Looking to increase your Fortnite: Battle Royale glossary and brush up on some Fortnite terms?
Fortnite: Battle Royale from Epic Games is a game best played with constant communication between teammates. While playing solo Fortnite can be fun, the essence of Fortnite is within its team mechanics, whether that be building bases, sharing loot, calling out enemy locations, or planning strategy. When playing Fortnite with others, communication is of utmost importance and to communicate well there are basic Fortnite terms and phrases everyone should know. Usually the teams that communicate best are the ones around in the endgame. There are a few basic terms that everyone should know that might not be so obvious when starting out the game.
Season 9 Update
Season 9 of Epic Games’ Fortnite: Battle Royale brought a myriad of changes—just like every other new season. With the addition of slip streams, and strongly experimenting with the shotgun meta, the game has evolved incredibly over the course of this season. The weapons and locations have changed drastically, and thus the phrases, slangs and community evolve with the changes. Since season 9 is almost over, it’s the perfect time for a Fortnite phrases and terms guide where we will cover the weapon, location and other slangs you may or may not know. Read on below to see how hardcore of a Fortnite gamer you are.
The 35 Essential Fortnite: Battle Royale Terms and Phrases Glossary
35. Cracked
What does cracked mean in Fortnite: Battle Royale?
In Fortnite, when you break an opponents shield you will hear a sound effect like breaking glass. Therefore, when a player says they cracked an enemy it likely means they have destroyed an enemy’s shield. The phrase “cracked” means that a player’s shield has been completely removed. Players may say “I cracked him/her,” meaning “I took off all of the player’s shield.” Alternatively, some players and streamers may use cracked to mean “really skilled” either jokingly or seriously. Some streamers may use the phrase “(s)he’s cracked” to compliment someone’s skill or sarcastically to make fun of their lack of still.
34. Full Send
What does full send mean in Fortnite: Battle Royale?
The phrase “full send” means to play 100 percent aggressively and to charge full force toward the enemy players. Fortnite gamers and many popular streamers will use the phrase full send to tell teammates to go in for the kill or to communicate that they are pushing the enemy.
33. (Reboot) Card
What are reboot cards in Fortnite: Battle Royale?
via polygon.com
With the release of Apex Legends early this year, Epic Games had another triple-A battle royale game to compete with. After an outcry from many players and prominent streamers for Fortnite to adopt the rebooting system from Apex Legends, Epic Games added reboot cards and reboot vans into the game.
How do you use the reboot cards in Fortnite?
Reboot cards will be dropped once teammates are eliminated. You will then have 90 seconds to pick up the reboot card before it expires and the player can no longer be rebooted. Once picked up, you can take however long you want to reboot the player. In order to reboot the player, you must pick up their card and go to a reboot van, of which there are 19 scattered throughout the map. There is one reboot van in every named map location. Simply approach the van and hold the action button to start the reboot. However, you cannot build around the van completely, so you will be open to enemy shots. Make sure the area is clear before starting a reboot.
32. Get Height / Take High
What does get height or take high mean in Fortnite: Battle Royale?
Fortnite is a game of building and a game of playing your angles. Once you get up to the intermediate to high levels of competition sometimes position is everything and that means high ground is king. It will always be easier for you to shoot down at someone running upwards than it is for someone to shoot up at you. Getting height or taking high means you are going to get the highest ground available above opponents. Sometimes signalling that you are taking high will tell your teammates to cover for you while you take the high ground. This is one of the more important Fortnite phrases that help coordinate team efforts in an intense match.
31. Turtling
What does turtling mean in Fortnite: Battle Royale?
Sometimes when players are low on health and shields, or are just afraid of taking a fight, they will build a box around themselves and hold down the build button for dear life. Hiding in a box like this is called turtling. Often players will tell teammates that an enemy is turtling as a signal to push the enemy together.
30. Tac
What does tac mean in Fortnite: Battle Royale?
Players may use the abbreviated term “tac” to mean tactical shotgun or the relatively new tactical assault rifle.
29. Storm Flip
What does the storm flip do in Fortnite: Battle Royale?
This is a new addition to the Fortnite items inventory. The storm flip is a projectile weapon much like stink grenades. Once thrown, a mini storm will start to expand from the point of impact until reaching its maximum radius. If caught in the mini storm, players will take damage to their health at the current storm level.
Alternatively, if you are caught in the actual storm, you can throw the storm flip and it will create a safe area where you will not take damage. Players don’t use the storm flips for this reason very often, but it’s a good way to buy time to use a medkit before trying to get out.
28. One by One (1×1)
What is a one by one in Fortnite: Battle Royale?
The Fortnite phrase “one by one” refers to a fort or structure built by players one square long and one square wide. This is the most common type of structure build in Fortnite to provide cover since it is relatively quick to build and doesn’t use up many materials.
27. Alien
What does alien mean in Fortnite: Battle Royale?
A recent Fortnite update brought sky platforms to various areas of the map. These platforms have four slip streams on each of its corners and are very convenient for covering a far distance without using jump pads. Since the platforms look like spaceships, many streamers refer to them as “alien”. If you here a player say “I’m landing on alien,” it means they are landing on the nearest sky platform.
26.White
What does white mean in Fortnite: Battle Royale?
Damage colors are among the more important Fortnite phrases in the game. When your shots connect with enemy players the amount of damage is shown with a colored number value. When the numbers are white, that means you are doing damage directly to the player’s health. When a teammate says “(number) white” or “(s)he’s white” they are telling you that the player has no shield and little health left, so it may be a good time to push or focus your fire.
25.Blue
What does blue high mean in Fortnite: Battle Royale?
When your damage counters show up in blue, that means you are damaging the enemy player’s shield. Again, this can tell teammates how strong or weak an opponent is. Likewise, white numbers show damage to the player’s health and yellow numbers signify headshots.
24. Explodes / ‘Splodes
What are explodes in Fortnite: Battle Royale?
In Fortnite there are numerous projectile explosive weapons. Explodes or ‘splodes simply refers to the explosive weapons in the game
23. Slip (stream)
What is the slip stream in Fortnite: Battle Royale?
Since the removal of portable rifts and the majority of the random rifts in the game, Epic has added slip streams to the game. Slip streams are circular tunnels of air that can launch a player upwards or downwards depending on where they aim. If a player says they see someone in the “slip (stream)”, be wary of incoming enemies.
22. Harry Pottered
What does Harry Pottered mean in Fortnite: Battle Royale?
One of the more humorous Fortnite phrases, Harry Pottered means to accidentally get yourself stuck in your own builds. In the timeless classic book and film series, Harry Potter used to live in a cupboard under the stairs. Therefore, more specifically, it is when you trap yourself under your own stairs.
21. Build Battle
What does build battle mean in Fortnite: Battle Royale?
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Streamer NickEh30 Taking High Ground
The aspect of Fortnite that separates it from other battle royale games is the building mechanic. While the building mechanic was originally meant for players to build their own cover, the building skills of players continued to rise to the point where half of the game involves building. A build battle is when two players try to build as fast as they can to gain high ground over the enemy. Once gaining high ground, players rain fire down on enemies trying to build up.
20. Sweat(s)
What does sweats mean in Fortnite: Battle Royale?
There are many Fortnite phrases used to make fun of players with low skill, sweats is one of the few Fortnite phrases for players who have high skill. When streamers say “(s)he’s a sweat” they mean (s)he will be difficult to deal with. When a game or lobby is sweaty it means that it is full of skilled players.
19. Western
Where is Western in Fortnite: Battle Royale?
Ironically, Western is the unnamed location in the southeast part of the map. It is called Western because it is made up of old school buildings in the desert akin to the wild west. Western is the small town area located between Lucky Landing and Paradise Palms in the southeast tip of the map.
18. Lasered / Beamed
What does lasered or beamed mean in Fortnite: Battle Royale?
Fortnite has a shooting element known as first-shot accuracy. When aiming and standing completely still, the first shot you shoot will always be 100% accurate and on target. When you shoot at a player and 3 or more shots hit with your first burst of firing, this is known as lasering or beaming the opponent.
17. Mansion
Where is the mansion in Fortnite: Battle Royale?
The mansion is the unnamed location at the furthest eastern edge of the map. It is located to the east of Lonely Lodge, between Lonely Lodge and The Racetrack.
16. Chug Splash
What is the chug splash in Fortnite: Battle Royale?
The newest healing item in the game, the chug splash comes in quantities of 2. While the chug splash only heals 20 points, it can be used to heal health or shield (whichever you are lacking). That amount may seem low, but the draw of the chug splash is that it can be used for your entire team, as long as everyone is within range of the splash. As well, the healing is instant, whereas the slurp juice heals gradually over time.
15. Viking
Where is viking in Fortnite: Battle Royale?
Viking is the unnamed mountain between Snobby Shores and Frosty Flights. It is one of the highest locations in the map and is called Viking due to it’s viking-like huts and perpetually snow-capped terrain.
14. Ending/Thirsting/Finishing
What does thirsting, ending, or finishing mean in Fortnite: Battle Royale?
These three terms are interchangeable, but thirsting is one of the most commonly said among them. Thirsting is when players deliberately eliminate downed enemies. Sometimes players do this just to secure the elimination and boost their stats. Other times, players may need the downed enemy’s materials or items. In competitive matches, it is a good idea to thirst downed enemies so that they cannot be revived by their teammates.
13. Aggro
What does aggro mean in Fortnite: Battle Royale?
While this term is not exclusive to Fortnite gamers, aggro means aggressive. Players may say “I’m going aggro,” which means they will full send or push enemy players aggressively.
12. Claw
What does claw mean in Fortnite: Battle Royale?
Claw or claw grip is a special way of holding your controller or mouse to allow for quicker gameplay. Many famous streamers “play claw”, such as Ghost Aydan who plays on PlayStation 4.
11. W-key
What does w-key mean in Fortnite: Battle Royale?
W-key or w-keying is a Fortnite term commonly used only on PC Fortnite or PC first person shooter games in general. Of course, the w key is used to move forward in almost every first person PC game. Thus, when a player says they are “w-keying” that means they are aggressively pushing forward until the enemy is eliminated or they are eliminated. The phrase is similar to full send or playing aggro.
10. Bush Campers
What are bush campers in Fortnite: Battle Royale?
While to the seasoned player this may sound too obvious to be on this list, beginners might not be so sure. That’s why it’s on the list of essential phrases in Fortnite!
Bush campers or bush camping refers to players who take cover and crouch within a bush. While the bush provides no defense whatsoever, it does provide camouflage and it’s quite difficult to notice players crouching in a bush from even a medium distance.
9. Knock(ed)
What does knocked mean in Fortnite?
Knocking an opponent means to knock an opponent down without fully eliminating them. Telling your teammates that you’ve knocked an opponent lets your team know that he or she wasn’t eliminated instantly so his teammates are likely still in the immediate area or are on their way.
Furthermore, letting your teammates know how many players from an enemy squad have been knocked tells them whether or not they should rush a shorthanded team. Knocked is a Fortnite term everyone uses and everyone should know.
8. Launch(ing)
What is a launch in Fortnite?
The Fortnite term “launching” refers to players using a launch pad. Telling your teammates that an opponent has launched tells them to look up at the sky for diving opponents. Some players may simply say “I have a launch”, meaning they have a launch pad.
Also players with a launch pad can use it to dive in to the next bubble if it’s too far away, or towards enemies you want to rush. Letting your teammates know you have a launch pad can help decide your strategy.
7. Mats
What are mats in Fortnite?
Mats is a Fortnite slang for materials, which obviously refers to wood, brick, and metal in the game. Teammates might ask you to share mats or “how are you on mats?” which refers to your wood, brick(stone), and metal levels. Sharing mats is an important part of the game, especially when you get closer to the end of the match when material levels can mean life or death. Mats is a Fortnite term everyone should remember and use.
6. Minis
What are minis in Fortnite?
A “mini” can refer to mini shields or miniguns, but more commonly refers to mini shields. Players can only use 2 mini shields to generate a maximum of 50% of their shield gauge.
Therefore sharing minis among teammates is very common and very important. Letting your teammates know you have a “mini” for them will tell them to approach you to get the shield potion.
5. One-shot
What does one-shot mean in Fortnite?
Another important Fortnite phrase or slang to remember is “one-shot”.
For example, if someone says “the enemy behind the tree is one-shot” means that the opponent is one shot away from being knocked down. This tells you teammates that the enemy player has no shield and very little health left. In general, player’s are one-shot when they have less than 40 health and no shields. Using this Fortnite term properly is important so your teammates can know whether or not to rush an opponent.
4. Shield Pop
What does shield pop mean in Fortnite?
Calling out a “shield pop” means that you have destroyed an opponent’s shield either partially or fully. Another way to say this is “cracked’, as in “I’ve cracked the enemy above me.” This not only tells teammates how weak an opponent is, but also how good their weapons and inventory might be. When you shoot an opponent’s shield and notice it was full to begin with, they likely have some good guns or other loot as well.
3. Storm Troopers
What are storm troopers in Fortnite?
No, this unfortunately has nothing to do with Star Wars. “Storm Troopers” refers to opponents who are within the storm or come out of the storm.
This is a derogatory Fortnite term, as it generally means players are hiding in the storm and are too scared to face players head-on. Don’t be a storm trooper!
2. The Bubble
What is the bubble in Fortnite?
The Bubble refers to the storm in the game or the force field which determines the playing area. Players may tell their teammates to start “moving toward the bubble”, or “let’s build in the last/final bubble”.
The final bubble refers to the last bubble created before the playing area disappears entirely.
1. Heals
What are heals in Fortnite?
When a teammate asks “do you have any heals?” they’re asking if you have any healing items, which generally refers to health points and not shields. Therefore, heals refer to bandages, med-kits, chug-jugs and even campfires or slurp potions. Sharing heals with your teammates can help ensure a victory royale! Some players will use “heals” to mean potions as well, so it’s best to let teammates know of your entire inventory.
How many of these Fortnite terms and slangs did you know? Let us and our readers know in the the comments below!