Fortnite Season 9 is just about winding down, but new content is still being added quite regularly. The latest batch of new content has come in Update 3 of v9.30. This update adds a new item to the game that is sure to be controversial with those who prefer the core Fortnite weaponry; Air Strikes.
For a game that features a hundred players on an island making things out of wood, Fortnite is becoming increasingly keen on heavy-duty overpowered weaponry. If you’re not quite satisfied with the Proximity Grenades, then you can step the carnage up a bit with the Air Strikes. Some players have already had a knee-jerk reaction to the item, and it is kind of easy to see while. It evokes more memories of Call of Duty than the action usually found in Fortnite, it is only one step below throwing a nuke at Tilted Towers.
Following the rotated unvaulted items of 14 Days of Summer with something so very overpowered is certainly an interesting move. As a major new addition to the game, it’s likely this item is going to be featuring in the much anticipated Fortnite World Cup. With pro players still seeming a bit hung up on other recent changes, this air strike is probably going to drop a bomb on the meta-game strategies they’ve been working on for the tournament.
Air Strikes
Air Strikes are the main new addition with this update. Here’s how they will work:
- Item is found while looting in stacks of one.
- They will be found as floor loot, in chests, from supply drops, in vending machines, and even in Llamas. They’re findable just about everywhere but they are legendary tier.
- You can carry up to two of them at once.
- Each Air Strike item is a canister that is thrown. It launches colored smoke on impact that calls in a number of misses to be dropped at the location.
- There is a short delay between throwing and the missiles spawning, so you have time to escape the blast radius.
- Missiles aim for random points in a 9-meter radius of where the object was thrown. They’re not that accurate, but make up for this with their overkill.
- 20 missiles will drop from each canister.
- Each of those missiles does 75 damage to players and 200 to structures.
With the number of missiles dropped and their damage numbers, anything caught in their way is going to be destroyed. There is no chance to heal for players caught up in an air strike, even buildings are going to be completely leveled providing in a single canister hit. These are going to make a serious change in the way the game is played. This is even more true for the late-game. As the storm closes into a small space, you might be safer in the storm if a few surviving players have air strikes to call in. Equally, if you get hold of one you might be best off waiting until the late-game and causing all-out chaos with an air strike than blowing one on an early kill.
Other Changes in This Update
There have also been some limited time mode rotations announced. Those coming to the game are:
- High Explosive Squads –A squad’s game with Explosive weapons only.
- Sneaky Silencers Solo –Silent weapons only in this nocturnal game.
- Classic Squads –This mode is a throwback. It is a standard Squad Battle Royale game, but only using weapons and items from Seasons one and two.
- Solid Gold Duos –Only legendary weapons are active.
- Catch Squads –Only weapons and tossable items are active.
- Blitz Squads –The often featured faster storms mode.
The throwable weapons only mode is going to be a good opportunity to try out this new addition! The Airstrikes are clearly going to make a big impact on Fortnite, keep an eye on streamers and pro players in the coming weeks to get a feel for how this will effect high-level strategies.