Getting a strong start right out of the gate in Fortnite heavily depends on how fast you can touch down from the Battle Bus. Landing fast in Fortnite allows you to quickly find weapons and loot to help you gain an early advantage over slower opponents. The speed of your descent is influenced by several factors, and there are a few things players can do to land faster in Fortnite Battle Royale. Follow the tips in this guide to learn how to land faster in Fortnite and be among the first to land in each match.
How to Land Faster in Fortnite Battle Royale
When jumping from the Battle Bus in Fortnite, you may notice some players swiftly speeding past you toward their landing zone. Landing faster in Fortnite requires a good understanding the game’s skydiving mechanics, as well as a bit of finesse. Knowing when to deploy your Glider or Umbrella is also crucial for landing fast in Fortnite.
The game won’t explain how to land faster, so it’s up to you to learn how to speed up your landing time during your descent. Below you’ll find several tips to help you land faster in Fortnite and get a jump on your opponents.
Wait to Deploy Your Glider or Umbrella
Upon jumping from the Battle Bus in Fortnite, you can either skydive toward your target location or deploy your Glider/Umbrella to slowly drift toward the ground. Both Gliders and Umbrellas are functionally the same, so one isn’t faster than the other. There’s also no way to enhance your Glider beyond cosmetic upgrades.
Skydiving is much faster than gliding, so it’s best to skydive for as long as possible. Obviously, if you are trying to land faster in Fortnite, you’ll want to avoid deploying your Glider too early, as this will cause you to slow down your descent.
As soon as you jump from the Battle Bus, you’ll want to begin skydiving toward the ground, pressing down and forward to speed up your descent. Once you get close enough to the ground, your Glider will automatically deploy, so it’s important to make the most of your skydiving time if you want to land faster in Fortnite.
Glide in at an Angle
When you first start playing Fortnite Battle Royale, you may be tempted to jump from the Battle Bus as soon as it hovers over where you intend to land. However, since your Glider will deploy automatically when you reach a certain distance from the ground, you’ll notice that gliding straight down directly from above a target feels much slower than gliding in at an angle.
The best way to minimize the Glider’s slow drop is to approach your target location at an angle rather than dropping straight down directly from above. When your Glider deploys, you should be able to land somewhat faster by coming in diagonally towards your landing zone, at roughly a 45-degree angle from your target. This takes practice, so keep trying and eventually you’ll get a feel for how sharp of an angle you need to come in at for the fastest landing.
Avoid Tall Buildings and High Terrain
When trying to land faster in Fortnite, it may seem intuitive to try landing on a tall mountain or building in order to land sooner. This can be a useful tactic in some cases, depending on if there’s something valuable to be had as soon as you touch down, such as floor loot or a bullseye target.
However, it’s generally better to avoid landing on high terrain or tall buildings if you want to land faster in Fortnite, as this causes your Glider or Umbrella to deploy earlier. While you’re slowly dropping onto a tall object or high terrain, another player may still be skydiving toward the ground for a faster landing.
Again, the choice is yours, as sometimes gliding in early allows you to quickly grab loot that you spotted from the sky. Just make sure to choose your landing spot wisely when using this tactic, otherwise you may be cut short on precious skydiving time.
All in all, the general idea behind landing faster in Fortnite is to approach your target landing zone at an angle to maximize your skydiving time and reduce the amount of slow gliding you have to do on descent. Follow these tips and you’ll be able to land faster in Fortnite and get ahead of your opponents.
Choosing a good landing spot is just as important as knowing how to land fast. Head over to our guide on the best places to land in Fortnite to have better odds of finding rare weapons and loot right from the start. For more Fortnite tips and tricks, be sure to visit our Fortnite Battle Royale Guide Hub.
