Fortnite v17.30 Patch Notes Revealed: Grab-itron, Slurpy Swamp Scramble, and More

The latest patch notes for Fortnite v17.30 dropped, revealing a new weapon, limited-time mode (LTM), and map changes.

The update is set to launch on Tuesday, Aug. 3, with select parts kicking off throughout the week. v17.30 is anything but boring with the development team at Epic Games truly taking the whole "alien" theme in stride. After all, there are endless possibilities when you're dealing with the possible manipulation of space and time.

Here's the biggest ticket items in Fortnite v17.30.

Fortnite v17.30 Patch Notes Explained

We've taken the liberty of breaking the notes up into sections containing each major piece outlined on the website.

New Weapons: the Grab-itron

The Grab-itron is less of a weapon and more of a tool in v17.30. When picked up, players can use this "rifle" to pull objects close to them and carry them around—thus its reputation as a "UFO in your hands."

These items can be used to block damage when held in between the player and an opponent or cause damage when thrown. The amount varies depending on how large and/or heavy the item held in the beam is. Additionally, the patch notes indicate the Grab-itron can be used to catch projectiles in midair before they make an impact.

Grab-itrons can be found in Chests, in the Mothership, and on top of Abductors.

Map Changes: Slurpy Swamp Scramble

It appears that the alien trespassers are trying to take Fortnite Island home with them. Unfortunately, due to the sheer size of this POI, they've had to break it into several bits in order to transport it properly. Frightening as this may seem, according to the patch notes, this may actually be advantageous for the bravest loopers.

When caught in a low gravity beam, players can jump from one broken, floating piece of Slurpy Swamp to the other, putting distance between them and their opponents in the blink of an eye.

Developers encourage players to check in on the swamp throughout the week as "abducting a whole POI isn’t something that happens overnight."

New Limited-Time Mode: Team Brawls

This LTM is all about fast-paced duels and close combat. Matches take place over a single POI where the first team to reach 60 eliminations wins. When killed, players respawn by plummeting straight back into the fray with a brand new loadout. Non-player built structures are also reinforced to provide extra protection during the brawl.

Developers have also thrown in a wild card to keep the battle interesting. Should one team get too far ahead of the other, the losing team will then be able to see the outlines of their opponents through walls until they catch up a bit.

Team Brawl goes live on Thursday, Aug. 5 at 9 a.m. ET (6 a.m. PT).

v17.30 will also introduce some quality of life fixes such as a buff to the Heavy Assault Rifle, extra damage when aiming down sights with the Pulse Rifle, and a variety of bug fixes. More information about the patch can be found on Epic's website.