This article is about the Pickaxe used as a weapon. For Pickaxes as a Cosmetic Item, see Pickaxes. For the Loading Screen, see Harvesting Tools (Loading Screen).
The Pickaxe, formerly known as the Harvesting Tool, is a Melee Weapon in Battle Royale that was introduced in the Pre-Season at launch. Players cannot drop the Pickaxe and it is given to them automatically. The appearance of the Default Pickaxe has changed throughout the first three chapters.
Functionality[]
The Pickaxe is best used for destroying structures. It can also be used as a close range weapon, but it is not very effective when doing so because of its 20 damage standpoint.
The Pickaxe is unique in that it has the ability to land a critical hit on structures. When a player strikes a structure, for their second attack, a circle indicator will be present, and hitting this indicator inflicts double damage per hit. This is called a "Weak Spot". After each consecutive hit, the indicator moves around the structure. This indicator is not related to a specific surface, as moving around a structure and hitting the same indicator continues the chain of critical hits.
When attacking structures that are not player built, Materials will be harvested and added to the player's inventory. The number of materials granted depends on the structure or prop being destroyed.
Stats[]
Pickaxes deal 20 Damage per hit and are incapable of landing headshots.
Pickaxes deal 50 Structure Damage per hit, or 75 to Player-Built Structures. Hitting a Weak Spot will result in double damage.
|
Pickaxe (Common) |
|---|---|
| DPS | 20 |
| DAMAGE | 20 |
| STRUCTURE DAMAGE | 50-75 |
| ATTACK SPEED | 1 |
Obtained[]
The Pickaxe is given to every player as soon as a match begins, and does not take up an inventory slot, as it has its own.
Strategy Guide[]
|
This section outlines a strategy. |
| Feel free to add tips, tricks and general advice about the topic. |
- Only use the Pickaxe when you are out of all other options, or if you are very early game and neither you or an opponent have a weapon.
- You could use a Pickaxe against a player who only has a long range weapon, such as a Sniper Rifle, as the weak hipfire accuracy can lead you to win a fight against them.
- The Pickaxe is effective at eliminating knocked opponents, as they will have trouble escaping you, and it does not waste any ammo.
- The Pickaxe can be used eliminating players after pumping them.
The Pickaxe, also known as the Harvesting Tool, is a Melee Weapon in Fortnite: Save the World that was introduced with the launch of Fortnite. Players cannot drop the Pickaxe and it is given to them automatically.
Functionality[]
The Pickaxe is best used for destroying structures. It can also be used as a close-range weapon, but it is not very effective when doing so.
The Pickaxe is unique in that it has the ability to land a critical hit on structures. When a player strikes a structure, for their second attack, a circle indicator will be present, and hitting this indicator inflicts double damage per hit. This is called a "Weak Spot". After each consecutive hit, the indicator moves around the structure. This indicator is not related to a specific surface, as moving around a structure and hitting the same indicator continues the chain of critical hits.
When attacking structures that are not player built, Materials will be harvested and added to the player's inventory. The number of materials granted depends on the structure or prop being destroyed. In Storm Shield preparations, player-built structures will be instantly destroyed and give back the materials to the player. Destroying props can also yield crafting materials. Pickaxes deal the most environmental damage of all melee weapons. However, other weapons such as the Obliterator Sniper Rifle and Explosive Weapons destroy structures quicker than the Pickaxe.
Commander XP upgrades pickaxe level in Save the World, increasing the amount of damage the Pickaxe does to objects, and therefore allowing the player to break things faster and collecting the materials faster. Pathfinder Jess' Work, Work perk increases Pickaxe damage by 17% (Support) or 50% (Commander).
Upgrades[]
- Tier 1 - Pickaxe Level 2, +10% damage
- Tier 2 - Pickaxe Level 3, +10% damage from Tier 1
- Tier 3 - Pickaxe Level 4, +45% damage from Tier 2
- Tier 4 - Pickaxe Level 5, +45% damage from Tier 3
- Tier 5 - Pickaxe Level 6, +90% damage from Tier 4
- Tier 6 - Pickaxe Level 7, +90% damage from Tier 5
- Tier 7 - Pickaxe Level 8, +150% damage from Tier 6
- Tier 8 - Pickaxe Level 9, +150% damage from Tier 7
History[]
Alpha
- Added the Harvesting Tool to Fortnite.
Pre-Season
Update v1.6
- Added the Harvesting Tool to Battle Royale, alongside the entire game-mode.
- Deals 10 damage to players per hit and 50 to environmental objects, with the ability to critical hit them.
- It also deals 50 damage to opponent structures, and 25 damage to friendly structures.
Season 5
Update v5.10
- Increased damage to player-built structures from 50 to 75.
Season 6
Update v6.30
- Increased damage to players from 10 to 20.
Season X
Update v10.20
- Introduced the Locker to Save the World.
- Cosmetic Pickaxes can now be selected, and players are no longer locked to their highest-upgraded Pickaxe.
- As such, the Rarity of the Pickaxe Weapon no longer upgrades and remains at Uncommon.
Chapter 2: Season 1
Update v11.00
- Updated the appearance and icon of the Default Pickaxe.
Chapter 3: Season 1
Update v19.00
- Updated the appearance and icon of the Default Pickaxe.
Chapter 4: Season 3
Update v25.00
- Updated the appearance and icon of the Default Pickaxe.
- Added new sounds for consecutive weak point hits.
Sounds[]
| Description | Audio |
|---|---|
| Weakpoint Hit 1 | |
| Weakpoint Hit 2 | |
| Weakpoint Hit 3 | |
| Weakpoint Hit 4 | |
| Weakpoint Hit 5 | |
| Weakpoint Hit 6 | |
| Weakpoint Hit 7 | |
| Weakpoint Hit 8 |
Trivia[]
- Pickaxes are unique as they have a complete model change depending on cosmetic rarity. Unlike other weapons which apply wraps, the cosmetic alteration of a Pickaxe is the entire icon and model, rather than a texture change.
- On top of this, they are the only weapon to not be affected by Rarity, and also able to equip series rarities, such as Marvel Series.
- The Star Wand and AC/DC had a bug which caused them to deal 56 damage per attack, with a 1.5x headshot modifier.
- This was quickly patched, but unusual, as it was the only time a Pickaxe could apply critical hits against players.
- The Pickaxe as a weapon is internally of Common Rarity, but as mentioned prior, is only changed by its cosmetic rarity.
- Enemies breaking structures and props with a Pickaxe make a different sound than when a player or teammate does.
- Monsters in Save the World have unique 'flesh' sounds depending on the type, when hitting them with a Pickaxe.
- Pickaxe upgrades in Save the World used to increase the Weapon's Rarity.
- This was removed in Update v10.20, when Pickaxes were added as unlockable and selectable Cosmetics instead, along with the introduction of the Locker to Save the World.
- Prior to the update, it was not possible to change the Pickaxe's appearance, and players would be stuck with their max-upgraded one.
