Every weapon and item in Fortnite Battle Royale has a rarity tier indicated by its color. Higher rarity weapons deal more damage, have better accuracy, faster reload times, or larger magazines compared to their lower-tier counterparts.
Understanding the rarity system helps you make quick decisions about which weapons to pick up and which to leave behind during a match.
Rarity Tiers Explained
Fortnite uses a color-coded rarity system with seven tiers, from weakest to strongest:
| Color | Rarity | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Grey | Common | Weakest versions, found everywhere |
| Green | Uncommon | Slight stat improvement over Common |
| Blue | Rare | Solid mid-tier weapons |
| Purple | Epic | Strong weapons, less common in floor loot |
| Orange/Gold | Legendary | Powerful weapons, primarily from chests and supply drops |
| Gold (glowing) | Mythic | Unique weapons from bosses or special locations |
| Cyan/Teal | Exotic | Special weapons purchased from NPCs |
How Rarity Affects Stats
When comparing the same weapon at different rarities, higher tiers typically have:
- Higher damage per shot – Usually 1-3 extra damage per rarity tier
- Faster reload speed – Reduced reload time by fractions of a second
- Better accuracy – Tighter bullet spread, especially on assault rifles
- Larger magazine size – Some weapons gain extra rounds at higher rarities
The stat differences between adjacent tiers (like Rare to Epic) are small but can make a difference in close fights. The gap between Common and Legendary is more significant.
Mythic Weapons
Mythic weapons are unique items that typically come from defeating bosses or accessing special locations on the map. They have a distinctive gold glow and are often more powerful than Legendary weapons.
Key things to know about Mythic weapons:
- Usually only one of each Mythic weapon exists per match
- Often tied to specific NPCs or POIs that rotate each season
- May have unique abilities or stats not found on regular weapons
- Highly contested—expect fights if you go for them
Exotic Weapons
Exotic weapons (cyan/teal color) are special items purchased from NPC characters scattered around the map using Gold Bars. These weapons often have unique mechanics not found on standard weapons.
Examples of Exotic weapon effects include:
- Healing effects on hit
- Marking enemies through walls
- Unique firing patterns or projectiles
- Movement abilities
The available Exotic weapons change each season, so check which NPCs are selling what at the start of a new season.
Where to Find Higher Rarity Weapons
Your chances of finding better loot depend on where you look:
- Floor loot – Mostly Common to Rare weapons
- Regular chests – Uncommon to Epic weapons
- Rare chests (golden) – Higher chance of Epic and Legendary items
- Supply drops – Guaranteed high-rarity loot
- Bosses and NPCs – Mythic weapons and Exotics
- Vending machines – Purchase specific rarities with Gold Bars
- Upgrade benches – Spend materials to increase a weapon’s rarity
Upgrading Weapons
You can upgrade weapons at Upgrade Benches found throughout the map. This costs materials (wood, brick, or metal) and increases the weapon’s rarity by one tier.
Upgrade costs increase with rarity:
- Common to Uncommon – Cheapest
- Uncommon to Rare – Moderate cost
- Rare to Epic – Expensive
- Epic to Legendary – Most expensive
You cannot upgrade weapons to Mythic or Exotic rarity—those must be obtained from their specific sources.
Should You Always Take Higher Rarity?
Usually yes, but consider these factors:
Weapon type matters more than rarity. A Rare SMG might be better for your playstyle than an Epic sniper rifle. Pick weapons that complement how you play.
Ammo availability. A Legendary weapon you can’t feed with ammo is less useful than a Common weapon with plenty of bullets.
Inventory balance. Having variety (close range, medium range, long range, healing) is more important than having all Legendary weapons of the same type.
Time and safety. Don’t spend too long looting for upgrades. A good player with Common weapons beats a distracted player with Legendary gear.
