Fortnite Guide and how to secure a Victory Royale

Fortnite guide
(Image credit: Epic Games)

Fortnite has established itself over the years as the undisputed champion of the battle royale genre, both in terms of hype and its enormous player numbers, which means there are still millions of players regularly competing to outlast all others and claim a coveted Victory Royale. With a recent switch to a new chapter we've now embarked on a fresh storyline, while new mechanics introduced are helping to keep the game feeling fresh for regular players.

With so many updates launching regularly, we've assembled this Fortnite guide to help you keep track of everything. We've got a full selection of walkthroughs and explainers, so whether you want to know how to complete quests, what weapons are available, where to find characters, or something completely different, you'll find the answers in this complete Fortnite guide.

Fortnite Battle Royale guides

If you're looking for help with Fortnite then you've come to the right place. We've spent hundreds of hours exploring the island, experimenting with tactics, and solving quests to bring you a definitive selection of Fortnite guides, covering all the information you'll need to fight your way to a Victory Royale.

Chapter 5

Fortnite Chapter 5 Season 1 characters

(Image credit: Epic Games)

At the time of writing we're currently in Season 1 of Fortnite Chapter 5, and after going back to the beginning for the previous short Fortnite Season OG everything has changed once again. There's a whole new island to explore and lots of new mechanics to get to grips with – we've covered the most significant changes in this guide. In addition to those updates in the Battle Royale, there are also some fresh experiences to check out, so we have separate guides available to explain the Lego Fortnite adventure and the rhythm-action Fortnite Festival.

Patch Notes

Fortnite

(Image credit: Epic Games)

The game is updating on a regular basis, so if you want to keep up on the latest developments you should follow our Fortnite patch notes guide and always be aware of what's new and what will be coming next.

Live Event

Fortnite live event

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Fortnite has become well known for its spectacular end of season showdowns and other live extravaganzas, so keep an eye out for details of the next big Fortnite live event.

Are the servers down?

Is Fortnite down?

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If you're having trouble loading the game or connecting to a match, then you may be asking is Fortnite down? We've got all the information on how to check, so you can find out exactly when things will be up and running again. We also have a rundown of what the Fortnite error codes mean, should you see any.

Tips

Fortnite Victory Royale

(Image credit: Epic Games)

If you're new to the Fortnite battle royale then you may be looking for some pointers to get started, or if you're a more experienced player then perhaps you'd like to top up your existing knowledge. Either way, we've got advice on how to play Fortnite to get you started, along with a set of Fortnite tips for all the things you should know before playing.

Map

Fortnite Chapter 5 Season 1 landscape with train

(Image credit: Epic Games)

The Fortnite map has received a complete overhaul for Chapter 5, moving to a brand new island with a whole set of fresh locations to visit. Currently, around half of the island is covered in snow and ice, running in a curve from the northwest through the northeast and down to the southeast – it will be interesting to see if this melts as we progress through the seasons in 2024.

Quests

Fortnite Quests in Chapter 5 Season 1

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Fortnite quests can still be accessed through the menu, where you'll find the usual daily Match Quests, Weekly Quests, and Milestones Quests with significant targets to hit which should keep you occupied throughout the season.

Characters

Fortnite Characters – Steelsight

(Image credit: Epic Games)

The island is populated by a cast of Fortnite characters, who are NPCs you can interact with to initiate a variety of activities. Fortnite gold bars can be spent with them, to purchase items and services offered by the characters. Characters no longer offer Fortnite bounties, so you'll need to get those from bounty boards.

Weapons

Fortnite Chapter 5 Season 1 new weapons

(Image credit: Epic Games)

The pool of weapons available in Chapter 5 has been revised once again, but we've got details of all the Fortnite new weapons you can pick up in the game, including any returning from the vault. You can also purchase weapons from certain Fortnite vending machines, and once you have them you can improve them using Fortnite Weapon Mods benches and find already upgraded guns by opening a Fortnite Weapon Case.

Augments

Fortnite Augments

(Image credit: Epic Games)

Fortnite Augments can give you a significant boost during a match, by unlocking special powers or providing you with bonus weapons and items. At the time of writing in Chapter 5 Augments are currently disabled, but they are marked as "coming soon!" so they should be back in the near future.

Victory Crown

Fortnite Victory Crown

(Image credit: Epic Games)

There are two ways to get hold of a Fortnite Victory Crown – either win a Victory Royale, or eliminate another player who is wearing one. Carrying the Crown makes it easier for your enemies to spot you, but if you win with it in your possession then you'll secure a Crowned Victory Royale and receive a special emote to show off your achievement.

Survivor Medals

Fortnite Survivor Medals Prized Llamas

(Image credit: Epic Games)

Fortnite Survivor Medals are awarded for outlasting a set number of players during the battle royale, while also getting at least one elimination along the way. As you work your way up through the challenges, you'll unlock special Prized Llama back blings that you can equip to show off your achievements.

Llamas

Fortnite llama locations

(Image credit: Epic Games)

If you're lucky enough to spot a llama piñata during a match then make a beeline to grab it, as they're super rare and contain lots of useful items and resources. They've also come to life now, so you'll have to chase them and deal as much damage as possible before they teleport away! For more information on these elusive llamas and what they contain, visit our Fortnite llamas locations guide.

2FA Two-Factor Authentication

Fortnite 2FA

It's a sad fact of life on the internet that there will always be bad people trying to steal your information, and Fortnite is not immune from this. If you want to keep your Epic account (and your V-Bucks) safe then make sure you enable Fortnite 2FA – turning on Two-Factor Authentication will also reward you with the epic Boogie Down emote, so it's a win-win situation.

How to enable cross platform matches

Fortnite Chapter 3 Season 2

(Image credit: Epic Games)

If you're wondering how to enable cross platform Fortnite matches, then we can help. Did you know it's possible to play with absolutely anyone else on Fortnite, no matter what platform they're on? Xbox can play with PlayStation, PC can play with Android, and everything in-between. Our guide explains how you can make that happen.

link Fortnite and Twitch accounts

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If you want to earn special items for your locker by watching certain streamed events then you'll need to know how to link Fortnite and Twitch accounts, and we've got all the information on what you need to do.

How to level up fast

How to level up fast in Fortnite

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If you want to keep unlocking rewards from the Battle Pass, then knowing how to level up fast in Fortnite will help you get the required XP quicker.

How many people play?

how many people play Fortnite

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It's one of life's biggest mysteries, but we've actually got an answer to how many people play Fortnite. You'll have to read the full article to find out, but spoiler: there's a lot of them.

How to get free V-Bucks

free Fortnite V-Bucks

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Everyone wants to know how to get free Fortnite V-Bucks, as the in-game currency will unlock new emotes, outfits, wraps, and more. If you're looking for a route to some cheap V-Bucks as well, then the latest Fortnite Starter Pack offers the best value for money.

Similar games

games like Fortnite

(Image credit: EA)

Perhaps after all of that you're starting to feel a bit of Fortnite fatigue, and are looking for a different challenge? If that's case, we've picked out a selection of games like Fortnite you could try instead.

Fortnite Save the World guide

With all the hype surrounding Fortnite Battle Royale, it's easy to forget that there's a whole other PvE game available in Fortnite Save The World. Although Epic have repeatedly stated that this mode will become free to play at some point, for the time being you'll have to invest in a Founder's Pack if you want early access. For those playing right now, here's some help for fighting off the zombie hordes.

Save The World Tips

Fortnite Save the World tips

Fortnite Save the World features a whole host of layered menus, systems, and meta-game content, which aren't fully explained by the in-game tutorials and can seem overwhelming, so we've broken things down to make it more manageable. If you're playing the PvE mode then you should check out our Fortnite Save the World tips for hints on how to survive, thrive, and win.

Iain Wilson
Guides Editor

Iain originally joined Future in 2012 to write guides for CVG, PSM3, and Xbox World, before moving on to join GamesRadar in 2013 as Guides Editor. His words have also appeared in OPM, OXM, PC Gamer, GamesMaster, and SFX. He is better known to many as ‘Mr Trophy’, due to his slightly unhealthy obsession with amassing intangible PlayStation silverware, and he now has over 500 Platinum pots weighing down the shelves of his virtual award cabinet. He does not care for Xbox Achievements.

With contributions from