The Voice – brought to you by The Page & Epistle

By: Henry Evans ’28

Ballistic is a new game mode on Fortnite that is gaining popularity. It’s similar to other popular games like Siege and Valorant. It’s a first-person 5v5 shooting game that requires fast decision-making and smart strategy. Fortnite has been expanding its game recently, and this mode introduces a first-person experience that’s really exciting.

Here’s how the game works: First, you load up. You can either play by yourself with random people or team up with your friends. When you load in, you get to choose from five unique personal items—like impulse grenades, frag grenades, recon grenades, shield bubbles, or proximity mines. These are specific to you and only one other person on the other team will have the same item.

In the first round, you start small. You can afford only a pistol and a shield—and maybe your personal item if you want. After that round, though, you can upgrade and pick between an assault rifle (AR), shotgun, or submachine gun (SMG). Choosing the right gun is super important. It’s essential to pick one that matches your playstyle because it can make or break your game.

Let’s hear from some experts (freshmen Nick Brennan and Luca Miller) about what loadouts and strategies they choose for Ballistic.

Now let’s talk about sides. There are two roles in this game: attackers and defenders. If you’re on the attacking team, your goal is to successfully plant and blow up the bomb. If you’re defending, you must stop the bomb from being planted—or, if it’s planted, you have to defuse it before it blows up. There are two bomb sites on each map, so defenders will usually split up to cover both spots.

When it comes to strategy, it depends on your role. If you’re defending, it’s recommended to stay at the bomb sites and wait for the attackers to come to you. If you’re attacking, it’s a good idea to push together as a team to try and catch the defenders off guard. Communication and teamwork are the keys to success.

With all this information, you’re on your way to becoming a Fortnite Ballistic pro. Whether you’re planting bombs or defusing them, this game mode is an awesome addition to Fortnite. So grab your loadout, plan your strategy, and jump into the action!