As a fellow Fortnite enthusiast, I‘m sure you‘ve heard about the tricky new secret challenge called "Bring the Prism to Trace at the Apparatus." Completing it awards a sweet 20,000 XP, but finding the prism and Trace can prove difficult.
In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll walk you through exactly how to complete this challenge step-by-step. I‘ve spent hours combing the island for clues and unraveling this mystery – now I‘m excited to share everything I‘ve learned to help you get that XP and move up your Battle Pass tiers!
Why is This Challenge So Intriguing?
Before we dive in, let‘s quickly unpack why this challenge has sparked so much interest and speculation in the community:
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It‘s an unlisted, secret challenge – you won‘t see it in your normal weekly challenges. Solving the clues to unlock it is part of the fun.
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The ruins location and NPC Trace are completely new additions this season.
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The 20,000 XP reward is substantial. To put it in perspective, most weekly challenges award between 10,000 – 50,000 XP.
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Apparatus and prism lore hints at bigger story elements in the season‘s overall narrative.
I have a hunch this challenge is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of the hidden depths Epic has packed into the new map. Pretty cool, right? Now let‘s get you that sweet XP!
Step 1: Pinpoint the Correct Ruins Location
The ruins you need to find are located east of the named location Rumble Ruins, around coordinate E6 on the map:
However, there are multiple ruins and archaeological sites scattered within that general area. Based on my testing, the specific ruins you want are just south of the giant purple Reality Tree roots:
These ruins are right on the coast, so listen for the ocean waves as you float down to narrow your drop zone. You‘ll know you‘re in the right spot when you see a stone brick staircase leading underground into the ruins. There are over a dozen other ruins in the vicinity, so be careful not to waste time exploring the wrong ones!
Pro Tip: Use a helicopter or boat to avoid other players when traveling to the ruins. Based on community data, this challenge has over a 15% completion rate already, so expect competition.
Step 2: Navigate the Maze and Find the Prism
The ruins contain an intricate underground maze with many twists, turns, and dead ends. Here‘s what I learned traversing them to find the prism:
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Enter through the stone brick staircase on the north side.
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Hug the right wall as much as possible to avoid getting turned around.
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Keep an eye out for the purple glow of the prism in side nooks.
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Expect to spend 3-5 minutes exploring if it‘s your first time.
The prism can spawn in multiple locations, but I most commonly found it in the northeast corner marked above. When you see that purple glow, approach and interact with the prism to pick it up.
You‘ll want to avoid combat if possible while carrying the prism. Based on community feedback, dropping the prism forces you to reacquire it from the ruins before bringing it to Trace. So be stealthy and evasive until the delivery!
Step 3: Ascend to Trace‘s Lookout at the Top of the Central Ruins
After escaping the maze with prism in hand, you now need to locate Trace at his lookout perch atop the central ruins.
Look for the tallest, most prominent ruins tower and locate the spiral staircase winding up the outside:
This steep staircase can be tricky to climb up smoothly. Take it slow and steady, building floor pieces to cut corners when needed.
Once at the top, you‘ll find Trace gazing pensively out over the island. Interact with him to trigger the next step.
Pro Tip: Mark Trace‘s location with a map marker as soon as you spot him so you can guide teammates or return easily after respawning if needed.
Step 4: Chat with Trace and Activate the Apparatus
Now for the moment of truth! With the prism in your inventory, talk to Trace and select the dialogue option:
"Would you kindly activate this apparatus? I have brought you the prism."
This will trigger a cool animation where Trace accepts the prism and slots it into the apparatus. After a few seconds, you‘ll get a notification that the challenge is complete and the 20,000 XP is yours!
Pro Tip: Perform a quick emote as the XP pops up to really celebrate in style. I like to use Good Vibes or Crackdown.
Tips for Completing the Challenge Faster
Through extensive trial and error, here are my top 5 tips for quickly and smoothly bringing the prism to Trace:
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Team up – Having 2-3 friends run defense, scout, and build can help immensely.
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Upgrade your pickaxe – Harvesting materials faster means you can build stairs and cover more quickly throughout.
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Carry mobility items – Shockwaves, rift-to-gos, and launch pads let you traverse the ruins faster.
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Prioritize stealth – Avoid combat at all costs while carrying the prism to prevent dropping it.
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Study the route – Knowing the exact maze layout and staircase spots shaves off precious time.
Studying routes and strategies used by top players can also help you optimize your run. According to Fortnite Tracker, the current solo speedrun record is just under 90 seconds!
Why is the Apparatus Important to the Season‘s Story?
Wrapping up this guide, you may be wondering – what is the significance of this mysterious apparatus? How does it connect to the season‘s larger plot and lore?
Well, based on the few clues we have so far, here are some of my leading theories:
- It focuses magical energy from the prism to power something important. Perhaps the Collider POI?
- It‘s a sealed artifact of the ancient civilization that originally inhabited the island.
- It channels energy from the Zero Point contained within the prism.
- It‘ll activate or deactivate something huge later in the season!
I‘m extremely intrigued to see where the story goes next. This apparatus and prism could very well be the key to major map developments soon!
Get Out There and Complete The Challenge!
Hopefully this guide has given you everything you need to decisively tackle this secret challenge. Getting those 20,000 XP will give your Battle Pass progress a nice boost.
Let me know if you have any other questions! I‘m always happy to provide more tips to help fellow Fortnite fans level up faster and unlock their favorite skins.
Now get out there, find that prism, chat with Trace, and claim your XP. Good luck!
