How to Hit Opponents With a Melee Weapon in Fortnite

To complete the Avatar Elements quests in Fortnite, you’ll need to become a master of all elements. Part of your training includes getting up and personal with your opponents by using a melee weapon. What counts as a melee weapon? Here’s what you need to know.

What Is a Melee Weapon in Fortnite Chapter 5 Season 2?

The confusing part of this particular quest is what counts as a ‘melee’ weapon. Almost all the weapons we use are guns and don’t count as melee. However, every player actually has a melee weapon available to them already — their Pickaxe.

While other weapons in the past counted as melee, like the Infinity Blade or, even more recently, Hades Whip, they are temporarily unavailable at this point in the season. Using your Pickaxe is the best way to complete this quest as of right now.

How to Hit an Opponent With a Melee Weapon

To use your Pickaxe to hit an opponent, press Y, Triangle, or F to switch to it in your Quickbar. If you don’t have any weapons or items in your Quickbar currently, you will already have it equipped by default. This is, in most cases, when you’re first landing from the Battle Bus.

All Pickaxes work the same and deal the same damage despite their appearance. With your Pickaxe in hand, you can press or hold RT/R2 or M1 to swing it. You’ll have to be up close with your target to make contact with them. To complete the quest, all you need is to make one hit on them. After that one hit, you can make a run for it, or if you think you stand a chance, you can go for the whole Pickaxe elimination.

Best Time to Use a Melee Weapon

The best time to use a melee weapon is when you’re first dropping out of the Battle Bus. Everyone will be limited to Pickaxe only before picking up loot. If you want to get this challenge done in the easiest way possible without risking your life, you’ll strike when you have the most excellent chance for survival, and that’s when everyone is vulnerable.

The best drops to aim for are either hot drop spots where you know there will be lots of targets or more secluded areas where you know there will be less loot for your enemies to grab. Surprisingly, I had the most luck at the Elemental Shrines, especially the Air Shrine, because it doesn’t have damaging attacks.

Watch your enemies around you as you drop from the bus. Using on-screen noise detection helps pinpoint their locations much more easily. Then, try to fall right on top of another player so you can hit them before they pick up any weapons. You’ll need to hit four players with your melee weapon to finish the quest, so keep following this pattern to finish it in no time.

Want some more tips and tricks like this? Check out GameSkinny’s Fortnite hub!