Unstable Element Guide: Secret Vault & Legendary Loot in Fortnite

Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 1 is packed with secrets, and one of the coolest hidden mechanics involves teleportation, particle accelerators, and a mysterious item called the Unstable Element. If you’ve stumbled across Innoloop Labs and noticed the massive Zero Point Shard in the center, you’ve been close to discovering one of the map’s best-kept secrets.

This isn’t just a random collectible—the Unstable Element unlocks a vault containing guaranteed Legendary loot, which can give you a massive advantage early in the match. But getting it requires knowing exactly where to go and what to do, because the game doesn’t hand-hold you through this process at all.

Let me walk you through the entire process step-by-step, plus some tips to maximize your chances of getting this loot safely.

What Is the Unstable Element?

The Unstable Element is a unique, one-time-use item that spawns in a hidden underground area beneath Innoloop Labs. It doesn’t show up as floor loot or in chests—you have to actively trigger its appearance by using the Particle Accelerator teleportation system.

Once you have it, the Unstable Element serves as a key to unlock a secret vault containing a Rare Chest with guaranteed Legendary weapons and items. Think of it as a high-risk, high-reward objective for players who know the secret.

The loot you get is completely random, but it’s always top-tier gear. During my runs, I’ve pulled:

• Legendary Vengeful Sniper Rifle
• Legendary Iron Pump Shotgun
• Legendary Deadeye Assault Rifle
• Chug Jugs
• Other max-rarity items from the Chapter 7 loot pool

If you’re serious about getting the best loadout possible early in the match, this secret is worth learning.

Step-by-Step: How to Get the Unstable Element

Step 1: Land at Innoloop Labs

Innoloop Labs is located at the center of the Golden Coast map—you literally can’t miss it. It’s the massive futuristic facility with the glowing Zero Point Shard hovering above the main building.

Important timing note: This is a high-traffic area, especially early in the match. If you’re landing here from the tsunami or when the Battle Bus returns on December 4, expect company. You might want to grab a weapon first before attempting the secret.

Step 2: Find the Zero Point Shard

Head to the central building and locate the Zero Point Shard—it’s the giant glowing crystal floating in the middle of the facility. You can’t miss it; it’s the most visually striking element of the entire POI.

Directly beneath the Zero Point Shard, you’ll notice breakable glass flooring. This is your entry point to the secret area.

Step 3: Break the Glass and Drop Down

Use your pickaxe or weapon to break the glass floor beneath the Zero Point Shard. Once it shatters, drop down into the hidden underground area called Collider Corridor X.

This is where things get interesting. You’re now in a secret laboratory area that most players don’t even know exists.

Step 4: Navigate to the Particle Accelerator

Once you’re inside Collider Corridor X, head deeper into the facility until you reach the Particle Accelerator. This is a large circular tunnel system with two teleportation points labeled Tunnel 1 and Tunnel 2.

The Particle Accelerator looks exactly like what you’d expect from a sci-fi lab—glowing rings, futuristic tech, and teleportation pads.

Step 5: Teleport Between Tunnels Multiple Times

Here’s the key mechanic: Use the teleporters repeatedly to travel back and forth between Tunnel 1 and Tunnel 2. You need to teleport multiple times (typically 3-5 teleports) to trigger the Unstable Element to spawn.

How to teleport:

• Stand on the teleportation pad
• Interact with it (default key: E on PC, Square on PlayStation, X on Xbox)
• You’ll instantly warp to the other tunnel
• Repeat the process several times

After enough teleportations, the Unstable Element will automatically appear in your inventory. You’ll see it occupy a slot—it looks like a glowing, unstable energy core.

Step 6: Find the Locked Vault Door

Once you have the Unstable Element, continue following the Particle Accelerator tunnel until you find a locked door near a Port-a-Potty. This is the vault entrance.

The door is pretty obvious—it has a distinctive locked appearance and won’t open unless you have the Unstable Element in your inventory.

Step 7: Open the Vault and Claim Your Legendary Loot

With the Unstable Element in your loadout, approach the locked door. You’ll be prompted to Open Vault:

• PC: Press F
• PlayStation: Press Square
• Xbox: Press X

The Unstable Element will be consumed (it disappears from your inventory), and the vault door will open, revealing a Rare Chest inside containing guaranteed Legendary loot.

Open the chest and collect your rewards. You’ll typically get 1-2 Legendary weapons plus healing items like Chug Jugs or Shield Kegs.

What Loot Can You Get From the Vault?

The vault contains a Rare Chest (the glowing purple ones) that always drops Legendary-tier items. Here’s what you can potentially get:

Legendary Weapons

• Vengeful Sniper Rifle – Bolt-action sniper with 3-round magazine
• Iron Pump Shotgun – High-damage pump shotgun
• Deadeye Assault Rifle – Scoped AR with first-person ADS
• Holo Rush SMG – Scoped SMG for close-quarters
• Arc-Lightning Gun – Energy weapon that chains damage
• Enforcer AR – Hard-hitting assault rifle

Healing & Utility Items

• Chug Jug – Full health and shield restore
• Shield Keg – Area-of-effect shield restoration
• Med Kit – 100 health restore
• Shield Potions – 50 shield restore

The randomness means you might not always get your preferred weapon, but getting guaranteed Legendary gear this early in a match is incredibly valuable—especially if you’re grinding Ranked mode or hunting for wins.

Tips for Getting the Unstable Element Safely

Land Early and Fast

Innoloop Labs is a central POI, which means it’s a popular landing spot. The faster you can get underground and grab the Unstable Element, the better. Use Wingsuits to glide directly to the facility if possible.

Clear the Area First

If you land and immediately hear footsteps or gunfire, prioritize getting a weapon before attempting the secret. Getting eliminated while trying to teleport around is embarrassing and avoidable.

Grab a weapon from surface-level loot spawns, clear any immediate threats, then head underground.

Bring a Teammate for Cover

If you’re playing Duos or Squads, have one teammate grab the Unstable Element while others provide security. One person can watch the entrance to Collider Corridor X while another teleports and loots the vault.

This coordination is especially useful if you’re trying to complete Ranked quests that require both eliminations and survival.

Know Your Escape Routes

After grabbing the vault loot, you’re still underground in a confined space. Plan your exit strategy:

• Head back up through the glass floor opening
• Use the Particle Accelerator to quickly reposition if enemies are camping the exit
• Have heals ready in case you take storm damage while looting

Watch the Storm Circle

Innoloop Labs is centrally located, which usually works in your favor for storm circles. However, if the first circle pulls far away, don’t spend too much time underground. The Legendary loot isn’t worth dying to the storm.

Consider the Risk vs. Reward

Early in the match when lobbies are full, hitting Innoloop Labs is risky but rewarding. Later in the match, it’s often safer since most players have moved toward the circle. Weigh your options based on:

• How many players are left
• Where the storm circle is positioned
• Whether you already have decent loot
• Your current objective (placement vs. eliminations)

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Not teleporting enough times. Some players teleport once or twice and assume it’s broken. You need to teleport at least 3-5 times for the Unstable Element to spawn.

Forgetting to break the glass. The entrance to Collider Corridor X is easy to miss if you’re not actively looking for it. Always check under the Zero Point Shard.

Getting third-partied. Innoloop Labs attracts attention. Don’t get tunnel vision on the loot—stay aware of your surroundings and listen for footsteps.

Wasting the Unstable Element. It’s a one-time-use item. Don’t accidentally drop it or swap it out for another weapon before reaching the vault door.

Is It Worth Doing Every Match?

Pros:

• Guaranteed Legendary loot early in the match
• Can give you a significant advantage over opponents
• Relatively quick to complete once you know the steps
• Great for boss fights and securing early eliminations

Cons:

• High-traffic area means more risk
• Takes time that could be spent rotating or looting elsewhere
• RNG on vault loot means you might get a weapon you don’t prefer
• Exposes you to third parties while underground

My recommendation: If you’re comfortable with combat and want to maximize your loadout early, it’s absolutely worth learning this secret. Once you’ve done it a few times, the entire process takes under two minutes.

If you’re playing for Top 10 placements in Ranked and want to avoid early fights, skip it and land somewhere quieter instead.

Can You Share the Vault Loot With Teammates?

Yes! If you’re playing Squads or Duos, whoever opens the vault can grab the loot and distribute it to teammates. The chest typically contains 2-3 items, so there’s usually enough to share.

Pro tip: If you’re playing with a dedicated sniper, let them grab the Vengeful Sniper Rifle. If you have a shotgun specialist, give them the Iron Pump. Optimizing loadouts across your squad maximizes your team’s effectiveness.

Will This Secret Be Patched?

As of now, this appears to be an intentional secret rather than an exploit. Epic Games loves hiding Easter eggs and reward mechanisms in their maps, and the Unstable Element fits that design philosophy perfectly.

That said, the loot distribution or spawn mechanics might get adjusted if Epic feels it’s too powerful or too easy to farm. Enjoy it while it lasts, and keep an eye on Fortnite’s official patch notes for any changes.

Final Thoughts

The Unstable Element is one of those secrets that separates players who just loot randomly from those who actively hunt for advantages. Knowing how to consistently grab Legendary loot from the Innoloop Labs vault can be the difference between winning fights and getting sent back to the lobby.

It’s not free—you’ll need to navigate a popular POI, complete the teleportation sequence, and survive any enemies who might be lurking—but the payoff is worth it. A Legendary weapon in the early game dramatically increases your chances of securing eliminations, surviving longer, and ultimately earning that Victory Umbrella.

Whether you’re grinding Ranked challenges, practicing in casual matches, or just exploring everything new in Chapter 7, add the Unstable Element run to your rotation. Once you’ve mastered it, you’ll wonder how you ever played without it.

Have you found the Unstable Element vault yet? What Legendary loot did you pull? Let us know in the comments!