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How to get your first win in Fortnite
Here's everything you need to know to win at Fortnite, with a little help from Fortnite phenomenon, Jaden 'Wolfiez' Ashman.
The gaming world has changed dramatically since Fortnite first emerged in 2017, but for some, it's the only game that matters.
One of the original Battle Royales – that is, a game that requires you to take down every single enemy until it's just you, or you and your buddies, left – Fortnite blends solid combat, a dollop of luck, and speedy crafting skills that ensure no two matches are ever the same.
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So if you've been curious but a little hesitant to dip your toe in because you think you've left it too late, think again. Here's everything you need to know to hit the ground running and secure your first Victory Royale.
More from Wolfiez...
01
Get familiar with Creative Mode
Creative Mode may not appeal to some, with many opting to dive immediately into the intense 100-strong brawl that is solos or duos - however, it is certainly not to be slept on.
Creative Mode is a great place to go and familiarise yourself with weapons, items, areas and pretty much everything in the Fortnite sphere. Despite his desire to go head first into competitive games, even Wolfiez agrees can't stress the importance of creative mode enough.
With Creative, you die, you go again, die, go again, die, go again, die, go again. The more times you die, the more times you learn. And so, in Creative, you can load into a field with loads of people and just practise.
02
Keep an eye on the storm
Even the most veteran players get caught out on this one, so do yourself a favour and get into the habit of keeping an eye on where the storm is. At first, it won't do too much damage, but the longer you stay in it - particularly late-game - the harder it is to escape unscathed. So if you're far from safety and worried you won't make it, grab a vehicle to boost your chances of outrunning it.
That said, don't be afraid to use it defensively, either. If you know there's a team upfront that will have you in their sights, there's nothing wrong in dipping back into the storm, repositioning, and re-emerging someplace less dangerous. It's easier to withstand damage from the storm than a headshot, right?
03
Don't necessarily play it safe...
You may be thinking that, in order to secure the dub, you should hide from all your competitors and hope to strike lucky in that final circle... well, sadly you're wrong. Popular to contrary belief, hiding is not going to get you anywhere in Fortnite, as the harsh reality is you simply won't improve. Wolfiez puts it bluntly...
You learn something from every fight. 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.
04
Don't drop too soon
Busman's holiday
© Epic Games
You'll find that a lot of battle royale players – regardless of whether they're PUBG-ing, Apex Legend-ing, or Fortnite-ing – have a habit of jumping from the Battle Bus as soon as they can. Admittedly, that'll get you into the action much more quickly – and your odds of surviving an encounter are actually a little better given few enemies will have had time to loot up – but the chances of finding better gear goes up if you have less competition for it. Therefore, be a little more selective in where you choose to land; not only will it help you get familiar with the maps, but it'll also give you more time to loot up without scrapping for weapons, too.
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.
05
Build it and they will come (the wins, that is)
The one thing that separates Fortnite from other games of its ilk is the ability to craft and build structures. This means that as well as weapons, you need to be constantly squirrelling away crafting items, too. It's surprising how quickly you'll get used to it, and it really is key to Victory Royale's success; getting height over your enemies always gives you an advantage, plus it offers cover if you need to hide and heal for a quick moment.
You can't move or shoot while regenerating health, so it's critical you're someplace safe before attempting to do so. Harvest as many materials as you can at the beginning of the game... best believe you'll need them come the final circle.
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. Keep this up so you're always full of materials so you can build whenever you need to.
My Loadout: Play like the pros...
06
Variety is the spice of life
Obviously, there's some luck involved in what loot you can bag. But, if you can, grab a variety of different weapons; one for close-range, one for long-range, and whatever else you fancy for in between. This means you'll always have the right weapon for the right circumstances, boosting your odds of surviving your encounters.
Ideally, some combination of a shotgun, assault rifle, and sniper is best - that way you'll always have the right weapon for the job regardless of what fight you stumble into.
For an idea of what you should be looking for in your loadout, check out Wolfiez's ideal build for the final circle right here.
Still craving more Fortnite tips? Check out some more pointers from one of the best in the business - Jaden 'Wolfiez' Ashman! Discover his top tips right here.
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