Epic deploys hotfix for Burst SMG structure damage

Epic deploys hotfix for Burst SMG structure damage

Epic has deployed a hotfix, nerfing the structure damage of the Burst SMG.

The Burst SMG has only been in the game for just over a day, now, and it's already receiving a slight nerf.

The gun isn't overpowered by any means. Players are already calling it "trash," and saying that Epic should never have taken the suppressed SMG out of the game.

In my opinion, the Burst SMG represents an attempted shift in the current meta. Epic wants to get away from the spray meta, and the Burst SMG is a step in the right direction. Of course, that's not possible so long as the Drum Gun - and to an extent, even the Minigun - remain in the game.

Burst SMG Nerf

The nerf from the Burst SMG relates to structure damage, not to fire rate or player damage. Epic made a change to the weapon so that it now does 23/24/25 damage to structures instead of 25/27/28.

We've released a hotfix to adjust structure damage for the Burst SMG.

Burst SMG damage to structures has been reduced from 25/27/28 to 23/24/25. Damage to structures now matches the base damage to players.

— Fortnite (@FortniteGame) May 30, 2019

The structure damage with the Burst SMG was relatively high, but I don't think many players were calling for a nerf here. The only issue I saw with it is that there's no damage fall-off to the structure damage.

Anyone who has played with the new SMG knows that the damage fall-off to players is pretty substantial. This is an in-your-face weapon with punishing fall-off numbers. The structure damage remains the same, however.

Burst SMG Does INSANE building damage at long range. 1 is Burst SMG, 2 is what an SMG should look like at long range. from r/FortniteCompetitive

This could be why Epic deployed a hotfix for the weapon. It might be a band-aid for the structure damage fall-off until they can update the weapon in the next patch.

Burst weapons aren't very popular in any battle royale, but they play a unique role in Fortnite. They are able to bleed through an opponent's turbo-build and hit them behind a wall.

This could be one way to combat the turtling in Fortnite without resorting to spray weapons. It's an interesting and viable strategy where appropriate, but something that probably won't be deployed so long as there are so many spray weapons in the game.

What do you think about the new Burst SMG? Let us know on Twitter @FortniteTracker.