Fortnite to Buff Thorn Ripper, Hand Cannon & Wood Stake Shotgun

Fortnite is wrapping up the spooky season with a bang. Epic Games has confirmed that three popular weapons, the Thorn Ripper, Hand Cannon, and Wood Stake Shotgun, are getting buffs ahead of the upcoming Simpsons crossover and the launch of Chapter 6 Season 5.

Weapon buffs incoming! We’re giving these weapons a little extra edge:

⛓️ Thorn Ripper – Overall damage increased to make it more reliable in close encounters.

🎯 Hand Cannon – Faster to equip and swap to, with improved accuracy for cleaner shots.

💥 Wood Stake Shotgun -…

— Fortnite Status (@FortniteStatus) October 27, 2025

These tweaks are designed to make each weapon more balanced and reliable across different modes. The aim is to give players extra firepower before the new season kicks in.

Buffs Arrive During Fortnitemares 2025

The update landed right in the middle of Fortnitemares 2025, Fortnite’s annual Halloween event. This year’s event brought massive horror collaborations, featuring icons like Ghostface, REPO!, and Scooby-Doo, along with the viral Scooby Gang Run emote.

You can explore all the spooky collabs and content drops in TechJuice’s Fortnitemares coverage by clicking here.

As Fortnitemares 2025 wraps up, Fortnite is preparing for its next big crossover. On November 1, 2025, the Fortnite x The Simpsons live event will go live. This marks the start of a Springfield-inspired mini-season.

Check out the full details of the event covered by TechJuice by clicking here.

With new buffs, horror chaos, and The Simpsons just around the corner, Fortnite players are closing out Chapter 6 Season 4 with plenty to enjoy, and even more to look forward to.