The Falcon Scout in Fortnite can be used to scan for enemies, pick up loot, or downed players, and can be found all across the map.
In Fortnite's first major update of the year, it introduced the long-awaited Falcon Scout item which was teased in its original Chapter 4 trailer. It is a mechanical bird that allows you to scout for loot and enemies so you don't have to run into the open uninformed. It can also pick up downed players and reboot cards, giving you an alternative option when you're the last one standing on your squad.
If you've come across the Falcon Scout in recent games and weren't sure how to use it, or you've been on the hunt for one and haven't had success finding one, this guide provides a breakdown of how to use the Falcon Scout, what you can pick up using the device, and where you're able to find one.
Where to find the Falcon Scout in Fortnite
If you still haven't come across the Falcon Scout item in Fortnite, fear not! There's a wide range of places you can come across it. It counts as a rare, epic, or legendary item, meaning it can be slightly harder to find and will either be illuminated in blue, purple, or gold. It can be found in the following locations during battle royale:
- Floor loot
- Regular loot chests
- Oathbound chests
- Supply drops
It can be easier to find rare and above loot in Oathbound chests, so if you're still unable to find one in-game then you may want to focus your search in areas where these chests appear such as The Citadel, Anvil Square, Breakwater Bay, and surrounding areas of these locations.
How to use the Falcon Scout in Fortnite
In order to use the Falcon Scout you have to select the item in your inventory and then deploy it. Once you've deployed it, you gain personal control of the device allowing you to fly and direct it. This means you're left in a vulnerable position as you no longer have control over your character so make sure you're somewhere safe.
You have a health bar and radius for the Falcon Scout so if someone shoots you down or you fly too far it automatically gets recalled. The controls you get allow you to:
- Use a speed boost
- Ping and place markers
- Scan for enemies in a radius that marks them for your entire team
- Open containers
- Pick up loot
- Dismiss / Recall
If you recall the drone, you're able to redeploy it instantly. If it is destroyed it returns to your inventory and can be redeployed again after an eight-second recharge window.
You only have 100 HP on the scout, meaning it's very easy to shoot down if noticed. It also makes a low buzzing sound, like that of a drone when flying which appears on players' visual sound effects making it easier to find.
However, this does have its benefits as it means you can also use it to distract and confuse enemies instead of just for scouting. I'll admit after seeing it on my visual sound effects I started looking straight up at the sky in the middle of a wide-open field and was headshot so beware.
What you can pick up using the Falcon Scout in Fortnite
The Falcon Scout, although it is a scout, can also be used to pick up a wide range of items, people, and other useful bits and pieces in-game. Here is a full list of items you can pick up using the Falcon Scout:
- Guns
- Ammunition
- DBNO (down but not out) players - both teammates and enemies
- Reboot cards for teammates
Yes, you read that right, you can pick up downed enemies, even if they're in the middle of being picked back up. This is great for finishing off those players that wriggled away before they can get back into the game.
As well as the Falcon Scout, a handful of new augments were introduced in Fortnite update 23.20. But just like the Shockwave Hammer before it, the Shotgun Striker augment was removed last week for being OP. There was a fairly quick turnaround on the hammer fix, so fingers crossed we'll a similarly speedy patch for this one. It's currently being investigated alongside the Aerialist and Party Time augments (as of Monday, January 23).
