Act 1 of Fortnite’s Showdown Rivalries event is over, and Team Ice King has claimed victory. The win unlocks something players have been eyeing since the season kicked off: the Ice King Vault keycard, now live in the loot pool for anyone brave enough to grab it. If you want to get inside before the competition does, here is everything you need to know — from finding the keycard to cracking open the vault and looting what is inside.
What Is the Ice King Vault in Fortnite?
The Ice King Vault is a hidden underground stash located at Frigid Fortress, one of the major Points of Interest on the Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 2 map. It was locked behind the Showdown Rivalries milestone system, only becoming accessible once Team Ice King’s supporters reached the final reward threshold in Act 1.
Unlike standard Fortnite vaults that require you to first eliminate a named boss, the Ice King Vault uses a different entry system. You need a specific keycard, and it does not come from a boss fight. This makes the whole experience feel fresh — especially for players who have already burned through the more traditional vault mechanics this season.
Inside, the vault holds some of the best loot currently available in Chapter 7 Season 2: Epic chests, regular chests, Slurp Barrels, and Ammo Crates. It is worth the trip.
Where to Find the Ice King Vault Keycard
The Ice King Vault keycard spawns at a small, standalone structure located southwest of Frigid Fortress — specifically to the west of the destroyed bridge at the POI.
To grab it:
- Land at or rotate toward the small structure southwest of Frigid Fortress.
- Instead of entering through the ground floor, jump in through the upper-level window.
- Once inside, look in the corner of the upper level — the keycard will be sitting there, ready to pick up.
The structure is easy to miss if you are focused on the main castle area of Frigid Fortress, so mark it on your map before you drop. It sits just west of the broken bridge and is noticeably smaller than the other buildings in the area.
One thing worth noting: because this keycard is not tied to defeating a boss, there is no combat requirement to secure it. That said, other players know about it too. Expect the building to be contested, especially in the early game. Landing on the roof and dropping through the upper window is often the fastest way to beat others to it.
Ice King Vault Location in Fortnite
Once you have the keycard in hand, head to the southernmost building of Frigid Fortress — positioned right at the edge where the snow meets the rest of the map.
Inside this building, you are looking for a section of the floor that looks visually different from everything around it. It is shaped like a door, set into the ground with a distinctive pattern that stands out once you know what you are looking for.
Walk up to this floor panel and hold the Interact button when prompted:
- PlayStation: Square
- Xbox: X
- PC: E
The vault door will open, revealing a zipline that takes you safely down into the chamber below.
How to Open the Ice King Vault: Step-by-Step
Here is the full process from start to finish:
- Get the keycard — Go to the small building southwest of Frigid Fortress, jump through the upper-level window, and grab the Ice King Vault keycard from the corner.
- Head to the southernmost building — Navigate to the far south end of Frigid Fortress. This is the last building before the snow ends.
- Find the floor door — Look for the floor panel inside the building that has a different pattern. It is visually distinct and shaped like a door.
- Interact to open the vault — Hold Interact (E / Square / X) when the prompt appears.
- Ride the zipline down — Use the zipline to descend into the vault safely without taking fall damage.
- Loot everything inside — Epic chests, standard chests, Slurp Barrels, and Ammo Crates are all yours.
The whole process is simpler than it sounds once you have done it once. The vault door and zipline work smoothly, and the underground chamber is large enough that you will not feel rushed looting it.
What Loot Is Inside the Ice King Vault?
The Ice King Vault contains a solid haul:
- Epic (Purple) Chests — Your best bet for Legendary or Epic weapons
- Standard Chests — Additional weapon and item options
- Slurp Barrels — Passive health and shield regeneration
- Ammo Crates — Reload your reserves before heading back into the storm
The Epic chests are the real draw. In a season where the loot pool is highly competitive, having consistent access to purple-tier chests gives you a meaningful advantage heading into the mid-game and beyond.
Tips for Safely Unlocking the Ice King Vault
Getting to the vault is one thing. Getting out alive is another. A few things to keep in mind:
Clear the area before interacting. The vault opening animation locks you in place briefly. If an enemy is camping nearby, that is a dangerous moment. Do a full sweep of the southernmost building and the surrounding area before you trigger the door.
Keep an escape item ready. If you get ambushed mid-loot, mobility is your best friend. Items like the Skyline Deployer or Seven Power Gloves (if you have them) can get you out quickly. If you are carrying something similar this season, hold it in an accessible slot before you go in.
Go in early. The vault is most valuable at the start of a match when loot is scarce. If you rotate to Frigid Fortress in the late game, you may find the vault already cleaned out or the location swarming with players.
Play with a squadmate if possible. One player can cover the door while the other loots. Solo players are at their most vulnerable while inside the vault with their back to the entrance.
If you are looking for more ways to stay mobile and unpredictable on the Chapter 7 Season 2 map, our guide on Fortnite Rideable Llamas and how to ride them covers one of the season’s most entertaining (and useful) movement mechanics.
Ice King Vault vs. Other Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 2 Vaults
The Ice King Vault is one of multiple vaults available in Chapter 7 Season 2, but it stands out for a few reasons:
- No boss kill required — Most vaults this season gate access behind defeating a named NPC enemy. The Ice King Vault skips that entirely.
- Open access once unlocked — Because the keycard spawns in a fixed location rather than dropping from a specific boss, any player can grab it each match.
- High-value loot density — The combination of Epic chests, Slurp Barrels, and Ammo Crates in one location makes this one of the most efficient loot stops on the map.
Team Foundation supporters are still working toward unlocking the New Sanctuary vault, which will add another option to the rotation once their final milestone is reached. How Act 2 of Showdown Rivalries shakes out between both teams will determine what the loot landscape looks like as the season progresses.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you get the Ice King Vault keycard in Fortnite? Head to the small structure southwest of Frigid Fortress, west of the destroyed bridge. Jump in through the upper-level window and grab the keycard from the corner inside.
Where exactly is the Ice King Vault located? The vault entrance is inside the southernmost building at Frigid Fortress, at the point where the snow ends. Look for the floor panel with a different pattern shaped like a door.
Do you need to defeat a boss to get the Ice King keycard? No. Unlike most Fortnite vaults, the Ice King Vault keycard is found in a fixed location rather than dropping from a boss. Anyone can pick it up each match.
What loot is in the Ice King Vault? The vault contains Epic chests, standard chests, Slurp Barrels, and Ammo Crates — making it one of the better high-density loot stops in Chapter 7 Season 2.
Can other players take the keycard before me? Yes. The keycard spawns in the same spot every match and can be picked up by any player who reaches it first. Landing quickly and using the upper window entry is the fastest approach.
Is the Ice King Vault available every match? The keycard respawns each match, so the vault is accessible every game as long as you secure the keycard before another player does.
Final Thoughts
The Ice King Vault is one of the cleaner vault implementations Fortnite has done in recent memory. Skipping the boss fight and tying access to a fixed keycard spawn makes it approachable for players of any skill level, while the loot density inside makes the trip genuinely worth it. Nail the upper-window entry, sweep the area before you interact, and you will have a strong mid-game kit every time you visit Frigid Fortress.
If you enjoy hunting down this season’s hidden items and secrets, Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 2 has plenty more to offer. From wacky limited-time weapons like the Finger Guns Pew Pew to the ongoing Showdown Rivalries event shaping the map’s future, there is always something new to track down. Stay ahead of the curve at 8BitToast for the latest Fortnite guides and gaming news.
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