Epic Games has released a patch to reduce the devastating power of shotguns in Fortnite.
Patch notes for the 4.3 update have revealed that shotguns have received a damage reduction as well as a drop to their headshots modifier. One key point to these changes is the fact that a pump shotgun will no longer be able to one-hit kill players who have 100 health and 100 shields.
The reasoning behind the change comes from the fact that shotguns had become essential in the game, with most skilled players typically reserving two spaces in their inventory for the weapons. Epic has stated that shotguns were being used "more often than we'd like," and had become the dominant strategy in the game.
Changes should give players more incentive to use the SMGs and other close range weapons which, while decent, simply couldn't compete with the power of well-aimed buckshot.
The reductions in damage on modifier now leave the Heavy Shotgun (the rarest available) as the highest damage dealer in its class, which makes sense really. The exact changes to shotties are:
- Pump Shotgun
- Headshot multiplier reduced from 2.5 to 2.0
- Damage reduced from 90/95 to 80/85
- Tactical Shotgun
- Headshot multiplier reduced from 2.5 to 2.0
They'll also be updating the "consistency" of shotguns, aiming to make it clearer when and why your shots miss or hit.
Not everything is being hit with the nerf-hammer however. Traps have once again been buffed to give them some use. They'll now be dealing 150 damage up from 75 (after their previous nerf from 125).
You can check out the full patch notes on the Epic Games website.