Rick Flair
The best loadouts in Fortnite vary depending on your playstyle. Typically, you’d want to have mid-range and close-range options, as most fights happen at these distances. While some options, such as sniper rifles or special weapons, may be effective in certain scenarios, we will not include them in the best loadouts list. The reason is that you won’t be trying to use them every match. Instead, we’ll focus on the weapons and utilities that you will use almost every game. In this article we will focus on the best loadout for both Ranked & Zero Build.
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Top Loadouts In Fortnite 2026
The meta has clear favorites in Chapter 7 Season 1. You’ll see many players winning with a Deadeye AR in hand. The Red dot ARs have been dominant in the game for a long time. There’s a big reason for that, as they’re extremely accurate, don’t have to deal with bloom that much, and allow you to shoot quite far. They also have really good spray when hipfired. The close-quarter solution is usually a shotgun. This season, the Iron Pump and Twin Shotguns are extremely popular. The Iron Pump is better for an accurate player, while Twin Shotguns give a more reliable damage output. The biggest change to how the game is played comes in mobility options. The game has introduced a new Forsaken Vow blade, which comes from the collaboration with the Kill Bill franchise. Though it’s a weapon that does decent damage, most people use it for its dash ability. But enough of the premise, let’s dive into the top loadouts in Fortnite 2026:
| Name | Equipment Type | Description |
| Deadeye AR | Primary Weapon | Whether you're playing zero build or normal BR, Deadeye AR is the best weapon in Fortnite. Red dots traditionally dominate in Zero Build, but they perform extremely well in standard mode as well. It allows you to engage in long-range fights while also providing decent spray for close-quarters fights. |
| Enforcer AR | Primary Weapon | Another good choice, but not as good as Deadeye. While it also allows you to have decent damage output, it's not that good at long ranges. Considering how much distance you can cover with mobility items this season, it might not seem like such a downside, but it is. Almost all fights will start with you getting hit by a Deadeye. Unless you're a very active player, this will prove to be a problem. Enforcer is good at close distance, but at near distance, you'd better switch to shotguns, which makes the AR redundant. Still, it's better than most other weapon options. |
| Any AR | Primary Weapon | If you don't get any of the aforementioned rifles, any AR will do. It'll be a placeholder until you find something better, but it's something. You don't wanna run around with a pistol in your hands, do you? |
| Mythic Shotgun | Secondary Weapon | There are two you can get. One drops in Ripped Tides if you do the barbell puzzle, and one drops from the boss. You want the one that drops in Ripped Tides. You can read how to get it in our guide on the Best Landing Spots in Fortnite 2026. It spawns with a 33% chance, so try to go for it every round. In terms of performance, it's one of the best Fortnite weapons. It's an Iron Pump shotty with improved accuracy while ADS. It's an upgrade over the Legendary version in every way, but not a major one, so if you don't get it, it's not a big deal. |
| Iron Pump Shotgun | Secondary Weapon | Any version of it is great, but obviously, the higher the rarity, the better the stats are. You need at least Epic for it to work really well. It is a bit more skill-reliant, so if you find it difficult to land all the shots, take a look at the next contender on the list. BLOG20 |
| Twin Shotguns | Secondary Weapon | A lot of people seem to enjoy them. They're less effective than Iron Pump, but they're much more forgiving. If you need a more reliable option to deal damage, they're your choice. It's a good starting point for an average player, and you might even outplay Iron Pump players if your movement is good. It's a good starting point to learn how to play shotties, basically. When you feel you've gotten better, switch to Iron Pump. |
| Shockwave Grenade | Mobility Option | A very reliable mobility option. The Shockwave grenade is constantly getting into a list of the best Fortnite mobility items. Simply drop it beneath you and jump, and it will push you far away out of harm's way. Or in the face of your opponent, if you're trying to secure the kill. It's much simpler to use than Forsaken Vow Blade, and it's a safe option. |
| Forsaken Vow Blade | Mobility Option | A new item this season, released as part of a collaboration with Kill Bill. This weapon is strong, but its strongest suit is the dashes it gives you. The Epic version grants two dashes, while the upgraded Legendary gives you three! Combining it with the Shockwave makes you insanely fast and hard to hit. This is the best mobility option if you're willing to practice with it. It might not be as reliable as Shockwave and requires some skill to handle, yet when handled by a master, you truly can't outplay it. Just don't use it as a weapon, it's not worth it. |
| Chug Jug | Healing Item | The best healing item in Fortnite. If you carry two mobility items, a single Chug Jug is more than enough. If you didn't manage to find it, we'd suggest getting rid of one of the mobility tools and settling for Big Pots. |
| Big Pots | Healing Item | Or a Shield Potion, as it's called officially. Second-best healing item in the game. While it only heals shields, it's still really strong. The Medkits are so common in the game that you don't really need to carry them around, hence just Big Pots will do. |
There's some argument about whether having a third weapon slot is viable or not, but we'd say leave it out. Most of the time, a shotgun and an AR are enough, especially if you have a Red Dot AR. They make the best Fortnite weapon combo. If you're so unlucky that it doesn't drop, then you can try running a sniper rifle to get the opening shot on the enemy. The optimal loadout in Fortnite is running an AR, Shotty, Forsaken Vow, Shockwaves, and a healing item.
Conclusion
While the options seem to be limited, these weapons and utility items will give the best results. Your goal every game is to find them. People report that this loadout raised their winrate to 25%, which is a lot. Of course, the best weapons are nothing without skill. Be sure to check out our list of Best Fortnite XP Maps, which includes maps suitable for aim practice.
F.A.Q
What is the best all-around Fortnite loadout in 2026?
The best all-around Fortnite loadout includes the following items:
- Deadeye AR
- Iron Pump Shotgun
- Shockwave Grenade / Forsaken Vow Blade
- Chug Jug / Big Pots
How many weapons should be in a Fortnite loadout?
Most players consider two to be enough. Occasionally, you can get the third weapon. It’s going to be a sniper rifle or some special weapon.
What is the best “third weapon” slot: SMG or sniper for Fortnite?
SMGs are pretty weak, especially when you already have a shotgun as a second weapon. Sniper can be a good fight opener.
What heals are best to carry in Fortnite?
Chug Jug or Big Pots. Having medkits isn’t necessary, as you can easily find or buy them. These two healing items will help you go through most fights.
