One of the biggest difficulties Fortnite faced before the release of Zero Build was the learning curve for beginners. The lobbies were filled with players who knew how to build, and jumping in as a beginner was not a great experience.

Fortunately, Epic Games released Zero Build, which made it easier for players to ease into the game. Plus, it was also a great mode for casuals who just played for fun. However, the building is Fortnite’s identity, and it’s also extremely fun when you figure it out. But the learning curve is still there.

This leads to the most common thing every beginner or casual ponders over. Is it worth it to try and learn building, or is sticking with Zero Build better?

Zero Build - Pros and Cons

Zero Build, as the name suggests, is a mode where building is disabled. All you have for cover is the map. It’s quite similar to other Battle Royales, which is why most beginners tend to play Zero Build. All you need to be good at is positioning and aim, which usually transfers over from other games.

That makes it a solid mode for new players to jump into. They can experience what Fortnite is about without worrying about building. The same goes for casual players who just log in to play the game with friends or alone to have some fun after work.

The other great thing about Zero Build is the lack of sweats. Zero Build generally has more casual players, so it doesn’t get as competitive unless you are grinding ranked.

However, for some people, Zero Build tends to get boring and stale after some time. Once you figure out the strategy and how the meta works in Zero Build, the matches are not as exciting anymore. Ask any player who plays build mode, and they will agree that build mode is more fun. Sure, it’s easy to say when you are good at building, but the fact is, build mode is much more entertaining if you spend time learning the mechanics.

Fortnite Build Mode - Pros and Cons

The biggest con of Build Mode is the learning curve. It's hard for a beginner to first get the hang of building and then get good at it. Suffice to say, your first few hours in Build Mode are going to be hellish.

It's the main reason why casual players and even streamers shy away from Build Mode. The extremely competitive environment and the number of sweats can really downgrade your gaming experience if you just want to enjoy Fortnite casually.

Despite that, I'd still recommend every player to try and attempt to learn how to build. Because when you finally get decent at building and can get kills, the dopamine rush from the achievement is exhilarating.

A very good example of this is Rocket League, one of the hardest games to learn mechanically. But, once you finally can do an aerial, wall shot, or get a sick goal, the feeling is incredible.

Secondly, if you really want to enjoy Fortnite at its limit, then you should attempt to learn how to build. After all, it's what makes Fortnite so unique; it's part of the game’s core identity and the reason it got so big.

Plus, with Creative, there are so many maps that can help you learn building. You don't even need to step into a match. You can find maps that have edit courses, free build zones, boxfight arenas, and so much more.

You can even ask a friend to learn with you. You can do 1v1s, boxfights, or play in FFA maps. You don't need to get into actual matches until you are decent enough. Of course, matches are where you will be able to test your skills and learn more. But, until you can easily do 90s, some basic retakes, and are decent at boxfight, avoid matches.

Lastly, you don’t need to be a mechanical maniac to be good at build mode. Esports have shown us that even if you are decent at building, you can still compete just by being smarter than the other player.

Boxfight is a great example of this. If you can get good at boxfighting, which isn't that hard, you can still be very competitive and win matches.

Ultimately, Fortnite is a Battle Royale, so positioning and game sense will win you more matches than building skills.

Build Mode v Zero Build - The Final Comparison

At the end of the day, choosing which mode you play ultimately comes down to you.

If you are a complete beginner, then playing Zero Build is a better idea. It allows you to learn the fundamentals of the game, familiarize yourself with the map and the POIs, and figure out the weapons and the meta much more easily. There is also the Reload mode, which makes for great combat practice.

Plus, Zero Build is much more forgiving to new players and is easier to learn.

Only once you are familiar with the game should you attempt to learn and try building and the build mode.