The Fortnite Reload map rotation right now is Nitemare Island, Squid Grounds and Stranger Things, and Ranked and Unranked both use the same three maps. Epic set that rotation in its Reload v42.40 update notes on October 15, and it has run since the Squid Grounds weekend ended on October 19. Below: what each map offers, the current loot pool changes in tables, the Kado’s Curse ranked season, and what the November 1 v43.00 downtime means for Reload.
Checked October 31, 2026, 04:50 UTC, against Epic’s Reload posts (October 2, 8 and 15), Epic’s status page, the Fortnite Wiki and dated guides from TheClick (October 22) and Gamertagmythras (October 25).
Table of Contents
Quick answer: Fortnite Reload map rotation and loot pool
- Maps in rotation (Ranked and Unranked): Nitemare Island, Squid Grounds, Stranger Things.
- Not in rotation: Surf City, Venture, Oasis, Slurp Rush, Elite Stronghold, Springfield and Mini-Venture.
- You can’t pick a map. The playlist puts you on whichever island is live. The Fortnite Wiki says Reload maps switch in a cycle about every 20 minutes. Epic hasn’t published the order.
- Latest official loot changes (v42.40, October 15): Iron Pump Shotgun and Morphite Tactical Shotgun unvaulted. Twin Hammer Shotguns and the regular Gatekeeper Shotgun vaulted, though Epic says the Gatekeeper stays on Nitemare Island.
- Halloween loot: Kado’s Siphon weapons, the Witch Broom, Myst Form and other Fortnitemares items drop on Nitemare Island. The wiki records most of them on Stranger Things too, and none on Squid Grounds.
- Ranked: a full-reset Ranked season, Kado’s Curse, started on October 8. Epic hasn’t announced when it ends.
- Next change: the v43.00 downtime runs November 1, 05:00-08:00 UTC. Epic hasn’t posted Reload notes for v43.00 yet, so the rotation could change with it. We’ll update this page when Epic says.
Current Fortnite Reload map rotation
Epic’s October 15 notes put it plainly: “Squid Grounds takes over for an exclusive weekend, October 15–19. Afterward, a fresh map rotation will drop. Both Ranked and Unranked players get Nitemare Island, Squid Grounds, and Stranger Things map.” The Fortnite Wiki’s Reload page shows the same three maps for Casual and Ranked, and its log has Nitemare Island and Stranger Things re-added on October 19.
| Map | Ranked | Unranked | Players (wiki) | What’s special |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nitemare Island | Yes | Yes | 40 | The Hunt modifier, Kado’s Siphon weapons, Last Call (Stalkbox) |
| Squid Grounds | Yes | Yes | 40 | Fish items return (wiki): Small Fry, Flopper, Shield Fish, Slurpfish |
| Stranger Things | Yes | Yes | 24 | The Hawkins island from Blitz Royale. Shares most of the Nitemare Island Halloween loot (wiki) |
Two of the three maps hold 40 players and Stranger Things holds 24, according to the wiki. So a session that cycles through the rotation swings between full lobbies and a much smaller, faster one. Plan your drop for the island you get, not the one you wanted.
Nitemare Island's 10 named locations, from Epic's October 8 Kado's Curse post. Image: Epic Games
How the rotation changed this season
| Date (2026) | Change | Source |
|---|---|---|
| October 2-5 | Steady Storm modifier returns for the last weekend of Reload’s Springfield season (until Monday, October 5, 7 AM ET) | Epic, v42.30 Reload notes |
| October 8 | Nitemare Island: Kado’s Curse launches. Rotation: Nitemare Island, Stranger Things, Surf City | Epic, October 8 Reload post |
| October 8 | Stranger Things briefly swapped for Oasis “due to an issue”, then put back the same day | Epic (edit to the same post); wiki times it 9:10 AM-1:58 PM EDT |
| October 15-19 | Squid Grounds exclusive weekend: the only Reload map | Epic, v42.40 Reload notes |
| October 19-now | Nitemare Island, Squid Grounds, Stranger Things in Ranked and Unranked. Surf City out | Epic, v42.40 notes; wiki rotation log |
If you see a guide with a split rotation (Surf City in one playlist, Squid Grounds in the other), it’s describing an older version. Gamertagmythras notes that an early wiki copy of the v42.40 notes had one, but Epic’s own notes list a single set for both playlists.
Fortnite Reload loot pool right now
Epic publishes loot changes per update, not one complete list. Here’s every change Epic has announced this season, plus the extras the Fortnite Wiki has logged, labelled as such.
Latest changes: v42.40 (October 15)
| Item | Change | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Iron Pump Shotgun | Unvaulted | Epic |
| Morphite Tactical Shotgun | Unvaulted | Epic |
| Gatekeeper Shotgun | Vaulted (“still available on Nitemare Island”) | Epic |
| Twin Hammer Shotguns | Vaulted | Epic |
| Accelerant Drum Gun | Added | Wiki |
| Enhanced Outlaw Shotgun, Enhanced Hyperburst Pistol, FlowBerry Fizz | Unvaulted in an October 15 hotfix (11:00 AM EDT) | Wiki |
| Small Fry, Flopper, Shield Fish, Slurpfish | Unvaulted on Squid Grounds only | Wiki |
One wrinkle: Epic says the regular Gatekeeper is still on Nitemare Island, while Gamertagmythras points out that the wiki’s copy of the notes calls it fully vaulted. Kado’s Siphon Gatekeeper is a separate item either way, and it’s still in the Nitemare Island pool.
Kado’s Curse changes: October 8
Epic’s “Fortnitemares haunts Reload!” post made the big season swap:
| Vaulted (Epic) | Unvaulted (Epic) |
|---|---|
| Morphite Assault Rifle | Shield Keg |
| Morphite Heavy Assault Rifle | Slap Juice, Slap Berry, Slap Splash, Slapperoni Pizza |
| Morphite Hammer Assault Rifle | Morphite Spire Rifle |
| MK-7 Assault Rifle | Nemesis Assault Rifle |
| O.X.R. Rifle | Combat Rifle |
| Morphite Handcannon | Tactical Pistol, Monarch Pistol |
| Morphite Flex Submachine Gun | Gatekeeper Shotgun (vaulted again Oct 15), Twin Hammer Shotgun (vaulted again Oct 15) |
| Ranger Shotgun, Morphite Sentinel Shotgun, Morphite Thunder Shotgun | Morphite Havoc Shotgun, Deadeye DMR |
The wiki adds a launch-day hotfix at 5 PM EDT: the Thunder Burst SMG went in, the Havoc Pump Shotgun and Red-Eye SMG were vaulted, and on the Halloween maps the Hoprock Cube Rifle replaced the Cube Rifle.
Epic's loot pool highlights for Nitemare Island: Siphon weapons, Fortnitemares classics and specialty items like the Void Oni Mask and Last Call. Image: Epic Games
Nitemare Island loot (Halloween items)
Epic lists these as “Nitemare Island-specific Loot”. The wiki files most of them under “Nitemare Island & Stranger Things”, so expect them on Stranger Things as well. Last Call and its Stalkbox phone booth are Nitemare Island only, per the wiki.
- Kado’s Siphon weapons (heal as you deal damage): Kado’s Siphon Deadeye Assault Rifle, Kado’s Siphon Gatekeeper Shotgun, Kado’s Siphon Monarch Pistol.
- Classic Fortnitemares weapons: Sideways Rifle, Sideways Minigun, Sideways Scythe, Woodstake Shotgun, Pumpkin Launcher, Cube Splitter Submachine Gun, Cube Rifle (the wiki says the Hoprock Cube Rifle replaced it in the October 8 hotfix).
- Mobility and specialty items: Witch Broom, Void Oni Mask, Myst Form, Last Call.
- Vampiric Blade: listed by Epic, but Gamertagmythras says the wiki hasn’t confirmed it in the pool.
Epic also tuned the classic Sideways weapons on October 8. On October 15 it changed The Hunt so a win can pay out other gameplay items, not only Kado’s Siphon guns.
The Hunt on Nitemare Island
The Hunt is a match modifier that only runs on Nitemare Island. Epic says there’s “a chance” Kado Thorne makes you part of it when you drop. Here’s how it works, according to Epic:
- You get a Mark (a target player) when you land from the Battle Bus.
- While marked, you can see the general area your target is in.
- Eliminate your Mark and Kado gives you a reward of his choosing.
- A new Mark is assigned at the start of each new Storm Circle.
If you want The Hunt or the Siphon guns, keep queueing until Nitemare Island comes up. Neither playlist can force it.
Reload reboot timers after v42.40
The October 15 update also changed respawns in Duos and Squads. Teammates now cut reboot timers by looting and dealing damage, and Epic added 15 seconds to each stage to make up for it.
| Action | Timer reduction |
|---|---|
| Open an ammo box or small container (like Produce Boxes) | 1 second |
| Open a chest | 2 seconds |
| Open a rare chest | 4 seconds |
| Every 30 damage dealt | 1 second |
| Down / eliminate / wipe a team (Duos) | 2 / 3 / 5 seconds (unchanged) |
| Down / eliminate / wipe a team (Squads) | 2 / 4 / 10 seconds (unchanged) |
Epic’s new base reboot times by stage are 27 / 27 / 27 / 29 / 31 / 31 seconds in Duos (previously 12 / 12 / 12 / 15 / 15 / 17 / 17) and 45 / 45 / 45 / 50 / 50 / 55 / 55 in Squads (previously 30 / 30 / 30 / 35 / 35 / 40 / 40).
Fortnite Reload Ranked: Kado’s Curse season
Epic says Kado’s Curse brought “a new full reset” Ranked season on October 8, with Elite Kado Thorne-themed rewards for reaching specific Ranked tiers. The headline prize is the Kado-themed Axe of Unreal for players who reach Unreal. Epic’s Reload Ranked Cup leaderboards cover the usual ladder: Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond, Elite, Champion and Unreal.
- Ranked Cups: placing well in Reload Ranked Cup tournaments unlocks the Elite Kado Thorne outfit early. They’re listed in the Compete tab.
- Map Mastery: the quests refreshed with Fortnitemares-themed rewards, plus a Kado Thorne Victory Umbrella for a Victory Royale in Ranked or Unranked.
- Ranked reset date: Epic hasn’t said when this Ranked season ends. We won’t guess. This page will get the date once Epic posts it.
Kado's Curse Ranked rewards by tier, ending with the Axe of Unreal. Image: Epic Games
Will Reload change with v43.00 on November 1?
Epic’s status page lists “Fortnite: Downtime for v43.00 Update” from 05:00 to 08:00 UTC on November 1. Its notice says: “Scheduled downtime for v43.00 begins at 1 AM ET (5 AM UTC). Matchmaking will be disabled 30 minutes prior.” That’s 10 PM PT on October 31. US clocks go back during the window, so 08:00 UTC is 3 AM EST in the East and 1 AM PDT on the West Coast.
Epic hasn’t published Reload notes for v43.00. Everything above is what’s live until the downtime and may change with the update. Live server updates are on our Fortnite server status page, and the new Battle Royale season is covered in our Treasure Hunters season guide.
What to do in Reload before the downtime
- Finish your weekly quests first. Matchmaking stops at 04:30 UTC on November 1. Our Fortnite quests this week list has the full set.
- Push Map Mastery on Nitemare Island while the Halloween map is still in rotation. The rotation could change with v43.00.
- Climb Ranked if you’re near a reward tier. Epic hasn’t said when Kado’s Curse ends, so don’t count on extra days.
- Grab the last Fortnitemares rewards. Fortnitemares runs until November 1, per Epic. The quests are in our Fortnitemares 2026 guide.
- Check the shop. Today’s skins are on our Fortnite Item Shop today page.
FAQ
What is the Fortnite Reload map rotation right now?
Nitemare Island, Squid Grounds and Stranger Things, in both Ranked and Unranked, since October 19, 2026. That’s per Epic’s v42.40 Reload notes and the Fortnite Wiki’s rotation log (checked October 31).
Is Surf City still in Fortnite Reload?
No. Surf City left the rotation on October 15 for the Squid Grounds weekend and wasn’t brought back on October 19. Epic’s notes don’t list it in the current rotation.
Can you choose which Reload map you play?
No. Reload drops you on whichever map in the rotation is live. The wiki says maps cycle about every 20 minutes. Switching between Ranked and Unranked won’t force a map, because both use the same three.
What’s in the Fortnite Reload loot pool?
The latest official changes (October 15) unvaulted the Iron Pump Shotgun and Morphite Tactical Shotgun and vaulted the Twin Hammer Shotguns and the regular Gatekeeper. Nitemare Island (and, per the wiki, mostly Stranger Things) adds Kado’s Siphon weapons, the Witch Broom, Myst Form and other Halloween items. The tables above have the full list of changes.
When is the next Fortnite Reload update?
The next Fortnite update is v43.00, with downtime on November 1 from 05:00 to 08:00 UTC. Epic hasn’t said yet what it changes in Reload.
Sources: Epic Games, Fortnite Reload 42.40 Update Notes (October 15, 2026), Fortnitemares haunts Reload! (October 8), Fortnite Reload 42.30 Update Notes (October 2) and Fortnitemares 2026 post (October 1); Epic Games status page (v43.00 notice); Fortnite Wiki: Fortnite: Reload and its Reload loot pool log (edited October 21-27); TheClick (updated October 22); Gamertagmythras (updated October 25).
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