Building in Fortnite is a crucial skill for any player aiming to get the upper hand in battle. Whether you’re looking to protect yourself, outmaneuver opponents, or gain the high ground, knowing how to build properly can make all the difference. This guide will take you through basic to medium-level building techniques that you can use in actual gameplay.

1. Understanding Crosshair Placement

Before diving into building, you need to understand crosshair placement. Your crosshair determines where your builds will place. For example, when placing cones and floors, where you aim will decide if the build places above or below you. Cones, in particular, can place farther away from you, which is useful in many situations. Additionally, you can place walls above and below you—this is essential for executing advanced techniques like “high walls.”

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2. Ramp Rushing and Building Up

Ramp Rushing is the most basic technique you’ll use at the start of a build fight. Here’s how you can improve it:

1. Ramp Rush: Start by placing ramps to build upwards.
2. Add Extra Builds: To make it harder for the enemy to shoot you out, add walls behind your ramps and floors underneath. This makes it harder for your opponent to disrupt your momentum.

Best Order: Ramp → Floor → Wall

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3. 90s: Fast Way to Gain High Ground

Once you’ve mastered ramp rushing, it’s time to learn 90s. 90s are fast, efficient, and are the best way to gain high ground quickly.

1. Perform the 90: Place walls and floors under you while ramping upwards and then turn to the side to place ramps.
2. Prevent Shots from Above: If an enemy is above you, you can block the angles by placing walls to the side (right or left) before jumping onto the ramp.
3. Infinite 90s: Jump twice to perform 90s, but once you experience jump fatigue (after two jumps), skip the jump on the third 90. Position yourself on the back of the ramp to avoid the jump.

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4. The Thwefo Cone and Front-Side Thwefo Cone

The Thwefo Cone is a powerful move that involves placing walls behind you and a cone above them. Here’s how to master it:

1. Place Walls Behind You: Start by placing walls behind your ramp.
2. Place the Cone: Use your crosshair placement to ensure the cone places properly above the walls.

Front-Side Thwefo Cone: This is useful when you’re rushing an opponent and they get above you. You can place a cone in front of you to block their angle and regain control.

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5. Single, Double, and Triple Edits

Editing is another essential skill for quick maneuvering and outsmarting your opponent. Here’s how to practice edits:

1. Single Edit: Practice editing through floors, cones, and walls quickly.
2. Double Edit: Once you master single edits, combine two edits at once.
3. Triple Edit: Add a third edit for faster plays in high-pressure situations. This is especially useful when you’re rushing an opponent on high ground.

Tip: Confirm Edit on Release: If you’re using the confirm edit on release option, try pressing the edit and select buttons simultaneously to increase your edit speed.

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6. High Walls: Blocking Your Opponent’s Vision

The High Wall technique is useful when pushing or building up:

1. Place High Walls: While building up on a ramp, place walls above to block your opponent’s sight. This helps you build up without being shot at from above.

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7. Side Jumps

Side jumps allow you to quickly change positions in battle and evade shots. This technique can be tricky, but with enough practice, it’s invaluable.

1. Basic Side Jump: Jump around a cone and land on a floor. From there, you can continue to ramp upwards.
2. Elevated Side Jumps: This technique allows you to land on top of a ramp instead of just on the floor. This puts you one layer higher, giving you an advantage.
3. Advanced Side Jump: Place the floor first and then the ramp to land on the correct spot.

Tip: You can make your side jumps safer by placing walls through the cone before jumping.

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8. Tunneling: Creating Safe Spaces

Tunneling is used when you’re boxed in and need to create extra layers of protection. Here’s how to execute a basic tunnel:

1. Place Floors and Walls: Place floors in front of you and walls around you.
2. Edit the Front Wall: Edit through the front wall to move forward and create more layers for safety.

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9. Boxing an Opponent

Boxing is a great way to trap an opponent and gain control. Here’s how to box effectively:

1. Place a Window: Edit a window in your wall.
2. Place Cones: Place cones above and below your opponent to trap them.
3. Walls: Place walls on the sides to seal them in.

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10. High Ground Retakes: Gaining Control

High ground retakes are crucial for reclaiming the high ground during a fight. Here’s how to execute some basic high ground retakes:

1. 180 High Ground Retake: Place ramps above and below you, add a cone on top, and perform a 180 turn. This can help you regain height quickly.
2. 180 with Ramp and Cone: Perform a 180 turn and place a ramp and cone facing the opposite direction to block your opponent’s view.

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11. Medium-Level Retakes

Once you’ve mastered the basics, it’s time to move on to medium-level retakes. These techniques will help you outsmart opponents and keep them guessing.

1. Side Jump High Wall: Perform a side jump while placing walls upwards in mid-air. Land on the floor and build a ramp.
2. Side Jump into 180: This is a fast way to gain high ground and catch your opponent off guard. Be careful if they anticipate it.
3. Cone Flipping: Edit a cone and place a wall, then flip the cone to land on top. This is a reliable method for gaining high ground.

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Final Thoughts

Building in Fortnite is all about practice and muscle memory. Mastering these techniques will give you an edge over your opponents and make you a formidable player in build fights. Keep practicing these techniques, and soon you’ll be able to combine them and adjust your strategies in real-time to outplay your enemies.