Mastering Fortnite: How to Get the Ultimate Victory Royale, the L

If you’re an avid Fortnite player, you’ve probably heard of the infamous “Take the L” emote. But what does it really mean in the world of Fortnite?

In this article, we’ll break down the meaning of “Take the L,” how to perform the emote, and the different variations available. We’ll also discuss how to use the emote effectively, common misconceptions about it, and some tips for incorporating it into your gameplay.

So, grab your controller, and let’s dive into the world of “Take the L” in Fortnite!

What Does “Take the L” Mean in Fortnite?

“Take the L” originated in early 2010s street slang to mean taking a loss or experiencing a defeat. This concept fortuitously worked its way into Fortnite under a different name, although the original definition of the slang take the L is still sometimes applied in the game context by players. The most popular solo victory dance in Fortnite by this name combines the player moving two fingers each to the left-and-right in front of their head and sometimes doing a half-skip, half-strut walk.

Players most commonly perform the Take the L dance subsequent to eliminating another player in a braggadocio manner to indicate that the ex-victim met defeat. They also frequently utilize it when camping or after successfully evading assassination attempts while moving along the battlefield. Even when their character has been removed and they are watching the remainder of the game in spectator mode, they spam the Take the L dance to tease or taunt the one who took them out or to revel in their narrow escapes. Most of Fortnite’s TAKE THE L moments are not spontaneous celebrations of excellence, as is common in NFL touchdown celebrations. It is instead used perversely as a possessive claim as if to say “I took their life so completely and humiliatingly that they must spend their last moments wallowing in their defeat.” A great summary appears in the lyrics of Thomas The Tunk Engine: HAHA Take the L.

The website Dictionary.com references Fortnite under their entry for the phrase take an L and writes …take the L serves as a sort of digital trophy and badge of honor, visually embodying false humility as a player pretends not to promote themselves with a real competitive loss or blunder. This is why using the Take the L dance moves is so well-known. Despite this definition, interest in whether Take the L is a rare Fortnite dance is high according to Google Trends.

How to Perform the “Take the L” Emote?

Choose the Take the L emote from your emote inventory using the corresponding hotkey or keystrokes. The Take the L emote can be purchased from the item shop or only acquired through leveling up the Battle Pass tiers of Season 3 of Chapter 1 and as a result is only available to those who purchased it before it expired (though there is now a second version of the emote simply branded “L”) with one of these three passes.

Step 1: Equip the “Take the L” Emote

Take the L emote is one of the most popular emotes in Fortnite, as it is playful dancing for when you are besting an opponent in a gunfight. To perform the emote, go to the Locker section by clicking on a primary category item on the home screen. Within the chosen category, click on the emote icon to see the available emotes, including Take the L. Click on the equipped Torso slot item Emote and navigate to the Take the L emote or any emote that has already been purchased. Press Select to assign the lieder to the selected key.

Step 2: Find a Suitable Spot

Take your time to find a suitable spot for where you can lose strategically in Fortnite. Fade has five top recommended places to take a loss in Fortnite. The Arena is the last place most likely to rub you of the wrong way, even if players can be quite good. Rickety Rig gets bad players often and has good loot, but be prepared for a few teams moving rapidly toward you. MahaarHibato in the northwest corner of the map. This is the least known of the Fortnite POIs with a huge amount of loot. It is possible that most of the players in the match will not even cross paths with you. The center of the IO’s underground base will have numerous chests and can confuse weaker players. Camp Cod is an area at the northern tip of the Fortnite map. It is challenging to fight in due to the rocky terrain.

Sunny Steps in the southeast past the edge of Shifty Shafts on the map. It has a lot of treasure chests, but the disadvantage is that it is far from the center of the safe zone. Lairs of villains under the main hatches are a good spot for lower level teams to build their own loot. Some lava hopping needs to be done and solid gameplay can take you there from the end of the first jump which is not particularly challenging with a wide area to let children run around.

Step 3: Press the Assigned Emote Key

Once you have the Loser Dance Emote equipped, press your assigned Emote key/button to perform the dance. The default assigned hotkey for emote in Fortnite PC is the B key. Alternatively, click on the emote icon on the screen or access them from the lower right wheel (which is the default on console versions). You must wait till the end of the match to press the emote key/button and perform the dance if you want it to be noticed.

What Are the Different Variations of the “Take the L” Emote?

The variations of the Take the L emote in Fortnite are his original 2018 dance, the alien-style Take the L dance introduced in Chapter 2, Season 7 in a series of three emotes (a Lean and’Take the L, The Spice Must Roll, and the Take the ‘L Reloaded’), or the stick figure Take the L gaming spray from a prior season Battle Pass.

The Take the L dance reappeared in Chapter 2, Season 7 on the Fortnite loading screen to support the storyline. The Take the L emote is not available for purchase right now in the item shop and it is uncertain when or if it will return. The last known appearance of ‘Take the L’ in the item shop was in February 2021 when the emote was offered by the shop in a bundle with the DC Comics character Green Arrow for only 300 V-Bucks.

Take the L Reloaded, together with the The Spice Must Roll and Lean & ‘Take the L’ were all offered in a special chapter bundle for 1100 V-Bucks in August 2021. Fortnite Insider has detailed that they have appeared in the Item Shop for October 2021 but do not appear in the Fortnite game right now nor do variants appear in the emote section of the Epic game website.

Original “Take the L” Emote

The original “Take the L” emote was first released during Firtnite Season three as part of the . It was included as the reward for reaching rank 31 within that season. The original “Take the L” emote shows the in game character making an L shape with their hand on their forehead while performing moves once used in the Carlton Dance, a popular dance in the television show “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”.

You can still purchase it in the Fortnite item store today, and occasionally get the “Take the L” emote as a reward for participation in in-game events, such as FNCS, the French based fan club with events and competitons for Fortnite fans, or other sporting events with esports category such as snsfn_na’s Twitter feed. It costs 200 V-bucks.

“Take the W” Emote

“Take the W” is a two-step dance introduced in Fortnite on September 13, 2019. The Take the W emote is the original victory dance from the Fortnite Take the L emote creator Brandon “King Nappy” Nichols.

Players Lose in Fornite for numerous reasons: from falling to their deaths from high places and receiving gliders, to never being able to make it passed the first entry gate. Here is a rare case of a Fortnite noob with 3 hit points, a collection of 6 weapons, and a newbie bush disguise who gets caught by the storm while bowing to a more skilled player. They Take the W by getting an unexpected final shot on the player.

The Take the W dance has six other forms of animation along with the default one for angry gibberish from gladiators. These are Heroic Victory, Overivctory, Sophisticated Strut, Dinner Dive, and Well Done. They cost between 1,500 – 300 V-bucks in-game currency.

The following text that appears on the Take the W emote purchase screen is a famous Fortnite intro from the timeA wise man once said—the bad guys are looking for one thing, and one thing only—easy wins.” Marcus Burnett, Bad Boys For Life. Used just before the second verse, enemies clearly think you are an easy win, you whip out the emote, and then take them by surprise with a final shot.

“Take the L” Dance

The “Take the L” dance is a dance emote in Fortnite that is still available for purchase in the Fortnite store. It was introduced when the Fortnite Battle Royale island was upgraded on December 15, 2017.

Since then, players can use it to taunt opponents in-game. The “Take the L” dance emote can be purchased at the Fortnite Item Shop for 200 V-bucks. To unlock the emote, players need to reach level 31 in the Chapter 2 Season 4 battle pass.

“Take the L” Spray

The “Take the L” emote has been represented as a spray by Fortnite. You can mark your favorite spot on your playing platform with the “Take the L” spray. Follow these steps to add it to your everyday game experience.

1. Go to your locker in the upper left corner of the screen.
2. Click on the spray paint on the far right of your locker screen then click on your favorites and equip the spray.
3. In-game press one of the keys that are usually for weaponry on PC, L1 or R1 for console players, or the button with the same location as those buttons on mobile devices.

How to Use the “Take the L” Emote Effectively in Fortnite?

Players use the “Take the L” emote in Fortnite as a taunt after an elimination, as a dancing emote in “old-school” emote dancing situations, as a signature emote for entering the game, for winning the game, or just whenever players feel they want to express their good game playing emotions. The “Take the L” emote is tied with the Floss, Electro Shuffle, and Orange Justice emotes for the same original contention of skilful dancing.

As of August 23, 2021, Take the L is obtained by reaching Battle Pass Tier 31 from the Chapter 2, Season 1 Battle Pass. A special new version known as Punctuated Take the L was released on November 18, 2021. The original “Take the L” was categorized under the list of Rare (Green) emotes and requires a ski-fall of 9 levels from the base emote of Rewind It by Ceez.

Icons such as 3D Glasses, House Banner, and Out To Lunch, and animated milestones such as Victory Royale, Golden Magic, and Elemental Infusion sell for 200 V-Bucks. If earning the “Take the L” progress is getting too hard, an additional payment of 1300 V-Bucks or $5 USD can be acquired to advance 9 levels in the Battle Pass. Including Punctuated Take the L, there have been a total of 12 appearances of Take the L in the Fortnite game.

After Eliminating an Enemy

Most players after getting an elimination engage in emotional reactions such as jumping with glee, teabagging, or proceeding to the next kill. Tactical and technique-driven players take time to express themselves through the Take the L dance instead. Dancing the Take the L while standing still exposes the player to danger if another player enters the area. Dancing while building or drinking Slurp Juice to hide animations are safer alternatives to triumphantly appreciate the situation.

An example of effective dancing after an elimination that isn’t Take the L but still signifies domination is the absurd Orange Justice or Floss Dance. According to the nytimes.com, the Floss dance was begun at the Brookhaven Elementary Seventh Annual Talent Show by a boy named Russell Horning. This dance involves the participants swinging their arms in opposite direction to swinging their hips in the opposite direction. After elimination, live steams, or YouTube plays, an effective Floss Dance (or even, in mobile games, a version of the Floss Dance with just the upper body) after an elimination and then going to Take the L dance will show that the player was not only skilled in the elimination but even swaggier in showing off.

After Winning a Match

1v1 in Fortnite means a friend challenges you or a streamer calls you out for an in-game 1v1 fight. The key to initiating a 1v1 for take the L is to drop a strong challenge prior to starting the match. Look to either friends or public media channels to be the one to call out another player to cement this social contract.

Completely different from a 1v1, Take the L in Fortnite happens immediately after winning a Battle Royale screen without any pre-match planning. After first checking how many fellow gamers you defeated, pressing Down Arrow then Middle Right mouse button (on Desktop) and Holding down on D-pad then click Right Thumbstick (On consoles) is enough to perform the default Take the L dance.

As a Taunt During a Fight

Another use of Take The L is as a taunt. During a fight between two or more players, it is common for players to build walls and ramps to protect themselves from gunfire. If a player manages to destroy an opponent’s protective wall and ramp complex without the opponent getting a single shot on them, then completing the taunt best uses Take The L to show superiority and potentially invoke a sense of rage.

Are There Any Tips for Using the “Take the L” Emote?

Many of the following tips for using the Take the L emote are good practices to employ with any other emote you choose to use.

1. Don’t overuse it – it’s a taunt that works best in moderation.
2. Choose your moment appropriately – you want to make sure that it’s as humiliating for your opponent as possible.
3. Remember to hide – even if you remember to take cover, be sure to look around the environment to ensure that you have obscured yourself properly at the best spot to view the enemy you’re emoting at.

Use It Sparingly

The L should be used during only the most epic of celebrations when playing Fortnite. Never use after small engagements or in the middle of a round. The exception is Deaths, as they warrant an L in Fortnite when you are sitting around doing nothing for the remainder of the round after being taken out.

Use moderation when taking the L in Fortnite. While the L Show and T-pose are both very funny, overusing will lead to players tuning you out and not paying attention to them when they actually will be in new celebrations in the future. Don’t ruin your future epic moments by overusing the L in Fortnite.

Use It in the Right Context

Using take the L in Fortnite is directly associated with players flexing, showing off one’s skills and taunting their enemies during a match. So, if you take the L when you pickpocket your own wallet and keys or when you cannot get the attention of the waiter or waitress at the restaurant, that is not the right context.

Instead, use it when you are taking a fun jab or to antagonize your friends. If you are getting a count of 10 seconds from someone, use it during a playful argument, or to pretend you have defeated someone in a task or conversation. That way you are using take the L when it is intended and not just regurgitating popular lingo for the sake of it.

Use It with Friends

Take the L is used in Fortnite when one player eliminates another and then proceeds to do the Take the L emote, characteristically putting one hand on their forehead in an L shape while wagging their hips. A group of friends or other acquaintances can boost morale during the tough conversations following premature defeats in any social setting, including gaming. Video game designers at itsmoosecraft.com suggest using Empathy, Encouragement, and Humor when communicating ways to improve to teammates or others while in vulnerable and competitive situations. Using Take the L with friends post-elimination can help induce laughing and chatting, putting a casual and positive spin on being eliminated and allowing you to get a good chuckle out of it with friends and recharge your spirits for the next game.

What Are Some Common Misconceptions About the “Take the L” Emote?

The common wrong beliefs and misconceptions about the Take the L emote are that it originated in Fortnite, it is about losing, the emote is disrespectful, and that its boarding pass meaning is official language.

The biggest misconceptions are that it originated in Fortnite and is about losing because the Take the L Emote originally meant that someone was making you give up and was popularized on Vine. That it is disrespectful is hard to pin on the emote itself and more on how Fortnite players have chosen to use it, while its meaning involving a boarding pass is a clever off-brand marketing attempt by a popular Fortnite player called Tfue, but it is not related to the actual meaning of the emote.

It Guarantees a Victory

The L Dance Emote was used to mean that you are a loser, but this has been adapted by the Fortnite community as a way to indicate that you will undoubtedly win a duel or round in any game. So, whenever players eliminate an opponent, congregate with friends in the storm to heal and take various photos, or even close a 1v1 match in duos or squads, one or all of them dance the L dance to symbolize that victory is assured.

It Is Only for Taunting Others

In Fortnite Battel Royale, it is given to those who eliminate themselves right after an enemy eliminates them. You should only show the L dance emote icon if you truly believe that opponents intentionally commit suicide after being eliminated, according to KBOX MMA official Frankie from the Korea e-Sports & Music Festival.

During a match, getting the target before the competitor can try to eliminate you is a valid gaming approach. On the other hand, rushing toward the competitor to dance right before they eliminate you, just for a taunt, can be interpreted as toxic behavior, which is not good for competitive play. Competitors can get up to a 7-day suspension from the platform, and consequences could possibly grow for consistently displaying negative behavior.

Showing L dance emote just to taunt an opponent does not provide a respectful gaming atmosphere and is unnecessary. It would be better to continue delivering respect and focus.

It Is a Sign of Disrespect

The L in ‘take the L’ is a simple dance emote that consists of the Square, B, and Y buttons or keys depending on the console, game controller, and keybindings. The dance consists of a character crossing their fingers and performing a loser sign before performing a modified version of the Hype or Ride the Pony dance.

These movements and the oily bouncy feel give the L dance a purposefully cringe energy that was perfect for the intended purpose. The clash of the salty feel of losing in Fortnite and the extremely happy exuberant loud music and dance moves of the L dance perfectly meshed and slotting a salty person in the game. This was a celebration of humiliation and victory over the opponent removed their right to a fair rematch and celebratory dance.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to Get Take the L in Fortnite?

1. What is Take the L in Fortnite?

Take the L is a popular dance emote in the game Fortnite, where the character performs a mocking gesture by forming an “L” with their fingers on their forehead.

2. How do I obtain the Take the L emote?

The Take the L emote can be purchased from the item shop in Fortnite for 500 V-Bucks, the in-game currency.

3. Is the Take the L emote available for all platforms?

Yes, the Take the L emote is available for all platforms that support Fortnite, including PC, consoles, and mobile devices.

4. Can I earn the Take the L emote through gameplay?

No, the Take the L emote can only be obtained through purchasing it from the item shop. However, some players may receive it as a gift from other players.

5. How do I use the Take the L emote in-game?

To use the Take the L emote, go to your emote wheel and select it. Your character will then perform the dance gesture in-game.

6. Can I refund the Take the L emote if I no longer want it?

Yes, the Take the L emote can be refunded within 30 days of purchase, as long as it has not been used in-game. After that, it is non-refundable.