The secret duck race in Fortnite starts at the water mill on the river between Lantern Landing and Cursed Cavern.
The Treasure Hunters mini-season moves this returning Easter egg away from its older Heatwave Harbor starting point. Look for rubber ducks wearing captain hats, then follow their river race to pick up loot. It is a useful detour when you need equipment, but the reward rarity varies. The finish-line payout can improve your loadout without guaranteeing the Mythic shotgun associated with an earlier version of the race.
Where to find the secret duck race
Find the water mill bridge
Open your map and locate Lantern Landing and Cursed Cavern. Use the river between those two locations to find the water mill, then head to the bridge beside it. The ducks waiting on that bridge mark the starting point.
Your destination is the small riverside landmark, so tracing the waterway is more useful than searching the buildings inside either named location. Once you reach the mill, approach the ducks to bring up the interaction prompt.
Treasure Hunters versus Heatwave Harbor
The Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 3 duck race used a different starting point and reward pool. Match your route to the map version before choosing where to land.
| Map version | Duck race starting point | Route landmark |
|---|---|---|
| Treasure Hunters mini-season | Water mill bridge between Lantern Landing and Cursed Cavern | River leading downstream to the finish-line cannons |
| Chapter 7 Season 3, Runners | Small bridge north and northeast of Heatwave Harbor, with ducks on its south side | River through Heatwave Harbor, ending on its south side |
For Treasure Hunters, use the water mill route. Heatwave Harbor directions describe the earlier race, including its old finish location.
How to start and complete the duck race
Use the bridge interaction
Stand close to the ducks and use the input displayed beside START DUCK RACE. Follow the on-screen button prompt instead of relying on a fixed keyboard key, since your platform and bindings determine the control.
Use the bridge interaction prompt
Activating the interaction sends the ducks into the river. They travel along the course themselves, so your task is to keep pace, collect useful drops, and reach the end.
Follow the boxes downstream
The race produces loot before the finish. As the ducks move along the river, they can collide with groups of boxes that release random basic items. These drops often include Uncommon or Rare gear, with ammunition also possible.
Collect supplies along the river
Use this sequence once the ducks enter the water:
- Follow their direction downstream, staying with the river as it bends.
- Watch for boxes breaking when the ducks reach them.
- Pick up ammunition or equipment you need without losing track of the moving ducks.
- Continue beyond the intermediate box drops to the finish line.
- Wait for a duck to cross, then collect the items released by the cannons.
The box drops are useful for supplies, but the finish is the main reason to complete the route. Stopping after an early pickup means leaving before the final weapon rewards appear.
Recognize the finish line
Look for the flags marking the end of the course and the nearby cannons. Once a duck crosses the finish line, the cannons eject the final loot.
Wait for the finish-line payout
Let the items land before deciding what to replace. The payout can contain several kinds of gear, so check the weapon names and rarities instead of grabbing the first pickup and leaving.
What loot can the duck race drop?
Choose this detour when you can use several kinds of loot, especially weapons and supplies.
Treasure Hunters weapon rewards
The finish-line rewards vary between runs. Legendary weapons that can appear include the following three options. Treat these as possible rewards, not a fixed bundle awarded together.
| Weapon | Possible rarity | Loadout slot to check |
|---|---|---|
| Gilded Dragoon Shotgun | Legendary | Your shotgun slot |
| Bundlebuss Repeater Rifle | Legendary | Your rifle slot |
| Hammer Assault Rifle | Legendary | Your assault rifle slot |
An Epic shotgun is also a possible finish-line outcome. Reaching the end does not mean every weapon will be Legendary, so inspect the actual drop before replacing anything.
Other possible rewards include basic gear and a Sprite. Healing supplies, a Skyline Deployer, and tangerines can also appear, making the race useful for more than a weapon replacement.
Can you get a guaranteed Mythic shotgun?
A Mythic weapon is not guaranteed in Treasure Hunters. The earlier Chapter 7 Season 3 race could award a Mythic Striker Pump Shotgun, but that old payout should not determine what you expect from the water mill version.
If your loadout is already strong, do not make the trip solely expecting a Mythic upgrade. At the finish, take the items that improve your equipment and continue your match.
