Fortnite Chapter 4 Season 2 has introduced a new mobility item and melee weapon: the Kinetic Blade. As of now, it's the must-have item for all competitive matches this season, turning anyone who wields it into an anime villain with high-flying abilities.
The Shockwave Hammer was a necessity for anyone who wanted to win during Fortnite Chapter 4 Season 1. It gave you the incredible ability to bounce around the map, destroy builds, and send other players flying into the storm after every attack. The Kinetic Blade isn't as powerful, but it outperforms the Shockwave Hammer in some unique ways. We're bound to see Epic Games adjust the Kinetic Blade midseason because of that, just as the Shockwave Hammer was adjusted last season.
The Kinetic Blade comes with two abilities:
- The Dash sends you a short distance in any direction and can be used three times. There is a 10-second cooldown for each charge.
- The Blade can also perform a melee attack called Knockback Slash, which deals 50-70 points of damage and blows players back with each hit.
Here are a handful of tips on how to make the most of the Kinetic Blade, a weapon that will be key in every competitive match of the season.
Combine the Kinetic Blade With the Aerialist Augment
The Kinetic Blade can help you climb over 80 meters, or more than 20 build panels, into the sky after using all three dashes. That's an incredible height that will get you above any player-made structure in late game circles. The movement capabilities alone make the Kinetic Blade worth carrying. Combining it with the Aerialist Augment makes it even better.
The Aerialist Augment lets you redeploy your gliders at any time while in the air. Combining this with the Kinetic Blade serves as a makeshift Launch Pad that can be used at any time. Climbing that 80 meters and then gliding in any direction make movement across the map, including movement to ambush enemy players and teams, incredibly easy.
Using the Blade Against Builds
The Kinetic Blade isn't as strong against builds as the Shockwave Hammer, but it can still be an effective tool when trying to infiltrate enemy positions. It’ll destroy builds if you dash toward a wall within 25 meters. You'll run into the wall without destroying it if you dash while 25 meters or more away.
If you position yourself exactly 22 meters away from the wall you plan to approach, the dash will destroy the wall and leave you inside the box. Practice this move so you’ll know the nuances of how to destroy and breach a wall or destroy a wall while still remaining outside the box. The difference could cost you a shotgun blast to the face.
You can practice judging the distance by marking the wall you’re approaching with a ping in order to get an exact measurement. The mark will ping the wall and the exact distance will appear next to the mark.
Leaving a box – whether to get to the circle or rush an opponent – can be trickier with the Kinetic Blade. Initiating a dash while directly in front of a wall will simply destroy your own box without taking you anywhere. It'll leave you exposed to enemy gunfire. You'll want to edit a single cone above your box and then open it to create a ramp. Once you do so, you'll be able to dash out with ease.
You Can Only Carry One Kinetic Blade
Players had the ability to carry two – sometimes even more – Shockwave Hammers at a time last season. This let them use the weapon's incredible mobility twice as often as only one Hammer would need to cool down. This isn't an option with the Kinetic Blade, though. One Blade will automatically cycle out of your loadout if you pick another up.
So don't waste time trying to juggle Kinetic Blades if you're caught making a desperate rotation.
Be Careful When Fighting on High Ground
Unlike the Shockwave Hammer, the Kinetic Blade does not give impacted players the shockwave effect when it hits. You will be knocked or killed if you fall far enough after being hit by the Kinetic Blade.
Make sure to give yourself space when dealing with another Kinetic Blade user while on rooftops, mountains, and other high altitude situations. The alternative is an early exit from the match.
Countering the Kinetic Blade
Everyone will have the Kinetic Blade in most games, so it's important to know how to fight against it. Fighting blade against blade is often sloppy and difficult to track, so you'll want to switch to traditional guns like the Twin Mag SMG, Havoc Pump Shotgun, and Tactical Pistol when someone with a blade gets up close and personal.
There is a short build up at the start of the dash and a moment’s delay once it's complete. Both leave the user open for a few shots, which is more than enough to knock them out if you are accurate enough.
PlayStation Cups Are on the Horizon
Make sure to practice with the Kinetic Blade as much as possible for upcoming PlayStation Qualifier Cups.