Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 2 arrives on March 19, 2026, bringing with it one of the most sweeping loot pool changes in recent memory. Epic Games delayed the season by two weeks — stretching Chapter 7 Season 1 to roughly 108 days — and the payoff is a weapon roster that has been almost fully refreshed, alongside new traversal mechanics, team-oriented movement items, and a batch of gameplay complexity that the previous season lacked.
Quick answer: The Thunder Burst SMG and Sprites are the first two confirmed additions to the Chapter 7 Season 2 loot pool. The weapon pool is described as "almost fully refreshed," with multiple new movement and melee items also joining the mix.
Confirmed New Weapons and Items
Two items have been locked in for the Season 2 launch loot pool so far:
| Item | Type | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Thunder Burst SMG | Submachine Gun | Confirmed for launch |
| Sprites | Item / Consumable | Confirmed for launch |
The Thunder Burst SMG is a returning fan favorite — a burst-fire SMG that previously appeared in Fortnite's weapon rotation and was well-regarded for its accuracy and burst damage potential. Sprites also make a comeback, having been spotted in the Season 2 trailer footage ahead of launch.
What "Almost Fully Refreshed" Means
Fortnite Design Director Ted Timmins teased the scope of changes during a Q&A with fans on X (formerly Twitter) in late February 2026. Dataminer ShiinaBR compiled the key gameplay details that Timmins hinted at, and the picture is significant. The weapon loot pool is described as "almost fully refreshed," which, in Fortnite terms, means the majority of floor loot, chest drops, and supply drop weapons will rotate. Some Chapter 7 Season 1 staples will be vaulted, while older weapons return alongside entirely new ones.
For context, Chapter 7 Season 1's loot pool went through its own evolution over time. Epic buffed the Holo SMG and Flex SMG, added the MK-Seven assault rifle, and introduced items like FlowBerry Fizz and the Mist Grenade to encourage aggressive, movement-heavy play. The Deadeye AR dominated early in the season, but careful mid-season tuning brought SMGs and snipers back into viable loadout territory. Season 2 appears poised to reset that balance entirely rather than iterate further.
New Gameplay Features Beyond Weapons
The loot pool shake-up is only part of the story. Timmins and dataminers outlined a broader set of gameplay changes arriving with the new season:
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Multiple new movement items | Several traversal items are being added, including team-oriented movement options |
| New traversal and melee items | Entirely new item categories beyond standard weapons |
| New match-starting mechanic | A new drop-in sequence similar to the surfing mechanic from Chapter 7 Season 1 |
| "New-old meta loot spot" | A returning loot location concept from a previous season |
| New locked mid-game loot spot | A mid-match loot objective that requires unlocking |
| Increased gameplay complexity | More layered mechanics and decision-making during matches |
| Experimental XP feature | A likely new system for earning experience points |
The emphasis on movement items that "support movement as a team" suggests Epic is designing for squad play more deliberately than in Season 1, where individual mobility tools like the wing suit and shockwave grenades dominated. The teaser word "Bearer" was also dropped, though its meaning remains unclear until the season launches.
What's Likely Getting Vaulted from Chapter 7 Season 1
While no official vaulting list has been published yet, the "almost fully refreshed" description strongly implies that many of Season 1's core weapons will leave the standard loot pool. During Chapter 7 Season 1, the active weapon roster included the Deadeye AR, Iron Pump Shotgun, Twin Hammer Shotguns, Holo SMG, Flex SMG, Enforcer AR, Sovereign Shotgun, Lock On AR, Deadeye Sniper, Tactical Pistol, Tactical AR, and the MK-Seven.
Given the scale of the refresh, expect a significant portion of these to be vaulted or replaced. Epic's pattern with major season transitions is to keep one or two recognizable weapons as anchors while cycling the rest. The Thunder Burst SMG's return as a confirmed launch weapon suggests it will fill the SMG slot that the Holo and Flex occupied.
Chapter 7 Season 1's Loot Pool Legacy
Season 1 ended in a strong position after a rocky start. Early on, the Deadeye AR was so dominant that it crowded out nearly every other rifle. SMGs were borderline irrelevant, and the lone sniper option only made sense in very specific three-weapon loadouts. Epic's mid-season adjustments — buffing the Holo SMG to 200 DPS, expanding the Flex SMG's magazine, and adding mobility consumables like FlowBerry items and the Mist Grenade — created what many players considered the best loot pool the game had seen in a long time.
By the end of Season 1, roughly a dozen weapons felt genuinely competitive. The only widely criticized weapon was the Lock On AR, which auto-targets enemies when aiming down sights and fires an unavoidable three-round burst. It was designed as an accessibility tool for players with less precise aim, but it proved frustrating to play against, especially in the hands of high-mobility players who could shockwave around the map and land guaranteed damage mid-air.
Whether the Lock On AR survives into Season 2 is unknown, but the full refresh makes it a strong candidate for the vault.
Potential Collaborations and Cosmetics
The season launch may also coincide with several major crossover events. Leaked and rumored collaborations that were expected during Chapter 7 Season 1 but never materialized — including Looney Tunes (Bugs Bunny, Lola Bunny, Daffy Duck), Overwatch (D.Va, Mercy, Genji), Game of Thrones, Avatar: The Last Airbender Wave 2, Kingdom Hearts, and Sonic — are strong candidates for Season 2 cosmetic drops. The "dial up the looney tunes" tease from Timmins' Q&A session all but confirms the Looney Tunes crossover is tied to this season.
Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 2 launches on Thursday, March 19, 2026. The full weapon pool, item list, and map changes will be confirmed once the update goes live and patch notes are published. If Epic's track record holds, expect the first few days to bring rapid community testing and early tier lists as players figure out which weapons define the new meta.