Fortnite Chapter 3 Season 2: Doctor Strange debuts, building is banned, and more

Fortnite Chapter 3 Season 2 has done the unthinkable. There's no more building in Battle Royale (BR). Admittedly, this is a temporary effect thanks to IO's meddling. But the divisive move is going to separate the Sweats from the shooter lovers. 

Epic has offset the lack of portable cover with upgraded movement and another defensive layer on top of your shield and health bars. But it'll undoubtedly shake up gameplay by eliminating the one feature that sets the game apart from the likes of PUBG, or Warzone.

The war with IO is ongoing so players can donate to the war fund. You can chip in Bars towards munitions for the Resistance, or use them to vote for which items get unvaulted.

The Armored Battle Bus is another new edition, and once funded, can be found at particular points on the map. It doubles as a party bus so if you want to lighten the mood, turn the radio on and dance your little heart out. 

While Epic Games dropped the Fortnite Chapter 3 Season 2 cinematic story trailer, the Battle Pass trailer is MIA. But we do know which skins are on the way, so read on for everything we know about the new season of Fortnite so far.

Fortnite Chapter 3 Season 2 – what's new?

Overshield
Fortnite Battle Royale has scrapped building right at the outset of the new season. But to make up for it (and give the sweats a chance) Epic has introduced Overshield. 

Layered on top of your shield and health, Overshield is described as your "first line of defense". It'll basically take hits until it reduces to zero, at which point your shield and health will start getting whittled down. It also recharges, so if you're under fire, get out of there and let it regenerate. 

(Image credit: Epic Games)

Fortnite Chapter 3 Season 2 has rolled out a few more upgrades that'll help you to get to grips with the new normal. Thanks to mantling, a new sprint system, and a shoulder bash, you should be able to get out of dodge with ease. 

Sprinting
Default movement is now faster, and that means so is sprinting. The result of your supercharged speed means that items being held go into pockets. The boosted sprint is short-lived though. A sprint meter has been added to the HUD so make sure you have enough stamina when you need to make a run for it. 

Mantling
Scaling the vertical heights of Fortnite is more intuitive now thanks to mantling. When jumping up to high places, or between platforms, your character will grab the edge and haul themselves up. So feel free to be braver when traversing the map.

Shoulder bashing
A fun new way to open doors is at your disposal thanks to shoulder bashing. Just sprint at doors to open them with your shoulder. You can also slide into doors to open them, too. 

Repair Torch
The Repair Torch restores your vehicle's health. You can top them up at gas pumps to keep them functional. 

(Image credit: Epic Games)

Fortnite Chapter 3 Season 2 – Battle Pass

Marvel's Doctor Strange finally gets added to the roster this season. He won't be available right away, by the sounds of things. And neither will "world-class criminal" Prowler. But here's what the lineup looks like at the moment:

• Tsuki 2.0 (unlocked immediately with the Battle Pass)
• Gunnar
• The Imagined
• Kiara K.O.
• The Origin
• Erisa
• Doctor Strange
• Prowler

Fortnite Chapter 3 Season 2 – Bar funding

War with IO is expensive, so Bar funding is back in Fortnite Chapter 3 Season 2. You can choose whether to donate your Bars to 'pro-Resistance devices' or spend them on voting to unvault items. Here's a look at what those Bars will get you:

Armored Battle Bus
You can start funding the Armored Battle Bus straight away. It's kitted out with Chonkers tires, a Cow Catcher for "extra ramming power", and both a light and heavy turret. Once funded, you'll find the Armored Battle Bus at Resistance-occupied POIs. It also has a radio if you want to give it those party bus vibes.

Turret vote
Instead of voting on which items to unvault, players will be voting on the type of turret that'll be installed at pro-Resistance sites. There's a Light Turret which gives the "classic Mounted Turret experience." Or you can vote for the Heavy Turret which is slower but more powerful and does heavy damage to vehicles.    

(Image credit: Epic Games)

Fortnite Chapter 3 Season 2 – weapons

A new season of Fortnite means new and unvaulted weapons. There's a new SMG and rifle to play with, as well as the unvaulted (and refreshed) Drum Shotgun and Revolver.

• New weapons
  • Combat SMG: This gun packs a heavy punch but has the recoil to go with it
  • Striker Burst Rifle: A two-shot semi-automatic rifle with customized sight

• Unvaulted weapons
  • Thermal Scoped Assault Rifle: Adjusted - semi-auto, fires faster, reduced damage, increased recoil
  • Drum Shotgun: Adjusted - fires slower, slightly increased damage, tighter spread, better falloff
  • Revolver: Adjusted - fires faster, reduced damage, higher accuracy
  • Remote Explosives: Adjusted - increased damage against vehicles
  • Thermal Scoped Revolver: Exotic weapon
  • Storm Scout Sniper Rifle: Exotic weapon
  • Shockwave Grenades

• Chapter 3 Season 1 returners
  • Ranger Assault Rifle
  • Striker Pump Shotgun
  • Auto Shotgun
  • Sidearm Pistol
  • Stinger SMG
  • Hunter Bolt-Action Sniper
  • Shadow Tracker (Exotic weapon)
  • Marksman Six Shooter (Exotic weapon)
  • The Dub (Exotic weapon)
  • Boom Sniper Rifle (Exotic weapon)

(Image credit: Epic Games)

Fortnite Chapter 3 Season 2 – vehicles

IO Blimps
There's a lot going on this season in terms of land and sky vehicles. IO Blimps are a new edition. They can be boarded from the ground via ziplines and ransacked for loot. You'll also spot them above IO-occupied PIOs, along with Titans, IO guards, and Siege Canons. Resistance-occupied POIs can feature the Armored Battle Bus, sentry guards, and turrets.

IO Titan Tanks
Kitted out with a cannon and machine gun turret, the IO Tanks are a boon for your armory. These vehicles have a ton of health, but the weak point is their treads. Happily, they can be easily fixed up with a Repair Torch. The engine is another weak spot; target an IO Tank's engine, found on the back of the vehicle, to temporarily overheat its systems. 

Siege Cannons
Perfect for launching yourself across the map, just hop into one to go flying in the direction of your choice. They do fire projectiles as well, so feel free to turn up the heat on approaching enemies by opening fire.  

Cow Catcher
Cow Catchers join Chonkers Tires as a mod for your vehicle. Plastering one on the front increases your ramming power, so you can bash down blockades and careen into friends and foes.

Fortnite Chapter 3 Season 2 – balance changes and notes

• Balance changes
  • Improvement to first shot accuracy mechanics: weapons with first-shot accuracy (such as the Ranger Assault Rifle) will now reach that state more smoothly, resulting in more 'near perfect spread accuracy' moments
• Competitive notes
  • Remote Explosives and Shockwave Grenades are not included in competitive playlists
  • Item unvault voting will not take place in competitive playlists
  • Storm Surge damage intervals have been increased from five seconds to ten seconds
  • Building is unaffected in competitive/Arena playlists as well as in Team Rumble and Creative Islands

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