Fortnite exploded into the battle royale genre back in 2017 and has since then become one of the most viewed games on streaming platforms such as Twitch, YouTube Gaming, and Facebook Gaming. Its success has made battle royale the most popular genre in the past couple of years.
Fortnite’s Esports and streaming scene have also flourished. Personalities like Ninja have suddenly emerged into stardom after Fortnite’s release. Viewers often want to know the gear that their favorite Esports Pros and streamers are using. So here are the top 10 most popular Fortnite streamers in 2020 and the gaming headsets that they are using.
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10. Pokimane
Kicking off this list is Pokimane. Imane Anys, better known by her in-game ID Pokimane, first saw success in the League of Legends scene. She then branched out and started playing Fortnite in 2018.
She is now regarded as the top female Fortnite streamer both in followers and in average viewership. She was formally acknowledged by Epic Games for her achievements and was given an in-game emote that had a limited run.
She currently streams exclusively on Twitch, where she now has over 4 million followers. One of her main sponsors is Hyperx. She is using the Hyperx Cloud Alpha as her main gaming headset.
Gaming Headset: Hyperx Cloud Alpha
The Hyperx Cloud Alpha is one of the most popular gaming headsets available. It is a redesign of the Takstar Pro 80, which is an audiophile-grade headphone. This has largely helped the Cloud series to perform significantly better than its competitors.
The Cloud Alpha is essentially the same headset as the likes of the Cloud 2 but does not include the USB sound card for Virtual 7.1 surround audio. A lot of gamers agree that 7.1 surround is usually inferior to a regular stereo setup, especially if you already have a decent sounding sound card in your system. Therefore, the Cloud Alpha serves as a sweet spot and gives the best value in the Cloud series.
9. Nick Eh 30
When it comes to good vibes and positivity, Nick Eh 30 has been the go-to streamer. Nicholas Amyoony, better known as Nick Eh 30, has seen lots of success in the Fortnite scene. Aside from streaming daily, he has been competing in Fortnite competitions.
Nick has seen his fair share of controversy, such as the cheating allegations in the recent Fortnite Streamer Bowl. Despite these allegations and the negativity that came with it, Nick has kept his momentum and is not looking to stop anytime soon.
Most of Nick’s fanbase is from his YouTube channel, where he has over 4 million followers. He currently exclusively streams on Twitch, where he has close to 1 million followers.
Headphone: Beyerdynamic DT990 Pro
A lot of gamers have been converting from gaming headsets to audiophile-grade headphones. One of the most popular options, and also Nick’s choice, is the DT990 Pro. It is, of course, designed as a pro-grade headphone for music production.
Unlike most of the modern gaming headsets by brands like Logitech Gaming and Hyperx, the DT990 Pro has an open back design that has a better and wider soundstage. The DT990 also has superior imaging than most gaming headsets, which is why it is much preferred over closed-back gaming headsets for FPS and competitive shooters.
For those who are interested in purchasing this headphone, take note that it comes in two variants. The 80-ohm version is a lot easier to drive but has slightly different sound characteristics when compared to the 250-ohm version. We highly recommend the 80-ohm version if you do not own or plan on purchasing a dedicated headphone amplifier.
8. Myth
Myth is probably a name you have heard in the scene before, and that is for a good reason. Ali Kabbani, better known as Myth, is an American Youtuber, Twitch streamer, and professional player that is currently signed with Team SoloMid (TSM).
He was one of the first streamers to pick up Fortnite back when it was first announced. He quickly rose to the ranked ladders, which eventually caught the attention of TSM. He has since then been appointed as team captain and has been playing competitively and streaming for them.
While his main popularity has been from Fortnite, he has recently expressed his desire to play other games. He has been streaming Counter-Strike Global Offensive (CS GO) while preparing for Valorant’s launch.
Myth currently has over 4 million subscribers on his YouTube channel and has close to 6 million followers on his Twitch account.
Gaming Headset: Logitech G Pro X
Myth’s choice is the Logitech G Pro X. The G Pro X has been making waves and is fastly becoming a fan favorite, just like the Hyperx Cloud. The main appeal of the G Pro series is that they have been made in collaboration with, tested, and approved by various professional gamers, which adds a layer of authenticity.
Another unique feature of the G Pro X is its microphone. It is powered by Blue Microphones, which Logitech now owns. It adds various DSP effects via the included dongle. While Myth uses a separate microphone for streaming, the microphone on the G Pro X is excellent and should be more than enough for both streaming or in-game chat.
In terms of the G Pro X’s design, it takes a bit of a departure over Logitech Gaming’s previous more futuristic inspired line. Instead, it has a sleeker and more minimalistic design that should fit a wider variety of gaming setups. See Full Specs on Logitech
7. Bugha
Bugha should be familiar to any Fortnite fan. Kyle Giersdorf, better known by his in-game ID Bugha, is the current Fortnite Champion. He won in the solo event of the 2019 Fortnite Cup, which had a prize pool of 3 million USD. He also made an appearance with Timthe Tatman on a Super Bowl commercial.
He has since then been signed with the Sentinels and streams on Twitch. Unlike the other players on this list who focus more on entertainment, Bugha’s main appeal to his audience is the showcase of his skill.
Bugha is still racking up his follower count on Twitch, unlike the other more established streamers. So, you should definitely check him out since his Twitch channel has almost reached 2 million followers.
Gaming Headset: Logitech G Pro X
6. Timthe Tatman
If you are looking for a more cheel and funny stream, then you should check out Timthe Tatman. Timothy Betar, better known as Timthe Tatman, also has a huge following on his social networks. He currently has 4 million followers on his Twitch channel. He also made an appearance at a Super Bowl commercial along with Bugha.
Tim can often be found streaming with other well-known streamers such as Ninja. Tim does not stream Fortnite exclusively, but Fortnite is his most popular game. In terms of the gaming headset that he uses, he can often be found with Audio Technica products, a company that is a veteran in the professional music production scene.
Headphone: Audio Technica M50X
The model that Tim uses is the Audio Technica M50X. It is a bit of an odd choice for gaming. Even among closed-back headphones, the M50X is infamous for its congested sound stage that isn’t a good fit for FPS or battle royale titles.
It does make sense why a streamer like Tim would use this, however. The Audio Technica is known for having a precise sound, which could help in detecting any problems in the audio chain of his stream. After all, the M50X is a highly renowned headphone for monitoring.
If you are interested in other Audio Technica headphones that are better suited for gaming, we highly recommend checking out the ATH-AD700X or the ATH-ADG1X. Both of these models have better imaging and soundstage, which will be a better fit for gaming. Both of these use the same drivers. The only difference is that the ADG1X has a microphone.
5. DrLupo
Ben Lupo, better known as DrLupo, has been a veteran in the streaming scene. His recent success stems from the rise of Fortnite. This has garnered him over 3 million followers on Twitch.
His success on Twitch has led him to make streaming his full-time job. He streams at an average of 80 hours per week. What makes DrLupo unique is his interaction with his viewers. A lot of big-name streamers in all sorts of games tend to forget about their audience.
DrLupo, on the other hand, is known for interacting and even sharing life stories with his viewers. This makes his personality appear more genuine and makes him stand out. If you are looking for a streamer that streams all the time and legitimately cares about his audience, then definitely check out DrLupo.
Gaming Headset: Logitech G Pro X
4. Dakotaz
Dakotaz is one of the more unique personalities on this list. Brett Hoffman, better known as Dakotaz, is currently in the top 10 most-watched streamers on Twitch. Like Bugha, the main attraction of Dakotaz’s stream is his skill.
If you are interested in a high skilled streamer that is constantly adding to his highlights reel, then this is the channel that you should be following. However, Dakotaz is known to be a private person. He often does not include his face on his streams and tends not to reveal much about himself.
Viewers seem to enjoy this kind of personality, so that doesn’t take away anything from Dakotaz. Check out his stream for some insane plays and highlights.
Gaming Headset: Logitech G Pro
Dakotaz is using the older Logitech G Pro over the more recent Logitech G Pro X. The main difference between the two is that the Logitech G Pro X has a USB dongle that enables the surround sound and the Blue Microphone effects while the original G Pro does not. The original G Pro also has swiveling earcups, which was removed in the newer revision.
Aside from those, the two models are almost identical. Their microphone (without the effects) sound similar, and they use the same drivers (although the G Pro X has a different and better tuning). While the Logitech G Pro X is the better and more complete package, we won’t hesitate to recommend the original G Pro if you are trying to save some cash. See details on Logitech
3. NickMercs
NickMers is known on the internet as the Twitch’s King of the Controller. With over 3 million followers on Twitch and nearly 2 million subscribers on his YouTube channel, Nick is one of the most successful in the industry.
Nick Kolcheff, otherwise known as NickMercs, started his career as a Gears of War professional player. He then moved to Call of Duty before he settled in Fortnite. Despite playing with a controller, a peripheral that many gamers deem inferior to keyboard and mouse, he was able to set the most eliminations in a duo match. He was also able to achieve other feats such as most squad kills.
If you aren’t following Nick on Twitch or any of his social platforms, then you should check him out ASAP.
Gaming Headset: Astro A40
Nick’s gaming headset is a model that has deep roots from the old school titles that he used to play like Call of Duty. The Astro A40 is one of the earlier designs that has been in the market since 2013. Astro has made a name for themselves, mainly due to the futuristic design of their headsets. They were one of the first companies that offered customization with their headphones via the interchangeable faceplates.
However, the biggest selling factor of the Astro gaming headsets is their Mixamp Pro. This is essentially a DAC/Amp that enables virtual 7.1 surround sound and controls various audio sources such as game audio and voice chat audio. This has been a popular choice for streamers who needed a handy tool that was both smaller and more convenient than analog or digital mixers.
2. Tfue
Tfue is arguably the current Twitch superstar. Turney Ellis Terney, better known as Tfue, is currently the most viewed Fortnite streamer on Twitch. Tfue is a competitive streamer that focuses on high-level and jaw-dropping gameplay.
With his success, however, Tfue has been involved in some scandals. These include his contract with Faze Clan and his issues with Ninja. These have, however, not stopped his momentum on his social media platforms. His Twitch channel has the biggest following on this list, with over 8 million followers. His YouTube channel, on the other hand, has over 11 million subscribers.
In terms of the headphones he’s been using, he is also the most unique on this list. Tfue has been spotted with the Sennheiser HD700 and later, the Sennheiser HD800s. Both of these are excellent pairs of headphones and are the most expensive on this list. We’ll be talking more about it below.
Headphone: Sennheiser HD800s
The Sennheiser HD800s is the successor to Sennheiser’s original flagship headphones, the HD800. The 800 series has been a fan favorite of a lot of FPS gamers thanks to its incredible sound stage, which is almost comparable to HiFi speakers.
Compared to everything in this list, the HD800s is the best sounding. In terms of its technicalities, it can produce better, more accurate, and more detailed bass, mids, and highs. It has been a benchmark headphone that works incredibly well for gaming (although it is a bit overkill due to its price).
Tfue has also been seen sporting other Sennheiser headphones in the past, specifically the Sennheiser HD700. For our readers who want a taste of the HD800s experience but don’t quite have the budget for its hefty price tag, we do not recommend the HD700 as an alternative. Both gamers and the audiophile community have mixed feelings about the HD700. See full specs of the HD800S on Sennheiser
The HD700 has a different overall sound signature compared to the HD800. It has less soundstage and worse technicalities compared to the HD800s. The looks are probably the only thing similar. Audio enthusiasts agree that the HD660s is a superior headphone compared to the HD700. See the HD700s Sennheiser
We also want to remind our readers that the Sennheiser HD800s has an impedance of 300 ohms. The audio output of some gaming motherboards can drive the HD800s pretty well. However, a dedicated amplifier is still recommended to get the best out of the HD800s. See the HD660S on Sennheiser
1. Ninja
While in 2021 Ninja has moved on to playing Valorant, until recently he sat at number one on this list and he still needs no introduction in the world of Fortnite as many stil consider him one of the best all-time players.
If League of Legends has Faker, and Dota 2 has Miracle, then Fortnite has Ninja.
Tyler Bevins, otherwise known as Ninja, is arguably the most well known Fornite streamer and the highest-paid Fortnite player.
He then moved to Mixer after securing a 30 million USD deal and is steadily growing his follower count.
As of 2021 you can find him back on Twitch, one of the highest follower counts, with 16+ million followers.
If you want to know more about him, you can check out a more in-depth article that we published about Ninja and his headphones here.
Headphone: Beyerdynamic DT990 Pro
Ninja has gone through many different gaming headsets, such as the Astro A40. He made the jump and switched into the Beyerdynamic DT990 Pro for the better quality and competitive edge it gives over other gaming headsets.
Given Ninja’s extravagant and high-end setup, it is odd to see that Ninja still sports the DT990 Pro instead of other higher-end models such as the Sennheiser HD800s or Beyerdynamic’s own DT1990 Pro.
The DT990 Pro actually has its fair share of downsides, including the non-removable cable. Most of this has been addressed in the newer revision. For gamers who want an enhanced version of the DT 990 Pro, consider trying out the Beyerdynamic DT1990 Pro. It features an even better build quality, a removable cable, and a more accurate sound.
Stephen is a musician, cinematographer, and headphone enthusiast who is passionate about reviewing audio equipment. He has been playing guitar for at least a decade, which introduced him to professional recording equipment such as headphones and in-ear monitors. With the help of reviews and online content, he was able to learn the ins and outs of the hobby. His goal is to give back to the community by providing quality content to help others enjoy the beautiful (and expensive) world of audio.
Favorite Headphones: Sennheiser HD660s