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6 tips to help you stay alive in Fortnite: Battle Royale
Stay ahead of the pack and stay alive in Fortnite's new, improved map with these 6 nuggets of survival advice.
Fortnite's Battle Royale mode can be a steep challenge even for the experienced player. It's frantic, funny, frustrating and never forgiving. The new map update added a bunch of new places to slay, introducing sky-scraping towers (sort of) and underground caverns, among other things. But with all of these gorgeous new locales to explore, surviving for more than five minutes is more important than ever.
We've spent some time on your behalf getting out-sniped, out-sneaked and out-built to bring you seven tips to help you stay alive in Fortnite: Battle Royale, while all those around you fall.
1. Build smart
There are several factors that separate Fortnite from other battle royale games, but primary among them is the ability to build defences on the fly. A key element to staying alive longer is learning to navigate the Build mini-menu super-quickly, often while moving and keeping an eye on your surroundings. At first it can seem fiddly, and you'll avoid doing it because it could waste valuable milliseconds in a firefight, but it can absolutely save your life in a pinch.
We're not talking about tri-level mansions here (besides, the second you finish the gazebo, someone will put a rocket through it), but a wall or set of stairs dropped between you and an opponent gives you immediate cover, even if it's just to reload or bandage up. As you progress, you'll become more adept at editing while you build, creating half-walls or narrow stairways to get the drop on a lurking enemy.
2. Get some height
The latest update added a heap of new locations to the map, and one of the most impressive places to play is Tilted Towers, the mini-city near the centre. Filled with massive tower-blocks, this hotly-contested area is still a great place to drop if you've got the skills to clear out your immediate competition. Not only is it a loot hotspot, it also offers a fantastic vantage point of the surrounding area – especially if you're lucky enough to swipe a weapon with a scope.
Away from Tilted Towers, building is the best way to get the lay of the land. It may attract attention, making it a bit of a double-edged sword, but charging up a few flights of freshly-built stairs can allow you to get your bearings and spot the enemy. If you have a sniper rifle or scoped AR handy, too, up high is an ideal place to pop a few heads while enjoying the breeze.
Get ready to rumble
© Epic Games
3. Manage your gear
Usually, as soon as you land, you'll need to get moving. While the law of the jungle dictates that the longer you survive, the tougher your opposition becomes, it could be argued that the absolute most dangerous time is the first few minutes.
99 other players means 99 ways to die and the map is larger, which means those who got lucky and dropped near a weapon with decent range may have an immediate advantage, and, most importantly, you'll have nothing to defend yourself with except your pickaxe.
It can be tempting (and advisable, if we're honest) to hoover up every weapon you see initially, but the truth is that running in with a pistol is no more effective than using your axe if you're not particularly skilled with small arms. Know the difference between an AR and a burst rifle, remember that a shotgun is only effective at close range, and don't fire rockets at the floor. It's all obvious when outside of combat, but in the heat of the moment it's easy to mess up if you're not managing what you pick up. Control your inventory and slot your weapons cleverly, either in order of effectiveness or in order of usefulness for a given situation.
If you're heading into the new subterranean area, Shifty Shafts for example, you'll probably want to make sure that you've got a shotgun ready, with a shield potion or health potion next to it for navigating those tight corners. It's important to arm yourself fast, but do it with a little foresight.
4. Pick your drop spot
This is important, and can severely influence your survival rate. Likewise, it's a primary factor to consider when pre-determining your strategy. If you're playing in a squad or as a duo, for example, it's wise to jump from the Battle Bus together and try to stay in fairly close proximity as you come down, in order to group up quickly.
You'll also want to think ahead on which way you intend to approach the coming fight. While cities and residential areas are often more tightly packed with loot and chests, they'll also be hotly contested by other players. So, if you're a newcomer or a sniper, it might be in your best interests to drop in the wilderness somewhere, maybe get your feet wet in Moisty Mire or get dirty in Junk Junction, where you'll have a slightly better chance to gear up and approach the enemy at your own pace. Just be aware that the further you are from the centre, the closer you are to the storm front.
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5. Keep your head
Possibly due to its more cartoony style and tongue-in-cheek humour, Fortnite doesn't always feel as intense and stressful as PUBG.
It can still become hard to keep your cool towards the latter half of a match, though, when the storm front is closing in and the players that remain are either highly skilled or just plain lucky. But remember, it's often at exactly this point that veteran players become more defensive, shoring up in mini-forts to bring the enemy to them. That's because in the late game a clear head becomes more important than a full clip, as those who panic and act in haste often make mistakes, leaving themselves exposed.
Even if you play aggressively or your modus operandi is based entirely on rocket launchers, it's still important to consider each encounter. It's not always worth starting a fight when you've got low health or the enemy's in a better position. After all, sometimes a risky shot does nothing but alert other players to your position. Stay cool, stay calm and don't start what you can't finish.
Battle Royale lives up to its name
© Epic Games
6. Be aware of your surroundings
Further to the above tip, it's always better to keep your eyes and ears open. The more noise you're making, the less noise you can hear, and Fortnite has some of the best audio around for a battle royale game. There are so many audio cues that let you know what's happening around you, that if you're careful you'll rarely be surprised.
In addition, look for signs of other players. Half-destroyed trees, rocks or buildings may be evidence of a player who was recently disturbed and moved on; randomly dropped walls and stairs are also an indication that someone's been through an area and may still be around. It's worth remembering at this point that most people will be moving towards the centre, which is a good way to track player migrations and get the jump on them. Of course, a lot of players are hip to this beat, and the very clever will use it to lay traps for to blunder into.
