If you’re struggling at Fortnite, it can help to have a better understanding of the structure of a game. A game of Battle Royale (in my case always Zero Build) can be divided into three distinct phases.
The initial drop
As you start with only a pickaxe and no shields, the goal of this first phase is to land in a good spot and avoid contact with other players until you’ve been able to build a basic loadout that gives you an advantage in the early encounters. I prefer to drop a bit later, as spots at the beginning of the Battle Bus trajectory are often quite busy. Chests are usually located in and around building, so don’t drop into open areas where there’s no loot and no cover. If you want to load up quickly and have the gold bars to spare, you can drop near characters that sell stuff (and often give you free medkits or shield potions) or vending machines, but be prepared to run into other players here.
Be smart in using shield potions – mini potions can’t get you past 50 shields, so make sure to use them first before drinking big potions or destroying slurp juice barrels. The exception to this is if you have no mini potions and expect enemy contact shortly.
Make sure to enable the “Visualize sound effects” option. This makes it much easier to find chests, especially those hidden behind walls and roofs. You’ll also “hear” the footsteps of other players at a bigger distance.
At the end of this phase, you should have full shields, a weapons loadout that is suitable for engagements at different distances, and possibly a few spare healing/shield items, if you came across them. I’ve seen players that almost completely fill their inventory slots with weapons, but I usually stick to three weapons, leaving slots for healing and shields.
The mid game
After loading up, the storm will force you to get moving, unless you dropped in the center of the map. I like to play aggressively in this phase, actively searching confrontations when I hear/see firefights nearby. Hitting players that are busy with a fight is the easiest way to get kills. Make sure to search favorable positions, i.e. the high ground. An aggressive stance here lets you take out players now in favorable conditions at your own choosing instead of the rush of the end game. This will also let you pick up the ammo and loot that others have gathered at a point in the game where they are useful to you. The loot that you pick up in this phase should be good enough to carry you through the end game.
This phase is also the right time to do quests, if you are so inclined. I like doing quests because they give a sense of direction, and provide XP to allow you to level up quicker.
The main danger in this phase, besides simply losing in a firefight, is being attacked in the rear while being preoccupied with another fight. This is why tactical movement is important. Try to have some cover behind you. A popular approach is to stay close to the storm circle, as it is very unlikely that you’ll be attacked from the direction of the storm. This can however mean that you’ll have to race at some point to avoid being caught by the storm. It’s also Ok to run away from unfavorable engagements, find cover and restore health and shields. There’s no point in getting killed after being surprised when running away can save you. The goal is to end this phase at full and shields, good weapons, and possibly a few strong healing items.
The end game
This phase starts when the storm circle becomes smaller and the number of remaining players has dropped to around 10 players. At this point, it becomes more difficult to control engagements, as the small storm circle means that other players are always nearby. This is a phase where a bit of camping is valid in my opinion when you are in a favorable spot with cover and a good view. Having claimed a forecast tower can help with providing knowledge about where you have to move to next. Being involved in multiple firefights at single-digit player counts usually doesn’t end well, as it’s difficult to find a good spot and time to restore health and shields.
The final fights can be very frantic as you dodge both bullets and the storm. Having the high ground and your back covered can be a massive benefit. Weapon choice is also very important. I’ve ended up being #2 often enough due to being late with switching to a shotgun, or on the contrary using a shotgun at a range where an assault rifle would have done more damage.
The end game is certainly the phase in which luck plays the biggest role, so don’t feel depressed when you struggle to get a win. In the end, remember that it’s just a game.