The Pulse Pistols arrived with the Fortnite x Overwatch crossover in update v40.40, dropping Tracer's dual-wield sidearms into the Chapter 7 Season 2 loot pool alongside Mercy's Caduceus Staff. They sit at Epic rarity, run on Light Ammo, and force a first-person view the moment you equip them.
Where Pulse Pistols spawn on the map
The most reliable way to walk away with a pair is to spend Rivalry Credits at a Rivalry Vending Machine. These show up as sword icons on the in-game map and stock both Overwatch weapons directly, so there is no luck involved once you have the credits.
If you would rather roll the dice, head to one of the three Overwatch-themed points of interest. Each one is built around an Overwatch map and contains Overwatch Caches that have a much higher chance of dropping the pistols than standard floor loot.
| Source | Location / Notes | Reliability |
|---|---|---|
| Rivalry Vending Machine | Sword icons on the map; purchased with Rivalry Credits | Guaranteed |
| Overwatch Cache — Gibraltar | Southwest of Sandy Strip | High |
| Overwatch Cache — King's Row | At Sandy Strip | High |
| Overwatch Cache — Hanamura | Northeast of Sus Studios | High |
| Chests and Rare Chests | Anywhere on the map | Random |
| Blitz mode | Starting loadout or chest drops | Mode-specific |
| Reload mode | Chest drops only | Random |
Weapon stats and ammo
The Pulse Pistols are dual-wielded and fired simultaneously, so the listed damage applies per shot from each pistol. They chew through Light Ammo quickly given the fire rate, so stockpile reserves whenever you loot.
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Rarity | Epic |
| Ammo | Light |
| Damage | 12 |
| Headshot damage | 18 (1.5x) |
| Structure damage | 11 |
| Magazine size | 40 |
| Fire rate | 19.2 |
| Reload time | 1.3s |
| Perspective | First-person (forced when equipped) |
Abilities and inputs
Equipping the Pulse Pistols flips the camera into first-person, with both pistols visible on either side of the screen. That same equip state powers the two abilities tied to Tracer's kit, Blink and Recall.
| Ability | Input (controller / PC) | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Fire | R2 or RT / Left Click | Fires both pistols at the same time |
| Blink | X or A while airborne / Spacebar mid-jump | Short forward teleport in the direction of movement; 3 charges that only recharge while the pistols are equipped |
| Recall | L2 or LT / Right Click | Rewinds you to a previous position and health state; 14-second cooldown |
Blink charges only refill while the Pulse Pistols are out, so swapping to another weapon mid-fight pauses the regen. Recall is the bail-out button after a bad trade, since it restores both position and the health you had moments earlier.
Pairings that work in close range
The pistols shred at close to mid range but lose value at distance, so most loadouts pair them with a high-burst shotgun for finishers. The Chaos Reloader Shotgun and Iron Pump Shotgun are the cleanest fits given the pistols' aggressive playstyle.
Mobility items extend what Blink already gives you. Pairing the pistols with the Skyline Deployer or Seven Power Gloves opens up unpredictable approach angles and lets you reset positioning faster than opponents can track.
The Caduceus Staff, briefly
The other half of the crossover loot pool is Mercy's Caduceus Staff, which drops at Legendary rarity through the same sources. It cannot eliminate enemies on its own. Aimed at a teammate, the primary fire heals 5 HP and shield per second and revives downed allies, while alt fire buffs their outgoing damage. Equipping it also slows your fall speed enough to negate fall damage entirely.
If the pistols are not showing up in chests, drop directly on Gibraltar, King's Row, or Hanamura, and prioritize the Overwatch Caches over regular loot. The vending-machine route is slower but skips RNG entirely once your Rivalry Credit balance is high enough.