Chapter 7 S2 Meta Loadout Guide
The dominant meta this season runs Chaos Reloader Shotgun plus Thunder Burst SMG as the core combo. High burst damage, instant follow-up pressure, and the right mobility picks make the difference in fast fights.
The Core 5-Slot Setup
Chaos Reloader + Thunder Burst SMG is the dominant combo. The shotgun chunks shields/health with one shot, the SMG finishes or keeps pressure. Stack heals in the last slot - this season's damage values are high.
Alternative for taggers/competitive: swap Chaos Reloader for Iron Pump (more consistent, more shots per mag), add Vector 7 DMR for range.
How to Execute This Loadout
Drop Priority: Get Core Guns First
Land at high-loot POIs with frequent shotgun/SMG spawns. Get the Chaos Reloader first - its auto-reload-when-stowed mechanic is what enables the fast swap combo. Immediately find a Thunder Burst SMG to complete the core.
If you find an Iron Pump first, use it. But prioritize upgrading to Chaos Reloader as soon as you find one at a chest or off an elimination.
Early Fight: Fire Shotgun, Instantly Swap to SMG
Open with Chaos Reloader for heavy damage. Immediately swap to Thunder Burst and keep spraying. The shotgun is already auto-reloading while holstered. The combo works because it prevents the opponent from ever getting a reset window between the burst damage and the sustained spray.
Critical: Practice the swap timing. Getting caught mid-manual-reload on the Chaos Reloader is how you lose fights you should win.
Mid-Game: Grab Overdrive Grenades and Keep Heals Topped
Pick up Overdrive Grenades for impulse mobility and the temporary fire rate, reload speed, and movement buffs. These replace the old Shockwave role for rotations and also work offensively in fights.
Heal aggressively after every fight. Stack Slapperoni Pizza or Chug Splashes - high-damage seasons punish players who enter fights partially healed.
Endgame: Tag Gun for Range, Mythic Upgrades for Core
Keep your AR or DMR for tagging at range during zone rotations. If you can grab mythic upgrades for the Chaos Reloader or Thunder Burst at NPC upgrade stations, prioritize those over upgrading the AR.
In build mode: add Bouncing Boomstick or other anti-build options if available. Height control plus Overdrive Grenades is the standard endgame rotation.
How to Choose Your Variants
| Decision | How to Choose |
|---|---|
| Chaos Reloader vs. Iron Pump | Chaos for raw one-shot potential and the auto-reload-when-stowed mechanic. Iron Pump for more shots per mag and reliability. Most aggressive players lean Chaos this season. |
| Combat AR vs. Nemesis AR | Combat AR for higher DPS in aggressive fights. Nemesis for better tagging accuracy at longer range. Either works - don't spend too long hunting a specific one. |
| Overdrive Grenades vs. Skyline Deployer | Overdrive Grenades for solo/duo aggressive play - combat buffs plus mobility in one slot. Skyline Deployer for team height plays and zipline setups in squads. |
| Heals slot | Slapperoni Pizza heals over time and is easy to stack. Chug Splashes work in team fights. Medkits for max single-heal efficiency. Carry at least one type - never run without heals in the endgame. |
What to Avoid
Skipping the Thunder Burst SMG. It is consistently called a must-carry for its versatility. Replacing it with a second AR removes the fast follow-up pressure the combo depends on.
Running low on heals. High-damage meta punishes this more than previous seasons. Fights move faster and shields/health drop faster. Always top up between engagements.
Poor Chaos Reloader swap timing. Manually reloading instead of swapping and letting the auto-reload work costs you fights. Fire once, swap immediately, let it reload off-hand.
Ignoring mobility. Shockwaves are gone. Overdrive Grenades are your main rotation and escape tool. Treat them as essential, not optional.
Over-relying on one weapon. The meta favors a balanced 2-3 weapon core. Players who try to run only shotgun or only AR lose the mid-range gap that Thunder Burst covers.