Epic’s January 31 hotfix catapults SMGs to the top of Fortnite’s weapon hierarchy, with a colossal 39.40 patch looming on the horizon.
While players are usually left guessing as to what the developers will add with a new update, Epic Games has released an article breaking down the changes players can expect from the upcoming patch.
The 39.40 patch will update the Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 1 weapons across the board. It seems like the developers are placing a special emphasis on SMGs, a class of weapons that has been quite underpowered in the current meta.
New Fortnite Hotfix Buffs All SMGs in Chapter 7 Season 1
Epic Games’ latest hotfix gives all SMGs in Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 1 a noticeable upgrade, increasing their damage and improving accuracy across all rarities. The tweak shifts the current weapon balance, allowing close-range fighters to pressure opponents more aggressively. Early reports from players suggest faster eliminations and tighter spray control, hinting that SMGs could now dominate short-range engagements until the next major patch arrives.
According to Twitter shared by Epic Games, the new update will buff all SMGs in the Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 1 loot pool. However, the buffs are not limited to SMGs, as the developers listed a plethora of changes to other weapons in the X post. Here are all of the changes coming to the weapons in Chapter 7 Season 1:
| Item | Buffs |
|---|---|
| Tactical Assault Rifle | Increased damage |
| Enforcer AR | Increased damage |
| Holo Rush SMG | Increased damage per shot, larger magazine, and faster handling time |
| Flex SMG | Increased damage, larger magazine, and faster handling time |
| Dual Micro SMGs | Increased damage, larger magazine, and faster handling time |
| Tactical Pistol | Increased damage, improved range, and faster ADS time. |
| Soveriegn Shotgun | Faster fire rate when aiming down sights. |
| Stealth Splash | Increased effect time and able to carry a bigger stack. |
| All-Terrain-Kart | Increased health |
All three SMGs have seen similar buffs with this new hotfix, increasing their overall power and magazine size to make them equally viable for your loadout and providing an alternative to certain Assault Rifles.
Speaking of Assault Rifles, the Tactical AR, one of the weakest weapons in the loot pool, has been buffed to deal more damage, alongside the Enforcer AR. The developers explained how these changes are in service of closing the gap between the Deadeye Assault Rifle and other ARs in the game.
Epic Games has also added improvements to one of the more underrated weapons in Chapter 7 Season 1, the Tactical Pistol. The weapon will not only deal more damage, but will also possess greater ranged capabilities along with a faster ADS time. As if the Tactical Pistol wasn’t already enough of a problem when used right, these new changes could make it a staple in most players’ loadouts.
The Sovereign Shotgun has been frequently overshadowed by the Iron Pump Shotgun and Twin Hammer Shotguns in Chapter 7 Season 1. The next Fortnite update is set to make the Sovereign Shotgun a lot snappier when aiming down sights, potentially allowing it to stand among its peers.
Epic Games has also announced changes to the Stealth Splash, a relatively new item added with the Fortnite 39.20 update. Players will now be able to carry more Stealth Splashes in their inventory, with the effect of the Splashes also lasting longer than before.
Best SMG loadouts after the hotfix
After the January 31, 2026 Fortnite hotfix buffed all SMGs with higher damage, larger magazines, and faster handling, they dominate close-range fights, often paired with mid-to-long range weapons for versatile loadouts.
Top SMG Loadouts
Community favorites emphasize SMG primaries for aggressive playstyles on the Golden Coast map.
| Loadout | Weapons | Playstyle Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Holo Rush SMG Meta | Holo Rush SMG, Deadeye AR, Sovereign Shotgun | High-mobility rush; Holo’s burst damage shreds shields quickly post-buff. |
| Flex SMG Balance | Flex SMG, Enforcer AR, Tactical Pistol | Versatile for solos/duos; Flex’s fire rate excels in building fights. |
| Dual Micro Beast | Dual Micro SMGs, Tactical AR, Stealth Splash | Zero-build aggression; dual-wield for hip-fire sprays in tight spaces. |
Tips for Success
Prioritize gold/common rarity SMGs for max buffs. Pair with mobility items like All-Terrain-Karts (health buffed in v39.40 preview). Avoid AR-only setups as Epic pushes SMG viability.
Detailed attachments and tuning for Sturmwolf 45 SMG
The Sturmwolf 45 SMG does not appear in Fortnite, where the January 31 hotfix buffed existing SMGs like Holo Rush, Flex, and Dual Micro instead. No records exist of a Sturmwolf 45 in Fortnite’s weapon roster or recent patches.
Possible Context Mix-Up
This SMG is from Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 (BO7) and Warzone, not Fortnite. Top loadouts there use 5-8 attachments for recoil control, range extension to 26m, and faster TTK around 300ms via .40 cal conversion kits.
BO7 Meta Build (Versatile)
Community-favored setup post-buffs prioritizes stability and ADS speed.
| Slot | Attachment | Key Benefits |
|---|---|---|
| Muzzle | Redwell Shade-X Suppressor | Recoil control, stealth |
| Barrel | 14.8″ Perigee Barrel | Damage range boost |
| Laser | EMT3 Agile Laser | Hip-fire accuracy, recoil stab |
| Optic | Lethal Tools ELO | Clear sight picture |
| Stock | Mink Stability Stock (or Corpus-x3) | ADS speed +15%, flinch resistance |
| Underbarrel | Lateral Precision Grip (or Quickstep Wargrip) | Handling, sprint-to-fire |
| Magazine | MFS Tigris .40 Cal Mag | Capacity + TTK extension |
| Rear Grip | Selene Rover Grip | ADS/movement speed |
Tune for max vertical recoil control and damage range. Pair with ARs for Warzone; in Fortnite context, stick to buffed SMGs like Flex for similar aggressive play.
