UPDATE: Epic Games has released a hotfix for the mode, reducing Thanos’ shield from 300 to 200 but increasing his health from 800 to 500, which is a pretty hevy nerf as it means less shield can be regenerated from earning kills. While he's easier to kill, the laser beam damage against players has also been increased from 12 to 20 and punches now do 100 full damage per hit instead of the 80 prior. You can read more here. This guide has been updated to incorporate this.
When the superhero theme for season four of Fortnite was revealed, everyone thought there may be a crossover with Marvel in the works for some skins or unlocks. We didn't get that. What people didn’t expect, though, is a limited time mode where players can literally become Thanos, the Mad Titan himself, and wield all the power of the infinity gauntlet in their controller or keyboard.
But how do you become Thanos, and how do you maximize your power when you are him?
Grab that Infinity Gauntlet and utilize your stats
First off, becoming Thanos is easy on paper. You just have to be the first one to reach the infinity gauntlet when it comes crashing down to earth. From there, you have three abilities: a might punch to knock enemies back, a charge beam that can be used to attack enemies from range, and an enormous leap to look down on your enemies from the sky. You also have 200 shield and 500 health for a total of 700 damage needed to take you down, making you a true force to be reckoned with. The downside is that players always know exactly where you are via an icon on their map, and everyone will be focused on killing you - in theory, anyway. Read on for our best tips to being the best Thanos on the Isle of Fortnite.
Parachute until you know where the Infinity Gauntlet will land
It’s a very cheap tactic and will no doubt infuriate some, but the infinity gauntlet comes crashing down to the island early on in the game. If you parachute as soon as you jump out of the bus and aim for the centre of the map, you can skydive directly down on top of where the gauntlet lands and as long as it’s not too populated of an area, you’ve got a good chance of being the first one there.
Combo the punch and the leap for a devastating ground pound
When you become Thanos, you can charge up the leap then use the punch when you’re airborne for a devastating ground pound. It’s important to note this doesn’t just go straight below you either; you can aim it so it’s a swift way of travelling around. If some players are taking shots at you while you’re in the air, scout them out then bring the pain down atop their heads. With the newest update taking punches from 80 damage to 100, all it takes is a single hit on an un-shielded opponent to bring them down instead of two.
Keep moving and stay unpredictable
As Thanos, you’re a huge target. One way to keep yourself alive is to stay mobile and utilise your leap often; just charging head on at people will likely result in your unfortunate demise. Stay aware too, as players will often hide in bushes and use corners to hide from you, so destroy as many buildings and structures as you can to remove all hiding spots. Remember that killing players regenerates some shield, so keep chaining those kills to stay alive.
Use the laser beam while airborne
If you use the beam while you’re in the air, you’ll be held in place, meaning you can rain destruction from above while also making yourself a much smaller target as you’re so high in the sky. It also does damage to structures, so if players are trying to build above you, just laser or punch down the bottom of their structures. With the newest update, the beam does a whopping 20 damage per hit, meaning it packs a heavy punch when at a distance.
It’s easily the most unique mode added to Fortnite and hopefully it will lead to plenty more collaborations and exciting new modes. We’ve had a few ideas ourselves for franchises Fortnite should team up with, and if you’re struggling to complete the challenges this week, you can check out our guides to them here, here and here.
(In-article images courtesy of YouTube channel Fortnites Only. Header image courtesy of Ali-A.)
