Fortnite Chapter 5 Update Brings Back Controversial Weapon

Game ZXC

Fortnite

By J.W. DiCarlo

Published Jan 10, 2024

Highlights

Fortnite unvaulted the controversial Lock On Pistol in a recent update.
The pistol can lock on to enemies within 50 meters and deliver up to four shots without needing to be aimed, making it useful for targeting opponents who can't build.
The Lock On Pistol is considered balanced if both users are aware of its abilities, but some players find it useless in high-skilled engagements.

A recent Fortnite update brought back one of the game's more controversial weapons, the Lock On Pistol. Fortnite's Lock On Pistol is a unique weapon that divides many users over its effectiveness.

Throughout its seven-year history, Fortnite has introduced an assortment of powerful weapons that gave users new ways to eliminate opponents. This arsenal included weapons like a Ray Gun, Infinity Gauntlet, Rail Gun, and more, but none of these options were quite like the Lock On Pistol. Although its place within Fortnite was hotly debated when it was initially introduced, it has now reappeared in the game after having been vaulted for seven months.

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As part of Fortnite's January 9th update, the Lock On Pistol was unvaulted and is available in chests, floor loot, and most other loot sources. This pistol can lock on to any enemy within 50 meters, and after charging up for a couple of seconds it delivers up to four shots that will hit an enemy without needing to be aimed. It does 20 damage to the body and 25 damage to the head, so it will often take more than one salvo to take down an enemy with shields. While an opponent is charging up the Lock On Pistol, most players counter it by building. This makes the weapon especially useful when targeting enemies who are flying away and can't build, and is also powerful in Fortnite's Zero Build mode. Fortnite's newest update did not introduce any balance changes to the Lock On Pistol, and the update's only other addition was the Week 6 challenges.

promo image for smart pistol new fortnite weapon

The Lock On Pistol falls in Fortnite's rare tier of weapon rarity, making it pretty attainable. When it was initially announced in the Summer of 2023, many users expected it to be in a higher rarity tier such as epic, legendary, or mythic due to its unique characteristics. However, the pistol is surprisingly balanced if both users in a gunfight are aware of its abilities, and some players report that the weapon is somewhat useless in high-skilled engagements. Its official description states that it's, "exceptionally useful during high speed pursuits," so this might be Epic Games' intention for the weapon.

In addition to the Lock On Pistol, Epic Games also recently added the Enforcer AR and Flowberry Fizz to Fortnite. These items spruced up the assault rifle and healing consumable categories, respectively. However, many users report that the Enforcer is quite weak relative to other ARs like the Striker, but many players enjoy Flowberry Fizz for its combination of both healing and mobility effects.

Fortnite

Fortnite is a massively popular game that has several modes, the most famous of which is the online battle royale mode. In this mode, players collect items, build structures, and battle it out to be the ultimate victor.