Fortnite Overshield Explained: How It Works & What It Is

Things have changed in Fortnite Season 3 Chapter 2, and one of the main changes comes in the form of building being disabled. To help balance out this change, Epic Games has introduced a number of Fortnite Parkour mechanics — like Tactical Sprinting — as well as the Fortnite Overshield. In this guide, we’ll be explaining how this Overshield works and exactly what it is so you can use it to your advantage in games.

What Is Overshield?

Overshield is essentially an additional layer of ‘shield’ that all players start with at the beginning of a match.

It has been introduced in an effort to help players make the adjustment to a Fortnite where building has been disabled.

Whether or not Overshield will remain in-place once the building mechanics return to the game currently remains to be seen. However, it seems unlikely given the amount of additional health and protection this would grant.

How Overshield Works in Fortnite Chapter 2 Season 3

Your level of Overshield is indicated by a blue shield icon with a lightning bolt in the center of it to the right of your standard health and shield in the bottom left-hand corner of the screen. It’s a paler blue and has a lightning effect around it, and we’ve circled it in the screenshot below.

Your Overshield has a max of 50 damage it can take before it’s depleted.

When you initially take damage, it’ll be your Overshield that’ll take the hits first, rather than your standard shield — or health if you haven’t popped some shields in a game yet.

Unlike your standard shield, though, if you stay out of harm’s way for long enough, your Overshield will begin recharging. From our time in the game so far, it appears as though you need to avoid taking damage for about 5 seconds before your Overshield will begin recharging.

The good news is that means you don’t have to seek out any specific items in order to charge your Overshield in Fortnite back up. Just find a cozy hiding spot and wait until that shield refills.

That’s everything you need to know on Fortnite’s Overshield mechanic. For more tips and tricks, search for Twinfinite or see more of our coverage on the game below.