Fortnite Battle Royale has taken the world by storm, pulling in millions of players, breaking Twitch records and even causing teachers to worry about their students who can't seem to put down the mobile version of the game. Maybe you want to see what all the fuss is about, but with so many players already hip deep in Fortnite, you're just not sure where the hell to start. We've got you covered.
So, you've decided to take Fortnite Battle Royale for a spin. Welcome to the Party Bus. But now it's time to get you ready for the 100-player showdown. Whether you're playing on console, PC or even mobile, these tips should help make your journey toward a top finish a little bit easier.
Get Acquainted With The Game
From streams aplenty to tutorials like this one, there's a boatload of content out there for newcomers to plow through in order to become more familiar with the Fortnite before you even touch the game. Read up on some of the finer details concerning mechanics and the like and strap in for some streams. One of the best ways to learn a game mode like Battle Royale is to watch the pros play. They'll obviously be pulling off feats you're lightyears away from at this point, but many of the best streamers like to drop helpful hints and mini-tutorials into their daily broadcasts. If nothing else, simply watching how the pros handle various situations should prove useful for fresh recruits.
Dive In Headfirst
If you're not building and looting in Fortnite, you're in the middle of a firefight. This may sound counterintuitive, but the best way to get good at shootouts is to have as many of them as humanly possible. You're not worried about trying to win a Victory Royale in these early goings, so experience is far more important than lasting as long as humanly possible in each match. Drop into an area that seems to be drawing a lot of players, grab some gear as quickly as possible and take the fight directly to your opponents. You'll likely get wiped out with a quickness, but then you're only a short wait and a bus ride away from your next set of encounters.
The shooting in Fortnite is a bit unique when compared to games like Call of Duty or even other genre entries like PUBG. The only way you're going to get used to the way each weapon works is to drop into the heat of battle and practice.
Avoid Confrontation And Build Stuff
Yes, this is the exact opposite of what I just told you; but hear me out. Once you have a feel for the shooting mechanics, don't be afraid to spend some of your time on the outer edges of the safe zone getting in some personal practice with building.
In Fortnite, building can be just as important as shooting, but it's really hard to practice building if you land in an area with a bunch of other players. If you don't feel like forking over some cash to pick up the Save the World mode just yet, the best way to get good at building is to stay out of the action. Land in an area with a lot of trees, but away from major structures. Start harvesting materials like lumber and rocks and, once you've built up a nice stockpile, experiment with the game's various building mechanics. Build ramps up the side of hills or bridges between raised platforms. Practice going vertical with your structure to create a quick sniping perch, or pretend like you're being shot at and practice building some defensive structures as quickly as possible.
Aim High
When you dive onto the world map in Battle Royale, there are a metric ton of locations ready to be looted for gear and ammo. Our recommendation is that, no matter where you go, aim for a roof. A lot of the game's best loot is tucked away in attics and the like, and the best way to get at those golden chests as quickly as possible is to land on a roof and plow through the barrier with your pickaxe. While you won't strike paydirt every round, your chances of having a decent gun, ammo and maybe some grenades or a shield within moments of starting the game are heightened when you land on a roof.
Pickaxe Protocol
One of the first questions many folks who start playing Battle Royale ask is "what's up with that circle that pops up and moves around while I'm using my pickaxe?" That's actually an inventive little mechanic Epic worked into the game in order to make a mundane task less mindless. The trick is that, with each swing of your pick, you should be aiming for that circle. Doing so will help net you those much-needed resources more quickly. We're only talking about savings of a second or two here, but that can be important in a game where standing still for too long can be a good way to draw fire from your enemies.
Optimize That Loadout
There are a lot of weapons and gear in Battle Royale, so managing your inventory becomes an important process. Take the time to see what loot you're picking up before spamming the "grab" button and make sure you keep a well-rounded collection of gear at the ready. You can only carry a handful of items in this game, so you don't want to have more than one slot in your inventory occupied by a single type of weapon. It's a good idea to have a long-, mid- and close-range weapon on hand at all times, as well as healing items or some grenades. Figure out which weapons you are most comfortable with and be sure to prioritize those in your collection. Also, the rarity of a weapon affects it stats, so try to make sure you're keeping the highest quality gear over common junk. Speaking of which, gray is common, green is uncommon, blue is rare, purple is epic, orange is legendary and gold is mythic. Keep that color scheme in mind when trying to decide between similar gear, though make sure the stats fit what you need, regardless of rarity.
Stop, Look And Listen
We reported recently that the gaming headset market has seen an uptick in sales following the success of games like PUBG and Fortnite. That's because both games have solid soundscapes and hearing things more accurately can be a big advantage. Listen to your surroundings and keep track of where you hear shootouts coming from in the distance. If another player is nearby, careful listening will help you keep track of exactly where they are, hopefully allowing you to get a drop on the competition rather than the other way around.
Also, your eyes are as important as your ears in Battle Royale. If you notice every location you arrive at has been picked clean of loot, you're likely hot on the trail of another player. The same goes for man-made structures. If you start seeing those, then other players are likely nearby.
Squad up
Battle Royale lets you play in squads of up to four players, which can be a huge help when just starting out. Experienced players are usually happy to share pointers with their teammates and it's always nice to have someone (or several someones) nearby to watch your back, share loot or even revive you if an opponent takes you out. Once you get familiar with the game's shooting and building mechanics, don't be afraid to jump into a squad and learn from your teammates. Alternatively, get a few of your friends who are also new to the game to join you and you can help protect each other while you all learn the ropes together.
