What is a Marksman rifle in Fortnite? Explained

The marksman rifle in Fortnite is designated as a medium-to-long-range weapon. It's a cross between an assault rifle and a sniper. Given how it works, those who intend to use it will require some degree of proficiency in, well, marksmanship.

Unlike the spray-pray meta of SMGs and even some ARs, the marksman requires precise aim and timing. A shot missed is a lost opportunity. Keeping this in mind, every shot has to be calculated and the bullet trajectory perfected.

Unlike snipers, marksman rifles use medium bullets. Since this type of ammunition is easily available, stockpiling will be possible during mid-game and late-game as well. With that said, it's time for a deeper dive into the world of marksman rifles in Fortnite.

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Marksman rifle in Fortnite: Cobra DMR is the only marksman weapon in the loot pool

As mentioned, the marksman rifle is a weapon that requires a steady aim to use. Given the recoil, players will have to constantly adjust to fire on target if they are moving. This makes shooting opponents far away a rather daunting task.

In-game, the Cobra DMR is the only marksman weapon in the loot pool. While it does have a scope with considerable zoom-in ability, hitting targets beyond 150 meters is going to be challenging, more so if they keep moving.

Thankfully, with a fire rate of four, players can keep shooting until the magazine runs dry. On average, players will be able to land at least five to eight rounds and will land on target within 150 meters. This number is much higher for seasoned players.

Since there's no dropoff damage and the weapon features fast-moving projectiles, it can also be used for extremely long-range combat. Having said that, the weapon does have a few drawbacks.

Owing to high magnification of the scope, trying to use the weapon at close-range will spell disaster. By the time players scope in to shoot, opponents will have already taken cover behind structures or built their own.

Additionally, even though it can be used in hip-fire mode, unless the target is in point-blank range, the shot will miss. Since it's semi-automatic in nature, the time taken between shots will be enough for opponents to counterattack easily.

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How to use a Cobra DMR Marksman rifle in Fortnite

For the most part, the Cobra DMR is useful for engaging opponents that are 75 meters away. This is by far the best distance for most beginners. At this range, players can safely scope in and peek from cover while shooting. This ensures that the odds of sustaining return fire are kept to a minimum.

Furthermore, it's advised that when using DMRs, it's best not to stay in one place. After firing a few shots, moving about is recommended. This is done to avoid being zeroed in by enemy snipers in Fortnite.

Lastly, while Cobra DMRs do feature 20-round magazines and are capable of taking out multiple opponents with just a few shots, keeping an AR in the inventory is recommended.

Given the time it takes to reload and reacquire targets in a heated battle, switching to a weapon without a scope is the smarter choice. While this may not apply to seasoned veterans, newcomers to Fortnite should follow this tip.

With all that being said, the Cobra DMR is a formidable weapon and can be considered a meta combat item for mid-range to long-range engagements. While it's not as powerful as a sniper, it gets the job done.