Let me tell you something, fellow Fortnite enthusiasts – when I first heard about the “Visit Pumpkin Takeovers with the Mother of Thorns” quest, I was completely stumped. I mean, who wouldn’t be? The game gives you practically zero direction, and trying to track down this spooky boss while dodging dozens of other players feels like trying to find a needle in a haystack made of pumpkins and vines.
But after spending countless hours (and probably way too many late nights) perfecting this quest, I’ve cracked the code. I’m here to share everything I’ve learned so you can complete this challenge without the headaches I went through. Trust me, once you know the secrets, this quest becomes a breeze.
What You Need to Know Before Starting?
Before we dive into the nitty-gritty details, let me break down exactly what this quest entails. The “Visit Pumpkin Takeovers with the Mother of Thorns” is one of those Fortnitemares quests that sounds simple but can be surprisingly tricky if you don’t know what you’re doing.
Here’s the deal: you need to defeat the Mother of Thorns boss first, then visit three different Pumpkin Takeover locations while keeping her alive as your NPC companion. Sounds straightforward, right? Well, there are a few catches that had me pulling my hair out until I figured them out.
First off, the Mother of Thorns (who’s actually Doja Cat in her spooky Fortnitemares form) doesn’t just sit around waiting for you. She spawns randomly at different locations, and when I say randomly, I mean it. I’ve spent entire matches searching for her only to come up empty-handed. But don’t worry – I’ll show you exactly where to look.
Finding the Mother of Thorns: Spawn Locations
Okay, this is where most players get stuck, and I was no exception. The Mother of Thorns can appear at several locations around the map, and she moves between them. After tons of trial and error (and probably more eliminations than I’d like to admit), I’ve identified her main spawn points:
Primary Spawn Locations:
- Freaky Fields – This seems to be her favorite hangout spot. Look for her sitting on her thorny throne, usually near the southern red barn
- Gourdy Gate – Check the lower portion of this area. She blends in pretty well with all the pumpkin decorations here
- Supernova Academy – She spawns west of this location, sometimes near the outskirts
Secondary Spawn Locations:
- Viney Shafts – North of this area
- Pumpkin Pass – The entire POI can be her territory
- South of Ranger’s Ruin – This one’s a bit trickier to find, but she does show up here occasionally
When I’m hunting for her, I always check my minimap for the boss icon – it looks like a skull wearing a crown. That’s your dead giveaway that she’s nearby. Also, you’ll hear Doja Cat’s music playing in the background when you’re close, which is actually pretty helpful once you know what to listen for.
How to Defeat the Mother of Thorns Battle Strategy?
Let me be real with you – the first few times I tried to take down the Mother of Thorns, I got absolutely destroyed. This boss is no joke, especially if you’re not prepared. But after learning from my mistakes, I’ve developed a solid strategy that works almost every time.
Preparation is Key:
Before you even think about engaging her, you need to be properly equipped. Here’s what I always grab:
- Shields – At least two shield items. I learned this the hard way when I went in with just one and got melted in seconds
- Weapons – You want a good mix. I always bring:
- One medium-to-long range weapon (assault rifle or combat shotgun)
- One close-range weapon (SMG or pump shotgun)
- The Pumpkin Launcher if you can find it – it’s incredibly effective against her
- Healing items – Full health is non-negotiable
- Traversal items – Impulse Grenades or Launch Pads have saved my butt more times than I can count
The Battle Plan:
When you approach the Mother of Thorns, she’ll be sitting on her throne of thorns. The moment you get close, she’ll attack – and trust me, she hits hard. Here’s how I handle the fight:
Phase 1: Initial Engagement
- Start with medium-range attacks using your assault rifle
- Aim for headshots – they do significantly more damage
- Keep moving in unpredictable patterns to avoid her Thorn Ripper attacks
Phase 2: Close Combat
- When she closes in, switch to your close-range weapon
- The Mother of Thorns uses her Mythic Thorn Ripper, which can pull you toward her like a harpoon
- This is where those traversal items come in handy – use them to create distance when you need to heal
Phase 3: Finishing Her Off
- Keep up the pressure with consistent damage
- Don’t get greedy – if you’re low on health, create distance and heal
- Once her health bar is depleted, she’ll go down
What Happens After Victory?:
Here’s where it gets interesting. After you defeat her, she’ll drop some sweet loot:
- Mythic Thorn Ripper – This thing is amazing and I’ll tell you more about it later
- Slurp Juice – Perfect for recovering from the battle
But here’s the important part: you can revive her to join your party as an NPC companion. This is crucial for the next phase of the quest, so don’t skip this step!
Understanding Pumpkin Takeover Locations
Now that you’ve got the Mother of Thorns as your ally, it’s time to visit those Pumpkin Takeover locations. But what exactly are these places? Let me break it down for you.
Pumpkin Takeovers are special areas that have been completely overrun by pumpkins and vines as part of the Fortnitemares event. They’re pretty easy to spot once you know what to look for – they’re marked with a light blue outline on your map, and they’re absolutely covered in glowing pumpkins and creepy vines.
There are six Pumpkin Takeover locations in total, and you need to visit three of them with the Mother of Thorns following you. Here’s the complete list:
All Six Pumpkin Takeover Locations:
- Southwest of Supernova Academy – This one’s pretty easy to find, just look for the blue outline
- North of Viney Shafts – A bit more hidden, but worth the trip
- Complete region of Gourdy Gate – The entire POI counts as one location
- North of Canyon Crossing and south of Ranger’s Ruin – This is actually two landmarks in one visit
- All of Pumpkin Pass – Another full POI that counts as one location
- Entire Freaky Fields POI – The whole area counts, which is pretty convenient
The Complete Quest Walkthrough
Alright, now that we’ve covered all the basics, let me walk you through exactly how I complete this quest from start to finish. This is the step-by-step process that has never failed me.
Step 1: Drop Smart
I always recommend dropping at one of the Mother of Thorns’ spawn locations at the beginning of the match. My personal favorite is Freaky Fields since she seems to spawn there most frequently. Landing early gives you the best chance of finding her before other players do.
Step 2: Gear Up
Before engaging the boss, loot the area thoroughly. I always check:
- Chests for weapons and shields
- Glowing pumpkin stashes (they often have great loot)
- Ammo boxes to keep stocked up
Step 3: Defeat the Mother of Thorns
Use the battle strategy I outlined earlier. Remember to keep your distance when possible and aim for those headshots. Once she’s down, grab her loot and revive her.
Step 4: Plan Your Route
This is where strategy comes into play. You need to visit three different Pumpkin Takeover locations, and you want to do this efficiently. I always plan my route based on the storm circle and where other players might be.
Here’s my favorite route:
- Start at Freaky Fields (if that’s where you found her)
- Head to the location southwest of Supernova Academy
- Finish at Gourdy Gate
This route is relatively quick and keeps you out of the most crowded areas.
Step 5: Keep Her Alive!
This is super important – the Mother of Thorns MUST stay alive for the quest to count. I learned this the hard way when she got eliminated by another player and I had to start all over. Here are my tips for keeping her safe:
- Stick together – Don’t wander too far from her
- Use her as cover – She can actually absorb some damage for you
- Be aware of other players – Other players will try to eliminate her to sabotage your quest
- Heal her if needed – Yes, you can actually heal your NPC companions!
Step 6: Complete the Quest
Once you’ve entered three different Pumpkin Takeover locations with the Mother of Thorns following you, the quest will complete automatically. You’ll get your XP rewards and can move on to other Fortnitemares challenges.
The Mythic Thorn Ripper: Your New Best Friend
I want to take a moment to talk about the Mythic Thorn Ripper because this weapon is absolutely game-changing. When I first got my hands on it, I was blown away by how versatile it is.
Weapon Stats and Abilities:
The Thorn Ripper has a unique attack pattern that makes it incredibly effective in various situations:
- Attack 1: 55 damage
- Attack 2: 55 damage
- Attack 3: 80 damage plus knock-back
- Secondary Attack: 60 damage plus pulls enemies toward you
Pro Tips for Using the Thorn Ripper:
- Crowd Control: The secondary attack is perfect for pulling enemies into your trap
- Item Retrieval: You can actually use it to pull items toward you from a distance – super useful for grabbing loot in dangerous situations
- Fishing: Yes, you read that right – you can use it to fish! It’s a unique way to grab some Floppers when you need healing
- Building Destruction: It’s surprisingly effective against enemy structures
I’ve found that the Thorn Ripper completely changes how I approach fights, especially in close-quarters combat situations.
Common Problems and Solutions
Even with all this information, you might run into some issues. Let me address the most common problems I’ve encountered (and how to solve them).
Problem: Can’t Find the Mother of Thorns
This happened to me constantly when I first started. Here’s what I do now:
- Check all spawn locations systematically – Don’t just check one and give up
- Listen for her music – The Doja Cat tracks are a dead giveaway
- Look for the boss icon – That skull with crown symbol is your best friend
- Try different matches – Sometimes she just doesn’t spawn in certain matches
Problem: Mother of Thorns Keeps Getting Eliminated
This was so frustrating for me until I figured out the solution:
- Stick to the edges of fights – Don’t throw her into the middle of chaotic battles
- Use natural cover – Keep her behind trees, rocks, or buildings when possible
- Be aware of third parties – Other players love to eliminate NPC companions
- If she dies, start over – There’s no way around it, you have to defeat her again
Problem: Can’t Tell if I’m in a Pumpkin Takeover
The game isn’t always clear about this, but here’s what I look for:
- Light blue outline on the map – This is the most reliable indicator
- Glowing pumpkins everywhere – If you see tons of glowing pumpkins, you’re in the right place
- Vines and thorns – These areas are completely overrun with vine decorations
- Quest progress – The quest will update when you enter a valid location
Advanced Tips and Strategies
Once you’ve mastered the basics, you might want to step up your game. Here are some advanced strategies I’ve developed through hours of gameplay.
Speed Running the Quest:
If you want to complete this quest as quickly as possible (which I totally understand – sometimes you just want that XP), here’s my speed-run strategy:
- Land at Gourdy Gate – It’s centrally located and she spawns here frequently
- Grab a vehicle – If you can find one, it makes traveling between locations much faster
- Plan an efficient route – I like to hit Gourdy Gate, then Pumpkin Pass, then the location near Supernova Academy
- Avoid unnecessary fights – The goal is speed, not combat glory
Team Strategy:
If you’re playing with a squad, this quest becomes much easier. Here’s how I coordinate with my team:
- Assign roles – One player focuses on finding the boss, others provide cover
- Create a perimeter – While one player revives the Mother of Thorns, others watch for enemies
- Travel together – Move as a unit between Pumpkin Takeover locations
- Share the Thorn Ripper – Pass it around so everyone gets to try it
Rewards and Why It’s Worth It
You might be wondering if all this effort is worth it. Let me tell you – absolutely! The rewards for completing this quest (and the associated Fortnitemares challenges) are pretty sweet.
Immediate Rewards:
- XP Boost – This quest gives a significant amount of XP toward your battle pass
- Thorn Ripper Mythic – Having this weapon for the rest of the match can be a game-changer
- Quest Progress – It counts toward your overall Fortnitemares event completion
Long-term Benefits:
- Battle Pass Tiers – All this XP helps you level up faster
- Event Cosmetics – Completing Fortnitemares quests unlocks exclusive rewards
- Skill Development – The strategies you learn here will make you a better overall player
FAQ: Your Burning Questions Answered
I’ve been getting a lot of questions about this quest, so let me answer the most common ones:
How long does this quest usually take?
Honestly, it depends on how lucky you get with finding the Mother of Thorns. For me, it usually takes about 15-20 minutes from landing to completion, but I’ve had matches where it took much longer due to bad luck with spawns.
Can I complete this quest in Team Rumble?
Unfortunately, no. The Mother of Thorns doesn’t spawn in Team Rumble, so you’ll need to play in regular Battle Royale modes.
What happens if the storm closes over a Pumpkin Takeover location?
This can be annoying, but it’s not the end of the world. I’ve found that you can still complete the quest if you get to the location before the storm completely closes over it. The key is to prioritize locations that are safe from the storm.
Do I need to visit all three locations in one match?
Yes, you need to visit all three Pumpkin Takeover locations in the same match where you defeated the Mother of Thorns. If you leave the match, you’ll have to start over.
Can other players steal my Mother of Thorns companion?
Technically, yes. Other players can eliminate her, which is why I always recommend being cautious and keeping her safe. However, they can’t “steal” her in the sense of making her their companion.
What’s the best time to attempt this quest?
I’ve found that early morning or late at night (when fewer players are online) gives you the best chance of completing this without interference. During peak hours, you’re more likely to run into other players hunting the same boss.
Final Thoughts and Next Steps
Look, I get it – this quest can be frustrating at first. But once you know what you’re doing, it’s actually pretty straightforward and honestly quite fun. The Mother of Thorns is a cool addition to the game, and the Pumpkin Takeover locations are really well-designed.
My advice? Don’t get discouraged if you don’t complete it on your first try. It took me several attempts to figure everything out, but now I can knock this quest out pretty consistently. The key is preparation, patience, and knowing exactly what to look for.
Once you’ve got this quest down, you might want to check out some of the other Fortnitemares challenges. There are some really cool ones involving Ghostface, Velma, and Daphne that are worth your time.
And hey, if you found this guide helpful, make sure to bookmark it for future reference. Fortnite is always changing, and who knows when they might bring back similar quests in future events.
Want more Fortnite tips and tricks? Check out our Fortnite update guide to stay on top of all the latest changes, or browse our Fortnite section for more comprehensive guides like this one.
Happy hunting, and may your Pumpkin Takeovers be plentiful and your Mother of Thorns stay alive!