Fortnite Shadow form: How to become a Shadow and Shadow abilities explained
Rise from the dead!
A Shadow is a special form that you can take on during this year's Fortnitemarers in Fortnite.
You'll only be able to play as a Shadow during the Fortnitemarers event, which ends on Tuesday, 3rd November, so make sure you use this time wisely, such as completing the 'Become a Shadow' challenge.
Once you are a Shadow, it's a good idea to know what your Shadow abilities are, so that you can take your revenge on the living.
On this page:
How to become a Shadow in Fortnite
Becoming a Shadow during this year's Fortnitemares in Fortnite is pretty simple - all you have to do is have a single health point left. (You die basically.)
This can be at the hands of an enemy player, a Shadow or by your own hands.
Whichever way your demise befalls you, when it occurs you'll find yourself transforming into a Shadow and returning to the match. After this transformation, you'll be able to play as a Shadow until either the match ends or you're killed by another player.
If you're planning on completing the Fortnitemares challenge 'Become a Shadow' we suggest either playing three matches normally or, if you wish to complete the challenge quickly, jumping from a high building or mountain. You'll die upon impact with the ground and take on your Shadow form.
It should be noted that, at the time of writing, being killed by a Shadow doesn't appear to count towards the completion of this challenge.
Shadow abilities in Fortnite explained
Once you've become a Shadow, there are a number of special abilities that you can take advantage of. All of these abilities are very useful for making the most of your ghostly form, so it's worth your time experimenting with them.
Two of these abilities are tied to movement - Dash allows you to phase through obstacles and Shadow Jump will let you jump higher. It's almost important to note that, if you stand still as a shadow, everything but your two purple eyes will become invisible.
There is also the Shadow attack, Slash, which allows you to attack the living with your ghostly claws.
The best ability, however, is Scream, which, when used, will highlight the locations of living players that are nearby, allowing you to slowly sneak up and attack them. This ability has a 30 second cool down and is an essential skill for anyone seeking revenge.
Finally, it's important to know that as a Shadow you have 100 health points and no shield. You can, however, regain your hit points by consuming ammo, guns, materials and the other objects that you'd usually fill your inventory with.
It's impossible for Shadows to take fall damage or be damaged by fellow Shadows, but both the storm and other players can damage them.
Fortnite Chapter 5 Season 1 is here! It brings a free Lego Insider skin and redemption codes with it, along with a new Victory Umbrella. We've also got pages on new features like Medallions, Weapon Mods, and how to complete a Train Heist. Meanwhile, learn what the best weapons are in the current season, how to get XP fast, and what the best PC settings are to help earn a Victory Crown.
Can a Shadow win a battle royale in Fortnite?
Yes, it is possible to win a battle royale in Fortnite as a Shadow.
Since Shadows are incapable of killing each other, there's a chance that you'll end up in a match where the remaining players have been turned into Shadows, meaning that eliminations are impossible.
If this happens, then you simply need to remain outside of the storm till the match ends and you'll receive a battle royale. You'll even receive the Victory Umbrella for Season 4 if you haven't done so already!
We recommend avoiding any non-Shadow players if you plan on using this technique, so that you don't get eliminated by a talented ghost hunter. Thankfully, the Scream ability will allow you to keep track of any non-Shadow players that may still remain in the match.
Good luck haunting Fortnite this Halloween!