Daring to go beyond simple loot hunts, Fortnite’s latest chapter introduces mysterious Academy Tech Labs-hidden bunkers packed with exclusive gear, but only for those who know where (and how) to look. Ready to outsmart the island? Discover every Academy Tech Lab location and the secrets inside before your rivals get there.
Below, we explain where to find Fortnite’s Academy Tech Labs and what to expect inside.
Where to find Academy Tech Labs in Fortnite
Academy Tech Labs can be found at multiple locations across the Fortnite map, with Supernova Academy always housing a reliably accessible Tech Lab underneath its southeast building. In each match, up to four additional labs are active at other set locations, such as north of Shining Span, southeast of Utopia City, west of Outpost Enclave, and several more. The active labs for your current match are marked on the in-game map with a unique academy icon, allowing you to easily identify which labs can be visited that round. Inside, expect valuable loot and special rooms, some of which require a higher hero rank to unlock.
The Academy Tech Lab can spawn in a variety of locations around the map, but there is always one guaranteed location – Supernova Academy. The basement of the southeastern building on the Supernova Academy campus counts as an Academy Tech Lab, and, as it’s a POI, will be there every game. In this Academy Tech Lab, you can find the following:
- C rank vault containing a C rank Hero Cache, a Hero Item, two purchasable epic items, and one purchasable utility item.
- B rank vault containing a B rank Hero Cache, a Hero Item, and two purchasable epic items, and one purchasable boon.
- A rank vault containing an A rank Hero Cache, two Hero Items, and two purchasable legendary items.
As for the other Academy Tech Labs, their locations can be found on the map. They’re marked on the map by an academy symbol next to a test tube at the beginning of every game.
These labs are underground, and you can enter it via a small staircase that leads you into the side of a drum-shaped structure. Inside, you’ll find the following:
- C rank Hero Cache
- B rank Hero Cache
- Hero Item
- Purchasable weapons, boons, and utility items
- A rank vault containing an S and A rank Hero Cache and two purchasable legendary weapons
- Warp Portal
How to increase Hero Rank in Fortnite
To increase your Hero Rank in Fortnite, focus on performing heroic actions throughout each match. You earn Hero Rank points by eliminating enemy players (75-100 XP each), defeating henchmen (25 XP), taking down bosses (1,500 XP), surviving storm phases (100 XP for the first, +25 for each additional phase), and completing unique objectives such as taking a Sprite to a Shrine or destroying a Scout Spire (250 XP each). You start every match at Rank C and can progress up to S+, with your rank resetting each new game. Aggressive gameplay-especially eliminating players and bosses-offers the quickest path to a higher rank, but even cautious players can advance by surviving storms and completing map objectives. Increasing your Hero Rank grants access to better loot in Academy Tech Labs, more effective health, and powerful Hero Items that can shape your strategy for the rest of the match.
To complete the week 4 quest, you’ll need to increase your Hero Rank first and then enter a lab.
You and your squad gain points toward a higher Hero Rank every time you do the following:
- Eliminate enemy players
- Survive Storm phases
- Return a Sprite to a shrine
- Eliminate henchman
Which Academy Tech Lab location is the easiest to access in Fortnite
The easiest Academy Tech Lab to access in Fortnite is the one underneath Supernova Academy. This location is always active in every match since it’s part of a permanent Point of Interest (POI), meaning you never have to worry about whether it’s available, unlike other random labs that rotate.
The entrance is located at the basement of the southeast building on the Supernova Academy campus, and you don’t need to meet any special requirements to enter-simply head down the staircase into the lab. The only catch is that this Tech Lab can be a hotspot for early-game encounters due to its reliability and accessibility, but logistically, it is the most straightforward and consistent option for quick access each match.
Which Academy Tech Lab location offers the quickest access in Fortnite
The Academy Tech Lab beneath Supernova Academy offers the quickest access in Fortnite. This is because it is the only Tech Lab guaranteed to be open every match (unlike the others, which rotate), and it’s a fixed part of a well-marked Point of Interest, making its entrance consistent and easy to reach. You can head straight to the southeast building on the Supernova Academy campus and descend into the basement as soon as the round starts, without needing to hunt for map markers or wait for random activations.
While other labs may occasionally be closer to your flight path depending on Battle Bus route and early drop, they are not always active. The Supernova Academy lab’s reliability and prominent map position make it the fastest and most predictable access point for most players.
