Learn about Heat Level in Fortnite & how to raise it

Heat Level is a new mechanic that incentivises aggressive playstyles, rewarding players for jumping into the action more. It has always been somewhat valid in battle royale games like Fortnite to make it down to the final ring by simply avoiding combat, but this new system might shake things up a bit. So, to find out what is Heat Level, alongside how to raise it, make sure to carry on reading down below.

What is Heat Level?

Heat Level in Fortnite is a meter that progressively builds as you get eliminations, and perform actions like answering Burner Phones or opening Vaults.

It is shown as part of the HUD in the top left of the screen, with four flame icons that will fill up as you complete actions like those found above. You will also get a message next to the flames letting you know when your Heat Level is increasing, so you can always tell when you're doing the 'right' thing.

Raising your Heat Level will give you various bonuses, like extra Gold Bars, faster movement, and passive healing. These can be helpful on their own, but they can also really give you the upper hand against your opponent in the final stages, and push you across the line to your next Victory Royale.

So, if you're the type of player that likes to avoid fights and wait it out you might want to switch up how you play as the numbers are likely going to be stacked against you. There are also some downsides you will have to consider though, so check out below for all of the details.

How to raise Heat Level & effects

As mentioned, raising Heat Level is a fairly straightforward process. You can do so by picking up eliminations, opening Vaults, and answering Burner Phones. Typically, it will take around five eliminations to jump to the next Heat Level, but you can track your progress by checking the meter in the top left.

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Here are the boosts that you will receive at all four Heat Levels in Fortnite:

• Level One
  • Eliminated enemies drop more Gold Bars.
• Level Two
  • Player movement speed increased by 15%, players can recover 100 HP outside of combat.
• Level Three
  • Player movement speed increased by 20%, players can recover 100 HP and 50 Shields outside of combat.
• Level Four
  • Player movement speed increased by 25%, players can recover 100 HP and 100 Shields outside of combat.

As you can see these bonuses are quite significant, giving you a huge advantage over an opponent that might not have the full set. When the final fights are dictated by the finest of margins, you should use all that you can get to gain the upper hand.

There are some downsides to avoiding making Heat Level too powerful in Fortnite though. First of all, every time you gain a Heat Level your location will be temporarily visible to other players, so you better get moving or you will be hunted down.

Furthermore, Cold Blooded AI will tend to be more aggressive toward players with high Heat Levels, so you will need to be extra careful around them if you do come into contact.

Are you desperate to find out how to fall 3 stories or more into a big bush in Fortnite? Check out our guide for all of the details.