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Fortnite Search a Chest Stages explained: Advice for finding Ammo Boxes or Chests

Need help searching Chests and Ammo Boxes in Fortnite, including the Chest Stages? This can help.

Finding Fortnite Chests and Ammo Boxes are one of the game's many types of Challenges.

Completing them will give you additional XP or Battle Stars to help go towards your many Season 5 rewards.

If you're just getting started, our Fortnite Battle Royale tips and tricks can provide some helpful hints.

On this page:

Fortnite Search Chests Stages explained

For the Week 7 Challenges, you are tasked with something new - a multi-stage quest:

  • Stage 1: Search a Chest in Pleasant Park (1 total, 1 Battle Star)
  • Stage 2: Search a Chest in Retail Row (1 total, 1 Battle Star)
  • Stage 3: Search a Chest in Lucky Landing (1 total, 1 Battle Star)
  • Stage 4: Search a Chest in Greasy Grove (1 total, 1 Battle Star)
  • Stage 5: Search a Chest in Paradise Palms (1 total, 1 Battle Star)

How this works is when you open a chest in Pleasant Park - there's no specific chest you are looking for, so any will do - the questline then progresses to Stage 2 - open a Chest in Retail Row. You don't have to do this in the same match, so feel free to do it over the course of several games.

How Search a Chest Stage 1 becomes Search a Chest Stage 2.

Once you have opened all five chests, whether one match at a time or not in sequence, the Challenge is complete.

As the below chest opening tips will tell you, the best way to do this is to land at a location at the start of a match - ideally on top of a building - to make sure you are one of the first to open the finite amount of chests in there.

Since these five locations will be popular landing spots in the first week, if you are struggling, consider continuing the quest later in the season - where there's less competition.

That said, every Named Location is a popular landing spot, so you'll up against others no matter what. Keep trying and you'll get to open a chest at each in time.

How Fortnite Chests and Ammo Boxes work

For the Week 2 Challenges, you are tasked with the following:

  • Search 7 Ammo Boxes in a single match (7 total, 5 Battle Stars)

Not only that, but each week there are challenges to 'Search Chests' in specific locations, or Daily Challenges where you must open a certain amount of Chests in any location.

Regardless of whether it's Weekly, Daily, in a single match or not, learning how Chests and Ammo Boxes spawn will make completing these tasks easier, and give you additional loot to help you succeed in the match, too.

A Chest!

Chests are scattered all over the world in the backs of trucks, stashed away in attics and hidden in secret underground bunkers. Though their locations are fixed, only a certain number will appear at any one time. This is worth noting if you need to open Chests in a specific named location.

You'll know you're near one when you hear a sparkling sound, but before you tear your surroundings apart, stay vigilant and scout the surrounding area for anyone else who could also be on the hunt for it to avoid being slaughtered. Also, be careful when hacking away at ceilings because if you demolish the floor that the chest is sat on, you'll accidentally destroy it too.

Ammo Boxes, meanwhile, are much harder to spot. These are small, green boxes that spill out a small quantity of ammo when opened. Like Chests, they are scattered all over the world, and though their locations are fixed, only a certain number will appear at once.

An Ammo Box!

You're more likely to find Ammo Boxes indoors in rooms, whether on the ground or on shelving. They can, of course, appear outside on the ground, too.

Though there are fixed locations are available for both, with only a finite amount spawning per game, any maps describing where they are don't work well in the heat of the moment.

Instead, use the sound of Chests to narrow down their location is easier, and the more you play the game, the more you'll learn about the possible reoccurring positions within a set location.

Challenges for Ammo Boxes and Chests come in several permutations - such as finding them within named locations (usually Weekly challenges) or in a single match - and each require slightly different strategies.

How to search Chests in a named location

Usually cropping up in each Weekly Challenge, the good news is you can do this across multiple matches. The easiest way is to drop to that location, land on a roof of a building, and hack away. Chances are there'll be one in the attic or roof, then more in upper rooms.

Then, make your way through the building, using the sound of Chests as your guide, following by other buildings elsewhere. Any outside can also be seen at a distance thanks to their orange glow.

If you die, then simply repeat this step - landing in the Named Location as soon as you can, and you'll finish after a handful of attempts. Doing so will also give you the benefit or learning where common locations

If you're struggling, then do this challenge after the week it debuts - so fewer people drop there, as they will be focusing on other challenges - is recommended. Also, playing in larger teams (Squads or 50v50) means you're up against less competition, and can roam more freely to open things.

How to search 7 Ammo Boxes in a single match

Appearing in both Season 4 and Season 5, you must open seven Ammo Boxes without dying. This is harder than Chests since Ammo Boxes don't advertise themselves, with either sound or by glowing in the distance.

Named locations are still your best bet, but it's preferred to land on the fringes - most have settlements or houses on the outskirts - that will have an Ammo Box or two to get you started, then move your way in.

It'll be even easier if, when starting the match and jumping from the Battle Bus, you pull your chute and glide until the circle appears. Players will start moving towards the circle, leaving locations behind.

As such, you'll want to land on the edge of the map, and work your way inwards, searching as you go. There is an element of luck involved that Ammo Boxes spawn in your path, of course, as you'll find some houses have none, and others can have almost all you need to complete the challenge.

Ammo Boxes also tend to spawn more indoors. Check inside the floor of rooms, in garages, and on shelves. If you're struggling, then hunting down Chests won't hurt, as they can sometimes spawn nearby.

Ultimately, the name of the game is to avoid getting seen and to prioritise searching for loot. Of course, you can play a regular game and find seven Ammo Boxes naturally, too, but with this being much harder than Chests, you might need to dedicate some matches to the effort.


Fortnite Chapter 5 Season 1 is here! It brings a free Lego Insider skin and redemption codes with it, along with a new Victory Umbrella. We've also got pages on new features like Medallions, Weapon Mods, and how to complete a Train Heist. Meanwhile, learn what the best weapons are in the current season, how to get XP fast, and what the best PC settings are to help earn a Victory Crown.


How to search 7 Chests in a single match

Debuting first as a Season 4 Challenge, this is a little more difficult, as you must open Seven Chests without dying. First, avoid 'spicy' locations where lots of players are jumping in.

Named locations are still your best bet, but it's preferred to land on the fringes - most have settlements or houses on the outskirts - that will have a Chest or two to get you started, then move your way in.

Specifically picking a location at the edge of the map, then working your way inwards towards the circle, means you're less likely to run into other players.

There is an element of luck involved that Chests spawn in your path, but use sound to hear where Chests might be to save time.

Since Chests can spawn in high up locations - on top of silos, or in roofs - then having plenty of materials as you go will help, too.

Ultimately, the name of the game is to avoid getting seen and to prioritise searching for loot. Of course, you can play a regular game and find seven Chests naturally, too, if luck goes your way.

The added benefit is, when you have seven Chests opened, you'll likely have a strong inventory to make a decent shot of winning the match.

How to search for 7 Chests

Usually a Daily Challenge, this is the easiest of the bunch, where you simply have to open seven Chests across any number of matches.

If you're particularly keen to complete it, then the above 'Search Chests in a named location' method is your best bet, since that's where Chests spawn the most. Pick anything you're familiar with, and after a few matches, you'll get what you need.

Otherwise, you should naturally find one or two loot Chests naturally while playing regular games, so simply playing as you would normally will probably do you fine, if you have the time to do so.

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