You're standing in the middle of a desert biome, sweating under the digital sun, and all you want is to craft some TNT or a decent recurve crossbow. But you're stuck. You need blast powder in LEGO Fortnite, and the game isn't exactly handing out a map to the treasure. Honestly, it’s one of those bottlenecks that stops your progression cold if you don't know exactly where to look.
Blast powder isn't something you can just dig up or find in a bush. It’s a drop. A specific, slightly annoying drop from specific enemies that only show up when the sun goes down or when you're brave enough to step into the dark.
The Night Shift: Hunting Skeletons
The most reliable way to get your hands on this stuff is by hunting Skeletons. But not just any skeletons. The basic ones that wander around the Grasslands at night usually just drop bones. If you’re looking for blast powder, you need to head to the Dry Valley (Desert) or the Frostlands (Snow) biomes.
When night falls in the Dry Valley, the skeletons that crawl out of the sand are tougher. They often carry pickaxes or swords, and they have a much higher chance of dropping that precious black powder. You’ll recognize them by their slightly different tint or the gear they’re hauling.
It's a bit of a grind. You run, you dodge, you swing, you pick up a bone. Then you do it again. Eventually, a glowing pile of dust stays behind. That’s your blast powder. If you're doing this early in the game, bring a shield. Seriously. Those desert skeletons hit way harder than the ones back at your starter base.
Why You Actually Need Blast Powder in LEGO Fortnite
Why are we even doing this? Well, blast powder is the gatekeeper for mid-to-late game power. Without it, you aren't making explosives. You aren't making the Boom Shield. You certainly aren't making the Dynamite needed to clear out massive clusters of resources or deal heavy area-of-effect damage to bosses like the Brute.
Pirates and Coastal Raiding
There is another way. If you hate the desert or you’re tired of freezing in the mountains, head to the coast. Look for Pirate Life points of interest. These are usually small shacks or ruins near the water.
The "Crossbones" or Pirate-themed scallywags (mostly human-type NPCs or themed skeletons) love explosives. Because they use them, they drop them. I’ve found that raiding a single pirate camp along the Shore biome can sometimes net more blast powder in five minutes than wandering the desert for an entire night cycle.
It's riskier, though. These NPCs usually have crossbows. If you get swarmed, it’s over. But the payoff? Huge. You’ll often find chests in these locations that contain blast powder directly, saving you the trouble of looting individual corpses.
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Chest Luck and Ruins
Don't ignore the crumbling buildings. Every biome has ruined structures—stone foundations, broken towers, and abandoned shacks. Inside these, you’ll often find chests.
In the Dry Valley ruins, the chest loot tables are heavily weighted toward "industrial" and "explosive" materials. You'll find copper bars, brightcore, and yes, blast powder. It's inconsistent, but it's a nice bonus while you're out mining for obsidian or malachite.
Basically, if you see a chest, open it.
Dealing with the "Scoundrel" NPCs
Occasionally, you'll run into groups of hostile NPCs called Scoundrels. These guys wander the map in small bands. They aren't skeletons; they're the ones wearing bandit-style gear. If you see one throwing fireflies or explosives at you, that's your target. These "Alchemist" or "Grenadier" types are guaranteed to drop at least one blast powder because, well, that's what they were throwing at your head two seconds ago.
The Strategy for Efficiency
If you want to maximize your haul, don't just wander aimlessly. Here is the move:
- Wait for Nightfall in the Dry Valley: This is the gold mine.
- Bring a Follower: Give your village NPC a high-tier sword. They have infinite health (mostly) and can distract the mobs while you pick up the loot.
- Circle the Plateaus: Skeletons spawn in high numbers around the base of the large desert mesas.
- Check the Shoreline: If the desert is too hot (literally or figuratively), the beach is your best friend.
A lot of players think they can craft blast powder at a Crafting Bench or a Refinery. You can't. As of the current version of the game, there is no recipe to "make" it from charcoal or sulfur or anything like that. It is strictly a loot-only item. This might change in a future update—Epic Games loves to tweak these things—but for now, you have to get your hands dirty.
Surprising Facts About Blast Powder
Did you know that Compost Bins don't produce it? A lot of people try to throw organic matter or bones into the Compost Bin hoping for a chemical reaction. You'll get biomass, fertilizer, and soil. You will never get blast powder. Don't waste your time.
Also, be careful with your storage. Since blast powder is used for explosives, keep it in a chest near your Metal Smelter or Crafting Bench, but maybe don't keep it in the same pocket as your "active" items if you're prone to accidental button presses. There's nothing worse than trying to eat a piece of grilled meat and accidentally tossing a stick of dynamite at your own village walls because you were trying to manage your inventory mid-fight.
Actionable Next Steps
To get started right now, check your map for the nearest Dry Valley (the orange/brown area). If you aren't geared up with Cool-Headed Charms, wait until the evening so the heat doesn't tick your health down.
- Craft a Rare Sword: You want to kill skeletons in 2-3 hits. Anything less makes the farm too slow.
- Empty Your Backpack: Blast powder stacks, but the other junk skeletons drop (like pickaxes) will clog your inventory.
- Head to the Beach: If you find a pirate camp, mark it on your map with a waypoint. Those NPCs respawn after a few in-game days, making it a repeatable "farm" for your explosive needs.
Go out there and start hunting. The desert is dangerous, but the firepower you get in return is worth every close call with a Sand Roller.