Skip to main content

Where to get Ballistic Shields in Fortnite and how they work

You can always count on Epic to find new and exciting ways to keep Fortnite feeling fresh all these years later. Chapter 5, season 1 has kept up that trend with a variety of thrilling items that change up the meta a lot, including the Ballistic Shield, which may be the best personal defensive item ever added to the game. Here’s where to find them and how they work.

Where to get Ballistic Shields and how they work

Ballistic Shields can be found on the ground or in chests all across the map. Even so, it’s quite a rare item, so you could spend a match or two without seeing one unless you track down and take out your foes – which you’ll presumably be doing anyway.

Ballistic Shield in Fortnite
Epic Games

The Ballistic Shield may be one of the new season’s most powerful and noteworthy new items, as it offers some substantial defensive possibilities that can really come in handy during firefights. By equipping and holding it up, you’ll gain a significant amount of protection for your body while being granted a pistol that you can use to shoot your foes. While the shield can be temporarily disabled after taking enough hits, it absorbs quite a lot of bullets that would otherwise be going into you.

All of that being said, good players can work around your shield in some circumstances, either by surrounding you with explosive blasts or by shooting your feet. Even so, if you see one, we highly recommend picking it up and keeping it on you for close-quarters showdowns – particularly if you’re low on health.

Editors' Recommendations

Billy Givens
Billy Givens is a freelance writer with over a decade of experience writing gaming, film, and tech content. His work can be…
All cross-platform games (PS5, Xbox Series X, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC)
Two squads of heroes clash in an Overwatch 2 trailer.

Cross-platform support is becoming more important in the world of video games. Multiplayer hits like Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0 and Fortnite have pushed crossplay into the limelight, and now most AAA multiplayer games release with at least partial cross-platform support. Finding every cross-platform game is no easy feat, though, so we did the hard work to bring you a comprehensive list of games that support crossplay.

Unfortunately, there aren't any rules when it comes to crossplay, so each game handles the feature a little differently. To make matters more confusing, certain backward-compatible games on the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X still support crossplay on the most recent hardware, even if there isn't an official release for that hardware.

Read more
Best gaming console deals: cheapest prices on PS5, Xbox S and X and Switch
father and son playing video games

The latest generation of consoles has been one of the hottest yet when it comes to performance, games, price, and even looks, with some getting the side-eye when they first came out. Even so, there are a lot of folks who might want to upgrade, and there are some great Xbox Series S and X deals, PlayStation 5 deals, and Nintendo Switch deals you can take advantage of below. We've done our best to go out and find the best deals we can, although you should be aware that there's currently a bit of a Nintendo drought going on, and most deals on the Switch and its versions that are worth grabbing are refurbished.
Xbox Series S deals -- starting at $275

The Xbox Series S is the less powerful but cheaper option out of the newest generation Xbox line. When comparing the Xbox Series S versus the Xbox Series X, the Series S takes a hit in all the component categories. That means it's not quite as fast. But if you're not hung up on getting the optimal performance out of your system, you'll actually notice very few differences. The two biggest ones are the Series S's inability to play in 8K, and its lack of a disc drive. Most people don't even have 8K TVs, so that shouldn't be an issue. If you're alright with downloading all of your games straight to the console's memory (and you have a separate DVD or Blu-Ray player), the Series S will work fine. It's quite a bit smaller anyway, and easier to fit on a shelf.

Read more
How to use Waterbending in Fortnite
Korra in Fortnite key art.

It wouldn't be a Fortnite and Avatar collab without players being able to get their hands on some of the latter's popular elemental bending arts. During the Fortnite x Avatar event, you can get your hands on the Waterbending technique in the form of a brand-new Mythic rarity item. With this power at your disposal, you're all but certain to have a great time in battle royale showdowns, so let's take a look at where you can find the Waterbending technique and how it works.
Where to find the Waterbending technique in Fortnite and how it works

The Waterbending technique is a Mythric rarity item, but it's surprisingly common throughout the map if you're thoroughly exploring. It can be found as floor loot or in any type of chest, including Olympus Chests and Underworld Chests. You're likely to even find one in Supply Drops, too.

Read more