Fortnite: how to win without building

Fortnite has taken the world by storm since adding its free-to-play Battle Royale mode, and one of the reasons for this is its unique building mechanic. Allowing you to create cover from materials you’ve harvested within the match, building is a tricky system to get to grips with – so be sure to check out our guide on how to improve your Fortnite building skills.

For those looking to get their Victory Royale without constructing a single wall, know that it’s tough to do so – but not impossible. Read on for our tips on how to make the most of your firepower to take out those pesky enemies and their makeshift structures.

Of course, boiling Fortnite down to combat and negating building can make the following tips feel basic in nature – but they’ll keep you competitive if you’re just starting out, or help you towards a win without building if you’re looking to challenge yourself.

Are you feeling lucky, punk?

Tactical decisions in the Battle Royale genre begin before you’ve made the jump to the battlefield, and Fortnite is no different. When you’re on the battle bus, assess how confident you are when engaging enemies and pick your landing spot accordingly.

Landing into a populated area may be stressful, but if you’re lucky enough to find a decent weapon early enough, it can make a huge difference to your early-game confidence by getting a couple of early kills.

Similarly, there’s no shame in landing further afield – in one of the map’s less-populated areas. If you’re looking to loot up quickly and safely, this can be a great way to grab some weapons and items – although there’s not as many options as the larger towns. Just remember, when you’re further from the map’s centre, your looting time is more limited – especially if the storm closes elsewhere.

Know your arsenal

Fortnite’s tools of destruction are numerous, and many are suited to different play styles. Each weapon comes in various tiers of rarity, from common (white), uncommon (green), rare (blue), epic (purple) to legendary (gold).

Silenced weapons will help keep your location hidden, but for our money it’s a good idea to keep a shotgun handy – particularly the tactical or heavy varieties. These fire more quickly, and therefore allow more of a margin for error if you miss a couple of shots. Shotguns are ideal for close-range skirmishes, and they can be perfect for ambushes and negating them if an enemy gets the…