Fortnite: Controller vs Keyboard

Introduction

Fortnite is one of those competitive games where KBM (which is the abbreviation for keyboard and mouse) and Controller share the same competitive platform. But when you have two different input schemes competing on the same stage, you are bound to run into some balancing issues. Fortnite also ran into its balancing struggle during the early days when aim assist was quite overpowered, but currently, the game has reached a place where both inputs are quite balanced and have their own strengths and weaknesses. If you are planning to play Fortnite competitively, your input method is a decision that you will have to make. So, here is an honest comparison between the two.

Keyboard And Mouse

The biggest strength of keyboard and mouse is limitless customization and the number of inputs. You only have so many buttons and triggers on a controller. On a keyboard, there are tons of binds that you can have for different things that are just not possible on a controller. The Mouse Wheel Reset bind is a very good example of this. 

Secondly, the keyboard is also more versatile in the way you can customize your binds.  A good example of this is how inventory works on both inputs. On KBM, you can set each inventory slot on a different button (like 1,2,3,4,5, for example). On the controller, you have to switch between each inventory slot to get to the one you want. That’s why controller players often set their inventory in a way that they can get to the important slots (Shotgun or AR) quickly. 

Lastly, it becomes hard for an average controller player to shuffle between aiming, gun swapping, and building smoothly because of the layout of the controller. The way to fix this is either learn claw (which most pros end up doing) or buy a controller with back paddles, which aren’t cheap.

Aiming is also something that can be talked about, but it’s not something as concrete, and there is a layer of personal preference to it. Someone who has played shooters all their life on a controller will argue that it’s easier to aim on a controller than on a mouse and vice versa. Although one valid point is that with a mouse you have your full wrist or arm for movement, giving you more precision, whereas on a controller you do everything with your thumb. But, again, that comes down to personal preference and what you are comfortable with.

Controller

The biggest strength of a controller is movement and aim assist. 

On KBM, you only have “WASD” for movement, and when you want to move diagonally, you can only do so by pressing two directional keys together, which does give you diagonal movement, but it’s linear. 

On a controller, you have an analog stick that has more precise movement inputs. A good way to explain this would be to look at a game like Rocket League where the controller is dominant because it gives you that precise movement that you need to move your car. The same concept applies to Fortnite. With an analog stick, you have better control over how you move, and that impacts your positioning. 

Controller players are able to look in one direction with their crosshair while moving in the other. Fortnite has added the “Custom Diagonals” to help KBM achieve that movement, but it’s still not as good as controller. 

The second is aim assist, and this is a bit of a unique one. Firstly, aim assist isn’t as strong as it used to be. But it’s still there, and here is why it matters. For an average controller player, the aim assist can only do so much. But, with a pro, the case is different. A pro controller player can still aim really well without aim assist, but when you add that aim assist, it pushes their aim to even higher levels. A controller pro doesn’t need to be 100% accurate to land a headshot; they can get to 80-90% easily, and aim assist helps with the rest.

This is why you see controller players often have a really aggressive playstyle. Because, in a 50/50 situation, that aim assist can help them land a clean headshot.

What Does The Data Say?

At ProSettings, we have the setup and settings data of some of Fortnite’s biggest pros, including both KBM and Controller players. Among our list of ~300 pros, about 11.25% are controller players, with the rest being KBM pros.

However, it should be noted that, even if KBM players outnumber controller players, that doesn’t mean the controller is at a disadvantage competitively. It only shows quantity, not quality. The truth of the matter is that all of these 11.25% can go toe-to-toe with any KBM players. This 11.25% includes names like Reet, t3eny, Mero, and Curve, all of whom have played and won at the biggest Fortnite events. 

Because the truth is that your choice of input only affects your mechanical ability in the game. Things like knowledge of the game’s mechanics, reading the storms, and general gamesense do not depend on whether you aim with a mouse or an analog stick. 

The Deciding Factor = You

The great thing about Fortnite is that both inputs are pretty much close in terms of competitive balance. A pro controller player can go toe-to-toe against a pro KBM player. 

A good comparison would be Peterbot (a renowned KBM player) and Reet (an elite controller player) going head-to-head in a 1v1. Here is the entire 1v1, and if you watch, you will notice that in terms of mechanics, both players are equally matched. 

This means that KBM and controller players are mechanically equal. The difference usually comes down to gamesense and strategy. In a duel between two equally skilled mechanical players, the smarter one usually wins. 

So, when it comes to picking an input, go with the one that you have the most experience with. Most controller players often come from consoles and then move to PCs to compete. And most KBM players started on PC and just stuck to what they were comfortable with, and that’s pretty much the answer. 

Even if you pick KBM because of its customization, if you do not have experience playing shooters on it, you will struggle a lot. Similarly, if you pick a controller because of aim assist or movement, you won’t be able to utilize that strength if you are not comfortable with it.

Whatever platform you choose, you can be really good mechanically just by putting hours in. The differentiating thing will be gamesense and how smart you play.