Taking a look at this season’s new mechanics of how to open loot Vaults. Players gather and use keys dropped around the map to unlock different types of Vaults with a variety of loot, ammunition and shield.
Vaults in Fortnite have always been a looter’s treat and a target for many treasure-seeking players. Inside most Fortnite Vaults, you will find an abundance of weapons, ammunition and shields. What you gain from looting a Vault makes the risk of distraction and ambush worth the effort, and many players are targeting locations near these Vaults.
This season is no different with offering Vaults of varying degrees of value and abundance, but what is different about the Vaults is how you gain access to them. In previous seasons, players would have to get their team collected in front of the scanner to use the right amount of people to open the Vault. Players could coerce animals to be counted in lieu of their absentee squad members, but this season, there is no open door without a Key.
You can find Keys in a variety of ways and in a variety of places. Keys can be found by opening chests and can even be ground loot. You can also pick keys up off of an eliminated player. The keys emit a sort of mechanical static sound that will help you be alert to their presence. You can only carry a maximum of three keys at a time, and most Vaults take only one or two keys.
With the introduction of Keys to the Fortnite world, a player can have possible access to a variety of fifteen Vaults located around the Fortnite map. What will change each map, is how soon you and other players collect Keys and make it to the Vaults before other players do. As soon as you collect a Key, you are able to open your mini map to see a “lock” icon where Vaults are located that have not been opened yet.
As soon as a Vault is opened, the icon on the map will disappear, saving you the trip and disappointment of an empty Vault. However, sometimes looping back and scooping up what other players don’t take can help you get the items you need to be successful in the next fight. But beware – a Vault is now likely a hot spot on the map, much like a supply drop. It becomes a race to find Keys, then a race to be the first to the Vault. Some players may take advantage of players honed in on opening the Vaults, lay in ambush, and be ready to take you out before you access the treasure.
As an added bonus on top of guns, ammo and shields, opening every ammo box, treasure chest and supply drop box in the Vault will give you some nice experience. You will also gain experience from unlocking a Vault.
There is also a difference between the High Security Vaults that require two keys and Low Security Vaults which only require one key. The Low Security Vaults offer less weapons, ammo, and chests than the High Security Vaults. Additionally, each of the four High Security Vaults are geographically located higher – either in the airships, hovering in the air, or in a building that is floating above the ground. Let’s take a more in-depth look at where each Vault is located, starting with the High Security Vaults:
The High Security Vault at Tilted Towers can be found in the No Sweat Insurance building on the bottom floor parking lot. This is sure to be a high traffic area, as Tilted usually is, but add to that the ability for a decent amount of loot, ammo and shield in one location is a temptation many players find hard to pass up.
The floating pirate ship is where you’ll want to head if you’re looking to score a high security Vault in the Lagoon. Located below deck on the Driftwood, head down the stairs and be sure you are carrying two Keys to open the Vault.
At this location, you’ll again want to head to the ship in the air. Located on the Flairship hovering outside the Rave Cave. If you take the zipline up to the ship, you can climb the two flights of stairs to gain access to the Vault once you have both Keys.
The last High Security Vault is also located in the air to the north of Cloudy Condos. Suspended by hot air balloons, this two-Key Vault is accessed by the vertical zipline. Once you have stuffed yourself with as much loot as you can carry, there is a secondary vertical zipline that will bring you to the upper platform under the balloon, and you can launch through the top of the balloon, deploy your glider, and make for a quick get-away.
Low Security Vaults only require one Key and are usually located inside a building or underground. There are eleven total sprinkled around the map and at most Seven Outposts.
If you head due west of Chonker’s Speedway, there is a stand-alone house with a nice surprise. If you get rid of the hay in front of the garage and are carrying a key, the garage holds a Low Security Vault where you can load up on loot.
This Vault is almost hidden in plain sight by some strategically placed rocks and bushes. To find it, you’ll head to the gas station North of Rocky Reels and head west of the gas station. Because of its isolated location, you may need to find more chests and ground loot at a more robust drop before heading to this Vault.
Head to the pink bunker on the eastern shore of Loot Lake, close to where the river flows in toward Coney Crossroads. Here, you’ll find a Low Security Vault. Be cautious with this location as there are multiple access points to the Vault for a surprise attack, and a nicely placed hill that may house third-party enthusiasts. Or, you can be that third party enthusiast if you’re lacking a Key..
While Tilted Towers does have a High Security Vault, to the southwest of the center of town is a single-Key Vault. This is another “hidden-in-the-open” kind of Vault, as you have to break the pile of logs that rests atop the entrance to this Vault.
Not too many players make the trek to the Displaced Depot located on the western shore. If you head to the coast in the middle of the autumn-colored biome, or due west of Greasy Grove on you’ll hit this Vault before you hit the ocean. Outside of the main building you’ll find a small blue storage unit that houses the Low Security Vault. This may be a good, remote location to loot if you happen to find a Key.
Located in the same place as the Rave Cave Vault was last season, the only difference is now you will need a Key to access this location. Head to the base of the Rave Cave to access this Vault.
This Vault can be found northwest of Logjam Junction down in the main building as it has been in previous seasons. Find a Key and head to this remote location for a chance at good loot.
Northeast of Lustrous Lagoon you will find the Seven Outpost III with its Vault in the base of the main battle. If you find a Key in the Lagoon, this might be a less-contested area to open and only requires one instead of two aboard the pirate ship.
Located southwest of Cloudy Condos, almost on the coast, you’ll find another Seven Outpost with a Vault in the base.
To the southwest of the Rave Cave, at the bend of the river you will find a Vault in the base of this Seven Outpost. Though this location is remote, you can use the three rifts in the Outpost, or run over to the wind tunnel for a quick trip to circle.
The final Seven Outpost Vault is located northeast from Fort Jonsey on a small island between the statue and the furthest east island. A boat is your best resource from fleeing from this location once you loot this Low Security Vault.
Getting into a Vault is Chapter 3 Season 4 has been made to be a little more difficult with the addition to locating Keys first, but it adds to the excitement of the “treasure hunt” within the game. Superior weapons, abundant shields, and plentiful ammo are great ways to make sure you have a leg-up on the competition, but this draw for loot can also make you vulnerable to attack. Whether you go for it or not, you are now armed with the knowledge of how to find Keys, how to open Vaults, and the locations of High and Low Security Vaults.
