Close-quarters combat in Fortnite demands precision, timing, and nerve. While most players rely on bullets and bows, mastering eliminations without ranged weapons turns raw reflexes and clever positioning into your deadliest tools. Here’s how to dominate the battlefield up close.
The first is to target a single player right away, dropping after them and chasing them down. Once they land, just beat them with your pickaxe and hopefully you’ll win the duel. This will work on unsuspecting players, but if they drop directly on a gun, that’ll pose a problem.
The second way is to aim for an AFK player by waiting until the bus forces everyone out. Follow any players that fall straight down, as they’re probably not loaded in or AFK. Once they get on the ground, hit them with your pickaxe.
The third way is to just use a Shockwave Hammer, which does a good chunk of damage. This can be kind of hard, as you won’t want to use the hammer’s ability to launch you into the air. You do just need to hammer them down with the regular attack, which can be a rough matchup against a gun-using player.
The fourth way to do this is to just fight with guns and drop them once the player you’re squaring off against gets low and hit them with the hammer or your pickaxe. It’s not super elegant, but it’ll work if you’re fast enough.
Best melee weapons besides pickaxe and Shockwave Hammer
In Fortnite Battle Royale, top melee weapons beyond the pickaxe and Shockwave Hammer emphasize mobility, combo damage, and knockback for close-quarters eliminations.
Top Picks
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Kinetic Blade: Katana with a dash attack for 60 damage and high-ground gains; spam slashes (35 damage each) after closing gaps.
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Typhoon Blade: Fast katana flurry strikes plus Cyclone Slash (90 damage, sends foes flying)-ideal near edges.
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Nitro Fists: Punch combos build 3x damage multipliers; air dashes and structure-breaking slams excel for aggressive brawls.
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Grapple Blade: Hooks enemies for pulls (10+ damage) while enabling traversal and melee swings.
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Infinity Blade: Mythic sword with massive strikes, speed/health buffs, and elim rewards-lethal but rare.
Comparison Table
| Weapon | Damage Style | Mobility Perk | Best Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kinetic Blade | Slash (35/hit) | Forward dash (60) | High-ground rushes |
| Typhoon Blade | Flurry + cyclone | Knockback launch | Cliff/edge fights |
| Nitro Fists | Punch combo | Air punches | Structure breaking |
| Grapple Blade | Hook + swing | Enemy grapples | Pulling isolated foes |
| Infinity Blade | Heavy strikes | Speed/health boost | Solo carry potential |
Prioritize loot drops or chests in high-traffic areas; pair with sprint dashes for surprise attacks.
How to get Kinetic Blade and Grapple Blade in Fortnite
Kinetic Blade is obtained as floor loot, from chests, or rare spawns around high-traffic POIs like Mega City or train stations in past seasons (e.g., Chapter 4 Season 2 and Chapter 5 Season 1), though it’s currently vaulted in standard Battle Royale modes as of Update v34.00-check Blitz Royale or limited-time modes for potential returns.
Grapple Blade drops as uncommon ground loot or in chests across the map, with higher chances in Chapter 5 Season 1 hotspots like Rebel Roost or train tunnels; it’s relatively rare (4 charges, recharges over time) and was more common early in that season but may be rotated out now.
Acquisition Tips
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Loot Hot Drops: Land at named locations (e.g., Mega City for Kinetic Blade, Rebel Roost for Grapple Blade) and open every chest-guaranteed spawns were noted near dojos or specific buildings.
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Player Downs: Eliminate opponents in duels or busy areas, as they often drop these upon elimination.
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Mode-Specific: Both appear more frequently in Blitz Royale (Kinetic Blade added recently) or past LTMs; verify current loot pool via in-game updates.
Availability rotates with seasons, so confirm in your match’s loot pool-pair with mobility for best results.
