Fortnite: 10 Best Tips for Beginners 2026

With how much the map has changed, the mechanics, characters, and skins added, even those who joined Fortnite when it released in July 2017 might find some new strategies useful. Every new season and chapter brings with it exciting ways to outsmart the competition.

And so, really, the crown is for the taking by anyone willing to try new things. In our article today, we go over the latest Fortnite: best tips for beginners in 2025 that will set you up for success against the most skilled players. 

10. Try Out Different Ways of Play

Source: Fortnite

Fortnite is most famous for its battle royale game mode. But even within it, there are several ways of play. There’s the standard way of collecting resources, building covers and high ground, and defeating all opponents to claim the last player standing honor. You can do this solo or in teams, leaning on your squad’s diverse skills and abilities.

However, Zero Build modes exist for players who want to scavenge and fight only. Alternatively, you can try out the story-driven Save the World mode or the Creative and LEGO Fortnite options. Festival is fun, too, as is Rocket Racing, all bringing their own unique spice to the Fortnite universe.

9. Be Smart in When and Where You Drop off the Battle Bus

With the Battle Bus hovering above the Fortnite island, it can be tricky knowing when and where to drop on the map, as both are deeply strategic in your chances of winning. Hot spots flood too quickly, so it’s best to avoid them.

Instead, you’ll want to drop off later when others have already left the Battle Bus. And as you land, you’ll want to look out for remote places that are named for higher chances of finding loot. 

8. Pay Attention to Audio Clues

You’ll be surprised how dependable the audio clues can be in Fortnite. Something like approaching footsteps of an enemy can be heard clearly through a decent pair of headphones. Meanwhile, gunshots are always a reliable indicator of trouble nearby.

These audio clues are so clear that they can even tell you the direction of the enemy and their numbers. In the same vein, you don’t want to alert enemies to your presence, which you can do by sneaking up on opponents when crouching. 

7. Collect Healing Items: Shield Potions, Bandages, Medkits, etc.

The next Fortnite: best tips for beginners is health, specifically having supplies on your person. Anytime you come across medkits and bandages, stock up. Shield potions, in particular, replenish more of your health. They, however, take up more inventory space. So, you might want to gobble them up the moment you spot them. 

6. Learn the Map

Maps have been evolving in Fortnite, and across all versions, the most skilled players thoroughly study the layouts, locations, landmarks, terrains, and so on. These inform hotspots holding the best weapons and supplies. They inform high ground and natural cover like trees and hills, as well as pinning down the best sightlines for snipers. Practical tools to use during play are the mini-map, which shows the storm circle, and the compass.

5. Collect Resources and Master Building

Can you really win Fortnite without mastering building? And so, the next Fortnite: best tips for beginners is collecting resources for building. Your pickaxe can just about farm anything: wood, stone, and metal, though it makes noise, alerting enemies to your location.

And with acquired supplies, you can build almost anything: campfires, walls, stairs, and entire buildings. These are pretty handy for quick cover and tower defense.

4. Be Smart About Constructing

Still, you have to be smart about building. In the early stages, quick, makeshift walls for cover make sense. Later, more complex buildings can provide fortified defenses. Creative mode can help enhance your building speed. Meanwhile, you can build on top of existing structures for larger-scale defenses. And this is how some players even build skyscrapers.

Overall, construction is how you gain vantage points, access hard-to-reach resources, and survive against intense gunfights. Keeping in mind also that opponents can destroy your defenses with rockets and all. 

3. Teamwork Often Makes the Dream Work

And here’s where teamwork comes in: splitting roles so you’re not overwhelmed. It’s also more fun playing with friends in up to four-player teams. With more hands, you can collect more supplies and build more impressive defenses. You can coordinate attacks on enemies, but also protect and heal one another.

This is obviously practical with constant communication. Your teammates can be your eyes and ears, spotting enemies, planning escapes, and managing resources. It might be dreadful communicating with random online players, but ultimately, being on the same page via the in-game text or voice chat or Discord will work for your team’s success.

2. Find the Best Weapons for Your Playstyle

Not all the weapons in Fortnite are powerful and dependable in intense encounters. However, assault rifles, as with the best FPS games, tend to have a fast and accurate aim. Still, you want a versatile loadout, including a powerful shotgun for melee shots and a sniper for long-range combat.

Also, Fortnite often adds new weapons via consistent updates. So, do keep track of the latest guns. Since every gamer plays differently, you’ll want to scavenge and test out your loot before settling into a go-to weapon loadout.

1. Learn from the Best

The truth is, there’ll likely be a better player out there, or one who teaches you something new. And so, it’s advisable to watch other players, learning how they navigate the map. Perhaps via playthrough videos, but even watching an ongoing match after you’ve died. In squad play, your sticking around can be motivating to your teammates, while also learning a thing or two.

If you’re struggling with scavenging, watching live matches can clue you in on hotspots. You might also learn the Fortnite: best tips for beginners for mastering building. So much fun is had building all sorts of fun houses and fortresses that you can then implement in your next run.