What is Hitscan in Fortnite? Mechanic explained

Hitscan is one of the most discussed mechanics in Fortnite among players when they talk of weapons. If you’re new to the game and wondering what they are, here’s everything you need to know.

Fortnite boasts a diverse array of weaponry that cater to each player and mode, allowing them to choose their preferred playstyle. The Battle Royale has gone through multiple chapters and seasons over the years, with each bringing a new weapon and a mechanic to complement it, allowing loopers to have distinct gameplay experiences.

Hitscan is one such mechanic that has been present since launch and has been included in Chapter 1 weapons from the start. However, 7 years on, some players are still wondering exactly how the mechanic works.

What is Hitscan?

A Hitscan is a weapon that has no travel time, which means your bullets will hit your target the moment you pull the trigger.

Unlike Projectile weapons, shots fired from Hitscan weapons face no delay and you need to exactly aim where your target is since they require you to be more accurate.

You can easily tell if a weapon is Hitscan as your enemies will instantly take damage the moment you fire it — assuming you land your hit, of course.

How do Hitscan weapons work in Fortnite?

Hitscan weapons in Fortnite are similar to any other weapon with that mechanic in shooting games − as soon as you press the shoot button, the shot instantly registers and deals damage to the enemy.

For example, if you fire a shot from an Assault Rifle in Fortnite at an enemy who is 100 meters away from you, the shot will register at the exact same time you hit the button, which means you won’t experience any delay.

Furthermore, these weapons allow you to shoot at the precise location of enemies in front of you and require you to keep the crosshair centered on them. As long as you aim directly at your enemy and press the shoot button, your Hitscan weapons will offer greater accuracy and deal consistent damage.

All Hitscan weapons in Chapter 2 Remix

Chapter 2 Remix has brought back classic POIs and Hitscan weapons from the past, allowing players to enjoy them again as the previous season were filled with Projectiles. Currently, these are the hitscan weapons you can find in the Battle Royale island:

• Dual Pistols
• Drum Gun
• Tactical Shotgun
• Pump Shotgun
• Submachine Gun
• Scoped Assault Rifle
• Suppressed Assault Rifle
• Striker Burst Rifle
• Heavy Sniper Rifle

Best Hitscan weapons of all time

While hitscan weapons are currently back in Chapter 2 Remix, we’ve compiled some of the best ones that you can use in Reload and possibly future chapters of Fortnite OG.

Here are the best Hitscan weapons you’ll come across in Fortnite:

• Assault Rifle (Chapter 1)
• Combat Shotgun (Chapter 1)
• Submachine Gun (Chapter 1)
• Burst Assault Rifle (Chapter 1)
• MK-Seven Assault Rifle (Chapter 3)
• Midas’ Drum Gun (Chapter 2)
• Suppressed SMG (Chapter 1)
• Twin Mag SMG (Chapter 4)
• Rapid Fire SMG (Chapter 2)
• Hand Cannon (Chapter 1)
• Pistol (Chapter 1)
• Tactical Shotgun (Chapter 1)
• Red-Eye Assault Rifle (Chapter 4)
• Infantry Rifle (Chapter 1)
• Lock-On Pistol (Chapter 4)
• Tri-Beam Laser Rifle (Chapter 5)

What is the difference between Hitscan and Projectile weapons?

The difference between the two is the travel time. Shots fired from Projectile weapons experience a bullet drop and have a consistent travel time.

When you fire a Projectile weapon, for instance, a Bolt Action Sniper, you’ll see the bullet exit your muzzle and drop on your target after some time. This also requires you to predict where your enemy is going to be, rather than where they are right now.

For example, if your enemy is moving toward the right-hand side of your screen, your crosshair should not be at the enemy, but instead where they are going to be in the next moment.

Here are some clear differences you’ll often see in a Hitscan vs a Projectile weapon.

Hitscan Weapon	Projectile Weapon
Registers a shot instantly when the shoot button is pressed	Registers a shot after the bullet drops on the target
Requires you to aim at the enemy’s exact location	Requires you to predict the enemy’s next position
Distance from the enemy doesn’t matter	Distance from the enemy needs to be accounted for travel time of the bullet
These weapons have no bullet drop	These weapons have a bullet drop
These are mostly non-scoped weapons made for close-range	Scoped Weapons meant for long-range are mostly projectile

That’s everything you need to know about Hitscan weapons in Fortnite and how are they different from Projectile weapons. Check out more Fortnite content such as best aim settings, details regarding the next Remix Finale live event, and everything you can expect in Chapter 6.