Fortnite OG is back, and this time Epic has stated that it is staying for an extended period. So as next year goes on, Fortnite OG is going to be updated, rolling out each season as it was back in the day. With this classic game mode, new players might not know what to expect from the original map, item pool, mechanics, etc. Lucky for you, we got you covered! This article is going to be your crash course on Fortnite OG.
Players asked for it, and it’s back. Fortnite OG has returned to all its glory as an alternative game mode with its own ranked ladder and all. However, some players might not know what the original game was like. Whether it’s been a while for you and you're rusty, you’re a new player and have never experienced a game like this, or you’re returning to the game for the sole purpose of the OG game mode, don’t worry. We are going to break down the basics from the OG map to the weapon pool to the old mechanics. After this read, you are going to be equipped with the tools to hop into your next game of Fortnite OG and dominate.
The original Chapter 1, Season 1 map is as basic as you can get when it comes to any Fortnite map. Moisty Mire, Anarchy Acres, Lonely Lodge—all these classic locations to land at that some players may have never seen. At the time of writing this article, Tilted Towers hasn’t even been added to the game yet. So where should you land on the OG map?
Now depending on the type of player you are, where you’ll want to land on the map will change. For a more aggressive player who enjoys taking early game fights, Salty Springs, Dusty Depot, and Retail Row are going to be your best bets for the earliest game action. However, if you prefer a slower early game and want to take your time looting and making a loadout, places along the edge of the map like Flush Factory, Moisty Mire, and Wailing Woods will be better for you. Also keep in mind that depending on the path of the Battle Bus, the number of players landing in a certain area is subject to change, so keep your eyes peeled!
One thing you may immediately notice when you jump into a game of OG is that there really aren’t a lot of weapons to choose from. Now, just like the map, as time goes on and Epic starts rolling out more seasons for the OG game mode, there will be more weapons added to the game. However, as of right now, the choice of weapons is slim. Don’t be fooled by the lack of weapons, though; sometimes the simpler the choices, the better, and the weapons in this season are not really that different from others.
You can make a very impactful loadout with the weapons in Fortnite OG, it just takes some time to get used to the options. For example, the pump shotgun is extremely powerful. One shot to the head can send players to the lobby. Combining this with an SMG to follow up in close-range encounters, just like in any other season of Fortnite, can still be very strong. The assault rifle is also a very powerful weapon still. If you have good aim with this classic weapon, you can do some serious damage from a distance, especially if you have the Epic or Legendary version of the gun. So, while the weapon pool is a bit limited compared to other seasons, the gameplay carries over from the future seasons that you might be used to.
This point is extremely important to keep in mind when you are playing OG Fortnite. As of right now, there are only four healing and shielding items in the game: bandages, med kits, shield potions, and Slurp Juice. That’s right - minis weren’t added until a bit later, and the Chug Jug wasn’t added until season 2. So, when you are looting an area, it’s best to make sure you have some space for some healing or shield items, because they can be hard to come by later in the game when the Storm is closing in and there is limited space. Even holding on to some bandages if you have room can make all the difference, so don’t neglect the healing that is available to you.
As mentioned earlier, the pump shotgun is an extremely powerful weapon, but what if I told you that you could double the damage that the gun does? You have probably heard of the double pump before but have never used (or been killed by) it before, since it was only a mechanic in the earliest seasons of Fortnite. Well, to stay true to Fortnite OG, Epic has bought back the double-pump mechanic for Fortnite OG Chapter 1 Season 1 (as updates roll out, however, there is the possibility of this being taken out of the game again)
So how does the double pump work? It’s simple. In early Fortnite, shotguns didn’t have a cooldown (the little ring you see around the crosshair when you pull out another shotgun after firing one), so you could rapidly fire two pump shotguns by having two in your inventory and swapping between them after firing. This does an insane amount of damage in a short period of time, so mastering it in OG Fortnite gives you a big advantage. One tip for making the double-pump mechanic easier if you play with a mouse and keyboard is binding two of your inventory slots to your side mouse buttons if your mouse has them. This makes swapping between the guns way more convenient since you can do all the work with just your thumb instead.
The return of Fortnite OG is exciting for a lot of players. Whether it is pure nostalgia, you enjoy the game more from this time, or you are trying it out for the first time, OG Fortnite is a fun experience for all players to enjoy. As this next year goes on, keep an eye out for updates to the OG map and gameplay, since Chapter 1 seasons are going to be released in the coming months of 2025.
