Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 2 just got a whole lot more interesting.
The ongoing clash between Ice King and The Foundation has hit a new milestone, and as a reward, Epic Games has dropped one of the most creative weapons this season has seen. It is called The Foundation’s Rift Rifle, and once you understand what it does, you will want it in every single match.
The catch? Only one exists per game. And you cannot just loot it off the ground.
What Makes This Weapon So Different
Most weapons in Fortnite do one thing. They deal damage. The Foundation’s Rift Rifle does that too, but it also does something no other weapon in the current loot pool can do.
It spawns rifts.
Fire a charged shot and wherever that bullet lands, a rift opens up. On the ground, on a wall, directly under an enemy player. The possibilities are genuinely game-changing.
This is not a gimmick weapon either. The Rift Rifle is built on the Vector 7 DMR, one of the stronger marksman rifles available in Chapter 7 Season 2. So you are getting real damage output alongside one of the most powerful utility abilities in the game right now. According to players who have used it, the Exotic version outperforms most Mythic weapons this season in terms of overall value.
There is only one per match, which automatically makes every game a race to claim it.
Where to Find It and How to Unlock It
This is where things get a little different from most exotic or mythic weapons.
You do not eliminate a boss to get it. You have to prove yourself to The Foundation first.
Head to New Sanctuary, the POI where The Foundation (Reforged) NPC can be found patrolling. Before you approach him, check your Gold balance. You need a minimum of 750 Gold to hire him. If you are short, hit some chests or grab a bounty before you land there.
When you find him, walk up and interact. You will see the option to hire him. Select it, spend the Gold, and now he is fighting alongside you.
But the weapon does not come free with the hire. You need to earn it. Get 3 eliminations with The Foundation by your side and he will hand over the Rift Rifle as a reward. He recognizes skill, and once you prove you have it, the rifle is yours.
Quick step-by-step for easy reference:
- Drop into New Sanctuary at the start of the match
- Find The Foundation (Reforged) NPC patrolling the area
- Make sure you have 750 Gold ready before interacting
- Hire him using the interact menu
- Get 3 eliminations while he is with you
- Collect The Foundation’s Rift Rifle as your reward
One thing to never forget: only one player per match can hire him. If someone else reaches The Foundation NPC before you do, that is it. No second chances. You will have to try again next match. Land fast, move with purpose, and do not waste time looting before you secure the hire.
How to Actually Use the Rift Rifle in a Fight
Once you have the rifle, using it well is what separates a decent player from someone who completely takes over a match.
The weapon has two firing modes, and both serve different purposes.
A quick tap of the fire button shoots it like a normal DMR. Fast, accurate, good damage. Use this for straightforward gunfights at medium or long range when you just need to deal damage without spending a rift.
Hold the fire button down to charge the shot. When you release it, the bullet carries a rift with it. Wherever it lands, a rift opens. This is the ability that makes the weapon genuinely special.
Here is how smart players are using the charged shot in real matches:
Instant escape: Getting third-partied with no cover? Fire a charged shot at your feet, step into the rift, and you are gone. Repositioned in seconds.
Aggressive pushing: Shoot a rift onto the roof or wall of an enemy’s box. If they step near it, they get pulled in and launched into the sky. Easy follow-up damage.
Zone control: Open rifts at choke points to make entire areas unpredictable for enemy squads trying to rotate through.
Multiple rifts: The rifle holds several shots, so you are not limited to one rift per fight. Carry multiple charged shots and deploy them throughout a match whenever the situation calls for it.
Pair this with the Seven Power Gloves and the Skyline Deployer, two other movement-focused items available this season, and you have a loadout built entirely around speed, repositioning, and catching opponents off guard. Chapter 7 Season 2 is shaping up to be one of the most mobility-heavy seasons in Fortnite history, and the Rift Rifle sits right at the center of that.
Is It Worth Chasing Every Match?
Absolutely yes. The effort required to get it is real. You need to land at a specific POI, spend Gold, and get three kills before the rifle is yours. But the payoff is worth it every time.
No other weapon in the current loot pool gives you this kind of creative control over a match. The ability to open a rift exactly where you want it, whenever you want it, changes how you approach every fight. Offensive, defensive, rotational. The Rift Rifle handles all of it.
The Team Ice King vs Team Foundation event is still ongoing, and more milestone rewards are on the way. As both teams continue to unlock new items, Chapter 7 Season 2 is only going to get more unpredictable. But for now, The Foundation’s Rift Rifle is the standout item of the season.
If you have not made it a priority yet, start now.
FAQs
Q. How do you get The Foundation’s Rift Rifle in Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 2?
A. Go to New Sanctuary, hire The Foundation NPC for 750 Gold, and secure 3 eliminations while he is fighting with you. He will reward you with the Rift Rifle after the third kill.
Q. How do you use the Rift Rifle?
A. Tap fire for a standard DMR shot. Hold fire to charge the shot and release a rift-spawning bullet. Wherever it lands, a rift opens up.
Q. Is there only one Rift Rifle per Fortnite match?
A. Yes. Only one Foundation’s Rift Rifle is available per Battle Royale match, and only one player can hire The Foundation NPC per game.
Q. Is the Rift Rifle better than Mythic weapons this season?
A. Many players consider it stronger than most Mythics available in Chapter 7 Season 2 because of its combination of solid damage output and the rift-spawning ability.
The Foundation’s Rift Rifle is one of those rare Fortnite weapons that genuinely changes how you play. Whether you use it to escape, attack, or control the map, it rewards players who think creatively and move fast.
Drop into New Sanctuary, earn the rifle, and let us know in the comments how you used it to win. If this guide helped you out, share it with your friends before they figure it out on their own.
