Epic Games surprised Fortnite fans with the v40.10 update for Chapter 7 Season 2 on April 1, 2026. Along with big heads and rideable Llamas, the patch added shoulder riding. Here is exactly how it works and what you can do while up there.
What Is the Shoulder Ride Feature in Fortnite?
The April Fools event is live for 24 hours, running from April 1, 2026, at 5:30 AM ET to April 2, 2026, at 5:30 AM ET. Shoulder riding is part of a batch of limited-time modifiers that also includes big heads, Finger Guns, Llama riding, and fall damage immunity.
The modifications apply to unranked Battle Royale and Blitz matches. All of these are also in effect in Unranked Reload, except for the big heads.
The feature does not cost anything. The Shoulder Ride emote appears in your library automatically when you load into a match, with no Item Shop purchase needed.
How to Shoulder Ride in Fortnite Step by Step
You need to be in a duo, trio, or squad. Solo players cannot use this mechanic.
Here are the steps:
- Load into a Fortnite match with at least one teammate.
- Open your emote wheel. On the controller, press Down on the D-Pad. On PC, press B.
- Navigate to the Social Interactions section on the far right of the wheel.
- Select the Shoulder Ride emote to send a ride invite to your teammate.
- The teammate who wants to hop on must stand next to you and press the Interact button. On PlayStation/Xbox controller, that is Square or X. On PC, it is E.
Once both players confirm with a dap animation, the rider hops onto the carrier’s shoulders.
What Can You Do During a Shoulder Ride?
The two players have different abilities while the mechanic is active.
The carrier cannot use any weapons. They can move around the map, but combat falls entirely on the rider.
The rider, sitting on top, can shoot weapons, open chests, and open ammo boxes. So the rider is the one protecting both players during any firefight.
Players discovered that stacking is possible with no apparent cap on height, meaning multiple riders can pile onto one carrier simultaneously. Even players who are being carried can carry someone else, thanks to multi-stacking.
Can You Shoulder Ride While on a Llama?
Yes. Players confirmed that you can stack teammates on your shoulders while also riding a Llama, combining two of the April Fools mechanics at once.
Rideable Llamas are scattered around the Chapter 7 Season 2 map as part of the same update, so finding one and loading up with a teammate is possible within the same match.
Will Shoulder Riding Stay in Fortnite After April 2?
Fortnite developer Ted Timmins hinted that the feature could stick around past its assigned window if player feedback is positive enough. Shoulder Riding and Rideable Llamas are the two mechanics most likely to become a fixed part of gameplay for the rest of the current season, though an update on that will only come once the April Fools timeline ends.
There is no official confirmation yet that the feature will be made permanent.
