Epic Games have released patch notes for Fortnite‘s v9.21 update, which goes live on Wednesday, June 12 on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC, Nintendo Switch and mobile devices. 

Following on from last week’s huge v9.20 update, Epic Games have released a much smaller patch in the form of the v9.21 update, but it looks set to have a major impact on the game and the current meta.

This patch introduces a brand new explosive weapon for players to wield, alongside some significant changes to the controversial Storm Flip item and the rate that some loot drops across the map.

What’s new in the Fortnite v9.21 update?

Proximity Grenade Launcher

The Proximity Grenade Launcher is the headline addition to Fortnite in the v9.21 update, a new explosive weapon that fires projectiles which trigger when they come close to a target.

Available in Epic and Legendary rarities, the Proximity Grenade Launcher is a semi-automatic launcher which uses Explosives Rounds like other weapons in its class. However, unlike the others, its grenades don’t detonate based on time since fired, but instead use the distance between the round and the opposing player, erupting when they come within half a tile of an enemy or structures they have built.

The patch notes for the Proximity Grenade Launcher are as follows:

Proximity Grenade Launcher

• Fires an arcing, bouncing, explosive projectile that explodes when in proximity of an opponent.
• Available in Epic and Legendary Rarities.
• Found from Chests, Loot Carriers, Supply Drops, and Vending Machines.
• Semi-Automatic.
• Uses Rocket Ammo.
• Holds 2 Explosive Rounds.
• Rate of Fire: 0.65 shots per second.
• Player Proximity Radius: 250 units (about half the width of a tile).
• Explosion Radius: 300 units (about 60% of the width of a tile).
• Explosion damage:
  • Player: 67/70
  • Environmental: 131/138
• Reload Speed: 2.8s/3s
• Projectiles explode automatically after 10s or if it has nearly come to a stop.

Epic Games nerfed the unpopular Storm Flip item in the v9.21 update.

Storm Flip nerf

Also included in the update are some major changes to the Storm Flip, as Epic Games try to balance the item amid complaints from fans and pro players that it is too powerful.

The biggest adjustment has been made to how the Storm Flip deals damage. Previously, the item dealt the same amount of damage as the active Storm Phase in the game, which meant that it became more powerful as the match continued. This encouraged players to hold on to them for as long as possible and created what Epic Games has called an “undesirable effect.”

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To combat this, the developers have changed the item to deal a flat damage rate, with the item taking five health points from players who are hit by the item regardless of when it used.

The full list of adjustments made to the Storm Flip item are:

• Adjusted Storm Flip to cause flat damage instead of being based on which Storm Phase is currently active.
  • Causes 5 damage every second.
  • This change may not be immediately available at the time of release. It requires a server update and will become active at some point later in the day.
  • We noticed with scaling damage that players held onto their Storm Flip later into matches, creating undesirable effects. This change gives players more value in using it earlier in matches.
• Reduced the availability from Chests from 3.39% to 1.69%
• Reduced the availability from Floor loot from 3.32% to 1.66%
• Added back into the Arena and Tournament playlists.
  • We have visual effect changes coming in v9.30 that will help improve readability.

Drop rates for Shield Potions have increased in the new update.

Weapon and Item balancing

Epic Games have also made a number of balancing updates in the v9.21 patch, increasing the likelihood that players will find Shield and Small Shield Potions from chests, with the developers stating that the addition of a number of new items had affected their drop rates.

Following complaints from players that Shotguns were too difficult to source, their drop rate has also been increased in floor loot, with Epic hoping that this will make “finding them in the early phases of the game easier.” Epic and Legendary Infantry Rifles should also be a little easier to locate, with their availability from floor loot and chests given a boost too.

• Read More: Fortnite: 15 new Fortbyte challenges leaked

While the Mounted Turret received a buff to the time it takes to overheat last week, the item will now be harder to come by, as it has been given a slight drop to its availablity rate.

The balancing adjustments are:

• Shield Potion
  • Increased the availability from Chest loot from 11.3% to 12.09%
• Small Shield Potion
  • Increased the availability from Chest loot from 16.95% to 18.13%
  • With items being added and removed, we’ve noticed that Shield Potions and Small Shields have been less available in Chests. So we’ve increased the chance to find Shields from Chests to compensate for that.
• Shotguns
  • Increased the overall chance to find from Floor loot from 8.50% to 9.77%
  • After seeing the community’s feedback about Shotgun availability, we’ve increased the Shotgun availability from Floor Loot to make finding them in the early phases of the game easier.
• Infantry Rifle Epic and Legendary variants
  • Increased the availability from Floor loot from .067% to .105%
  • Increased the availability from Chest loot from .414% to .645%
• Heavy Assault Rifle Common variant
  • Decreased the availability from Floor loot from 2.04% to 1.715%
  • Decreased the availability from Chest loot from 12.47% to 10.46%
• Mounted Turret
  • Decreased the availability from floor loot from .59% to .46%

The v9.21 update also includes information on Fortnite’s next Limited Time Mode (LTM) named Horse Rush, a bug fix for an issue that was causing audio to sound muffled, and new Prefabs for the game’s Creative mode.

You can read the rest of the v9.20 patch notes in full below.

Remaining v9.21 patch notes:

Horde Rush (Coming Soon) A new 4-player Co-op Limited Time mode is just around the corner! Survive the Horde Rush on June 13.

LIMITED TIME MODE ROTATION:

One Shot Duos Low Gravity. Every player has 50 health. Sniper weapons are the only weapon, Bandages are the only healing item. Jump high and aim well!

Horde Rush Fortnite Fiends are back on the island and angrier than ever! Fight alongside your teammates to rack up your score by finding hidden score multipliers, opening special loot chests, and eliminating as many monsters as you can. Traverse across the map, survive all of the Defend locations and take down the Final Boss to win!

• Mode Details
  • Four player Squad mode divided up into multiple stages.
  • Prepare to defend an area by searching for weapons & items, scavenging materials, and building defenses.
  • Rack up points by fighting Fiends, collecting score multipliers, and destroying Fiend Spawners.
  • Recover from the battle and search for more equipment.
  • Travel across the map to the next defense point.
  • Respawning is enabled until the last stage when players have to destroy a Boss Fiend and his horde of minions.
  • Keep an eye out for special loot chests, which contain powerful weapons & provide a scoring bonus.

WEAPONS + ITEMS

• Proximity Grenade Launcher
  • Fires an arcing, bouncing, explosive projectile that explodes when in proximity of an opponent.
  • Available in Epic and Legendary Rarities.
  • Found from Chests, Loot Carriers, Supply Drops, and Vending Machines.
  • Semi-Automatic.
  • Uses Rocket Ammo.
  • Holds 2 Explosive Rounds.
  • Rate of Fire: 0.65 shots per second.
  • Player Proximity Radius: 250 units (about half the width of a tile).
  • Explosion Radius: 300 units (about 60% of the width of a tile).
  • Explosion damage:
    • Player: 67/70
    • Environmental: 131/138
  • Reload Speed: 2.8s/3s
  • Projectiles explode automatically after 10s or if it has nearly come to a stop.
• Shield Potion
  • Increased the availability from Chest loot from 11.3% to 12.09%
• Small Shield Potion
  • Increased the availability from Chest loot from 16.95% to 18.13%
  • With items being added and removed, we’ve noticed that Shield Potions and Small Shields have been less available in Chests. So we’ve increased the chance to find Shields from Chests to compensate for that.
• Shotguns
  • Increased the overall chance to find from Floor loot from 8.50% to 9.77%
  • After seeing the community’s feedback about Shotgun availability, we’ve increased the Shotgun availability from Floor Loot to make finding them in the early phases of the game easier.
• Infantry Rifle Epic and Legendary variants
  • Increased the availability from Floor loot from .067% to .105%
  • Increased the availability from Chest loot from .414% to .645%
• Heavy Assault Rifle Common variant
  • Decreased the availability from Floor loot from 2.04% to 1.715%
  • Decreased the availability from Chest loot from 12.47% to 10.46%
• Mounted Turret
  • Decreased the availability from floor loot from .59% to .46%
• Storm Flip
  • Adjusted Storm Flip to cause flat damage instead of being based on which Storm Phase is currently active.
    • Causes 5 damage every second.
    • This change may not be immediately available at the time of release. It requires a server update and will become active at some point later in the day.
    • We noticed with scaling damage that players held onto their Storm Flip later into matches, creating undesirable effects. This change gives players more value in using it earlier in matches.
  • Reduced the availability from Chests from 3.39% to 1.69%
  • Reduced the availability from Floor loot from 3.32% to 1.66%
  • Added back into the Arena and Tournament playlists.
    • We have visual effect changes coming in v9.30 that will help improve readability.

AUDIO

Bug Fixes

• Audio was sounding muffled due to a filter optimization issue.

CREATIVE

What’s New?

Proximity Grenade Launcher Imagine and create new maps to explore all the possibilities of this explosive new weapon!

WEAPONS + ITEMS

• Proximity Grenade Launcher
  • Fires an arcing, bouncing, explosive projectile that explodes when in proximity of an opponent.
  • Available in Epic and Legendary Rarities.
  • Semi-Automatic.
  • Uses Rocket Ammo.
  • Holds 2 Explosive Rounds.
  • Rate of Fire: 0.65 shots per second.
  • Player Proximity Radius: 250 units (about half the width of a tile).
  • Explosion Radius: 300 units (about 60% of the width of a tile).
  • Explosion damage:
    • Player: 67/70
    • Environmental: 131/138
  • Reload Speed: 2.8s/3s
  • Projectiles explode automatically after 10s or if it has nearly come to a stop.

PREFABS

• Roadside Garage Gallery
• Grass & Mud Floor Gallery
• Forest & Grass Floor Gallery
• Grass & Forest Floor Gallery
• Sand & Rock Floor Gallery
• Dinosaur Prop Gallery

DEVICES

Bug Fixes

• Text placed on Billboards prior to the v9.20 release will no longer be misaligned.

When does the v9.21 update go live?

v9.21 is set to be released on Wednesday, June 12 at 1 AM PT / 4 AM ET / 9 AM BST. There will be downtime required for it to install, which means that matchmaking should be disabled 20-25 minutes prior to its release.

Proximity Grenade Launcher

The biggest addition to the game is the Proximity Grenade Launcher, which fires explosive in a arc, with a bouncing projectile that explodes when it comes within half a tile of an opponent.

• Read More: Fortnite: 15 new Fortbyte challenges leaked

Available in Epic and Legendary rarities, the semi-automatic weapon holds two explosive rounds, and deals 67/70 damage to an opponent or 131/138 to environmental objects.

Players shouldn’t be able to spam-fire the Proximity Grenade Launcher too quickly, with a 0.65 shots-per-second rate of fire, and a three second reload time.

The Proximity Grenade Launcher arrived in the v9.21 Update.

Storm Flip nerfed

The Storm Flip item, which has been an unpopular addition to the game, has receieved a major nerf in the v9.21 update, changing the way the item deals damage when thrown at opposing players.

Previously, the Storm Flip dealt damaged based on the current storm, so the longer players waited to throw it, the more punishment it inflicted on enemies. This meant that players were holding onto the item until the end, when it would deal as much as 10 damage when used in the final circle.

In an attempt to combat this issue, Epic Games have changed the item so that it deals five base damage per second no matter when it’s thrown, meaning it won’t be as incredibly powerful in the endgame as it was previously. There will also be less Storm Flip items available on the map, with it’s drop rate halved by the developers.

The Storm Flip’s damage is no longer determined by the current storm.

Weapon and shield balancing

Epic Games have been adjusting the drop rates for a number of weapons and items, with both Shield and Small Shield Potions going up from 11.3% and 16.95% to 12.09% and 18.13% respectively.

• Read More: Fortnite leaks reveal Prop Hunt LTM coming soon

Shotguns will also be easier to find, as well as Epic and Legendary variants of the Infantry Rifle.

Players will be seeing less of the Heavy Assault Rifle though, as it has it’s drop rate reduced in both Floor and Chest loot.

We could see further changes made to the map, having to do with this mysterious monster that’s been hiding in the ice.

Fortnite v9.21 update patch notes

Here are the early patch notes that have been confirmed by Epic Games ahead of the update’s release. The full and official patch notes will be added here once they are made available, which should be sometime close to when the downtime begins.

• Fixed issue causing audio sounds to be muted or muffles following the previous v9.20 update. 
• Fixed issue causing style challenges from previous seasons appearing even though they’ve already been completed.