Fortnite: Explaining Makeshift, Primal, and Mechanical Weapons
The Fortnite developers aim to innovate with each and every season. After all, Fortnite’s grandiose success can be largely attributed to its constant updates and fresh design changes.
Chapter 2 - Season 6 has gone primal. The islands’ technology has regressed and players are forced to craft their own weapons. This change has brought on a batch of new weapon types. Makeshift, Primal, and Mechanical Weapons cover the island; each one tailored to a different style of play and requiring different steps to craft.
This guide will list all the new weapons that can be crafted, how to make them, and what separates Makeshift, Primal, and Mechanical Weapons from one another. By the end, players should have a good idea of which weapon type fits their playstyle and how to acquire their ideal set of weapons.
Click to enlargeMakeshift Weapons
Makeshift Weapons are the base version of weapons found in Chapter 2 - Season 6. Makeshift weapons are basic and weak. Makeshift Weapons inflict low damage, hold low ammo counts per magazine, and are just generally bad across the board. Makeshift Weapons serve as a fine early-game weapon — but that’s it. Players should look to upgrade from a Makeshift Weapon as soon as possible.
Luckily for us, Makeshift Weapons serve as the foundation for Crafting in Chapter 2 - Season 6. Makeshift Weapons can be upgraded into two possible categories - Primal and Mechanical. Players can upgrade their Makeshift Weapon into a corresponding weapon from either category. The category of weapon that gets crafted will depend on the players’ personal preferences and the resources at their disposal.
Makeshift Weapons are common spawns and can be found all around the Fortnite island. Makeshift Weapons appear in chests and as ground loot.
There are five Makeshift Weapons in total. These weapons are:
- Makeshift Submachine Gun
- Makeshift Shotgun
- Makeshift Revolver
- Makeshift Rifle
- Makeshift Bow
Makeshift Weapons can hold their own in a pinch, but their primary use is as a crafting ingredient for the other two categories of guns.
Click to enlargePrimal Weapons
Using Fortnite’s new Crafting System to fuse four Animal Bones and a Makeshift Weapon will create a Primal Weapon. The exact weapon that is created is determined by which Makeshift Weapon you use to craft it. For example, four Animal Bones and a Makeshift Submachine Gun will make a Primal Submachine Gun (SMG).
Animal Bones can be collected from hunting the animals and wildlife around the island. Chickens, Boars, and Wolves all drop Animal Bones when slain.
The Primal Weapons that can be crafted are:
- Primal SMG
- Primal Shotgun
- Primal Rifle
- Primal Pistol
- Primal Bow
- Primal Flame Bow
- Primal Stink Bow
While most Primal Weapons simply require four Animal Bones and a Makeshift Weapon to create, the Primal Flame Bow and Primal Stink Bow are a bit more advanced.
After crafting a Primal Bow, players can then upgrade the bow further to either a Primal Flame Bow or Primal Stink Bow. The Primal Flame Bow requires the addition of a Gas Can or Firefly Jar while the Primal Stink Bow requires adding a Stink Sac or Stink Fish.
The Primal Flame Bow can ignite structures on fire while the Primal Stink Bow creates Stink on impact, similar to the vaulted Stink Bombs.
Some Primal Weapons also come with unique attributes. For example, the Primal Pistol shoots in bursts of two and the Primal Shotgun can rapid-fire when shot from the hip. These features add flavour to the Primal Weapons and further separate them from the other weapon categories.
In general, Primal Weapons deal extreme damage and have a high rate-of-fire but lack in accuracy. Primal Weapons are deadly at close to medium range but will struggle in long-range engagements. Keep this in mind when building your ideal weapon set-up.
Click to enlargeMechanical Weapons
Mechanical Weapons are identical to the traditional guns Fortnite players have grown used to. Mixing Four Mechanical Parts with a Makeshift Weapon will turn that Makeshift Weapon into a Mechanical Weapon of the same type.
Mechanical Parts can be harvested by pickaxing non-drivable vehicles. This includes cars, trailers, buses, and tractors.
The Mechanical Weapons that can be crafted include:
- Submachine Gun
- Pump Shotgun
- Assault Rifle
- Revolver
- Mechanical Bow
- Mechanical Explosive Bow
- Mechanical Shockwave Bow
Like the Primal Bows, there are a couple of advanced versions of the Mechanical Bow that players can create.
Players can craft a Mechanical Explosive Bow by mixing a standard Mechanical Bow with six Frag Grenades. This special bow adds three sticks of dynamite to each shot. Each stick deals 20 damage on impact.
A Mechanical Shockwave Bow is created by combining a standard Mechanical Bow with two Shockwave Grenades. Arrows shot by this bow will give off a Shockwave effect on impact.
Mechanical Weapons deal less damage than Primal Weapons, but they provide their user with first-shot accuracy and better accuracy in general. Players that want to fight with what they’re used to should gravitate toward the Mechanical Weapons. These are the same weapons players have used since the early days of Fortnite.
Chapter 2 - Season 6 changed the game with Makeshift, Primal, and Mechanical Weapons. Players will want to hunt down different categories of weapons depending on their playstyle. Each weapon type requires a specific recipe of resources to create it. Use this information to hand-craft your ideal arsenal of weaponry.
Images via Epic Games