The latest Fortnite update makes a major change: medallions are no longer available in Battle Royale and Zero Build. They remain in ranked matches, tournaments, and Blitz, where the full medallion pool stays active.
This affects early-game strategies since players often landed at boss POIs to secure medallions for faster rotations and advantages in fights. With them gone, these POIs are less contested but still valuable.
Boss POIs continue to feature queen bosses, who drop mythic weapons, legendary slurp juice, and hero points. These rewards help players reach A-tier rank quickly, granting access to drop pods with shock waves and weapon bunkers containing exotic gear and other loot.
Shockwave Launcher Vault & Mobility Changes
The shockwave launcher has been vaulted from regular matches, changing mobility options across the island. Epic confirmed an exotic version will return in next week’s update, but for now, shock waves and crash pads are the main items for movement.
Players must manage mobility carefully as fewer options exist. Cars are now more useful for traveling safely without spending limited resources, but the Swarm Strike Rocket Launcher can quickly counter vehicles if used well.
Previously, the shockwave launcher made movement easier since rockets dropped often from eliminations. Now, players need better positioning and resource planning during rotations.
Gold POIs, Flag Captures, and Hero Points
With medallions removed, gold POIs are now top priorities. These areas contain flying loot drones that grant 80 hero points instead of 15, making them strong choices for quick rank progression.
Flag captures also give more rewards, increasing from 250 points to 400 while taking only 30 seconds instead of 45. POIs like Supernova Academy and Canyon Crossing (often marked gold) are excellent options for safe loot, extra hero points, and early upgrades.
This update creates more flexibility in landing strategies. Players can choose boss POIs for mythics, gold POIs for faster rank gains, or safer spots for consistent mid-game setups without relying on medallions.
Ranked, Tournaments, and Weapon Updates
Ranked matches now use the tournament loot pool, meaning medallions remain active there. This change makes ranked games better for competitive practice while keeping casual modes more balanced.
Other adjustments include:
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Rocket ammo drop rates slightly lowered but still reliable mid-game.
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Lead Spitter 3000 recoil reduced for better accuracy, but its movement penalty keeps it situational.
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Swarm Strike Rocket Launcher stays effective but less dominant without shockwave launcher synergy.
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Ranked and tournament loot pools now match for consistency.
These updates slow matches slightly and encourage planned rotations, smarter mobility usage, and controlled engagements over constant chasing.
Meta Strategies After the Fortnite Update
With medallions gone, matches now favor positioning and resource control. Players benefit from planning early rotations, using gold POIs for faster hero points, and prioritizing boss POIs only when mythic items are worth the risk. Managing shock waves, crash pads, and vehicle routes is more important than before.
Securing weapon bunkers and monitoring drop pod spawns provide significant advantages. Ranked players can still rely on medallions, but casual modes require smarter pathing and better loot management. Focusing on safer openings and maintaining mobility resources throughout the match leads to stronger mid-game setups and consistent top placements.
