When Will Shockwaves Return to Fortnite?

When are the Shockwaves coming back? These items got vaulted part way through this Fortnite season. Players have been missing them, and Epic has already confirmed they’ll be coming back to the game! Unfortunately, it is going to take a little while. We do have a firm idea of when they’re coming back though.

Shockwaves were initially added in Season 5, so one of the earliest Fortnite seasons. They were a mobility tool and a bit of a step up over the impulse grenades we’d seen before. They still launched you in one direction, breaking builds as you went. However, unlike impulses, you got immunity from the fall. It was a major upgrade. Players got used to them.

Now, with Shockwaves vaulted for a while, players have been counting the days. Waiting for the patch with Shockwaves coming back in Fortnite. This is when they’re planned to make a return:

When Are Shockwaves Coming Back in Fortnite?

Shockwave Grenades got vaulted after Winterfest, but they are going to come back to the game. It has been confirmed we’re getting a patch with Shockwaves coming back on Thursday February 5th.

This will be the same update that removes all of the South Park content. You’ve only got a few days to finish off those quests if you want the rewards. Thursday will be the date of the next major update. One that’s been talked about since the last update. Since for some reason, Epic dropped an update without much change and confirmed they were reversing a ton of unpopular changes later. Instead of just reversing them in that update.

They’ll be added back to the loot pool for the Valentine’s Day update. Presumably back in that original build without major changes. Crash Pad Jrs are getting vaulted at the same time. So we’re going to get back to the older Fortnite meta for mobility.

Fortnite players have been vocal about their disapproval, but we do know that Shockwaves are coming back in Fortnite. They’ll be a part of the Valentine’s Day update. From there, we can expect them to stick around until the Fortnite season ends. Since there probably won’t be any major update after that.

Why Were Shockwaves Vaulted in the First Place?

Shockwaves have been a pretty permanent part of the loot pool. Nearly always in the game, but usually not the best Fortnite items. They’re often outdone by seasonal mobility items. However, they were finally vaulted this season. For quite a length of time before shockwaves coming back got announced.

The change has confused a lot of the player base. Who assumed it was down to Nick Eh 30’s complaints. One of quite a few recent moves that has had casual players saying Epic is listening to the minor complaints of Fortnite streamers too much instead of their player base. But designers did go to great lengths to defend the streamer and provide other reasons for the Shockwaves being vaulted.

The Shockwaves were vaulted because players were using them as intended, to get away from fights they couldn’t win. This prompted the players who enjoy pub stomping to complain they didn’t get their clip, so they were replaced with worse mobility to make sure a player on the low ground will just die.

A lot of the complaints about Shockwaves coming back seem a little strange considering the game already had a solution to this. They’re not in competitive and are in the more casual modes. But with the next update change should be fixed. Has it addressed the reason they were removed in the first place though?

Mobility in Fortnite Chapter 7

The main problem with the change is its coming during a low-season for mobility. The Wingsuit is fairly well balanced, especially for competitive. But it’s balanced for the Shockwaves being available too. It’s much better for actually rotating but also absurdly easy to kill a player using it. It’s not really a replacement for the fight stopping panic button, and that seems to be by design.

The crash pads don’t really function as a replacement either. Even when working as intended they allow anyone around you to immediately follow you. Essentially moving the fight a little down the map instead of providing space.

Shockwaves coming back will likely please a good portion of the player base. Although, with the current season dragging on it might not be enough to tempt them back. We could see a good portion continuing to sit the season out until something new launches. Hopefully, Chapter 7 Season 2 can bring casual and sweaty players back to the game.