Only a few days after the start of the "Absolute Doom" Season in Fortnite Epic Games has already introduced significant changes to several Marvel-themed weapons. Key items like Captain America’s Shield and War Machine’s Arsenal have been nerfed, while the Sovereign Shotgun received a buff.
Fortnite’s latest season, Chapter 5 Season 4, dubbed Absolute Doom, has brought a wave of Marvel-themed content to the game. Among the new additions are powerful weapons inspired by iconic Marvel characters, which have quickly become central to the game’s meta.
However, the overwhelming strength of some of these items, particularly Captain America’s Shield and War Machine’s Arsenal, prompted Epic Games to implement a series of nerfs to balance gameplay. In contrast, the Sovereign Shotgun has been buffed to enhance its effectiveness in close-range combat. Let's take a look at all weapons changed.
Hey everyone! We've made some balance adjustments to Absolute Doom, please see what's changed below: Sovereign Shotgun aims down sights more quickly and fires faster while doing so. Captain America's Shield does slightly less damage, will require more accuracy to 'hone'... pic.twitter.com/bQzGUb8OXX
— Fortnite Status (@FortniteStatus) August 20, 2024
First Weapon Nerfs & Buffs In Fortnite Season 4
Captain America’s Shield
In the latest Fortnite update, Captain America’s Shield has undergone significant nerfs. Previously known for its formidable defense and offensive capabilities, the shield now breaks much more easily, with its damage threshold reduced from 500 to 250. The throw attack damage has also been decreased from 60 to 50, and the homing lock radius has been reduced by 40%. Additionally, the spawn chance for the shield has been lowered across various sources, making it less common in the game.
War Machine’s Arsenal
War Machine’s Arsenal has also seen a series of nerfs aimed at balancing its overpowering presence. The rockets now deal less damage to structures, with environmental damage reduced from 100 to 80. The reload time for the rockets has been increased significantly, taking twice as long to reload. The spawn chance for War Machine’s items has been reduced, making them less frequently available in chests.
War Machine’s Auto Turret & Hover Jet
Both the Auto Turret and Hover Jet, part of War Machine’s arsenal, have had their spawn chances halved in rare chests. This adjustment aims to reduce the frequency of these powerful items in the game, thereby balancing their impact on gameplay.
Sovereign Shotgun
In contrast to the nerfs, the Sovereign Shotgun has received a buff. The aim down sights (ADS) time has been reduced by 25%, and the firing speed while aiming down sights has been increased by 4.6%. These changes make the Sovereign Shotgun more effective in close-range combat, potentially shifting the meta towards its favor.
And that's it for now. What do you think about the changes?