With the chapter of Fortnite, another new type of treasure chest was added. We will take an in-depth look at what Oathbound chests are, what’s inside, where to find them, and how to use the specialized weapons within.
With the new chapter of Fortnite dropping, players were expecting to see changes to the map and changes to the weapons. What some players may not have been expecting was a brand-new type of treasure chest! In this article, we will dive into what Oathbound chests are, where you can find them, what can be found in these chests, and how to use some of the specialized weapons they contain!
Veteran players of Fortnite will know the difference between the types of treasure chests in-game and will gladly pass up a Standard chest if they can hear a Rare chest nearby. But with the addition of the new Oathbound chest, let us review the types of treasure chests currently in game to get you the best loot possible.
The standard gold treasure chests can be found almost anywhere in Fortnite, they have a golden glow and a sound that is emitted if you have your audio up high enough. Enabling visual sound effects can help you pinpoint the location of any of the following chests by having a visual treasure chest icon appear when you get close to the location. Standard chests have a random chance to hold a variety of weapons, mostly green or blue in rarity, as well as the type of ammunition that weapon uses. There typically is one consumable within a normal chest, like a healing item or shield item. There can be a small stack of 30 materials if you are playing in build mode, and an occasional pile of gold. You can occasionally get a purple or gold weapon out of a standard chest, though your chances are much higher if you happen upon a Rare chest.
Rare chests are blue in color, they also emit a glow and a sound, but the audio sound is more powerful. Rare chests have the same type of items, but with a few differences. First, these chests will spawn a Epic or Legendary weapon with the ammunition needed. They tend to drop two consumables, as well as dropping metal as the build material instead of wood.
In Chapter 4, Season 1, players were introduced to this new style of chest. These are longer than either the standard chest or the rare chest and are white in color with gold accents, almost mirroring the armor of The Ageless, our new aggressive boss non-player character. Oathbound chests also emit an audible sound, though it is very different from the other two–it’s more of a humming, mechanical sound. These chests drop a healing or shield item, brick or metal building material, gold and two different types of weapons.
Oathbound chests will drop a normal weapon and the ammo used, but you are also going to find a higher drop rate on the Shockwave Hammer or the Ex-Caliber Rifle. If either of these weapons have become a part of your loadout, finding an Oathbound chest may be your easiest chance at quickly obtaining either of those two weapons.
The Ex-Caliber Rifle is an interesting addition to the game this season. This weapon deals damage on impact, but then the projectile will also explode a short time later after, making it a “fire and forget” weapon. Much like the powerful Boom Sniper, the Ex-Caliber Rifle’s two-strike impact can be a very powerful tool. This weapon, unlike the Boom Sniper, takes shotgun shells and is better for close to mid-range fighting. This weapon is particularly good at taking on an enemy in a vehicle, or even an entire squad in a vehicle, as it will deal direct damage to the players inside, no matter where the Ex-Caliber bullet hits.
Some players love it and some players hate it, but the Shockwave Hammer is a force in Chapter 4, Season 1 that you will see players taking advantage of. This weapon can be used both for mobility and for damage. Firing the weapon once will cause the player to slam the hammer down, emitting a shockwave that will damage both enemy players and structures. Pressing the secondary fire button will launch the holder into the air with no consequence of fall damage. You can push the button again to repeatedly bounce, with the option of four bounces total. There are only four charges with a fully rested weapon, and each of the four charges has a cooldown.
This weapon can be used to negate fall damage and is great to get yourself out of a sticky situation but keep a close eye on the number of charges left. Also, when the storm is closing in, or it is a small circle during the end game, be careful to not launch yourself into the storm by carefully controlling the direction of the shockwave launch.
Oathbound chests are found only in the areas of the map that have yellow grass rather than green grass, and the more “castle-like” areas. The majority of these areas are on the western side of the map, or in and around named locations like Anvil Square, Faulty Splits, Shattered Slabs, and The Citadel. If you are in a building with stone walls, woodwork and banners hanging from the walls, keep your ears open for the mechanical hum of the Oathbound chest. Because these elegant chests do take up more room than the previous chests, look for them in areas of ample space–like in attics or under stairs. Just beware not to get too caught up in the hunt for Oathbound chests in The Citadel, as The Ageless may find you with just a little ammunition and a lot of power.
Also, unlike Standard or Rare chests, the spawn locations for Oathbound chests–if they spawn–seem to remain the same. So if you have a good route and know where these chests are likely to spawn, you could quickly get your Shockwave Hammer or Ex-Caliber Rifle, shield, ammo and building material quickly. You just have to be sure to beat the enemy player to the chest!
Do remember that as you may find high value in the Oathbound chests, other players may as well, making the areas that these chests spawn a likely hotspot. Now that you know the differences in chests, what Oathbound chests are, and where to find them, you are well on your way to a Victory Royale!
