Fortnite: Battle Royale Beginners Guide Tips and Tricks

Fortnite: Battle Royale has taken the PlayStation 4 by storm, bringing the newly-booming battle royale genre to the console for the first time. With millions upon millions of players logging on every day, there’s an awful lot of competition, so we’ve compiled a Fortnite: Battle Royale beginners guide full of tips and tricks to give you an edge on the battlefield.

Get building

Seriously. It may seem obvious, but many players overlook Fortnite’s building mechanics as being unnecessary, when really it’s essential to doing well later on in the game. The temporary cover that walls and ramps provide are often the difference between killing and being killed, so it’s recommended that you start building as soon as you hear shots – although be wary that this gives the attacker a chance to flank you if you’re not careful.

A good tactic for when you’re being fired upon is to wall hop. This means building a wall as cover, then building a wall in front and rushing behind it, repeating this process until you can get into a position to take down the enemy. Ramps can also be used in similar way: they’re better at defending you from thrown projectiles like grenades and can be used as ambush points if you put them in an inconspicuous place, but they can restrict your vision.

The late-game often ends up as battles between forts – especially in Teams mode – so make sure to build yours up in good time. Creating a tower with ramps works well in combination with a sniper rifle or an assault rifle, but again be careful of getting flanked – the zone gets tiny by the end of every match.

Source resources

Again, this is a given, but a lot of players forget about it. Since building is so important to winning a game, resources are too, so make sure to take advantage of quiet periods and get harvesting. Chopping down as many trees as possible for wood is a good idea, but if you’re in an open space make sure to leave a few standing in case someone discovers you.

The same goes for breaking down walls for bricks and smashing up cars for metal. While metal is the strongest, it's also the longest to break down and the hardest to find, so make sure you stock up on bricks and wood if you can’t see any cars around you. Also keep in mind that the noise harvesting makes is liable to get you spotted, so only commit to harvesting when you’re sure the area you’re in is clear of enemies.

Be aggressive

While a lot of players can do reasonably well by simply hiding in a bush and letting everyone else kill each other, playing aggressively gives you the best chance of winning in multiple ways. For one, pouncing on chances to kill an enemy that hasn’t discovered you yet is a lot less risky than letting them find you – as long as you’re sure you can take them down.

Being aggressive also gives you the best chance to get some good loot; as the game goes on and more players die, the surviving players inherit the best weapons that their victims had. The more players you kill, the more likely you’ll be able to pry an Epic or Legendary gun from their cold, dead hands, giving you a great advantage in the long run. That being said…

Have a little patience

This tip may seem contradictory to the previous one, but being aggressive doesn’t mean being stupid in Fortnite: Battle Royale. By all means take down as many other players as you can, but never rush. Pulling off a long-range kill with an assault rifle may feel rewarding, but more often than not it’ll lead to you getting discovered by your prey. While it might take longer, advancing slowly from cover-to-cover until you’re within range to shoot is a much better idea than rushing out into the open – especially if it’s early on and you’re only using Common or Uncommon weapons.

Get your bearings

Since the zone periodically shrinks, it’s always a good idea to pay attention to your map and the timer that alerts you to when the storm begins closing in. This is crucial early on, especially in Teams mode, when you’re likely to spend a lot of time looting the location that you’ve landed in or getting engulfed in a lengthy firefight. Of course, make sure not to pass up on loot if you can help it, but if the timer’s ticking down and you’re still far away from the zone, it’s best not to risk a close escape.

In general, while staying at the edge of the zone does have its benefits, it’s best to make your way to the centre as soon as you can. Staying on the edge can help you stay undetected, but you’ll also be in a prime position to get picked off when you’re concentrating on running away from the storm. Getting in the middle nice and early not only gives you an opportunity to attack these stragglers yourself, but it also gives you time to fortify yourself in case of an attack. Try and avoid passing through locations like Retail Row and Tilted Towers, though, as they’re usually crawling with enemies.

Vary your weaponry

It can be tempting to just concentrate on assault rifles and rocket launchers when organising your loadout, but it’s important to keep a mixed bag of guns for all situations. Pump shotguns often get overlooked for their lack of accuracy as range, but their increased damage over tactical shotguns make them invaluable in close-quarters skirmishes.

It’s best to have some kind of automatic weapon, a shotgun, a sniper or rocket launcher, and bandages to hand so that you’re well-equipped for any situation. Even if you only have access to Common weapons, it’s better to have a bad shotgun than no shotgun at all.

Have you got any tips and tricks to help beginners get to grips with Fortnite: Battle Royale? Share some of your best strategies in the comments section below.