How to Change to a Different Character in Fortnite

How to Change to a Different Character in Fortnite

by

Fortnite’s vibrant universe isn’t just about building, battling, and Victory Royales—it’s also a platform for self-expression. With thousands of unique character skins, back bling, emotes, and accessories, players can customize their in-game persona to reflect their style, fandom, or mood. Whether you’re a new player confused about swapping outfits or a veteran looking to master advanced customization, this 2000-word guide will walk you through everything you need to know about changing your character in Fortnite.

Understanding Fortnite “Characters”

In Fortnite, your “character” is defined by your skin (outfit), which can be paired with additional cosmetics like back bling (backpacks), harvesting tools (pickaxes), gliders, emotes, and wraps (weapon skins). These items are purely cosmetic and don’t affect gameplay, but they allow players to stand out in the lobby and on the battlefield.

Key Terms:

  • Skin: The primary outfit or character model (e.g., Peely, Renegade Raider).
  • Back Bling: Decorative backpacks or accessories.
  • Harvesting Tool: Pickaxes used to gather materials.
  • Wrap: Weapon or vehicle skins.
  • Emote: Dance moves or gestures.

Part 1: How to Change Your Skin (Character)

Your skin is the core of your character’s appearance. Here’s how to equip different outfits:

Step 1: Access Your Locker

  1. From the Fortnite lobby, navigate to the Locker tab (wardrobe icon) at the top of the screen.
  2. Select the Character slot (first icon on the left).

Step 2: Choose a Skin

  1. Scroll through your owned skins using the left/right triggers (controller) or mouse.
  2. Select the skin you want to equip.

Pro Tip:

  • Use the Shuffle feature to randomize your skin every match.
  • Create Presets (up to 100) to save favorite combinations of skins and accessories.

Step 3: Confirm and Save

  1. Press Confirm to apply the skin.
  2. Your new character will appear in the lobby and in-game.

Part 2: Unlocking New Skins

To change your character, you first need to own multiple skins. Here’s how to acquire them:

Method 1: Purchase from the Item Shop

The Item Shop rotates daily, offering rare and exclusive skins for V-Bucks (Fortnite’s currency).

Steps:

  1. Go to the Item Shop tab in the lobby.
  2. Browse the Featured or Daily sections.
  3. Select a skin and purchase it with V-Bucks.

Cost:

  • Common skins: 800 V-Bucks.
  • Legendary skins: 2,000 V-Bucks.
  • Bundles: Up to 2,500 V-Bucks (includes skins, back bling, and tools).

Method 2: Earn Skins via the Battle Pass

The Battle Pass (950 V-Bucks) unlocks 100+ tiers of rewards, including exclusive skins.

Steps:

  1. Purchase the Battle Pass from the Battle Pass tab.
  2. Complete challenges to earn XP and tier up.
  3. Unlock skins like the Secret Skin (season-specific) and bonus variants (e.g., gold or chrome styles).

Pro Tip:

  • The Battle Pass pays for itself by rewarding 1,500 V-Bucks as you progress.

Method 3: Redeem Promotional Codes

Some skins are tied to real-world purchases (e.g., Fortnite x Marvel collaborations).

Steps:

  1. Buy a qualifying product (e.g., a Fortnite-themed controller or action figure).
  2. Redeem the code at fortnite.com/redeem.
  3. The skin will appear in your Locker.

Method 4: Participate in Events

Limited-time events (e.g., Fortnitemares, Winterfest) often reward free skins for completing challenges.

Example:

  • Winterfest 2022: Players unlocked the “Snowmando” skin by opening daily presents.

Part 3: Advanced Customization

Beyond skins, Fortnite lets you personalize every part of your character’s look.

Back Bling

  1. In the Locker, select the Back Bling slot (second icon).
  2. Choose from unlocked backpacks, wings, or props.

Pro Tip: Some skins have built-in back bling (e.g., Drift’s cape).

Harvesting Tools

  1. Select the Pickaxe slot (third icon).
  2. Equip a tool that matches your skin’s theme (e.g., Leviathan Axe for Kratos).

Gliders

  1. Navigate to the Glider slot (fourth icon).
  2. Choose a glider for dramatic entrances (e.g., the “Feathers Fly” umbrella).

Emotes

  1. Go to the Emote Wheel (fifth icon).
  2. Assign up to 6 emotes for quick use in-game.

Note: Emotes can be triggered by pressing the corresponding directional pad button (controller) or keybind (PC).

Wraps

  1. Select the Wrap slot (sixth icon).
  2. Apply skins to weapons, vehicles, and even the Battle Bus.

Part 4: Using Super Styles and Editable Skins

Some Battle Pass skins unlock Super Styles (alternate color schemes) and Editable Styles (customizable features).

Unlocking Super Styles

  1. Reach Tier 100 in the Battle Pass.
  2. Complete bonus XP challenges to unlock gold, prismatic, or holographic variants.

Editing Skins

  1. In the Locker, select a skin with an Edit Style option (e.g., Maya from Chapter 2).
  2. Customize features like hairstyle, tattoos, and armor.

Note: Once edited, these styles are permanent.

Part 5: Cross-Platform Customization

Your Locker syncs across all platforms linked to your Epic Games account.

Steps to Sync:

  1. Log into Fortnite on any device (PlayStation, Xbox, PC, etc.).
  2. Ensure your Epic account is linked to all platforms.
  3. All owned cosmetics will be available everywhere.

Exception:

  • Platform-exclusive skins (e.g., PlayStation’s “Blue Team Leader”) are only usable on their native platform.

Part 6: Troubleshooting Skin Issues

Issue 1: Skin Not Showing Up

  • Solution:
    • Restart Fortnite.
    • Check your internet connection.
    • Verify the skin isn’t platform-exclusive.

Issue 2: Purchase Not Processing

  • Solution:
    • Contact Epic Games Support at Epic Help.
    • Ensure your payment method is valid.

Issue 3: Missing Battle Pass Skins

  • Solution:
    • Complete all required challenges.
    • Wait 24 hours for server delays.

Part 7: Rare and Exclusive Skins

Some skins are highly sought after due to rarity or limited availability.

Icon Series Skins

  • Based on real-life celebrities (e.g., Marshmello, Ariana Grande).
  • Available in the Item Shop during promotions.

Founder’s Skins

  • Rewards for players who bought Fortnite: Save the World before 2020 (e.g., “War Paint”).

Seasonal Exclusives

  • Skins like “Renegade Raider” (Season 1) or “Black Knight” (Season 2) will never return.

Part 8: Managing Your Locker

With thousands of cosmetics, organizing your Locker is key.

Favoriting Items

  1. Hover over a cosmetic and press the Favorite button (star icon).
  2. Filter favorites in the Locker for quick access.

Archive Unused Items

  1. Go to the Archive tab in the Locker.
  2. Hide skins or emotes you no longer use.

Part 9: Creative Mode Customization

In Creative Mode, you can experiment with skins without affecting your Battle Royale locker.

Steps:

  1. Launch Creative Mode from the Discover tab.
  2. Use the Phone Tool to change skins mid-game.

Part 10: Future of Fortnite Skins

Epic Games continues to innovate with skins:

  • Interactive Skins: Outfits that react to in-game actions (e.g., “Guff” changing expressions).
  • Collabs: Upcoming partnerships with franchises like Star Wars and Dragon Ball.
  • NFT Skins: Rumored digital collectibles (not yet confirmed).

Conclusion

Changing your character in Fortnite is a gateway to expressing your personality and staying fresh in the metaverse. Whether you’re rocking a banana suit as Peely or intimidating foes as the fearsome Thanos, mastering the Locker ensures you’ll always stand out. By following this guide, you’ve learned how to unlock, customize, and troubleshoot skins like a pro.

Final Tips:

  • Save V-Bucks for limited-time collabs.
  • Check the Item Shop daily at 7 PM ET for new drops.
  • Join Fortnite communities to track rare skin releases.

Leave a Comment