If you‘re an avid Fortnite player looking to gain an advantage in the popular battle royale game, purchasing weapons from Ace‘s Exotics vending machines is a strategy you‘ll want to master. Ace‘s Exotics are special vending machines that offer an arsenal of high-powered weapons to help you outplay your opponents and emerge victorious. In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll break down everything you need to know about Ace‘s Exotics, including where to find them, what to buy, and top tips for maximizing your purchases.
Understanding the Fortnite Meta
First, let‘s start with a quick refresher on Fortnite‘s core gameplay. In this online multiplayer shooter, you drop onto an island map along with 99 other players. Your objective is to scavenge for weapons, resources, and power-ups while battling it out to be the last one standing. Along the way, you can break down objects in the destructible environment to harvest building materials, which you can then use to construct defensive structures. It‘s an intense, unpredictable PvP experience that continues to evolve with new content, items, and game modes added each season.
One of the keys to success in Fortnite is having access to top-tier weapons that suit your playstyle. According to data from Fortnite Stats, the most popular weapon types in the current metagame are:
| Weapon Type | Usage Rate | Avg Elims Per Match |
|---|---|---|
| Assault Rifle | 22.6% | 1.13 |
| Shotgun | 20.9% | 1.05 |
| SMG | 18.4% | 0.92 |
| Sniper Rifle | 12.5% | 0.63 |
| Pistol | 10.2% | 0.51 |
Source: Fortnite Stats, Chapter 4 Season 3
As you can see, assault rifles, shotguns, and SMGs are the most widely used weapons due to their versatility and damage output. Sniper rifles are less common but can be devastating in the hands of a skilled marksman. And pistols, while not as popular, can still be effective in close-range engagements or as a backup weapon.
Locating Ace‘s Exotics Vending Machines
To get your hands on these powerful weapons, you‘ll need to track down Ace‘s Exotics vending machines. These special vendors are scattered across the map in fixed locations. They contain a rotating stock of Epic and Legendary rarity weapons available for purchase using the gold bars you earn from looting chests, eliminating opponents, and completing bounties and quests.
For the current season, you can find Ace‘s Exotics machines in a few key landmarks:
- Inside Frenzy Fields main barn building
- In the central building of Slappy Shores
- Near the tall tower at Lonely Labs
- In the main structure at Shattered Slabs
![[Map showing locations of Ace's Exotics machines]](aces-exotics-map.jpg)
Credit: Fortnite.gg
Compared to regular weapon-o-mats and Ace‘s Armory machines, Ace‘s Exotics feature the most expensive and exotic weapon types. The selection typically includes hard-hitting sniper rifles, powerful shotguns, fast-firing SMGs, and quirky weapons with special properties. For example, you might find the Boom Sniper Rifle that fires clingers, the Dragon‘s Breath Sniper that sets structures on fire, or The Dub double barrel shotgun. The exact weapons in stock change over time, so you‘ll need to check back regularly to see what‘s available.
Purchasing Process and Costs
To make a purchase, simply approach an Ace‘s Exotics machine and press the interact key. This will bring up a menu showing the available weapons and their gold bar cost, which scales based on the rarity. Here‘s a breakdown of the typical costs for each weapon rarity:
- Uncommon (Green): 50-100 gold bars
- Rare (Blue): 150-250 gold bars
- Epic (Purple): 300-400 gold bars
- Legendary (Gold): 500+ gold bars
- Exotic (Orange): 400-600 gold bars
- Mythic (Yellow): 800-1200 gold bars
You‘ll need to have enough gold in your stash to afford the steep price tags. In modes with a currency cap, like Arena, it can take dozens of matches to save up for a single Mythic weapon.
Here are the exact costs for some of the most sought after Exotic weapons as of Chapter 4 Season 3:
| Weapon | Rarity | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| The Dub | Exotic | 600 |
| Boom Sniper Rifle | Exotic | 500 |
| Shadow Tracker Pistol | Exotic | 400 |
| Chug Cannon | Exotic | 400 |
| Frozen SMG | Exotic | 500 |
| Explosive Goo Gun | Exotic | 500 |
Credit: Pro Game Guides
As you can see, these Exotics don‘t come cheap. You‘ll need to carefully consider which ones are worth the investment based on your preferred playstyle and the current state of the metagame.
Maximizing Your Exotic Arsenal
Once you‘ve got some Exotics in your arsenal, it‘s important to play to their strengths. Sniper rifles excel at long-range engagements, so try posting up on high ground where you have a good view of the surrounding area. Shotguns dominate in close-quarters skirmishes, so carry one when exploring dense urban areas or pushing into an enemy structure. And unique weapons like the Dragon‘s Breath Sniper are great for flushing enemies out of their defensive builds.
To get the most out of your Ace‘s Exotic weapons, you should also pair them with complementary items. For example, the Boom Sniper Rifle works great with Shockwave Grenades, allowing you to quickly close the distance after landing a tag. The Chug Cannon pairs nicely with a Mythic Stinger SMG, letting you top off your shields in between rapid fire elims. Also consider augmenting your Exotics with weapon mods like the Targeting Scope or Suppressor if you can find them.
Another tip is to prioritize your Exotics purchases based on your preferred playstyle and the current "meta" balance of weapons. If you like playing stealthily, you may want to save up for a silenced Shadow Tracker Pistol. Run-and-gun fraggers will want a hard-hitting The Dub shotgun or rapid-fire Mythic Stinger SMG. And if you need to counter an opponent spamming rockets or grenades, an Exotic like the Chug Cannon could be a game-changer.
It‘s also smart to keep mental notes of which Exotic weapons you‘ve been eliminated by, as that intel can clue you in to what‘s currently popular and powerful. For example, in Chapter 4 Season 2, the Mythic Stinger SMG and Boom Sniper Rifle were a common sight due to their versatility. The Dragon‘s Breath Sniper also had a surge of popularity as players discovered its ability to apply Slurp effect to themselves or allies.
Fortnite‘s top players and content creators often showcase the potential of Exotic weapons with impressive plays and highlights. Here‘s what a few of them had to say about their favorite Exotics:
"The Boom Sniper Rifle is easily my favorite Exotic right now. It‘s so satisfying to stick someone with a Clinger from 200 meters away and then push in for the finish." – SypherPK, Fortnite Pro
"I love pairing The Dub with a Shockwave Hammer for maximum mobility. You can do some disgusting peak shots with that combo!" – Clix, Fortnite Pro
"Don‘t sleep on the Explosive Goo Gun! It‘s amazing for sieging towers in the late game. Shoot a few goo canisters at the base and watch the whole thing collapse." – Valkyrae, Fortnite Streamer
Season 3 Exotic Weapon Updates
As of Chapter 4 Season 3, there have been a few key updates to the Ace‘s Exotics pool. The Chug Cannon and Cowboy Repeater Rifle were vaulted, while the Explosive Goo Gun and Frozen SMG were added. The Frozen SMG is especially potent, featuring a high DPS and the ability to slow enemies with its Chiller effect. It pairs great with mobility items like Grapplers for hit-and-run attacks.
Another change is that Ace‘s Exotics machines now have a chance to spawn in a broken state, meaning they won‘t be usable during that match. This adds a random element and makes it more important to check multiple machines if you‘re banking on an Exotic purchase.
It‘s also worth noting that in competitive Arena modes and tournaments, Exotic and Mythic weapons are typically banned or replaced with less powerful alternatives to maintain a fairer playing field. So while Exotics are great for pub stomping, you‘ll need to adapt your loadout and strategy if you want to compete at the highest levels.
Exotics and the Evolving Metagame
From a game design perspective, Exotic weapons serve an important role in keeping the Fortnite metagame fresh and exciting. By regularly adding new Exotics with unique mechanics, Epic Games can shift the balance of power and encourage players to experiment with different playstyles and tactics.
However, this approach is not without controversy. Some players argue that Exotics are too powerful and disruptive, especially when they first release. There have been instances of newly added Mythic weapons completely dominating the metagame until they were nerfed in a subsequent patch (The Infinity Blade and Drumgun being infamous examples).
To their credit, Epic has gotten better at playtesting and balancing Exotics prior to release. They also tend to be much rarer and more expensive than regular weapons, which helps offset their power level. And in the competitive scene, Exotics are often restricted to maintain a level playing field.
It will be interesting to see how the Exotic weapon system evolves in future seasons of Fortnite. Data miners have already uncovered files hinting at upcoming Exotics like a sawed-off shotgun, akimbo machine pistols, a gravity gun, and more. As long as Epic can manage to keep these flashy weapons fun and relatively balanced, they‘ll continue to be a highlight of each season‘s offerings.
Other battle royale games have implemented similar systems for ultra-rare and powerful weapons. For example, Apex Legends has gold weapons and fully-kitted guns in care packages, while Call of Duty: Warzone has Legendary drops from Buy Stations. However, Fortnite‘s Exotic system feels the most fleshed out and impactful to the overall gameplay experience.
Conclusion
In summary, Ace‘s Exotics vending machines offer some of the most powerful and unique weapons in all of Fortnite. By saving up your gold bars and making smart purchases from these special vendors, you can add valuable tools to your arsenal that can give you the edge in any firefight. Just remember to study the current weapon meta, play to your Exotic‘s strengths, and be prepared to adapt your strategy as the loot pool changes from season to season.
With an Exotic weapon in hand and the skills to wield it, you‘ll strike fear into the hearts of your opponents and rise up the battle royale ranks. Whether you‘re a casual player looking for a novel way to spice up your games or a competitive sweat trying to maximize your stats, Ace‘s Exotics are well worth the price of admission.
So get out there and start earning those gold bars! With a little luck and a lot of grind, you‘ll soon be the proud owner of Fortnite‘s most coveted weapons. See you on the battle bus!
