Although Fortnite Battle Royale has been going strong for many years, not everyone has had a chance to dip their toe in the water just yet. If you’re thinking of heading into your first Fortnite game, or are trying to find the best way to score a victory royale, then these Fortnite tips will give you the advantage you’re after.
Every match of Fortnite is going to look a little different, and every player is going to look a little too, with cool skins from games like Assassin’s Creed. If you follow a few simple strategies, then your chances of winning will drastically increase. From small things you should always be doing, to new strategies you might not have considered, we’ve got tips for every Fortnite beginner.
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Get resources early
Building is a central part of the Fortnite experience. Although you can try out Zero Build mode, it’s missing what Fortnite is really all about. At their best, veteran players can construct a monstrous tower in a matter of seconds. It’s unlikely you’ll need to do anything quite that complex when starting out, but building is something you will need to have in mind.
Before working out when and what to build, though, you’re going to need resources. Wood, stone, and metal are the building materials you’ll be able to gather, and they can be dug up from just about any building or object in the world. You’ll gather some along your way naturally, but we recommend picking up a decent amount when you first land to see you through the game.
Use visual sound effects
Sound is one of the best tools to track down enemies. Just about everything a player can do makes noise. Footsteps, vehicles, gunshots and more can be heard and used to track down nearby enemies. Some good headphones will be a great asset in this department, but you can take it a step further.
By heading into settings, and then clicking on audio settings, you’ll see an option for visual sound effects. Turning this on will give a visual indicator around the centre of the screen that shows what kind of noise was made and what direction it came from. This allows those with auditory impairment to play the game, but you can use it to get an edge on the battlefield.
Use long & short range
Everyone feels most comfortable with different weapons. However, it’s important to always have both long and short-range weapons on hand. No matter how good you are with a Sniper Rifle, this isn’t Sniper Elite 5, and could someone sneak up behind you. So, you’re going to need a short-range weapon to take them out.
Thankfully, Fortnite’s armoury is quite expansive, and you’ll be able to kit yourself out to your liking. If you prefer taking quiet, precise shots then a Sniper Rifle and a Burst Rifle should be a good combo for you. If you’d rather a more explosive approach, a Rocket Launcher and a Shotgun will be right up your street.
Pay attention to the compass
A vital tool that is easily missed sits at the top of your screen the entire time you play. It’s not great for navigation, by any means, especially when the mini-map sits on the screen at all times too. However, if you haven’t been looking at it, then you’re missing extremely useful intel.
Every now and then, you may notice red diamonds pulsing on the compass. Sometimes they’re faint, but other times they’re fuller. This happens whenever someone nearby makes excessive noise, usually via firing their gun. How opaque the diamond appears is an indicator of how close they are. It lets you know where fights are happening, and where your foes are waiting for you, heading over and mopping up the stragglers of a fight will get you a few easy kills, and XP to level up fast.
Stay (mostly) on the move
Matches in Fortnite move pretty quickly, and the game is designed to keep pushing you toward your foes. Although you’ll always have to move towards the circle anyway, even if you’re lucky enough to be sitting inside the circle when it appears, don’t stay put.
If you’re not moving around much, not only are you going to miss most of the action, but you’re going to have a lot less of the things you need. Weapons, bandages, ammo, all of these are scattered around the map, and you’ll need to keep moving to get enough to last, Fortnite has a great set of movement options, with Chapter 3’s new sliding being a fun option. The exception to this is towards the end of matches. Chances are, you’ll have enough stuff if you’ve made it that far, and unnecessarily running around will leave you exposed, and probably dead.
Don’t rush to the circle
It can be a scary feeling when the circle spawns far away from you, but it’s not as bad as it seems. You’d be surprised just how much time you have before you’re in danger of the storm hitting you, not to mention how quickly you can cover ground on foot.
By rushing into the circle, you’ll be missing out on a bunch of great loot. Plus, there are plenty of players who lurk on the edge of the circle trying to catch anyone making a run for safety. When the circle spawns far away from you, don’t panic, just slowly head in that general direction and you’ll be fine. Even if you do get into a tricky situation then jumpig in a car, truck or even an IO Tank will get you to safety in a hurry.
Control your shots
Getting into a fight can be quite the rush, and they’re often over in a flash. The spike in adrenaline paired with the panic of coming under attack can lead players to spam fire at the enemy in the hopes they die. Doing this is a bad idea, and will end in a disappointing defeat.
If you’ve got a rapid-fire weapon, like an Assault Rifle, fire in controlled bursts, taking care to readjust your aim every few seconds. If you’ve got a Shotgun, wait until you’ve got the shot carefully lined up to fire. If you waste shots, not only are you more likely to miss, but you’re going to have to spend time reloading, and in a shootout, that’s not time you can afford.
Be ready to build
When the action gets intense, it can be easy to let the building mechanics slip your mind, especially when you’re not used to using them. You need to be actively thinking about how you can use it, though, as it could save your life multiple times in a single battle.
Building can be used offensively to create vantage points or stop an opponent’s escape. On the other hand, it can be used defensively, blocking fatal shots, breaking line of sight, and giving you a chance to flee. As soon as shots start to fly, you need to formulate a plan and be ready to react to what the enemy decides to construct.
However, if the building isn’t for you then you’re in luck, as there is a Zero Build mode in the game now, and we’ve got you covered with some Zero Build tips.
Use support items
In a battle royale scenario, it can be easy to write off most non-healing items as unnecessary. It’s true there are some that won’t help in a fight, like the Fishing Rod, some could easily win the day. Shield Potions are the biggest ones, as they essentially give you a longer health bar, that can be very easily replenished.
Outside of that, there are a few different types of Grenades that will throw a wrench in the enemy’s plan, along with things for a quick escape like the Rift-To-Go. One thing you should never throw out is the Tent, which acts as a portable inventory expansion. What makes it extra special is that if you find another one in a different game, it will still be holding everything you put in it before.
Zig-Zag!
There are inevitably going to be situations where we feel completely outmatched or caught off guard. In those situations, fleeing is a completely viable option. If you can get some breathing room, build up a shield, restore your health, and come back on the attack, it makes for a triumphant comeback.
If you’re going to flee, though, do it properly. Your energy is limited, so only sprint where you’re most vulnerable, and make sure you stick to as much cover as possible. The most important thing, though, is that you must never run in a straight line. If your enemy already has you in their sights, running straight away makes for an easy target. Strafe, slide, and jump constantly to make life much more difficult for your opponent.
Written by Ryan Woodrow on behalf of GLHF.
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