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Win like Wolfiez: Fortnite tips from the UK superstar
The good news: you don't have to adopt his signature claw-grip on your controller.
How often do you get the win in Fortnite? For the pros, winning isn't a possibility as much as it is a certainty. It's not down to their skills with a controller or a mouse, but their knowledge of the game. If you want to start getting your share of the Victory Royales, it's time to level up your game.
With the bare minimum of mechanical skill, playing more like the pro players do could see you snagging wins where before you would have taken the L. With that in mind, who could be better to learn from than Jaden 'Wolfiez' Ashman, the youngest Fortnite player to ever take a $1m prize pot.
Ready to raise your game at the Red Bull Gaming Sphere? Find out how you could get pro-level coaching at London's premier gaming studio here: redbull.co.uk/raiseyourgame
Work a few of these simple tips into your play, and you can jump out of the battle bus with confidence, whether you're a new player or you just want to wear the crown a little more. Here's to more W's and less time begging your team for a revive.
Jaden 'Wolfiez' Ashman at Red Bull Gaming Sphere London in March 2022
© Mark Roe / Red Bull Content Pool
01
Master the basics
First off: you need to walk before you can run. Mastering the basics should be the first thing on any serious Fortnite player's agenda. Learn how to build 90s quickly, work out how to approach each stage of the game and ultimately - make sure your aim is on point. Before you roll with any of the big dogs, these simply have to be mastered in order to compete.
Master the basics first... then worry about the other aspects of your game later. The best players do the simple things exceptionally and make it look, well, basic!
02
Avoid hot spots if you want to win
If you want to get the win, you'll want to land somewhere safe and loot up, dropping somewhere on the edge of the map instead of whatever the current hotspot is. Avoiding firefights as soon as you drop is crucial for getting to the final circle, rather than trying to get stuck in and fighting immediately.
"If I want to survive, I'll look for somewhere that's got pretty good loot, but isn't too congested. You probably want to go for somewhere on the edge of the map," says Wolfiez.
Mega City
© Credit: Fortnite
When looting, try to play the meta. "Right now, the Hammer Assault Rifle is king," says Wolfiez, "so you want to be carrying one at all times for most of your fights, no matter the range."
This won't always be true, though. It's easy to know which gun is the most favoured at any given time, it'll be the one people are complaining about on YouTube…
03
Once you've got your weapons, start farming materials
If you've landed on the edge of the map you'll probably need to get a move on towards the circle. While vehicles can make this faster, you should consider if your time is better spent farming materials on the way, so you can build.
Try to do this efficiently: "A rock will give you more brick than a wall, and a tree is the quickest way to get wood, so you want to be farming rocks and trees where possible," says Wolfiez. "Keep this up so you're always full of materials so you can build whenever you need to."
Watching the pros play can teach you some of the optimal farming routes as you head from the edge of the map, but don't be afraid to experiment and find what works for you.
04
Don't sleep on Creative mode
No Build has its fans, but being able to build is essential for success in Fortnite, and the best way to learn how to build is by loading into the game's creative mode. Creative mode gives you a lot of additional tools to experiment with. Sure, you can use Creative mode to create your own experiences, but more often than not it's a useful place to get your build on in a field, with several other people, without the pressure of an actual match.
"Making sure that your binds are optimised so you can build as quickly as possible is important," says Wolfiez. "If you have good binds and they're optimal, you won't need to work as hard to get wins." Put simply, if you have binds that work for your input device - whether that's controller or keyboard and mouse - then you've got the advantage on everyone you play against who hasn't taken the time to set it up.
"With Creative, you die, you go again, die, go again, die, go again, die, go again," adds Wolfiez. "The more times you die, the more times you learn basically. And so in Creative you can load into a field with loads of people and just practise."
Get building, and you'll soon be cranking 180s with speed and precision, giving yourself cover at a moment's notice.
05
Dropping in hotspots is the best way to get good at combat
Handglider in Fortnite
© Credit: Epic Games
"You learn something from every fight," says Wolfiez. "Win or lose I'm always just looking to take fights because there's really no point in hiding. Either you're good enough to win fights, or you have to be better. If you're hiding, you're not going to get better."
If you're hiding, you're not going to get better.
Simply put, the only way to get good at something is to practice. This is true of anything, but it's especially true of firefights in Fortnite. If you're scurrying around at the edge of the circle all the time, you'll be out of practice and the muscle memory won't be there.
Wolfiez explains how he rushes every fight he can take while he's trying to practise. "Sometimes you'll take a second and third party, but sometimes not. You'll learn the right choice with experience, but before you get that experience, you're going to need to be scrapping constantly to learn how fights play out."]
06
Get out of your comfort zone
The best players are versatile. Fact. If you continue to play the same game over and over again, it quite simply won't obtain success. Fortnite is a game of unpredictability and you have to be ready for any situation it throws you into.
"You need to be confident with all weapons. There's no use just mastering the art of a shotgun, you also need to be capable with a sniper, an SMG, an assault rifle - anything" Wolfiez states.
"Let's be honest, every game is different. If you were to only be a shotgun merchant, what do you do when the final circle is in a vast open space? Versatility is key. Getting out of your comfort zone and using new weapons is one of the best ways to improve."
Want to know the perfect loadout to tackle the final circle? Dive into Wolfiez's 'My Loadout' right here.
My Loadout: Play like the pros...
07
Remember the right side peek...
In Fortnite, your weapon is always on the right side of your body. This means that engaging with people on the right side of your body will give you a slight advantage. Try to always keep your right side open, whether you're building your own structures or using the cover already on the map.
08
Get yourself a headset
The single most important sense to have after your visual is 100% your hearing. The ability to listen to where enemies are can single-handedly give you the upper hand in a fight, which means headphones are essential.
"Sometimes external gear is a necessity, this is the case with headphones," Wolfiez says. "You become a ninja acutely aware of all your surroundings, it really does take your game to the next level."
You don't have to spend an absolute fortune, but make sure that there is at least some sort of device in your ears. Besides - it's well worth it to hear that sweet bass of the default dance perfectly.
Learn the map
Although it is constantly changing, with the best places to land varying from season to season... we can't stress the importance of learning the map. The Battle Bus rarely ever takes the same route, meaning you'll need multiple locations in your locker you know like the back of your hand.
Even if you are a top fragger, if you don't know the map you'll rarely come out on top
Have a couple of POIs that you drop to regularly completely memorized. This means if you're low on loot or mats - you know exactly where these can be obtained.
Relive the action at Red Bull Contested
09
Adjust them settings
Last, but certainly by no means least, is to adjust your settings to suit your style of play. Every player is different, which is why finding out what settings are right for you is vital. You can change so much about your play style, with the ability to modify sensitivity, combat and edit controls.
"My advice would be to not listen to anyone else when it comes to controller settings," Wolfiez says. "It's entirely tailored to what's comfortable for you. Some players may like high sensitivity to turn in a flash, whereas some may like low sensitivity in order to steady their aim. It really is just personal preference."
Wolfiez bootcamping at Red Bull Gaming Sphere London
© Mark Roe
"Don't be afraid to play around with them. If you head into a few matches and you're sucking, no big deal, switch them up again and see if that works for you. It may be the key to elevating your game and you don't even know it yet."
Still not entirely satisfied? Check out some more tips from Wolfiez here, although these are aimed more at beginners.
