There are hundreds of skins available in Fortnite, but while some of them return to the shop all the time, others haven’t been seen in years. From the original Black Window to the Switch-exclusive Double Helix, here are the rarest Fortnite skins in 2023.
Every player has a favorite skin in Fortnite, whether it’s an original character like Peely or Joy or an exciting crossover skin from The Witcher or Stranger Things.
The most important factor when choosing your favorite skin is its overall appearance, of course, but knowing that a specific skin is rare and not many other players have it can make it feel even more special.
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From the game’s launch in 2017 right through to the most recent Chapter 4: Season 1, here are the top 10 rarest skins in Fortnite as of January 2023.
Contents
- What is the rarest skin in Fortnite?
- What is the rarest Item Shop skin in Fortnite?
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Top 10 rarest Fortnite skins
- 10 – The Reaper
- 9 – Royale Bomber
- 8 – Black Widow
- 7 – Honor Guard
- 6 – Double Helix
- 5 – Black Knight
- 4 – Special Forces
- 3 – Galaxy
- 2 – Renegade Raider
- 1 – Aerial Assault Trooper
What is the rarest skin in Fortnite?
Epic GamesSeason One’s Aerial Assault Trooper skin remains the rarest skin you’ll come across.
As of January 2023, the rarest skin in Fortnite is undoubtedly the Aerial Assault Trooper skin.
Having made its last (and only) appearance during the first-ever season of Fortnite, it’s a skin that only the most dedicated, long-term players of the game are likely to own.
What is the rarest Item Shop skin in Fortnite?
Epic GamesThe Special Forces skin was last seen over 1,000 days ago.
The rarest Item Shop skin is Special Forces, as it was last available to buy all the way back in January 2019.
Hacivat previously held the top spot of the rarest Item Shop skin, but in November 2021, it made a long-awaited re-appearance in the shop after over 1600 days, complete with a brand new variation.
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Top 10 rarest Fortnite skins in 2023
From the Royale Bomber to Double Helix and beyond — here are the top 10 rarest skins you’re unlikely to see throughout your matches in Fortnite.
10. The Reaper
Epic GamesThe Reaper is far more uncommon than the official John Wick skin.
OG players will definitely remember The Reaper, who was the reward for maxing out the Chapter 1 Season 3 Battle Pass at Level 100. The skin has been a running joke in the Fortnite community, as it was quite clearly based on Keanu Reeves’ character John Wick.
Then things got strange when, in 2019, Epic Games introduced an official John Wick skin to Fortnite. This means there are two almost-identical skins in the game, but while the John Wick skin has returned to the Item Shop on multiple occasions and is quite common, The Reaper remains very rare.
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9. Royale Bomber
Epic GamesRoyale Bomber was a PS4 bundle-exclusive skin.
Another skin you’re unlikely to see in Fortnite is the Royale Bomber. The skin was first available to get as part of a PlayStation 4 x Fortnite bundle back in 2018, and later as part of a DualShock 4 controller bundle.
It’s still available to find if you look hard enough, but it definitely won’t come cheap, and arguably isn’t worth it anyway as it’s not a very interesting skin when compared to the selection of best skins that Fortnite has today in 2023.
8. Black Widow
Epic GamesPlayers everywhere are hoping that this original Black Widow skin makes a return.
First released back in 2018 during Fortnite’s Season X event tie-in with Marvel Avengers: Endgame, the iconic original Black Widow skin has now been completely absent from the item store since May 2019.
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The only Black Widow appearance we’ve seen since then is her much more recent Snow Suit skin, featuring one of Scarlett Johannson’s outfits from the Black Widow movie.
Despite Black Widow now being available for streaming across the globe after its cinematic release, this OG Black Widow skin has yet to make a reappearance.
7. Honor Guard
Epic GamesHonor Guard was one of many phone-exclusive skins.
If you want to get your hands on the Honor Guard skin, there’s some bad news, as it’s only available for those who purchase the Honor View 20 smartphone, making it one of the most expensive skins in Fortnite history.
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It’s still available to get, but the incredibly high entry cost coupled with the fact that many people are loyal to their favorite brands like Apple and Samsung means the Honor Guard is automatically one of the rarest skins in Fortnite. Besides, we’ve never seen it in a battle royale match… have you?
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6. Double Helix
Epic GamesDouble Helix was only available with a Switch bundle.
Double Helix was another skin that Fortnite fans could only get by purchasing an expensive device. This one was included with a limited-edition Nintendo Switch x Fortnite bundle, which also gave players a DLC code for matching cosmetics and 1,000 V-Bucks.
Aside from the high cost of purchasing the console, this Nintendo Switch x Fortnite bundle isn’t actually available to purchase from most retailers anymore, so if you do want it you’ll have to strike it lucky and find one available from a third-party seller – and it certainly won’t come cheap if you do.
5. Black Knight
Epic GamesOnly longtime players will have the Black Knight skin.
Black Knight was only available for players who maxed out Fortnite’s first-ever Battle Pass in Chapter 1 Season 2, meaning players had to not only purchase the Battle Pass but also reach Level 70, so the number of people who own this skin will be very small.
That requirement might not be as high as the modern Battle Passes, which have 100 levels of cosmetics to work through, but this was way back in 2017 when the player base was much smaller. Four years have passed since then, so the chances of seeing this in a battle royale match are incredibly slim.
4. Special Forces
will black knight return fortniteEpic GamesThe Special Forces skin was last seen three years ago.
Special Forces was introduced all the way back in Chapter 1 Season 1, where it was available to purchase from the Item Shop for 1,200 V-Bucks. It reappeared in January 2019, but has been totally absent since.
While the character has made appearances in the game in other ways, like in Chapter 2 Season 7 where it popped up as a quest-giving NPC, it has yet to make its return to the Item Shop.
3. Galaxy
Epic GamesGalaxy was an incredibly rare Samsung Galaxy-exclusive skin.
When Epic Games launched Fortnite for mobile, gamers with Samsung Galaxy devices were the first to be invited to test it out. This partnership continued for a while, with quite a few exclusive cosmetics tied to new Samsung products – but none have been more in-demand than the epic Galaxy skin.
This elusive skin was only available for players who purchased a Samsung Galaxy Note 9 or a Samsung Galaxy Tab S4, but it was later replaced by the Glow skin in 2019 and there’s no way to get it anymore.
2. Renegade Raider
Epic GamesRenegade Raider is an OG fan favorite.
The design might not be anything particularly special when compared to more modern skins, but Renegade Raider is well-loved among long-time Fortnite players. It was only available in the Item Shop in Chapter 1 Season 1, and players had to reach Level 20 and spend 1,200 V-Bucks to get it.
If you wear this skin during a match, it’s clear to other players that you’ve been visiting The Island for battle royale matches since the very beginning. That alone would usually be enough for the Renegade Raider to earn the top spot on this list, but there’s one even rarer skin out there…
1. Aerial Assault Trooper
Epic GamesSeason One’s Aerial Assault Trooper skin remains the rarest skin you’ll come across.
Like the Renegade Raider, the Aerial Assault Trooper skin predates the introduction of the now-iconic Battle Pass, and it was only available to purchase in the Item Shop in Chapter 1 Season 1 for 1,200 V-Bucks after reaching Level 15.
While the level requirement for Aerial Assault Trooper wasn’t as high, most players elected to purchase the Renegade Raider skin instead, and she’s gone on to become, overall, a much more recognizable character.
Not as many people own or remember Aerial Assault Trooper, so it’s definitely the rarest Fortnite skin.
Want to brush up on your skills to take home those Victory Royales? Check out some more guides, tips, and lists below:
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