Fortnite has a fairly large arsenal of weapons, which changes every season. And with the new Weapon Mod Benches feature added in Chapter 5 Season 1, you now have more options for customizing guns to suit your playstyle, which is especially useful for SMGs. For this reason, you should know about all the best Fortnite SMGs.
SMGs are an excellent choice for taking down enemies in close-range combat. But since they have one of the highest rates of fire, the magazine empties quite quickly. Luckily, you can now improve a weapon's strengths or mitigate its weaknesses using weapon Mods.
But before we show you a list of the best SMGs, make sure to read our article on how to get and use the Flowberry Fizz consumable in Fortnite. Also, you can take a look at our guide on how to get the Business Turret in Fortnite.
What are the best Fortnite SMGs?
In Chapter 5 Season 1, there are only three SMGs available to you. And despite such a small choice, each of the guns is a worthwhile weapon. So, to help you use the best Fortnite SMGs in matches, we've ranked all available guns of this type from best to worst. However, this does not mean that the SMG in last place at our top is weak. It just means that other SMGs perform better in battle. It is also important to note that this top is only relevant for Battle Royale matches.
1. Valeria's Hyper SMG
Valeria's Hyper SMG has one of the best fire rate stats, making it the number one choice for close combat in Fortnite. However, this Mythic weapon has a rather critical drawback in the form of vertical recoil. Luckily, with Weapon Mod Benches, you can fix this. In combination with the Vertical Foregrip Mod, as well as an increased magazine, Valeria's Hyper SMG becomes not only the best gun in its class but among all Chapter 5 Season 1 weapons.
2. Thunder Burst SMG
Second place is rightfully taken by Thunder Burst which has one of the highest damage stats among SMGs. But like the others, this gun is quite difficult to use due to the vertical recoil. If you are lucky enough to find one with a recoil-reducing Mod, then you have found the best weapon for close range. In addition, Thunder Burst SMG can perform well at medium range. However, for this, you will need the appropriate Optic Mod.
3. Hyper SMG
In third place is the Hyper SMG. It is a slightly weaker version of Valeria's Hyper SMG, especially if you find a gun with a rarity lower than Legendary. However, this SMG still has a very high fire rate and the same annoying vertical recoil. Therefore, just like with its Mythic version, you need to put Mods on the Hyper SMG that reduces recoil. In addition, you should pay attention to the reload speed and magazine capacity. With the right Mods, the Hyper SMG will shine in your hands.
That's everything you need to know about the best Fortnite SMGs. As you can see, all the SMGs available in Chapter 5 Season 1 are powerful guns. However, to unlock their potential, you will need to use Weapon Mod Benches and attach several Mods.
Once you're done here, feel free to take a look at our article on how to get the Evil Plan emote in Fortnite.