Fortnite Patch v42.30 Notes: Bonerattler SMG, Drum Gun Vaulted and Smarter Item Pickups
Fortnite v42.30 (October 1) brings the Bonerattler SMG, vaults the Drum Gun and Ranger AR, adds Halloween Sprites and fixes item pickup priority.
Fortnite's v42.30 update went live on Thursday, October 1, 2026, after roughly two hours of server downtime that began at 4 a.m. ET. It's the patch that switched on Fortnitemares, but underneath the Halloween dressing there's a meaningful loot pool shake-up, a new SMG, four new Sprites and a long list of quality-of-life fixes. Epic spreads the details across several official posts, so here's everything in one place – from the fixes list and Blitz Royale notes to the loot changes in Epic's Fortnitemares announcement.
TL;DR
- New: Bonerattler SMG, Freddy's Nightmare (boss drop), Snack-O'-Lantern Gizmo
- Vaulted: Drum Gun, Ranger Assault Rifle, Tetris Rift
- Unvaulted: Wood Stake Shotgun, Dual Fiend Hunters, Heavy Assault Rifle, Witch Broom, Quack Snacks
- Four new Sprites now, two more on October 15
- Item pickup now prioritizes things you can actually use
- PC: "Epic Quality Assets" replaces the High Resolution Textures option
- Reboot Vans are stationary again
Biggest changes: the loot pool
The most important change for Battle Royale players is what left the pool. The Drum Gun and Ranger Assault Rifle are both vaulted, along with the Tetris Rift mobility item. If your loadout leaned on the Drum Gun's spray or the Ranger's mid-range consistency, you'll need a new plan.
Taking their place:
| Item | Status | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Bonerattler SMG | New | Reveals targets through walls while aiming down sights; the Exotic version also marks targets on hit |
| Freddy's Nightmare | New | Legendary melee claws that let you teleport into range and slash; only drops from the Freddy Krueger boss |
| Snack-O'-Lantern | New Gizmo | Smash it to spill Exotic Candy |
| Heavy Assault Rifle | Unvaulted | Hard-hitting AR, 25-round magazine |
| Wood Stake Shotgun | Unvaulted | Fires a single precise stake |
| Dual Fiend Hunters | Unvaulted | Hitscan dual pistols |
| Witch Broom | Unvaulted | Flying mobility item |
| Quack Snacks | Unvaulted | Consumable returns to the pool |
The Bonerattler is the one to watch. Wall-hacking while aimed in is a big information advantage in close-range fights, and SMGs already dominate endgame build-and-box situations.
Loot Hacks – the items you can boost with Sprite Dust – also get a seasonal set: Ghost Face's Last Call knife, the Infantry Rifle, Pumpkin Launcher, Light Machine Gun and Slap Candy Corn.
Sprites and Overrides
v42.30 adds four Sprites, found in new Pumpkin Chests or through the Trick or Treat cheat code:
- Spooky Dash – dash charges that refill over time
- Vampire – heal as you deal damage
- The Deer – stronger melee hits (a 99 Nights in the Forest tie-in)
- Dumpster Dive – find food that restores extra health (the community design-contest winner)
The Honey and Obsession Sprites are scheduled for October 15.
The season's Override system gets Halloween-themed options from the new Cursed Cartridge, including Spooky Sprinter (cloaked while sprinting), Berserk (more damage as your health drops) and Spooky Prop Hunt (disguise your squad as props).
Map changes
The island is darker and foggier. Nightmare Neighborhood replaces Battlewoods and houses the Freddy Krueger boss, while Freaky Fields takes the place of Latte Landing. At Freddy Fazbear's Pizzeria, you can defeat the animatronics and then possess one.
Blitz Royale
Epic's Blitz notes describe a full seasonal loot refresh. The headline items are the Bonerattler SMG, Freddy's Nightmare and Last Call, with the Chainsaw, Wood Stake Shotgun and Pumpkin Launcher returning. On mobile, tapping an item directly under your reticle now picks it up.
Quality-of-life and bug fixes worth knowing
- Smarter pickups: when several items are in view, usable items are prioritized. Ammo, materials and consumables you're already maxed on get picked up last. This should cut down on those panicked moments where you grab a stack of wood instead of a shotgun.
- Reboot Vans: the drivable ones are now stationary.
- Mega Buster no longer damages through walls.
- PC movement keys no longer rebind themselves between matches.
- Cheat Codes can be heard from farther away, and the Battlewoods tunnel code is easier to reach.
- Xbox players can enter Lobby Hacks again.
- The redesigned Friends list is back in the Social tab.
- Around 20 cosmetic fixes, from Sidekick emotes to Pickaxe icons and clipping.
PC: Epic Quality Assets
On PC, a new Epic Quality Assets option in the Epic Games Launcher replaces High Resolution Textures. It downloads top-quality gameplay content like terrain and objects, while cosmetics still stream on demand. If you had High Resolution Textures turned on, you've been moved over automatically. Epic also says Dynamic 3D Resolution no longer switches itself off.
Other modes
- Fortnite OG: about 20 tweaks push the island closer to its original Chapter 1 look, from cliffs and waterfalls to Grandma's House and Viking Village snow.
- Save the World: fixes for getting stuck on the Rewards screen and a connection hang when rejoining a mission.
- LEGO Fortnite: a batch of build and vehicle fixes, including a photosensitivity fix for Quick Build at night.
- Fortnite Festival: Jam Tracks in the Featured Rotation can now be picked on the Main Stage.
Known issues
Epic lists a few problems still in the build, most of them due for v42.40: Mega Buster's charged shot is missing its area damage, Switch 2 players may not see Weak Points, some vehicle keybinds revert, and the Shield Potion glow can linger. On mobile, Reboot Vans may ignore on-screen taps – use the Interact button instead.
What it means for players
With the Drum Gun and Ranger gone, the meta tilts toward the Heavy AR for range and the Bonerattler for close fights, and wall-reveal is going to make third-parties much more predictable. The pickup change is the quiet winner, though – it fixes one of Fortnite's most common moments of frustration. The next update, v42.40, is expected on October 15.
Sources
This article was written by AI (Claude) and checked against the sources above. Games are updated regularly, so details may change.