Fortnite’s latest hotfix resurrects the Shockwave Hammer, arming players to smash lingering bugs after recent nerfs.
New POIs like The Hive and O.X.R. HQ have become hotdrops for intense loot-driven combat, with the O.X.R. rank system rewarding eliminations and bug kills with powerful drop pods. While the chaos this season wasn’t enough, Epic has constantly been on its toes, releasing updates by removing medallions, bosses, and even nerfing the double pump meta and weapons in the game.
Now another hotfix has arrived, and this one brings back one of the most powerful melee weapons that players have wanted for a long time to squash bugs on the island. And it’s none other than the iconic Shockwave Hammer.
Fortnite September 2 Hotfix Nerfs Bugs and Unvaults Shockwave Hammer in Chapter 6 Season 4
The September 2 hotfix for Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 4 made several balance adjustments, fixed lingering bugs, and brought the Shockwave Hammer back into the game. The returning weapon received minor tweaks to keep it from dominating matches, while other items saw damage and cooldown reductions for fairer gameplay. Epic Games also resolved issues affecting building mechanics and vehicle collisions, ensuring smoother performance across modes. Players can now experiment with updated tactics and rediscover the Shockwave Hammer’s explosive mobility without the earlier technical problems.
On the evening of September 2, Fortnite Twitter without any downtime that brought significant changes to the loot pool and adjusted the spawn rate of bugs on the island. To begin with, the Hammer Assault Rifle has now been vaulted from the loot pool, which means players are only left with the Fury Assault Rifle and O.X.R. Rifle to use during BR matches.
📡 Transmission from Command 📡
— Fortnite (@Fortnite) September 3, 2025
O.X.R. Battalion, the bugs are on their last legs.
Repel the Menace.
Hold the line at all costs.
And above all—finish the fight. pic.twitter.com/bW9zXeF677
Furthermore, the Shockwave Hammer is now unvaulted and can be claimed from Floor Loot or Loot Chests around the island. Players can use it to smash enemies or traverse across the island. Coming to exotics, the Eradicator Shock N’ Slow Shockwave Launcher has also been vaulted, and players won’t be able to exploit its traversal abilities anymore.
Besides this, Bugs have also been nerfed with this hotfix. Here’s a full list of their nerfs:
- Medium Bugs HP nerfed (500 → 350)
- Small Bugs Damage (3 → 1) and HP (35 → 20)
- Medium Bugs don’t retreat when damaged
- Queens no longer spawn Reinforcements
- Lower detection radius and 40% Slower Attacks
- Bugs don’t spawn initially in POIs
The Bomber Bug spawn rate has been increased from 30% to 50% whereas the landing damage inflicted by Drop Pods to nearby players, vehicles, or even builds has been completely removed. All the defenses on O.X.R. bases have been disabled, and the Bug Blaster has been made rarer in the game.
How does the Shockwave Hammer work now after the hotfix
The Shockwave Hammer, unvaulted in Fortnite’s Chapter 6 Season 4 hotfix on September 2, 2025, functions as a melee weapon with dual primary and secondary abilities for combat and mobility.
Primary Attack
Pressing the fire button slams the hammer on the ground, emitting a shockwave that damages nearby enemies and structures while launching them away. Closer slams deal bonus damage: 75 base within range, up to 125 for perfect hits.
Secondary Attack
The secondary fire bounces the player into the air without fall damage, enabling chained jumps (hold to chain). It has 3 charges that recharge over time, supporting traversal across the map.
Post-Hotfix Notes
No major mechanical changes followed the unvaulting; later 2025 updates addressed bugs like sprinting issues mid-air and glitches prompting temporary removal. As of early 2026, it remains in floor loot and chests, aiding bug fights without further nerfs confirmed.
What changed in bounce charges and recharge time
No specific changes to the Shockwave Hammer’s bounce charges or recharge time were documented in the September 2025 hotfix or subsequent updates.
Bounce Mechanics
The secondary attack retains 3 charges that allow chained jumps by holding the button, with no alterations to the charge count or regeneration rate reported post-unvaulting. Earlier versions from prior seasons also maintained this 3-charge system without noted tweaks in recent patches.
Update Context
Nerfs and bug fixes focused on damage output, sprinting glitches, and temporary removal rather than mobility stats like bounce recharge. As of early 2026, it operates with the standard mechanics: charges recharge over time during use in floor loot or chests.
