Diving into the world of Fortnite can be an exhilarating experience, especially when you’re aiming for that coveted Victory Royale. If you’re new to the island and wondering How To Play Fortnite, you’ve come to the right place. While the core concept is straightforward – be the last player standing – mastering the game involves understanding various mechanics and strategies. It might seem daunting at first, especially with seasoned players around, but with the right guidance, you can quickly get up to speed and even find yourself hooked on this incredibly popular game.
Fortnite offers a unique blend of combat, building, and exploration, making each match a fresh and engaging experience. To help you navigate your initial steps, we’ve compiled a comprehensive Fortnite beginner’s guide. Think of this as your essential handbook, packed with Fortnite tips and tricks, distilled from countless hours of expert gameplay, designed to give you a solid foundation. So, buckle up on the Battle Bus, and let’s learn how to play Fortnite like a pro from the get-go.
Fortnite Basics for New Players
Fortnite is constantly evolving, with new seasons like Fortnite Chapter 5 Season 4 bringing map changes and fresh challenges. However, the fundamental gameplay remains consistent. This Fortnite beginner’s guide is designed to equip you with the essential knowledge to navigate the game effectively and steer you towards your first Victory Royale. Let’s break down the key aspects of how to play Fortnite as a beginner.
1. Spawn Island: Practice Zone, Not Loot Paradise
When you first load into a Fortnite match, you’ll find yourself on Spawn Island. You’ll notice weapons, ammo, and building materials scattered around. It’s tempting to stock up, but remember this: items collected on Spawn Island don’t carry over to the main Fortnite map. Think of this area as a brief warm-up. It’s a safe space to practice your building skills or get a feel for the weapons without any real stakes. Engage in harmless skirmishes if you like, but focus on getting ready for when you drop into the actual game.
2. Strategic Battle Bus Drop: Patience Pays Off
The Battle Bus horn signals the moment you can jump into action. While it’s tempting to join the initial rush of players leaping out, consider a more tactical approach. Wait until the Battle Bus is nearing the end of its route before deploying your glider. This strategy significantly reduces competition for landing spots and loot. Fewer initial encounters mean a lower chance of early elimination and more time to gear up. Aim for houses or structures upon landing, as these often contain chests with valuable loot. Use your pickaxe to quickly break through roofs and gain entry.
3. Glider Basics: Automatic Deployment
Gliding is your primary method of traversing the map after jumping from the Battle Bus. It’s crucial to understand that your glider deploys automatically when you reach a certain altitude above the ground. There’s no manual deployment control. Simply steer yourself towards your chosen landing spot and prepare for ground action as soon as you touch down. Your glider will automatically retract upon landing, allowing you to immediately engage in combat or looting.
4. Shield Potions: Small Before Big
Shields are vital for survival in Fortnite, acting as extra health. You’ll find small and large shield potions scattered around the map. Always consume small shield potions first before large ones. Small potions grant 25 shield each, up to a maximum of 50 shield from small potions. Large potions give 50 shield and can be consumed regardless of your current shield level. If you use a large potion first and then try to use small potions when your shield is at 50 or above, the small potions become unusable and effectively waste inventory space. Optimize your shield consumption by starting with small potions.
5. Beginner-Friendly Weapons: Assault Rifles and SMGs
Weapon selection is crucial in Fortnite. For beginners learning how to play Fortnite, assault rifles (ARs) and submachine guns (SMGs) are excellent starting choices. They offer a good balance of range, damage, and fire rate, making them versatile for various combat situations. Sniper rifles, while powerful, are less effective in close-quarters combat and require more precision, making them less ideal for beginners. Shotguns excel in close-range engagements, capable of eliminating opponents quickly, especially in confined spaces like houses. Keep a shotgun handy for these situations, but rely on ARs and SMGs for more general combat scenarios as you learn the ropes.
6. Weapon Rarity: Color-Coded Power
Fortnite uses a color-coded rarity system for weapons, indicating their effectiveness. Grey (Common) is the most basic, followed by Green (Uncommon), Blue (Rare), Purple (Epic), and Gold (Legendary). Gold weapons are the most powerful, boasting superior stats. When looting, prioritize higher rarity weapons. Quickly assess your inventory by pressing ‘Up’ on the D-pad (or the inventory key on PC). Hovering over weapons will display their damage stats, helping you make informed decisions about which weapons to keep and use.
7. Headphones: Your Auditory Advantage
Sound is a critical element in Fortnite. Playing with headphones is highly recommended. Being able to hear footsteps, gunshots, and building sounds and pinpoint their direction provides a significant tactical advantage. Directional audio gives you crucial seconds to react, whether it’s switching to a shotgun in anticipation of an approaching enemy or building cover to defend against incoming fire. Headphones enhance your awareness and can be the difference between survival and elimination.
8. Build Cover Before Healing: Safety First
Building is a core mechanic in Fortnite, and it’s not just for offense. Always build protective walls around yourself before attempting to heal or use shield potions. Healing and shield consumption take several seconds (up to 10 seconds for a Med Kit), during which you are vulnerable. Building walls provides essential cover from enemy fire during this period. Walls can be built even on uneven terrain, clipping into cliffs and hills, ensuring you can find a safe spot to heal almost anywhere.
9. Fall Damage Threshold: Three Stories High
Be mindful of heights in Fortnite. Unlike some games, fall damage is a factor in Fortnite if you fall from a height greater than three stories. Falling from this height or higher will result in significant health loss. To avoid fall damage when descending from tall structures, build ramps downwards or utilize natural slopes and hills to slide down safely.
10. High Ground Advantage: Rule the Battlefield
In Fortnite combat, gaining the high ground is a significant tactical advantage. Being above your opponent provides better visibility, shot angles, and makes you harder to hit. Utilize building to quickly create ramps and platforms to elevate your position during firefights. A useful technique is to build a square of walls around yourself and then add a ramp facing your enemy. This creates an elevated sniping platform and allows for quick retreats for reloading. Continuously build upwards by jumping and placing structures beneath you to create makeshift towers and maintain the high ground advantage.
11. Inventory Essentials: Healing and Shields
Managing your inventory effectively is key to survival. Always keep healing items (Bandages, Med Kits) or shield potions readily available in your inventory. These items are crucial for recovering health and shields during and after engagements. Having these items allows you to sustain yourself in prolonged fights or assist teammates who need quick healing.
12. Partial Tree Harvesting: Stealth Resource Gathering
Gathering materials with your pickaxe is essential for building. When harvesting trees for wood, avoid destroying them completely. Stop when the tree’s health bar is around 50. Fully destroying trees leaves a noticeable trail of felled vegetation, making it easy for other players to track your movements. Partial harvesting allows you to gather resources while minimizing your visibility and maintaining a degree of stealth.
13. Game Mode Selection: Choose Your Battle
Fortnite offers various game modes to suit different playstyles. Ensure you select your desired game mode in the lobby before starting a match. By default, the game may queue you for a Squad match with random players. If you prefer to play Solo, Duos, or Trios, manually select the mode above the “Play!” button. Explore modes like Zero Build for a building-free experience or Ranked mode for competitive play. For beginners, Unranked Battle Royale is recommended to learn the fundamentals without the pressure of ranked play.
14. Crouching for Stealth: Silent Movement
Stealth can be a powerful tactic in Fortnite. Crouching significantly reduces the noise your footsteps make. Moving while crouched makes you much quieter than running, making it harder for enemies to detect you. This is particularly useful when you hear enemies nearby, allowing you to reposition yourself into a better hiding spot or prepare for an ambush without alerting them to your presence.
15. Battle Pass Rewards: Invest for Cosmetics
The Battle Pass is Fortnite’s seasonal progression system. While some rewards are available for free, the majority of premium skins and cosmetic items are unlocked through the paid Battle Pass. It costs 950 V-Bucks (Fortnite’s in-game currency), requiring you to purchase a V-Bucks bundle. Once you have the Battle Pass, completing quests and playing matches allows you to progress through the tiers and unlock a wide array of cosmetic rewards, allowing you to customize your in-game appearance.
16. Pickaxe Versatility: Break Almost Anything
Don’t underestimate your pickaxe. Your pickaxe can destroy almost any object in the Fortnite environment. If you find yourself trapped in a building or accidentally build yourself in, use your pickaxe to break your way out. Be aware that breaking structures creates noise, indicated by a red circle icon, which can alert nearby players. Exercise caution and take your time when escaping to avoid unwanted attention.
17. Locker Customization: Personalize Your Look
The Locker is where you customize your in-game appearance. Access the Locker to change your skins, back blings, gliders, harvesting tools, emotes, and more. Customize your loadout before each match, as you cannot make changes once you are in a game. Ensure you are satisfied with your chosen cosmetics and items before dropping into the Battle Royale.
18. Continuous Harvesting: Gather Resources on the Move
Building is paramount to success in Fortnite. To build, you need materials. Develop the habit of harvesting materials as you move across the map. Wood is the most common material and can be obtained by destroying trees, bushes, furniture, and various structures. Experiment to identify which objects yield the most materials and make resource gathering a constant part of your exploration to ensure you always have enough materials for building and defense.
Conclusion: Ready to Drop In and Play Fortnite?
Learning how to play Fortnite effectively takes time and practice, but mastering these fundamental tips will give you a significant head start. Remember to prioritize survival, strategic looting, building skills, and effective combat tactics. Keep practicing, experimenting with different strategies, and most importantly, have fun exploring the dynamic world of Fortnite. With dedication and these Fortnite tips, you’ll be well on your way to securing your first Victory Royale and many more to come. Good luck, and see you on the island!
