Fortnite’s latest update has shaken things up again, introducing the Shockwave Hammer back into the loot pool alongside other key adjustments. This patch affects mobility, bug POIs, outpost rewards, and weapon availability, shaping the pace of matches going forward.
Shockwave Hammer Returns to Fortnite
The Shockwave Hammer is back, and it’s proving to be one of the strongest mobility tools in the game. Unlike the Kinetic Blade, there’s no durability limit here — three charges are available before a cooldown kicks in, and they recharge over time. Players can also stack multiple hammers to extend their movement potential, making rotations and escapes much smoother.
📢 Shock ‘N Awesome BR Update 📢 🔨 Shockwave Hammer unvaulted! 🐛 Significantly fewer Swarmer Bugs on the map 🏳️ O.X.R. Outposts reclaimed and cleared out! 📉 Bomber and Swarmer Bugs weaker and slower.
byu/FortniteStatusBot inFortNiteBR
While the hammer can be used as a melee weapon with its ground slam attack, dealing around 75 damage and knocking enemies back, most players prefer it for mobility. Pairing it with Shockwave Grenades creates even stronger movement options, letting players reposition quickly or chase down fleeing opponents.
Outpost and Shop Nerfs Change Landing Strategies
A notable change in this update affects OXR Outpost Shops. Previously, players could secure forecast boons, vulture boons, and hero points by completing defend or purge objectives at these locations. Those objectives are now removed, reducing their overall value for early-game progression.
Despite this, outposts remain solid landing spots thanks to guaranteed access to high-rarity loot and mobility items like Crash Pads or Shockwaves. Expect these locations to become less contested as the season progresses, offering safer early-game rotations for players who prefer low-pressure starts.
Bug POI Adjustments and OXR Rank Farming
Epic also rebalanced bug POIs heavily. Fewer bugs now spawn, they appear at slower rates, and both small bugs and bombers have reduced HP. While this makes these areas less chaotic and easier to manage, it significantly impacts farming strategies.
Players who previously relied on bug spawns to climb their OXR Rank — especially at spots like Swarmmy Stash — will now need to adapt. Farming endless waves is no longer viable, and leveling ranks will require defeating enemies directly or focusing on boss fights to claim higher-tier rewards.
Vaulted Weapons and Other Changes
Two major weapons were unexpectedly vaulted: the Hammer AR and the Exotic Shockwave Launcher. Epic hasn’t provided an official reason, but community speculation points to avoiding confusion with the returning Shockwave Hammer or resolving possible item interactions.
Additionally, update timing was unusual — these changes went live late in the evening, hours after the hand cannon and Falcon Eye sniper were added. This staggered rollout suggests Epic is fine-tuning Fortnite’s balance dynamically, keeping gameplay fresh and unpredictable.
