Why is the Dragon Rune Lance disabled in Fortnite

Fortnite Dragon Rune Lance
(Image credit: Epic Games)

The Fortnite Dragon Rune Lance is a harvesting tool available through the Season 3 Battle Pass, and is part of the Dragon Rider Set built around the Adira character. Depending on how much progress you've made in Fortnite this season you might not have seen it yet, as it's on Page 3 of the Battle Pass which unlocks at Level 20, but it's currently causing a bit of a commotion as the Fortnite Dragon Rune Lance has been disabled.

Clearly this will be a much bigger issue for players who have already unlocked this pickaxe and are actively using it, but naturally if there's a problem with it then everyone wants to know what that is, especially if it was giving an unfair advantage to those who were equipping it. We're here to answer those questions, so here's an explanation of why the Dragon Rune Lance has been disabled in Fortnite and when we expect it to come back.

Fortnite Dragon Rune Lance

(Image credit: Epic Games)

Why is the Fortnite Dragon Rune Lance disabled?

The Fortnite Dragon Rune Lance has been disabled since June 13, when it was discovered that equipping this harvesting tool would completely cut out the audio of the player's footsteps, causing them to be silent. Not only that, but it even omitted the on-screen footstep icons for players who have the Visualize Sound Effects option enabled, so anyone using the Dragon Rune Lance would have a clearly unfair stealth advantage over opponents. This is why the Dragon Rune Lance has been disabled in Fortnite, while Epic try to resolve the issue.

When is the Fortnite Dragon Rune Lance coming back?

Fortnite Spider-Man Zero

Fortnite Spider-Man Zero skin

(Image credit: Epic Games)

How to get the Fortnite Spider-Man Zero skin with the Fortnite x Marvel: Zero War comic.

So when will the Fortnite Dragon Rune Lance be back? Clearly the muted footsteps effect is a glitch rather than intended behavior for this item, and as it was giving players an unfair competitive edge it's only right to take it down until it can be fixed. As the Dragon Rune Lance is part of the Battle Pass and plenty of players will already have spent their Battle Stars to unlock it, Epic will want to get a correctly functioning harvesting tool back into the system as soon as possible. This may be resolved by a quick hotfix, or included in an upcoming set of Fortnite patch notes, but you can rest assured that it shouldn't be long before you can use the Dragon Rune Lance again – just without the unintended benefit from this pickaxe.

Fortnite tips | Fortnite Creative codes | Fortnite 2FA | How to enable cross platform Fortnite matches | How to level up fast in Fortnite | Fortnite Starter Pack | Fortnite quests | Fortnite Tover Tokens | Fortnite characters | Fortnite map | Fortnite new weapons | Fortnite Ballers | Fortnite wolves | Fortnite Reality Seeds | Fortnite Groovy Grove | Fortnite crashed IO Airships | Fortnite Zero Point | Fortnite Indiana Jones | Fortnite Among Us back bling

Iain Wilson
Guides Editor

Iain originally joined Future in 2012 to write guides for CVG, PSM3, and Xbox World, before moving on to join GamesRadar in 2013 as Guides Editor. His words have also appeared in OPM, OXM, PC Gamer, GamesMaster, and SFX. He is better known to many as ‘Mr Trophy’, due to his slightly unhealthy obsession with amassing intangible PlayStation silverware, and he now has over 750 Platinum pots weighing down the shelves of his virtual award cabinet. He does not care for Xbox Achievements.

Read more
Is Fortnite down?
Is Fortnite down? And if so then how long is the Fortnite downtime?
Fortnite new weapons in Season 2 of Chapter 6
All Fortnite new weapons, vaulted and unvaulted for Season 2 of Chapter 6
Fortnite's Lara croft skin in front of a building
Fortnite has had Tomb Raider's Lara Croft locked away in battle pass exclusivity jail for almost 4 years, but she's reportedly getting a new skin very soon
Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 1 Hunters
The biggest changes in Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 1
Fortnite Godzilla
Fortnite Godzilla: How to get the King of the Monsters
Fortnite Live Event Chapter 6 Season 1
When is the next Fortnite live event?
Latest in Fortnite
Fortnite Outlaw Keycard
Fortnite Outlaw Keycard: How to unlock it and what does it do
Fortnite's Lara croft skin in front of a building
Fortnite has had Tomb Raider's Lara Croft locked away in battle pass exclusivity jail for almost 4 years, but she's reportedly getting a new skin very soon
Fortnite Dill Bit Display Cases
Fortnite Dill Bit Display Cases: Where to search them
Fortnite character Jonesy looks shocked in the story trailer for Season X.
Fortnite is now giving cheaters "second chances" with 1-year bans that allow you to use the battle royale like it's Discord and do absolutely nothing else until you're freed from the void
Fortnite Black Markets
Fortnite Black Markets: Where are they and how to use them
Buy Reboot Cards in Fortnite
Can you buy Reboot Cards in Fortnite?
Latest in Guides
Fortnite Outlaw Keycard
Fortnite Outlaw Keycard: How to unlock it and what does it do
Umaga is a key player in The Bloodline Showcase
How to unlock all wrestlers in WWE 2K25
FC 25
FC 25 FUT Birthday guide and full cards list
A Sim celebrates his tattoo shop in The Sims 4 Businesses and Hobbies
How to complete The Sims 4 Esteemed Entrepreneur aspiration in Businesses and Hobbies
Assassin's Creed Shadows Claws of Awaji expansion Naoe and Yasuke in Awaji forest
Assassin's Creed Shadows roadmap, DLC and future content
A scary emoji shown in horror game REPO.
Is REPO coming to consoles?