Fortnite's Avatar Event Hits a Snag: Epic Games Vaults Earthbending After Just One Day!

Epic Games has recently introduced a thrilling Avatar: The Last Airbender mini-event in Fortnite, featuring a range of themed quests and cosmetics, including skins for Aang in both his regular and Avatar State forms. However, after a brief debut, the Earthbending ability has been unexpectedly removed or "vaulted" from the game.

During the event, Fortnite incorporated new bending scrolls inspired by the Avatar series, allowing players to harness elemental powers such as Waterbending for healing, Airbending for mobility, Firebending for attack, and Earthbending for both offense and defense. Earthbending, in particular, enabled players to manipulate earth for attacks and to create defensive barriers. Yet, less than a day after its introduction, Epic Games decided to vault the Earthbending scroll, citing it as too powerful.

Notable Fortnite leaker Shiina revealed this sudden change, sparking mixed reactions among the community. Some players found Earthbending challenging to use or underwhelming, while others were not surprised by its removal due to its powerful performance.

Why Was Earthbending Removed from Fortnite?

While an official statement from Epic Games is still pending, speculation among players suggests that Earthbending's higher tier versions, particularly the mythic level rarity, contained potentially game-breaking mechanics. These allowed players to extract and throw earth from within structures, effectively eliminating opponents without needing to destroy the barriers first.

Despite its removal, there is anticipation that Earthbending will return, especially since it is integral to the upcoming Earth Chakra quests set for April 15. If not, Epic may need to revise these quests to compensate for the absence of Earthbending. Completing these quests is part of the Elements Quest, where players aim to "unblock" each chakra, culminating in the ultimate reward—the special Appa Glider for those who unlock all six chakras.