How to play Fortnite Ballistic, Fortnite’s first-person mode

Fortnite Ballistic is the newest addition to Fortnite’s arsenal of game modes, introducing a truly first-person mode.

Ballistic is not the same as the regular Battle Royale or Zero Build game modes and can be quite a change of pace for your average Fortnite gamer. Fans of the tactical first-person shooter genre will feel at home in Ballistic, but Fortnite Battle Royale players may need to take a little time to get used to the new mode.

Here’s everything you need to know about Fortnite Ballistic.

Fortnite Ballistic first-person mode rules, explained

Ballistic is an entirely different experience when compared to Battle Royale and Zero Build as the gameplay shifts to a first-person, 5-v-5 tactical shooter. Ballistic is currently in early access, so it is still subject to change.

There are two teams in Ballistic, the attackers and defenders. Attackers must successfully plant and detonate the Rift Point Device at one of the two sites on the map, while defenders must prevent the attackers from planting the device at all costs.

The round will end either when the Rift Point Device explodes or after every player on a team is eliminated, since there are no respawns in Ballistic. After six rounds, teams will swap sides and the roles will be reversed — attackers becoming defenders and vice versa. To win the game, a team needs seven total round wins.

There is currently one map available in the Ballistic early access — Skyline 10. Open up your map to see the entirety of Skyline 10 along with the names of each major location. Try to get familiar with these locations as someone on your team might call out that an enemy is at “Hotdog” or “Sushi,” and you don’t want to look in the wrong direction!

At the start of the game, you’ll need to choose one of five flex gadgets:

• Bubble shield — A temporary shield bubble that blocks bullets and projectiles.
• Frag grenade — Your regular grenade that will deal explosive damage in an area, but be careful as you can damage yourself with your own grenade.
• Impulse grenade — Similar to the impulse grenade in Battle Royale and Zero Build, this gadget will launch enemies and allies away.
• Recon grenade — Throw a grenade that will mark any detected enemies — even through walls.
• Proximity mine — An explosive trap that can be placed on the floor, wall, or ceiling.

After you’ve chosen your flex gadget, you’ll start the first round. All players will start with a Ranger Pistol and 800 credits, and you’ll enter the Buy Phase. During the Buy Phase, you can purchase guns, shields, and gadgets using your credits. You’ll earn more credits each round, but the amount you gain will change depending on if you won or lost, your eliminations, your survival, and if the device was planted. If you’re eliminated, all of your items will drop on the floor and they will not carry over to the next round. Try your best to survive or pick up items from fallen allies and enemies.

There are ten total weapons (including the Ranger Pistol) available in the shop. There are two shotguns, two submachine guns, three rifles, one pistol, and one sniper rifle.

Guns in Ballistic work a little differently than they do in Battle Royale. Ballistic’s guns have set recoil patterns and they’re not all the same. For example, the Nemesis AR will pull your aim up and to the left, while the Striker AR will go up and to the right. Make sure to account for recoil by pulling your aim down in a certain direction depending on which gun you’re using.

You can change your reticle settings in the “Reticle & Damage Feedback” options under Game UI to “Show Recoil (First Person)” which will show recoil by moving the reticle away from the center of the screen.

The shop also features shields, consumables, and your flex gadget. The shields will provide you with 25 additional health with each purchase. Flashbangs and smoke grenades can be used to limit your opponents (or your allies) vision for an easier entry to the sites. Lastly, your kit will feature your flex gadget, which was what you chose at the beginning of the game.

Fortnite Ballistic ranked rules

There are no major gameplay differences between ranked and unranked play, but you can freely leave unranked matches as players will backfill any empty spots. If you leave in a ranked match, you will be given a rank penalty and you won’t be able to join another match for a period of time.

Ranked Ballistic also matches you against opponents based on the average rank of your party instead of your party’s highest rated player like in Battle Royale. The amount of rating you’ll gain or lose will depend on your current rank, rounds won, rounds lost, eliminations, and assists.