The Fortnite Explosive Cannon Ball is a new Treasure Hunters item that can be thrown at opponents or loaded into a ship cannon. Epic confirms both uses for Battle Royale in the v43.00 update, with one important restriction: it is available in non-Competitive play.
This is not the same as simply climbing into a cannon to launch your character. You can carry it as a projectile, or use a cannon to fire it. Here’s what works in each mode and how the related cannon quest fits in.
Where to find the Fortnite Explosive Cannon Ball
The item is part of the Treasure Hunters Battle Royale update on Crossbones Isle. Epic has not published a fixed chest, boss or named location where an Explosive Cannon Ball is guaranteed to appear. Check loot as you play rather than heading to a supposedly guaranteed spawn.
The Fortnite Explosive Cannon Ball is also listed in Reload’s v43.00 additions, again with a non-Competitive restriction. The Reload notes describe it as something you can throw at opponents, but do not provide a guaranteed spawn point or repeat the Battle Royale description of loading it into ship cannons.
How to throw an Explosive Cannon Ball
Once you have the item in your inventory, select it as your current throwable and use the normal on-screen aim and throw controls. Aim where you want it to land, then release the throw using the control shown on your screen.
The Fortnite Explosive Cannon Ball is designed to explode, but Epic’s public season notes do not list an exact blast radius, throw distance or damage figure. Don’t expect every explosion to eliminate an opponent. Its actual effect depends on where it lands and the situation.
How to load the Fortnite Explosive Cannon Ball into a Cannon
On Crossbones Isle, the island’s cannons have two different roles: they can launch players across the map, and Epic says they can fire the new explosive item. Find a cannon while carrying an Explosive Cannon Ball, approach its loading position and follow the interaction prompt the game shows. Then aim and fire using that cannon’s on-screen controls.
The button prompt depends on your platform and controls, so follow the on-screen instructions when you’re next to a cannon. Epic does not claim that every cannon starts loaded with a Fortnite Explosive Cannon Ball or that the item appears beside every cannon.
Does the loaded Cannon quest need the explosive item?
It’s easy to mix up firing ammunition with launching yourself. The Loaded Cannon quest guide deals with the event objective and the interaction the quest actually asks you to perform. A cannon can also launch your character for travel, so check the quest wording before assuming it requires this particular explosive ammunition.
If you are trying to fire the Fortnite Explosive Cannon Ball, first verify you are holding the actual item. Getting into a cannon for movement is not equivalent to loading a projectile. The two features share the same piece of scenery, which is why it’s easy to mix them up.
Is the Explosive Cannon Ball in Ranked or tournaments?
No. Epic specifically labels the Fortnite Explosive Cannon Ball as available in non-Competitive play in the main Treasure Hunters notes. Reload also describes it as non-Competitive-only. That’s why a Competitive playlist shouldn’t be used to test whether the item is available in ordinary Battle Royale.
Blitz Royale’s v43.00 new-item list does not name the Explosive Cannon Ball, so its inclusion in Battle Royale and Reload should not be taken as proof that Blitz has it. Each mode has its own loot pool and restrictions.
Can the Explosive Cannon Ball unlock a vault or Pirate Shop token?
A player-reported vault technique involves explosive damage reaching chests behind a locked door. That is not an Epic-confirmed method of earning Pirate Shop Access, and there is no verified special token drop rate attached to explosives. Do not destroy valuable loot or expect a guaranteed prize based on a viral clip.
The Fortnite Explosive Cannon Ball has two confirmed uses, but unlocking Pirate Shop Access isn’t one of them. For the Pirate Shop reward rules, read our chest locations guide, which separates confirmed loot information from player reports.
When should you use an Explosive Cannon Ball?
The choice depends on whether you have a cannon nearby. Throwing the ball gives you an immediate explosive option during a fight, while loading a cannon can let you attack from a fixed firing position. Both uses are listed in Epic’s non-Competitive Battle Royale notes.
The Fortnite Explosive Cannon Ball adds another use for Crossbones Isle’s cannons, but don’t rely on an invented spawn rate, blast size or permanent vault glitch. For the full season equipment list, visit our Treasure Hunters loot pool guide.
Related Guides
Official source: Epic Games, Treasure Hunters v43.00 notes.
