Skip to main content

Where to get Ballistic Shields in Fortnite and how they work

ballistic shield
Epic Games

You can always count on Epic to find new and exciting ways to keep Fortnite feeling fresh all these years later. Chapter 5, season 1 has kept up that trend with a variety of thrilling items that change up the meta a lot, including the Ballistic Shield, which may be the best personal defensive item ever added to the game. Here’s where to find them and how they work.

Where to get Ballistic Shields and how they work

Ballistic Shields can be found on the ground or in chests all across the map. Even so, it’s quite a rare item, so you could spend a match or two without seeing one unless you track down and take out your foes – which you’ll presumably be doing anyway.

Ballistic Shield in Fortnite
Epic Games

The Ballistic Shield may be one of the new season’s most powerful and noteworthy new items, as it offers some substantial defensive possibilities that can really come in handy during firefights. By equipping and holding it up, you’ll gain a significant amount of protection for your body while being granted a pistol that you can use to shoot your foes. While the shield can be temporarily disabled after taking enough hits, it absorbs quite a lot of bullets that would otherwise be going into you.

Recommended Videos

All of that being said, good players can work around your shield in some circumstances, either by surrounding you with explosive blasts or by shooting your feet. Even so, if you see one, we highly recommend picking it up and keeping it on you for close-quarters showdowns – particularly if you’re low on health.

Billy Givens
Billy Givens is a freelance writer with over a decade of experience writing gaming, film, and tech content. He started as a…
Is the Stardew Valley 1.6 update on consoles and mobile? Switch, PS5, Xbox, more
Stardew Valley

There are few cozy games as successful and beloved as Stardew Valley, so it's no wonder it has received regular updates since its 2016 release.

The 1.6 update for Stardew Valley was released back in March 2024 for PC, adding new festivals and events, NPC dialogues, farm types, more pets, and much more. Unfortunately, the update did not immediately release on consoles, leaving farmers playing on smartphones, Switch, Xbox or PlayStation waiting for all the new content.

Read more
Best gaming console deals: cheapest prices on PS5, Xbox S and X and Switch
father and son playing video games

While gaming on a PC is great, it can be very pricey, especially if you're the sort of person who really wants to push the graphics to the limit. Unfortunately, doing that can cost you a big chunk of money, not to mention that it requires the time and effort to put one together. Luckily, consoles like the PS5 and Xbox are easy to use for pretty much anybody and are very much plug-and-play. That said, there aren't a ton of great deals on the consoles themselves right now, although there are still quite a few good bundle deals that are worth grabbing. To that end, we've gone out and collected our favorite Series S and X deals, PlayStation 5 deals, and Nintendo Switch deals, so you can pick whichever one sparks your fancy.
Nintendo Switch OLED Refurbished -- $298 $349 15% off

The Nintendo Switch, in many ways, is the ultimate handheld gaming device. Everything Nintendo has released since the Gameboy has culminated here. That makes it even more exciting when they commit some serious resources to making the mobile aspect as good as it can be. For instance, adding an OLED screen. The Nintendo Switch OLED is an obvious upgrade that will be most exciting for people who like to game on the go. If you don't own an OLED TV already, you might find yourself playing it in handheld mode just for the gorgeous visuals. When comparing the Switch OLED versus the standard Switch, the only real difference is the screen and a slight memory upgrade. Unfortunately, there currently aren't any good deals on bundles or consoles for the Nintendo Switch OLED, so the best thing to do is go for a refurbished version if you want to buy cheaper.

Read more
How to fix all paintings in Life is Strange: Double Exposure
Max Caulfield

Life is Strange: Double Exposure tells an emotional and captivating tale that aims to keep you guessing right up till the end, and there are plenty of serious (and occasionally melodramatic) story beats to focus on as you work through this narrative-first adventure. But that doesn't mean there's never any time for a bit of fun on the side. As a matter of fact, you'll encounter a lot of optional content that just exists for worldbuilding purposes in this newest entry in the long-running franchise. One such event occurs in the opening hour of the game when a handwritten note on the wall informs you that some goofball has been turning the art pieces in the Snapping Turtle bar upside down.

If you want to earn a bit of appreciation from art enthusiasts, as well as net the "Art Restoration" trophy and achievement, you'll want to fix all three paintings in the Snapping Turtle bar. Here are their locations.
Painting 1 - Native Artist Spotlight

Read more