If you haven’t downloaded the newest patch for Epic’s Fortnite, you’re probably missing out on one of the most OP weapons introduced this season; the Explosive Goo Gun.
The new weapon was introduced yesterday with two unvaulted items, including the launchpad and shield bubble.
The new throwable launchpad comes with its own base, no need to build to install it. Just throw it down and hop on, great for putting distance between you and other players or making your way to the circle in a hurry. The only downside to the new launchpad is that it takes up inventory space; not cool.
The shield bubble works as originally designed with no major changes, but you’ll need it if you run into a squad with the new Goo Gun.
Fortnite’s new Goo Gun
According to Epic, with Fortnite’s new Explosive Goo Gun players can “cover their targets in a volatile substance that will stick to whatever it makes contact with and, after a moment, detonate.” The Goo Gun is not refillable, however, you can carry more than one at a time.
But what Epic doesn’t mention in its press release is how powerful the Explosive Goo Gun really is. Advertised to deal 16 damage, the Goo Gun is devastating to campers and habitual builders because it absorbs anything it touches and inflicts maximum damage; there is no escape. It’s as close to napalm as you’ll get in Fortnite.
The Explosive Goo Gun comes with 200 squirts, but pulling the trigger (even slightly) pumps out about 10% of your ammo each time. This means that for every direct hit, the Goo Gun does roughly 320 damage, enough to wipe out anyone boxing.
Check out this kill, executed in less than a second. It’s almost not fair when the gun is used as a storm weapon. We cried watching this through our scope (because it was our kill).
From around 20 yards away our teammate let off a half-second burst that completely engulfed the opponent (who tried to box himself in to dodge the attack). By the time our teammate sprinted over to give him another squeeze the Goo had destroyed one of the walls and liquidated the other player.
Goo Gun damage
If our math holds up, the Goo Gun can do around 3,200 damage in total. This means if you’ve got the nerve to hold the trigger for nine or ten seconds when you’re storming a squad that’s boxed themselves in, chances are you’ll completely annihilate the entire team and anything they’ve built.
Check out TG make light work of players using the new gun.
The simple fact is that there is little one can do in the face of an Explosive Goo Gun-equipped squad pushing on your build.
However, it does have weaknesses. Before you decide on a Goo Gun strategy, you should know that its accuracy is terrible. Expect goo everywhere. Not to mention, it’s range is awful. Yes, you can shoot goo upwards of 50 meters or more, but your chances of hitting the target on the head are pretty low. And while you may knick them from 50 meters away, don’t expect anything more than light machine gun damage.
To really apply pressure, use the Goo Gun as a trench warfare and storm weapon. Unless you’re comfortable spending the entire game going tit-for-tat with other Goo Gun open carries in the match, the only way to counter it is to put some space between you and the shooter. Which may be why Epic threw the shield bubble back in the game. If you see a group of goo slingers coming your way just drop a shield bubble and get to work with your bolt-action or Cobra DMR.
At short range, however, campers beware; no build is strong enough for the Explosive Goo Gun. When things are really up close and personal, it’s OPAF.
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