With the update 3.0.0, a new weapon has been added to Fortnite: the Desert Eagle handgun. According to Epic, it is supposed to be loud and extremely powerful – but is that true? We took a closer look at the weapon in Battle Royale mode!
The handgun primarily represents an improvement over the revolver and can be found in the rarity levels epic (purple) and legendary (orange). That the new cannon is supposed to deal massive damage is also illustrated by the ammunition that this weapon requires.
You need to fire heavy ammunition – which was previously reserved for sniper rifles. But how much damage does the handgun really deal?
How to find the new Desert Eagle handgun
You can find the weapon
- randomly as loot on the ground,
- in treasure chests, and
- even in supply drops.
Since it is difficult to distinguish from the standard pistols from a distance, you can still quickly recognize which weapon it is based on the rarity (standard pistols only exist up to the rarity of uncommon – blue).
How much damage does the handgun do in Fortnite: Battle Royale
With the epic variant, you deal 78 damage with a body shot – critically, the handgun deals a whopping 187 damage. Many opponents are already history with that! You can also check out the true destruction potential in the following video:
There are already voices claiming that the weapon is too powerful. At least the video reinforces this impression. But is that really the case? The fire rate of the weapon is extremely poor at 0.8 shots per second.
In fast close-range fights, the weapon is likely to be used little – it shoots too slowly for that. Here, shotguns, pump-action guns, and submachine guns will be the much better choice.
Desert Eagle in Fortnite: Battle Royale – Ideal for initiating fights
Robert says: Brutal damage, low fire rate – the new handgun strongly resembles the revolvers already in the game, which, however, are not very popular. Moving enemies are hard to hit – especially if you want to land a critical hit.
Among the pistols, the suppressed variant deals more consistent damage – even when the opponent is moving. However, the new handgun does have its use. It is excellent for initiating a fight.
With a body shot damage of 78, you can quickly take out opponents after switching weapons. If this play style is not for you, you can at least use the heavy ammo of the handgun for your sniper rifle!
How do you like the new handgun? Let us know in the comments!
More about weapons in Fortnite:
Fortnite: Battle Royale – See all weapons in the game, including the best ones
