Some Fortnite skins have achieved a status as rare, but which ones are the rarest? Here is the answer to that question and more.

Fortnite Battle Royale is over five years into an epic journey. The game arrived in 2017 and swiftly captured players' attention with its unique gameplay and graphics. However, nothing drew more recognition than Fortnite's various outfits, commonly called "skins." There have been hundreds over the years, but some have been classified as the rarest Fortnite skins.

Some Fortnite skins are more common and frequently return to the item shop, whereas others have yet to and will never be available for purchase again. This topic begs the question; what Fortnite skin is the rarest? After some extensive research, we have the answer. 

The obvious answer: Renegade Raider

  • Release Date: October 26, 2017
  • Cost: 1,200 V-Bucks
  • Appearances: 49
  • Last Seen: December 13, 2017
Image via Fortnite Fandom
Image via Fortnite Fandom

Renegade Raider is one of the original Fortnite skins that entered the item shop. According to Fortnite Fandom, Renegade Raider first went on sale on October 26, 2017, for 1,200 V-Bucks. The skin remained in the item shop for 49 days before vanishing forever. 

Renegade Raider left the original "Season Shop" on December 13, 2017, and never returned. The Aerial Assault Trooper followed a similar path. Those who played Fortnite in those days surely regret not parting ways with their money for these outfits. Still, alternate versions of Renegade Raider are available occasionally, such as the holiday-themed Gingerbread Raider, Halloween-themed Skeletara, and Blaze. 

In conclusion, Renegade Raider and Aerial Assault Trooper are two of the rarest skins due to their notoriety in the Fortnite scene. However, there are many others worth mentioning. 

The lesser-known and underrated rare Fortnite skins

While Renegade Raider and Aerial Assault Trooper are technically the rarest Fortnite skins, there are others. For this section, we want to highlight an outfit that, unlike Renegade Raider and Aerial Assault Trooper, could potentially return in the future. Also, we've included a few that may come back but are unlikely to return.

Reflex

  • Release Date: November 29, 2018 (Bundle) / March 3, 2019 (Item Shop)
  • Cost: The cost of a new NVIDIA graphics card / 1,200 V-Bucks (Item Shop)
  • Appearances: 2
  • Last Seen: March 3, 2019

Reflex is one of the rarest skins in Fortnite, primarily due to the GeForce collaboration surrounding it. The outfit debuted in November 2018 as part of the exclusive GeForce Counterattack Bundle. Players could acquire this cosmetic collection by purchasing a specific GeForce graphics card, which retail for several hundred dollars.

After purchasing the expensive computer part, you would receive the Reflex skin, back bling, glider, pickaxe, and 2,000 V-Bucks. Four months later, in March 2019, Epic Games mistakenly released the Reflex skin in the Item Shop. As a result, whoever grabbed it on that date now possesses one of the rarest Fortnite skins ever. Reflex has not returned to the Item Shop since and likely won't ever return.

Black Widow (original)

  • Release Date: April 25, 2019
  • Cost: 1,500 V-Bucks
  • Appearances: 6
  • Last Seen: May 6, 2019

Only the diehard Fortnite fans remember that Black Widow was the first Marvel character to receive a nod in-game. On April 25, 2019, during Fortnite Season 8, the Marvel superhero appeared in the item shop ahead of Avengers: Endgame's worldwide release. Black Widow returned five times between April 25 and May 6 and vanished. It's unclear why this particular skin has yet to return.

Epic Games released another Black Widow skin on November 15, 2020, which drew inspiration from the character's standalone film. However, the original Black Widow remains in the vault for an undetermined time, making it a rare Fortnite outfits.

Stranger Things collab

  • Release Date: July 5, 2019
  • Cost: 1,500 V-Bucks per skin
  • Appearances: 4
  • Last Seen: November 6, 2019

Fortnite and collaborations go together like peanut butter and jelly. However, the game's earlier days featured only a few unique crossovers. One of the earlier collaborations involved the hit Netflix series Stranger Things. The television show broke records for Netflix, prompting Epic Games to establish a partnership.

On July 5, 2019, the Fortnite x Stranger Things crossover became a reality to celebrate the third season's premiere. It featured the terrifying Demogorgon monster, Chief Hopper, and a weapon wrap. The set remained available in the Fortnite item shop for three days before returning on November 6, 2019. That is the last day the Stranger Things Fortnite skins have been in the item shop. 

Fortnite Fandom indicates that Netflix revoked video game licensing rights, which could mean the Stranger Things collection may never return. As a result, those who purchased any of these cosmetics currently possess some of the rarest Fortnite skins.

Travis Scott

  • Release Date: April 22, 2020
  • Cost: 1,500 V-Bucks
  • Appearances: 6
  • Last Seen: April 27, 2020

A more notorious Fortnite skin may not exist than Travis Scott – the rap artist himself. In April 2020, Epic Games collaborated with Travis Scott for an in-game concert dubbed "Astronomical." The event was a massive hit, as were the cosmetic items that accompanied it. Many players who checked the item shop between April 22 and April 27 spent V-Bucks on the Travis Scott set. Those who missed out never had the chance again.

April 27, 2020, remains the last day the Travis Scott skin appeared in the Fortnite item shop, making it rare in a unique sense. It's unclear why the set never returned, but many believe various controversies surrounding the artist contributed to the ongoing situation. Travis Scott could return in the future, but it's not likely.

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