Being a Battle Royale, one of the key features in Fortnite is looting items and crafting a loadout that will aid you in winning fights and matches. However, with so many weapons rotating in and out of the game it can be tough to craft an effective loadout in a pinch. This article will go over five effective loadouts along with their strengths and weaknesses, so you don’t need to make that decision in your next match.
One of the most satisfying things in Fortnite is creating custom loadouts with the different weapons and utilities you can find along the way in each match. In some cases, for some players, it can be difficult to create effective loadouts with the wide variety of weapons the game has to offer. Not to worry, here we are going to look at five different types of loadouts that you can create for different scenarios to help with decision-making and racking up more wins in Fortnite Battle Royale.
Starting things off is what we can coin as the “standard loadout”. A standard loadout in Fortnite is one that covers all the bases in combat: close-range, mid-range, long-range, some form of utility, and any heals or shields. This is the most reliable loadout in terms of all stages of the game, and it prepares you for any kind of encounter you might find yourself in. An example of this loadout would be a Heavy Shotgun, Assault Rifle, DMR, Impulse Grenades, and Mini Shields. This covers all your bases and provides good heals and utility.
The main upside to this loadout is that it covers all possible encounters, allowing you to account for any possible fight you may run into. Along with some form of utility and shields, it is very reliable. The main issue that this loadout has however is that while it is decent in all types of encounters, it does not particularly excel in any of them either. Having one of each kind of weapon is not a bad thing by any means but, at the same time, no area in this loadout gives you any specific kind of advantage. So, while the standard loadout is by no means bad and is reliable, it also does not give you a specific advantage in certain scenarios as well. This type of loadout is best for newer players who are just getting their footing in the game.
The next loadout we are going to look at is Shotgun/SMG/Sniper. This loadout is meant to soften enemies by catching them off-guard with long-range attacks, then closing in the gaps to finish them off with close-range weapons like Shotguns, SMGs, or Pistols. Having Impulse Grenades or a Shockwave Hammer to close in on opponents is essential when running this loadout to help close distances. This allows you to capitalize on the carelessness of other players, and promotes a very aggressive playstyle, by throwing everything you have at them. Examples of this loadout include Thunder Shotgun, Machine SMG, Heavy Sniper, Shockwave Hammer, and then a final slot for heals or shields.
The main advantage of this loadout is that if you are someone who likes to play aggressively, it complements that playstyle very well. The close-range weapons cover any sort of gap closer you may have and the long-range help with initiating fights. One of the cons to this loadout is the obvious lack of mid-range weapons it has, making it slightly awkward for any mid-range encounter you may run into. It also requires a bit more skill to use, as snipers are not exactly the easiest guns to use in the game, and engaging in close-range fights may be difficult for inexperienced players. This loadout is best suited for intermediate to experienced players who enjoy playing aggressively but can also help new players get accustomed to initiating fights.
This loadout is for those who do not like confrontation in close ranges and prefer to pick off opponents before they can even get in Shotgun range. This loadout has an emphasis on covering mid and long-range encounters, allowing for passive play. The main goal of this loadout is to take the high ground and favorable angles to allow for easy picks. Like the previous loadout, a Shockwave Hammer is essential here, but for the opposite reason, to allow for easy disengagement when opponents close in on you. This loadout could consist of something like an Assault Rifle, Red-Eye Assault Rifle, DMR, Shockwave Hammer, and of course, kinds of healing or shield items.
The main advantage that this loadout has is that it allows you to initiate and take over most fights if you are set up correctly. This loadout often requires a high-ground advantage to set up correctly, but when it gets set up, it can be very deadly. One obvious flaw that this loadout has is a lack of a true close-range weapon, which is why the Shockwave Hammer is important for fleeing any unfavorable scenarios. Precision is also important here, as mentioned before, snipers can be tough to use in Fortnite, however, the use of a mid-range weapon can make up for this. This loadout is very useful for passive players who prefer to take fights at their own pace.
A loadout that a lot of people seem to neglect is that consisting of explosives. Launchers like the RPGs and Grenades are extremely useful weapons when used correctly and help destroy cover while simultaneously dealing damage to opponents. This with the addition of a close and mid-range weapon allows you to consistently follow up after using your explosives to secure kills. This loadout could look something like Maven Auto Shotgun, Assault Rifle, RPG, Grenades, and any healing or shield items you may need.
This loadout excels in clearing areas that have a lot of covers and obstacles such as any of the main named locations. Using the explosives to clear out buildings and cover opponents are hiding in, then following up with an AR or shotgun depending on the distance, can send people packing immediately if done correctly. One main issue that this loadout has is that it is not exactly the most subtle of the bunch. Using explosives can attract a lot of attention and cause you to take more fights than you may hope for. However, this loadout does very well late game due to the smaller storm circle and constricted area, allowing for explosives to hit more reliably. This loadout is very good for anyone looking to play aggressively and take multiple fights at once.
The final loadout to talk about is one that focuses on ensuring utility and medical items while having only two weapons for taking encounters. Now while it might not sound too enticing, this loadout is actually very strong when played correctly. Having two weapons allows you to cover the types of engagements that you prefer, while also having mobility and survivability with the added utility. A utility-focused loadout might consist of a Shotgun or Pistol in the first slot to cover close-range fights, and an AR to cover mid to longer ranges. This might look like Tactical Pistol, Assault Rifle, Shockwave Hammer, and then for the final two slots and medical items like Mini Shields and Med Kits, or even a Chug Cannon if you are able to roll the augment for it or loot it from someone.
The main strength of this loadout is that you focus on obtaining weapons that you are comfortable with, allowing you to take fights at your own pace, in addition to more survivability through the extra utility and medical items you have. The main flaw of this build however is that it has a lower potential damage output due to having less room for weapons but focuses on outlasting your opponents through mobility and out-healing them. This weapon is good for people who want to focus on getting to the late game, and don’t mind sacrificing the room in their inventory for fewer weapons.
These loadouts only scratch the surface of what can be main in Fortnite. With so many weapons rotating in and out, as well as the addition of new weapons, it is a lot to choose from. There are so many ways in Fortnite to create effective and interesting loadouts that can help you win more fights and more games. Hopefully, some of the loadouts listed here will help you find a fun and effective playstyle that suits you.
