Fortnite can seem like a daunting game to just pick up and play. With the map constantly changing, tons of weapons to keep track of, and managing the Storm as the game goes on, some people might be turned away from the game as it may seem too difficult. However, as difficult as it may seem, the game is actually very simple at its core, and anyone can jump in and have a good time. If this is your first time playing Fortnite, or you just started playing, stick around, because here we are going to go over all the basics in Fortnite so you can jump one step ahead of the curve.

How Is Fortnite Played?

Fortnite is a battle royale game, which means players (typically 100) will be fighting against each other over the course of a match until there is one left standing, almost like a huge single elimination king of the hill. The game starts with all the players on the Battle Bus flight on a set path over the map. Players will then jump out of the Battle Bus and land at locations scattered around the map. Most of the time, locations closest to the path of the bus are popular, and the farther ones will have fewer players.

Once players land, the objective of the game is to start looting locations for loot either scattered across the ground or in chests. There are a variety of items to choose from and create a loadout with, including weapons, healing consumables, utility, and much more, depending on the item pool. Building a good loadout will give you the best odds at eliminating other players and surviving. After a brief delay at the beginning of the match, the storm circle will appear on the map. You must rotate to and remain inside of this circle to win the game! The storm closes in throughout the course of the game, damaging anyone caught inside. As the game progresses, the storm will start to deal more and more damage.

Build or Zero-Build

In Fortnite there are two main game modes to choose from: Build and Zero-Build. These modes are exactly what the names suggest: Build mode is the original Fortnite game mode, equipping players with four premade structures to build using materials that they harvest throughout the game. These structures are walls, ramps, floors, and pyramids. These builds are a core part of the gameplay of Fortnite, allowing players to pull off some truly impressive feats.

Zero-Build mode is exactly what you might expect. It’s the exact same game as build mode, just with, well, no builds! To make up for the lack of cover you can give yourself in a fight, Zero-Build gives players an additional free rechargeable 50 shield. This gives players the opportunity to make plays or find cover during a fight. Everything else remains the same. The same weapons, maps, storm interactions, and all the other aspects of gameplay are identical in Zero-Build mode.

Now Which One Should You Play?

Now you might ask yourself which game mode someone should play as a complete beginner. Truthfully, whichever one you want. While Zero-Build mode is easier than Build mode, it really comes down to your personal enjoyment of both modes. A lot of the time, players use the Zero-Build game mod to get a feel for the game and how it works, then slowly hop into Build mode after a while.

There are also several community custom maps made by players to help you practice the skills you need in both modes. So don’t worry about which mode is “harder” than the other. The most important thing is to hop into which one you want to play the most, so you can get a feel for how the game is played.

Some Helpful Tips For New Players

Now that you’re familiar with the objective of the game as well as some game modes let’s look over some tips and information that new players should be aware of when playing Fortnite.

Find a Single Place to Land Every Game

Finding one location you like to land at every game will give you a good feeling about how the game is meant to progress. Looting, rotating, and taking fights is how the game is supposed to move on, so finding one familiar location to practice this at will be good for players starting out. As you get familiar with the map, you can start adding locations and eventually land wherever you want. It’s just good to get a feel for things in one familiar spot when you are starting out.

Understanding Item Rarities

Items come in different rarities in Fortnite. There are five base rarities that are all associated with color. These rarities are common (grey), uncommon (green), rare (blue), epic (purple), and legendary (orange/gold). There will also be some additional rarities in the game depending on the season and the item pool, but that’s not as important as understanding these rarities. Depending on the item, the rarity will impact it in different ways. On weapons, a rarer version of a gun will mean it deals slightly more damage, so read the item description in your inventory if you need to.

Creating a Loadout

While a lot of loadouts will come down to preference, there are some that are better than others. When you are starting out, though, it’s more important to follow a basic guideline rather than look for specific weapons or items. If you are unsure of what a good loadout consists of, a good rule of thumb is to get three weapons (typically covering short, medium, and long range), a healing or shielding item, and a utility item. This checklist will help you get the feeling for what a good loadout feels like, and as you play more, you can get more creative with how you like to make loadouts!

Understanding the Storm

While we briefly went over it earlier, there are some more things you should know about the Storm. The path of the Storm is completely random each game; however, despite this, it’s very easy to react to where the Storm is going if you pay close attention. Now it can be easy to get distracted by trying to get kills or looting areas, but if you are brand new to the game, making sure you rotate to the next Storm circle is very important. So, when you see a new circle appear, take note of how far away it is and plan accordingly! The last thing you want is to get caught in the Storm when you aren’t paying attention to the map.

Fighting Other Players

Fighting other players can be a scary task for new players, especially since the whole point of the game is to survive, right? Well, one thing that is important to understand is that you can always hop in another match when you die! You see, that’s the beauty of Fortnite: since the matches are so low commitment, you can always immediately queue up for another game. It’s important to take fights and learn how to deal with certain situations through trial and error. So don’t be afraid to take a shot if you see someone. Learning from these situations is how you get better after all!

Conclusion

Fortnite is meant to be a fun, high-action battle royale that anyone can enjoy no matter what skill level. Beginners might see high-level players and streamers and think to themselves that they are not good enough to play. That is simply not the case, though! Everyone must start somewhere, and Fortnite is a great game to pick up at any time! So don’t feel discouraged; use the tips and information from this article to get your foot in the door, and you will be on your way to getting better at Fortnite in no time!