Fortnite’s Infinity Blade is getting a big nerf

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Fortnite Infitnity Blade
The Infinity Blade won’t be quite as frustrating soon
Photo: Epic Games

Fortnite’s newest item, which has seen a lot of criticism since being added to Battle Royale this week, is getting a big nerf.

Developer Epic Games has confirmed it is taking away the ability to harvest resources and build structures while carrying the Infinity Blade. It promises to continue monitoring the Blade’s effectiveness after the changes and “make adjustments as necessary.”

The Infinity Blade, taken from the now dead Infinity Blade series for iOS, was added in Fortnite version 7.01. It can be found in the Polar Peaks area of the Battle Royale map, and it gives the player carrying it a big advantage over their opponents.

The Infinity Blade lets you move faster, jump great distances without taking fall damage, and deal 75 damage with every hit. It also gives you up to 200 health and 200 shield — twice the amount you can usually obtain in Battle Royale.

The Blade was designed to be a weapon with “inherent risk to balance out the great capability it provides,” Epic says — but it didn’t quite turn out like that.

Infinity Blade causes chaos

One of the biggest issues with the Blade is that you still have the ability to build while carrying it. This, combined with the faster movement speed and insane jumping, means it’s incredibly easy to avoid gunfire from your opponents.

Those who don’t pick up the Infinity Blade in a Battle Royale match are at a huge disadvantage, then. This has caused chaos in this week’s $1 million Winter Royale tournament, and spawned a barrage of criticism from both amateur and pro players.

Fortunately for everyone, Epic has taken note.

Infinity Blade will be nerfed in 7.10

In an announcement posted to Reddit today, Epic confirmed it will remove the ability to build and harvest resources while carrying the Blade in Fortnite version 7.10. It will be just as powerful as it was before, but it won’t be quite as easy to avoid opponents.

Epic intends for the Blade to be “risky to have, but still satisfying to wield.” It also says it will “continue to monitor the Blade’s effectiveness” after the change — “and make adjustments as necessary as well as communicate those changes.”

We’ll have to wait and see whether this helps make the Blade less frustrating for those who don’t use it. Most players would still prefer it if the item was exclusive to its own game mode — not regular Battle Royale — but it’s a step in the right direction.

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