Fortnite update 8.20 turns the floor into literal lava for a limited time

By Gabe Gurwin Updated March 29, 2019

We all remember playing “The Floor is Lava” as kids, pretending that we’d meet our doom if we accidentally touched the carpet. Epic Games certainly seems to have played it, as Fortnite‘s update 8.20 includes a new mode where the floor is actual lava.

The new limited time mode “Floor is Lava” sees the map’s enormous volcano leaking, turning battle royale into a fight for high ground as you attempt to avoid other players as well as the lava below. The lava begins rising after the first few minutes, and you’ll automatically be given building materials on a continual basis so you can build your way above it. You are allowed to put structures on top of the lava, but touching it will hurt your health and send you flying into the air — sounds a little familiar.

You’ll find new foraged items that should help with tricky encounters. A healing banana and pepper that heals and increases speed have both been added, as has a coconut that raises your health and shields. This might come in handy tackling some the new season 8, week 5 challenges.

To put a stop to enemies causing you grief during a match, you can try out the new Poison Dart Trap. The trap can be placed on walls, floors, and ceilings, and can be triggered even if enemies are three grid cells away. It fires poison projectiles that apply a damage-over-time effect, and getting hit again while it’s active will reset the timer. In total, you’ll take 80 damage if you’re hit once, making you easy prey for any nearby players.

Smaller gameplay changes were also included in Fortnite update 8.20. The recently added “ping” system can now be used when you’re in “down but not out” mode, allowing you to help your team before you bite the dust. More importantly, the “Infinite Dab” limit has been increased from 13 hours to 14 hours in the lobby. God help us all.

If you’re a skilled Fortnite player, be sure to participate in the game’s new Arena mode in preparation for the beginning of the Fortnite World Cup Online Opens. Those who succeed in the Online Opens will have a shot at the Fortnite World Cup Finals and a share of the $40 million in prize money to be given out during the tournament.

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Former Digital Trends Contributor

Gabe Gurwin has been playing games since 1997, beginning with the N64 and the Super Nintendo. He began his journalism career…

Gaming

How to survive storm phases carrying an Epic weapon in Fortnite

Character jumping while holding Epic weapon in Fortnite.

A new Fortnite challenge for surviving storm phases while carrying an Epic weapon has caused some confusion, as the quest's wording isn't exactly clear. Thankfully, the challenge is much easier than it seems, and once you know what to do, you can get through it relatively quickly. Here's how to survive storm phases while carrying an Epic weapon in Fortnite.
What is an Epic weapon?
Fortnite uses a rarity system with its weapons, which are denoted by colors. Purple weapons are Epic, but keep in mind you can utilize any weapon of higher rarity to complete this quest. As long as the weapon is at least Epic, you'll earn credit for surviving storm phases.
How to get an Epic weapon

There are several ways to get Epic weapons. One way is to simply find one from chests or as floor loot, but this isn't as reliable. You can also purchase Epic weapons from NPCs around the map. Nearly all main hubs have an NPC who sells weapons, so be sure to talk with them if you have the funds. Using an Upgrade Station is another solid option for collecting an Epic weapon, though it's expensive. Another option is to defeat the Highcard Boss found at Brutal Bastion, Shattered Slabs, and Mega City. Upon defeat, the Highcard Boss drops a Mythic Havoc Suppressed Rifle.
How to survive storm phases while carrying an Epic weapon

Gaming

How to give specialist a command in Fortnite

Character interacting with NPC in Fortnite.

As part of Fortnite's Spring Breakout Daily Quests, players are tasked with giving a hired specialist character a command. Of course, the game doesn't specify how to do this exactly, leading to some confusion amongst the community. Thankfully, we've got everything you need to know about completing this new quest with ease in Fortnite.
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How to give a character a command
After you've hired the Specialist Character, they'll be on your side for the duration of the match. If you look at the top left side of the screen, you'll see an icon that represents the Follower Communications wheel. Press and hold left on the D-pad on console or the middle mouse button on PC to get this menu to appear. Once it does, you can pick from a list of commands such as wait or follow. To complete the quest, you simply need to issue one command and after the NPC does what you ask, you'll earn credit for completing it.

Gaming

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Guardian Shield in Fortnite.

In January, Epic Games introduced a handful of new changes, including the removal of many Christmas-themed items, and its first new item of 2023: the Guardian Shield, which adds another layer of strategy when used correctly. This new item is tied to a series of in-game challenges, incentivizing players to give it a try. But where can you find the Guardian Shield and how does it work?
Where to find the Guardian Shield

Unfortunately, there isn't a way to guarantee getting a Guardian Shield, as they appear as random drops from chests across the map. With that in mind, we suggest visiting high-traffic areas that contain lots of chests -- preferably spots with Oathbound Chests. These are the large white chests that contain rarer loot and can be found in main hubs that aren't covered in snow, such as The Citadel. Regular chests yield Guardian Shields, too, though. We had luck finding them at Lonely Labs, but other areas contain the Guardian Shield, as well. You can also pick one up from eliminated enemies.
How to use the Guardian Shield