You’re sprinting across the Chapter 6 map, the storm is breathing down your neck, and suddenly you spot that little white laptop icon on your mini-map. You know the one. It’s a SHADOW Briefing terminal. For a lot of players, these things are just background noise—noise they ignore while hunting for the next gold chest. But if you’re trying to grind through your weekly quests or you just need a massive infusion of Gold Bars and high-tier loot, ignoring the hunter shadow briefing fortnite terminals is a massive mistake.
Honestly, people overcomplicate these. It’s not some hidden lore puzzle. It’s a high-stakes contract that forces you to play differently for five minutes.
What is a Hunter Shadow Briefing anyway?
Basically, "Hunter" is the community and internal name for what the game often labels as the Bounty Shadow Briefing. It’s the spiritual successor to the old Bounty Boards we had back in the day. When you interact with one of these black-and-yellow terminals, you aren’t just getting a quest; you’re putting a target on someone’s back.
The game picks a nearby player and marks them. You get a yellow circle on your map showing their general vicinity. It’s not an exact GPS coordinate—that would be broken—but it’s enough to let you stalk them.
You’ve got a time limit. Usually, it’s five minutes. If you eliminate them, you get the gold. If someone else steals your kill (poaches it), you still get a smaller reward. If they outlast the timer? You get nothing, and they get the satisfaction of knowing they dodged a predator.
Why you should stop skipping them
Most people skip these because they’re afraid of the "hunter" aspect. They think, "I don't want to engage in a sweat-fest right now." But here’s the thing: you don’t even have to finish the bounty for it to be useful.
- Information is King: The second you accept a hunter shadow briefing, you know where at least one other person is. In a battle royale, knowing where the enemy is located is worth more than a legendary pump.
- Quest Progression: Epic Games loves throwing "Find and Accept SHADOW Briefings" into the weekly rotations. You don't have to win the fight. You just have to click "Accept."
- The Gold Grind: If you're low on bars for those NPC upgrades or vending machines, this is the fastest way to replenish.
I’ve seen players literally run past a terminal while they have a "Complete Shadow Briefings" quest active. Don't be that person. Even if you have no intention of chasing the target, just tap the terminal and keep running. It counts.
Where to find them in Chapter 6
They aren't just sitting in the middle of every POI. They have fixed spawn points, though they don't appear in 100% of matches. It's a bit of a gamble.
If you’re hunting for them specifically, I’ve had the best luck around Resistance Base and the outskirts of Supernova Academy. There’s a terminal south of Fencing Fields that seems to be there almost every time I drop. Also, check the gas stations. For some reason, SHADOW loves setting up shop next to a Slurp pump.
The different types you'll see
The "Hunter" variant is the most aggressive, but the terminals cycle through a few types:
- Bounty (Hunter): The classic "go kill this guy" mission.
- Plunder: Spawns two buried rare chests. You have to dig them up with your pickaxe. Super low risk, high reward.
- Supply Drop: Calls in a personal supply drop. Great, but it’s like a giant "SHOOT ME" sign in the sky.
- Armory: Gives you a specific weapon and tells you to do damage with it.
Surviving when YOU are the target
It’s a weird feeling. You’re looting a house and suddenly a notification pops up: "You are being hunted!"
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Don't panic.
The hunter only has a general idea of where you are. The yellow circle on their map is wide. If you stay mobile, you’re hard to pin down. The biggest mistake players make is crouching in a corner of a basement. That makes you a sitting duck. Instead, use vehicles or rifts. If you can keep the hunter chasing you until the five-minute timer hits zero, you actually "win" the encounter.
Expert tips for the Hunter Shadow Briefing Fortnite quest
If you’re specifically trying to knock out a challenge that requires completing these, here’s how to do it without losing your mind.
Drop at a "cold" POI. Somewhere on the edge of the map like Foxy Floodgate or the northern reaches of the island. These areas usually have at least one terminal, and since fewer people land there, your bounty target is likely to be a bot or a less-experienced player who wandered off.
Also, use the visual sound effects setting. I can't stress this enough. If you’re the hunter, the visual indicator for footsteps will help you narrow down that yellow circle way faster than your ears ever could.
A quick reality check
Sometimes the terminal just... isn't there. As of the latest 2026 updates, spawn rates for these terminals have been tweaked. They aren't guaranteed. If you land at a spot and the terminal is missing, don't hang around waiting for it. Rotate to the next nearest spawn point immediately.
Actionable next steps for your next match
Stop treating these as optional side-quests. They are tactical tools.
Next time you drop into a match, make it your goal to hit a terminal in the first three minutes. If it’s a hunter shadow briefing, use it to scout the area. If it’s plunder, grab that rare loot before you rotate. You'll find yourself finishing your Battle Pass way faster, and you'll usually have a lot more gold in your pocket for the end-game.
Check the map for the white notebook icons the moment you land. If you see one nearby, prioritize it. Even a "failed" briefing provides valuable intel on enemy positions that can save your match.
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Don't let the "Hunter" title intimidate you. In Fortnite, you're either the predator or the prey—might as well get paid for being the predator.
Go into your next match and prioritize the terminal at the Resistance Base to see how much easier the mid-game becomes with that extra intel.