairs. For those who don’t know, reducing the bullet drop refers to how much the in-game gravity affects the arc of your shot. The greater the distance the bullet has to travel, the more drop-off it will have from where you were initially aiming. This is why you need to aim above your actual target when firing from a distance. The faster bullet speed will also make it easier to hit a moving target. Less aim adjustment will be needed to be taken into account.
Snipers in Fortnite have always split the community. Many love to play as a stealthy marksman, while others feel they are overpowered and ruin the gameplay. This buff is certainly a change to the weapon that people on both sides may feel is unwarranted.
However, that isn’t the only change Epic Games has made when it comes to the Reaper Sniper. As confirmed by the official @FortniteStatus account on X (formerly Twitter), snipers will not drop as frequently as loot. They will also no longer drop as Uncommon or Rare.
Although the Reaper Sniper has gained a buff, it will also be a rarer and more limited item. Only Epic and Legendary versions will be able to be found in-game. This means you will definitely want to keep one in your inventory if found!
We wait to see how this adjustment plays out. Fewer snipers in the game feels like a good call from Epic. The buff is there to appease fans of the ranged weapon who wouldn’t have wanted the change.
If the change to snipers makes you rethink your loadout, check out our Fortnite weapons tier list to make sure you’re well-kitted out. You can also use our best Fortnite controller settings and best keyboard and mouse settings, to make yourself deadly in battle!
