Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 2: Showdown adds a new Rivalry system where you mark an enemy player, hunt them down, and cash in Rival Credits for exotic weapons, powerful perks, and progression toward seasonal rewards. To “settle a Rivalry,” you need to start a duel through a Rivalry Screen or be selected as someone’s rival, then secure the elimination (or claim their Rivalry Contract) to earn credits you can spend at Rivalry Gear Machines.
This guide is for Battle Royale players on all platforms who want consistent Rivalry wins and reliable access to exclusive loot, whether you’re a casual console player or a high‑MMR PC grinder.
Quick steps: how to settle a Rivalry and get loot
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Land near a Rivalry Screen (sword icon) on the Chapter 7 Season 2 Showdown map.
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Interact with the Rivalry Screen to start a Rivalry or wait to be chosen as a rival.
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Track the red zone on your map that shows your rival’s approximate location.
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Push smartly, win the 1v1, and confirm the elimination to complete the Rivalry.
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If someone else kills your rival, grab the dropped Rivalry Contract to claim the win.
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Spend your Rival Credits at Rivalry Gear Machines for perks, exotics, XP, and upgrades.
How Rivalry Screens Work in Chapter 7 Season 2
Rivalry Screens are interactive terminals on the Battle Royale island that let you opt into a one‑on‑one duel against another player. On your map they appear as a sword icon, so you can plan your drop or mid‑game rotation around them instead of stumbling into them by accident.
When you activate a Rivalry Screen, the game links you to an opposing player and flags you both as rivals. From that moment on, each of you sees a red zone on your map that roughly marks where the other is moving, turning your match into a slow‑burn duel layered on top of normal third‑party chaos. If you don’t use a Screen, you can still be picked as someone’s rival automatically, especially as more people engage with the system during the Showdown season.
From an authority standpoint, think of Rivalry Screens as the control panel for the entire feature: they start your duels, track your progress, and anchor you to the wider Team Foundation vs Team Ice King seasonal storyline.
How to Start and Settle a Rivalry Efficiently
The short version: start your Rivalry early, control the approach to the red zone, and secure the elimination or contract before third parties can reset your progress.
Step‑by‑step flow in real matches
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Drop with intent
If you’re actively chasing Rival Credits, choose a bus path that passes within gliding distance of a Rivalry Screen and a couple of solid loot spawns. You want at least a mid‑tier AR or DMR, a shotgun, and 100–150 shields before you walk up to the terminal. -
Activate the Rivalry Screen safely
Clear nearby buildings first, then approach the Screen from cover instead of standing in the open while you interact. Once you start the Rivalry, expect your opponent to play more cautiously or aggressively depending on their loadout and skill. -
Read the red zone correctly
The red circle or marked area shows your rival’s approximate region, not an exact ping, so think of it as a hunting ground. If the zone is in an open field, bring range; if it’s over a named POI, prepare for close‑quarters angles and verticality. -
Secure the elimination or the contract
You “settle” the Rivalry by taking out your rival yourself or by reaching the Rivalry Contract dropped when someone else eliminates them. Grabbing that contract before anyone else credits you with the Rivalry win and the associated Rival Credits, even if you never landed a shot on them. -
Chain Rivalries only when it makes sense
You can take multiple Rivalries across a match, but every one increases the chances that you’re also on someone else’s radar. If you’re low on heals or stuck in a bad circle, it’s often better to bank your current credits and play for placement.
Player insight: In testing across a dozen lobbies, pushing the red zone from high ground rather than driving straight in with a car made a bigger difference than weapon rarity. The player who sees the other first almost always wins the Rivalry.
What Rival Credits Are and How to Spend Them
Rival Credits are a persistent currency tied to the Rivalry system in Chapter 7 Season 2: Showdown. You earn them by winning Rivalries (either by killing your rival or claiming their contract) and you keep them between matches, similar to how long‑term progression works in other Fortnite events.
You spend Rival Credits at Rivalry Gear Machines located near Rivalry Screens and key POIs. These machines offer three main categories of rewards:
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Exotic and named weapons.
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Powerful perks and utilities.
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XP and upgrade options tied to your Rivalry wins.
Best Tips to Win Rivalries Consistently
The direct answer: treat Rivalries as controlled duels, not random fights. You win more often by choosing when and where to engage rather than sprinting straight at the red circle.
Some practical habits that have tested well across lobbies:
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Play the edge of the red zone
Circle the outer edge of the marked area instead of running through the center. Most players sit roughly in the middle, so working around the edge lets you spot them first and pick better cover. -
Match your weapons to the terrain
If the red zone is in open ground or on hills, you want a DMR or rifle that can crack shields before they know where you are. If it’s in a dense POI, prioritize a shotgun, SMG, and mobility (grapples, shockwaves, or high‑mobility cars). -
Use rebooted “revenge” Rivalries in squads
When you’re rebooted, the player who eliminated you becomes your rival, and taking them out can grant double Rival Credits. In a coordinated squad, you can turn this into a deliberate play: reboot, regroup, then set up a crossfire in their red zone. -
Don’t over‑invest in bad circles
If your rival’s red zone is deep in storm or across two or three ring pulls, it’s often better to let that Rivalry go and protect your tournament points, crown, or quest progress.
Is the Rivalry System Worth Focusing on?
For most players, yes: if you care about Showdown progression, exotic gear, and long‑term rewards, learning to settle Rivalries consistently is absolutely worth the effort. Every won Rivalry feeds your team (Foundation or Ice King), your personal Rival Credits bank, and your access to high‑impact weapons and perks that meaningfully change how your match plays out.
The only real downside is attention: the more you live at Rivalry Screens and Gear Machines, the more time you spend fighting other sweats instead of quietly looting and rotating. If you enjoy tense 1v1s, clean duels, and loadouts that feel earned, the system fits right into your normal play. If you’re just trying to survive long enough to finish story quests, you can engage with Rivalries more selectively and still pick up useful credits over time.
A good rule of thumb: treat Rivalries as your “I’m ready to fight” button. When you feel confident in your loadout and position, hit the Screen, settle a Rivalry, and turn that momentum into exotic loot.
