Combat in any game can be scary for some players, especially when you don’t have much experience in combat-focused games like Fortnite. Add building and 99 other people in a match with you, and things can get hectic fast. Luckily, we got the chance to speak with pro Fortnite player Acorn, and he shared some of his tips on how to get better at combat in Fortnite.

How To Approach Combat

So how exactly do we approach combat in Fortnite? As mentioned previously, Fortnite is a very unique game that incorporates its building mechanic on top of all the action. With so much going on all at once, it can be confusing when trying to understand how it works. Acorn’s tip is to just play to improve, don’t think too much, and take it one game at a time.

Acorn: I feel like you always have to approach things with confidence. Especially when you are playing Ranked, you just have to play to improve. You shouldn’t overthink things. Play to improve, and don’t be afraid of dying.

He mentions that players shouldn’t be afraid of dying in games, which is a very important point to expand on. It’s always nice to hide away and live as long as you can during a game, but when you do this, you aren’t actually improving your skills much. Taking on fights as they come and getting rid of the fear of losing is a great way to get better at any game. Learn from your mistakes, and don’t overthink things too much.

When To Take The Offensive

So, when should players play aggressively in fights? There are several situations that players should look out for, and most of the time it comes down to playing the game more to get a feel for when a good time to go in is. A general rule of thumb is to look at your current situation. Did you crack their shield? Do you need loot? Is the enemy in a bad spot? Over time you will learn to notice these things subconsciously, so learning what to look out for now will speed up that process. However, when you are just starting out, it’s best to just take as many fights as you can. Get the experience, learn how to be aggressive, and fight as many people as you can.

Acorn: There are a bunch of situations where you have to be aggressive. Usually, it’s you who hits someone or cracks someone’s shield. That opens up a fight. In ranked, I just fight everyone, because I’m playing to improve. I don’t have to think twice. If I see someone, I just push them. At the end of the day, you just want to improve.

When To Play Defensive

On the contrary, when should players go passive and try and play defensively? Well, it’s pretty simple—if you are weak or do not have good items, it’s best to play back for a while and try to regain your footing. Now this does not mean hiding for the rest of the game. Just get back to a comfortable spot and then go back into the action. Always try and make sure the situation is as favorable for yourself as possible; if that means using 4 Shockwave Grenades to get away from the fight, then do that. Just be prepared to jump back in.

Acorn: When you are weak, you obviously don’t want to be aggressive. Usually, it just comes down to your judgment of the situation. Most pros are passive-aggressive. They’ll always try to be aggressive; they’ll never really commit to it unless they see an opening.

Conclusion

Combat in Fortnite comes down to experience and getting comfortable in aggressive and passive situations. Making sure to look for opportunities while not putting yourself in a bad situation is the key takeaway from this article. A huge thank you to Acorn for sitting down with us and sharing his knowledge and experience to help players get a better grasp on combat in Fortnite!