12 Best Fortnite Controller Tips To Close The Gap On Keyboard

Fortnite is a phenonemon no matter what platform it’s on. Hell, it would probably revitalise the Vita if it was ported, such is its pulling power. However, if you want to find the highest skill ceiling and come up against the best players, you’ll want to come up against PC opponents. While you may never be able to match PC and keyboard players in terms of sheer speed of inputs, these Fortnite PS4 and Xbox One  controller tips will help you to close the gap.

Bear in mind that these aren’t gospel and are rather basic just to help you out with a controller in hand. However, if you’re constantly coming up against trouble and could do with a nudge in the right direction, these tips for Fortnite on console could make the difference. Some of them are obvious and may not be suitable for older Fortnite players, but if you’re brand new to the bewildering battle royale experience, here’s what you need to embrace.

 

The Best Fortnite Controller Tips

1. Builder Pro
The first thing you should do when you start playing Fortnite on console is to switch your configuration to Builder Pro. This allows you to build structures extremely quickly by pressing anyone of the four bumper buttons. It takes a little while for muscle memory to kick in, but the pain is worth the reward. Combine it with turbo building and you will be able to build a 1×1 in seconds.

2. Turn your sensitivity up
Fortnite’s default building sensitivity on PS4 and Xbox One with a controller is beyond lethargic. Slowly cranking it up until it’s anywhere between 7 and 8 is a good idea as it will allow you to build quicker and also react more swiftly to being shot right in the back, which is wonderfully common in Fortnite. It will take a little while to get used to, but try to learn “flicks” on the sticks to line up properly with opponents and you’ll find yourself becoming a far better shot. Don’t forget, however, that you can now have different sensitivity settings for building, shooting, and general movement.

3. Press instead of hold to interact
Whoever decided this was to be a part of every game in the world needs to be jettisoned into space. Holding down a button to interact with an item is a pain that just slows you down; you’ll want to turn that off immediately. This becomes useful in Fortnite for when you are going for a chest at the same time as someone else. While they panic and spam the button, you only need to press it once. It’s also easy to cancel if you need to back out quickly.

4. Practice building
A very general Fortnite controller tip this, but one that feels particularly pertinent when talking about console. There’s a tighter skill gap on console than PC, meaning that most engagements come down to the tiniest of details. Take the time to work on your building by dropping on Wailing Woods or Lonely Lodge, farming a load of wood, and then using Builder Pro and your higher sensitivity to build some neat things as quickly as you can.

5. Turn off auto aim for editing
A strange decision from Epic, this. Typically, if you go to edit a structure you’ve placed, the cursor will automatically try to veer itself towards a certain square. It may be useful for when you’re starting out, but it’s actually hindrance the more you play and the better you get. Turn it off and freely edit doors and openings in your walls to get out quicker than ever and turn the tide of an engagement.

6. Organise your inventory
The thing that will get you killed the quickest is not organising your Fortnite inventory and especially on console. You can’t individually select an item or bind a specific one to an input, you instead have to press your way through it until you find what you need. Don’t make the mistake of having your healing right next to your shotgun when you actually want to bring out your SMG. A solid inventory layout: assault rifle > shotgun > SMG > sniper/explosives > heals.

7. Check out a Scuf
Now, unless you eat, sleep and breathe Fortnite, spending over a hundred dollars on just a controller might seem a tad ridiculous. However, if you have the money spare and want to get as close to possible to the keyboard experience, you ought to check out a Scuf. These customisable controllers allow you to choose back paddles for inputs, which is two more than a standard DualShock or Xbox controller. Nickmercs uses one and he is a monster.

8. Dive into the LTMs
Not that console-centric a Fortnite tip this one, but still one that can get you acclimated with the fundamentals in a low-stakes way. 50v50 (when it’s available) tends to attract other less than stellar players and with so many resources and weapons to be found, it’s a good place to practice the basics without worrying about your stats being forever ruined. Just don’t expect your teammates to do a damn thing to help you out, though. Don’t also overlook Team Rumble, which lets you respawn and is a great place to farm those challenges.

9. Find the right ADS sensitivity
A simple one this, but a Fortnite tip definitely worth following. ADS (aim down sights) sensitivity determines how responsively your sticks react to movement while aiming. By increasing the level, you increase your freedom of movement. It takes a little while to get used to, but Fortnite is one of those games where practice makes perfect. If you turn off (the generally unreliable) auto aim as well, you will have a far better understanding about how ADS works and be able to switch targets much faster.

10. Auto sprint
You might take a while to get used to this, but it really is worthwhile for you to turn on auto sprint if you’re using a controller. This will allow you to build and get to that all-important high ground much quicker, and it’s also ideal if you’re shielding yourself with a ramp or pyramid above you; it allows you to edit and then run through those builds much quicker. To go slower, simply press the stick forward a little less.

11. Remap your edit button and change your delay
Keyboard will almost always have the upper hand over controller when it comes to editing as you have a an input delay on controller. However, when Epic allowed custom button inputs for Fortnite, that all changed. We would highly recommend that you change your edit button to the left stick — especially as you already have auto sprint on — and remove all input delay. You will be editing walls like a madman in no time at all.

12. Automatically assign heals to the right
There’s no reason why you shouldn’t have this one on already if you’re a Fortnite controller player as it saves you fiddling. Jump into your setting and find where it allows you to sort your consumables to the right and activate it immediately. Meds, Shields, etc will all now be at the end of your inventory to stop you from swapping to your heals when you mean to get out your shotgun.

13. Get Creative
Practice makes perfect, which is why we have to see that if you want to get better with building and editing in Fortnite with a controller, you’re going to have to drop into Creative and put the hours in. There are countless Creative islands out there dedicated to helping you practice and practice until you feel properly comfortable enough to take anyone one, so stop blaming everything else and get grinding.

Want more of a helping hand with the game? We have a collection of really straightforward beginner’s tips, as well as some suggestions on how to become the best Fortnite builder you can be. If you need to know how to pick between a SCAR and a Tactical AR, we’ve also covered the best Fortnite weapons.