While there have been several notable Star Wars-related Fortnite events in the past, fans of the battle royale still look forward to any opportunity to cross paths with that galaxy far, far away. That’s especially true when said opportunity includes a fight against Darth Vader and the chance to loot his lightsaber.
Yes, Fortnite‘s 21.10 update actually lets you battle Darth Vader alongside any other Fortnite players who are brave enough to challenge the iconic villain. While we’ve seen battles against NPC bosses in previous Fortnite events, the fight against Vader is especially noteworthy. Not only is it surprisingly tough to take Vader down, but it’s arguably just as difficult to figure out how you’re supposed to fight him in the first place.
That being the case, here’s what you need to know about the battle against Darth Vader in Fortnite.
Fortnite: Where Does Darth Vader Spawn?
First off, you should know that Darth Vader will not spawn in any competitive Fortnite modes. It seems that the Fortnite team didn’t want competitive players acquiring a lightsaber and the considerable advantages that weapon offers.
Beyond that, it sadly seems that Darth Vader spawns at random spots on the Fortnite map. While someone might eventually find a way to track his spawn pattern, that information doesn’t seem to be available quite yet.
The good news is that tracking Darth Vader isn’t entirely a matter of luck. While you’re in the Battle Bus (or jumping out of it), you’ll be able to spot Vader’s ship flying around the map. If you’re able to visually track that ship until it lands, you’ll be able to simply drop at its landing spot and find Vader there. Alternatively, you can look for a blue beam on the map that indicates where the ship will eventually land.
While you can land directly on the ship if you choose to do so, you should know that you’re better off giving yourself a little distance. After all, Vader is a surprisingly tough NPC, and he’s even accompanied by some Stormtroopers who will shoot at you on sight. You’re going to want to find a pretty good weapon before you try to take them on.
Speaking of which…
Fortnite: How to Defeat Darth Vader and Get His Mythic Lightsaber
Darth Vader is a shockingly tough Fortnite boss. His health pool is massive, and he’s capable of unleashing some truly brutal attacks. He’s even flanked by those aforementioned Stormtroopers who are much better shots than the movies would lead you to believe they are.
Actually, one of the best things you can do to make the fight against Vader easier is to kill one of those Stormtroopers and loot the blasters they carry. Because those blasters have unlimited ammo, they allow you to lay down a constant stream of fire against Vader.
Whichever weapon you’re using, you’ll want to keep as much distance between you and Vader as possible. There’s not a lot you can do to avoid his lightsaber throw, lunge, and Force attacks, but if you keep a little distance between you and him, you’ll at least be able to avoid his devastating lightsaber swings. Even at a distance, though, you’ll have to find ways to deal with the fact he can block your projectiles.
That’s why fighting Vader alongside other players becomes a near necessity. While those other players are also trying to kill Vader and steal his lightsaber before you can, the fact of the matter is that it’s hard to take down Vader by yourself. Your best bet is to go to town on Vader while he’s occupied with another player. If he turns his attention on you…well, you’d better hope that someone manages to steal it from him before he gets too close.
With enough patience and a little help, you will eventually take Vader down. At that time, you’ll be able to loot his lightsaber from his body. Just know that only one person can loot the lightsaber at any given time, so you may have to fight off any other survivors in order to grab it for yourself. If you’re part of a squad, you’ll need to decide which of you is going to grab it.
That lightsaber can not only unleash some incredibly powerful melee attacks, but it’s actually capable of blocking incoming enemy fire. Interestingly, you can also throw this version of the lightsaber by simply “aiming” and “shooting” it as you would do with any long-range Fortnite weapon.
Fortnite: How to Unlock the Season 3 Darth Vader Skin
Finally, those who want to unlock the prized Darth Vader skin during Fortnite‘s latest update will need to reach Tier 100 of the game’s new battle pass. While you can technically unlock that skin for “free” by acquiring XP and working your way through the battle pass, it’s going to take you a long time to reach that level through the normal course of play. Naturally, that’s where V-Bucks come in. Anyone who wants to spend a little money in Fortnite‘s in-game store will be able to “skip” a few battle pass levels and unlock the Vader skin as soon as possible.