Fortnite Tips
If you're new to the world of Fortnite, our comprehensive list of Fortnite Tips is a great place to start.
Battle Royale is a mode within Fortnite. It works similar to other Battle Royale games, with the aim being to survive against up to 100 other players until the very end. Even though the current version is rewarding those who are aggressive and can build well it is still certainly possible to win matches through avoidance and stealth.
Players start every match on the Battle Bus, which flies over the map. The direction changes every time, and though players are likely to drop into locations near where the route is, you can land anywhere if you pull your parachute straight away.
After a minute or two, a circle will appear on the map. After a few more minutes, a storm will slowly engulf the map and close in on the circle, pushing players towards it. Though you can survive in the circle for a short period, generally you want to move away from there quickly.
A second circle will then appear within that circle, and the process repeats. The time it takes for the circle to close in gets quicker each time, and the strength of the storm increases, so moving inside the circle becomes more important. Of course, there's also less space to play in, so you're more likely to encounter other players.
At this point, there'll just be a handful of you, and you'll likely know where everyone else is. Forts will be erected, gunfire exchanged, careful trips to supply drops will be made. There can only be one winner. Best of luck!
Fortnite tips for the start of a match
Where you decide to jump from the Battle Bus dictates the flow of the rest of the match. Want to go somewhere where the action is? Choose a named location either close to where the Battle Bus is flying over, or close to the centre of the map - Retail Row, Dusty Divot or Tilted Towers. Want to land with maybe one or two people? Choose a location away from the path of the bus, but in a named location.
If you're new to Fortnite, our recommendation is to land towards at the end of the Battle Bus route, and outside of a named location. The loot won't be as good as elsewhere, but you can slowly work your way towards named location, or the circle, while encountering fewer players.
When you are landing, aim for the tops of buildings. Your axe allows you to chop through the roof and land in an attic or upper floor, and chances are, next to some loot.
If you land alongside someone else, it's almost always better to ignore them and sprint for the nearest weapon. Though you can axe them to death, it'll take 10 swings and an awkward scramble to avoid hits, while any weapon - even the most common - will mow them down in seconds.
Fortnite tips for getting more loot
Your first priority is to find decent loot. Loot isn't dictated by the area you land in, so it's a case of exploring until you get a good arsenal.
The loot chests are the best things to find. They spawn in fixed locations, but only a handful will appear in each location at once. You can hear them through walls, so be sure to explore near rooms and floors until you find it.
If a loot chest is in the roof above you, be sure to build a ramp up away from the chest. If you chop underneath with your axe and take out the floor below the chest, the chest will disappear too. So be careful.
Unlike PUBG, there are no weapon attachments, scopes or armour pieces to worry about, but you will want to upgrade your shield. Otherwise, you'll want a decent set of weapons - ideally close, medium and long distance ranges.
Each weapon also has five different grades of rarity. If you play Destiny, it's the exact same colour scheme: gray being the most common, then green, blue, purple and orange as the rarest - with each stage increasing a weapon's DPS (or Damage Per Second). In short, the rarer the gun, the more effective it is when it comes to dealing damage.
Weapons and ammo glow and float in the air, so it's easier to see what you might need from a distance. The same applies when players die, too, so no need to check a body to know exactly what's up for grabs.
There are various different types of healing and shield items. Small Shields and Bandages only heal part way - they are capped at 50% and 75% respectively. If you have these and a Big Shield, using them in the right order - the Small Shields then the Big Shield - allows you to reach max shield capacity.
Apples and Mushrooms can be found scattered across the ground. They will give you 5% health and shield respectively. It's time intensive to consume them, but if you have the time, it's well worth topping up your gauges while you can.
Fortnite tips for combat
Headphones are pretty much essential for playing, allowing you to hear players coming toward you. In Fortnite Battle Royale the sound of movement feels louder than most other shooters, giving you ample opportunity to prepare for oncoming adversaries.
If you do see a player, or hear gunshots nearby, carefully weigh up whether you should approach, as you could easily be outgunned and outnumbered. It's best to wait until they are facing away,or are close, before engaging in combat.
If you do come across a firefight, wait until the end when all other combatants are injured, and have left their guard down. This can be as soon as their combatant has been killed, or are scooping up loot or stopping to heal.
On the flipside, if have just concluded a firefight, be wary of others nearby. If you can quickly grab dropped loot then great, but otherwise seek cover, heal, and observe your surroundings before continuing on.
If you are facing someone who is building, shooting their walls or ramps quickly will destroy them and leave them unguarded. Otherwise, use the opportunity for when they are out of sight to change to a different weapon, flank or hide yourself. Though the meta does lean towards builders in the end-game, with the right approach and weapons, you can outsmart them.
Building is a great way to defend yourself, or gain a quick height advantage. Even learning the basics can mean the difference between life and death.
Ultimately, practicing and getting comfortable with combat, from weapons and movement to the flow of an encounter, is how you succeeed in Fortnite. If you are aggressive you will put your opponent in a defensive position, and can dictate the ebb and flow of combat, even if your opponent is seemingly well defended. Each kill will also see you gain their loot and materials, giving you a quick leg up for the rest of the match.
If you are struggling with combat in Fortnite, it's worth being patient. Try to get in the headspace of your opponents and how how they will be approaching from in a given situation. Or if you see someone in the distance and they haven't spotted you, be patient and wait until you get close enough until you know for certain you can take them.
Alternatively, deliberately choosing to play difficult matches, where you drop into named locations such as Tilted Towers where plenty of other players drop in, allow you to practice combat without the worry of losing an entire match's progress. The beauty of Fortnite is if you die quickly, you can load back in and be playing again within a minute or two.
Do you have anything to add to our Fortnite tips? Leave your suggestions in the comments section :)
