I’m too old for all of that wild, fast-paced building that Fortnite has nowadays. I have no clue how some people flick their wrist and build a mansion in seconds. That’s why I love Zero Build.
Whenever I hop back on Fortnite to check out a new update or skin, it’s in the Zero Build mode, which up until now has just been a battle royale variant without the ability to build walls and ramps. With today’s update, though, Zero Build has become its own big, beautiful monster that’s the most fun I’ve had on the game in quite some time.
Today’s Act 3 update for Chapter 7, Season 2 introduced new items inspired by Overwatch and its heroes, but the most substantial changes came in Zero Build. As a fan of the mode, I couldn’t be happier with how it feels after a few games this morning. And I hope that it all sticks around after this “experiment” that will run through the end of season two.
There are a lot of differences between Zero Build and Battle Royale mode now. In ZB, you now start with a pistol, shield, and a new mechanic called a Pocket Item. This new addition in your inventory is bound by default to the Build button, and it includes utility items like the Shockwave Grenade, MediMist, and Shield Bubble, and they have unlimited usage on a cooldown timer. The item you spawn with can be swapped out for a different one at any vending machine.
Instead of having to land and scramble for loot without the protection of buildable walls, you can now immediately fight with your pistol or use a Pocket Item to defend yourself. In the past, without building, you would basically be dead to rights if caught out of position, but now there’s way more flexibility in the gameplay.
Speaking of flexibility, ZB has also added the ability to both redeploy or cut your glider. You can jump from a high area and then glide again, but you can cut your glider at any time to fall to the ground. And therein lies another big change: fall damage will no longer down you (also in normal BR mode).
If you take lethal fall damage, you will instead enter a lengthy “splat” animation and stand back up with low HP. It’s risky, but if you’re in a rush and trying to escape or relocate, it may just save your life in-game. Options are always a good thing.
To be honest, though, I think the biggest and most important change (for me personally) is that you now have unlimited stamina while holding your pickaxe. Thank GOD. Ever since Fortnite’s massive update a few years back that added stamina and new running animations, I would routinely get frustrated by having to manage the resource meter and end up huffing and puffing while chasing down friends or foes. Now I just whip out my pickaxe and run like the old days. It’s glorious.
I definitely don’t play Fortnite as much as I used to, but it’s nice to know that my favorite mode in it is changing and improving. I hope it sticks around past season two, and given the early feedback, it seems I’m not alone in liking it this much, so we have a chance.
