Fortnite - Sideways encounter: How to complete a Sideways encounter and Sideways anomaly locations explained
Travel to alternative dimensions for a spot of monster killing!
Sideways encounters are a new in-match minigame you can complete in Fortnite Chapter 2 Season 8.
Fighting in a Sideways encounter will help you collect using loot, like the Sideways weapons, and complete a number of challenges in the quest punchcards. First, however, you need to know how to find the Sideways anomaly locations.
Below you'll discover how to complete a Sideways encounter now that they're no longer disabled from the game.
Note this particular challenge is no longer able to be completed. What's new? Chapter 4 Season 2 has arrived! New additions include the Grind Rails and Kinetic Blades, along with the new Battle Pass, character collection and Eren Jaeger skin. It's a good idea to know how to get XP fast in Fortnite.
On this page:
Sideways anomaly locations in Fortnite explained
The easiest way to find the location of a Sideways anomaly is to open the Fortnite map where they will appear as purple rifts. You then place a marker on your preferred anomaly and make your way towards it once you're properly prepared.
It's important to note that the locations in the map above are only examples and not fixed locations - don't expect the rifts to appear in these locations in your match! The Sideways anomalies will also move throughout the map, disappearing and reappearing in new locations as it progresses, so, if you want to take part, then you need to keep an eye on their location.
When you do approach a Sideways anomaly it will appear as a purple crack in reality, until you get too close and it expands into a mini Sideways zone. Here you'll partake in a Sideways encounter.
How to complete a Sideways encounter in Fortnite
Sideways encounters in Fortnite involve fighting off waves of Cube Monsters until you fill the orange challenge bar at the top of your screen. If you do this successfully, then you will complete the Sideways encounter. There is, however, a catch and it comes in the form of a timer.
This timer will start every time you enter a Sideways encounter and when it ends, so does the encounter. To increase this timer you need to kill Cube Monsters, with the stronger monsters providing more time, so, if you want to complete the encounter, make sure you target the stronger monsters.
If you don't, then the Sideways encounter will end and you'll lose your progress towards completion.
Thankfully any loot you receive from killing Cube Monsters or the Sideways chests will remain on the map whether you successfully complete the Sideways encounters or not. This means you can focus solely on opening the chests, which, thanks to the lower gravity allowing you to jump higher and avoid the monsters, is a good strategy for finding Sideways weapons.
You can also have multiple Sideways encounters per match, so don't worry if the timer runs out on you.
Other players can enter your Sideways encounter and you all share the same progress bar, so it's worth keeping them alive. Until the encounter ends, of course.
When it comes to partaking in a Sideways encounter, we recommend collecting some good weapons, gathering some healing items and building your shields a little bit beforehand. While you can gather ammo and increase your shield by killing the Cube Monsters, this will ensure you're properly prepared and further your chances of completing the Sideways encounter.
This will also help you complete any Sideways related challenges, such as the final challenge for Torin's punchcard.
If you'd like to learn more about Season 8 of Fortnite, check out our pages on the Season 8 Battle Pass, map changes, Sideways weapons, colour bottle locations and where to find IO guards.