How to use Fortnite’s new pirate cannon — Fortnite Guide

Season 8 of Fortnite is just getting started, and the biggest in-game addition so far is the new pirate cannon.

To use the pirate cannon, players have to drag it around with them. But once they get it where they need it, they can take aim at a target and fire from long distances. The cannon ball, the only way the cannon can do damage, does 100 damage to players and 50 to anyone in the surrounding area, and breaks most structures in just one shot.

The cannon’s other ammunition that it can fire is ... you. If you need a quick escape, or want to chase down a fleeing enemy, you can climb up into the cannon and fire yourself off toward the horizon. Being shot out of a cannon doesn’t do any damage to you, so it might be a good way to get down a mountain in a hurry as well.

This heavy and unwieldy weapon replaces the shopping cart as Fortnite’s primary one-player vehicle, as well as the Stormwing plane, the only other vehicle that also served as a weapon. While it can be very strong, especially in long-range fights, using the pirate cannon does leave players very vulnerable to opponents, so they’ll have to be careful when they pick the moment to load and fire the weapon.

The other danger that the cannon presents is one of positioning. If you’re using it to launch yourself across the map, it’s a good idea to know where you’re going to land before you get there. If you shoot yourself into a team of enemies, it may not be easy to get back out.