Is Skull Trooper an OG Skin? Yes, Here‘s Why:

Skull Trooper is without a doubt an OG (original) skin in Fortnite. As one of the first skins ever released, Skull Trooper has become an iconic and coveted outfit for players seeking rare skins.

A Deep Dive into Skull Trooper History

Skull Trooper was first introduced in Fortnite‘s early beta stages in September 2017 prior to Chapter 1 Season 1. When Fortnite officially launched just a month later, Skull Trooper arrived in the item shop on October 12th, 2017 specifically for Fortnitemares – Fortnite‘s very first Halloween event.

At the time, Skull Trooper cost 1200 V-Bucks, the equivalent of $12 USD. As a holiday-exclusive outfit, Skull Trooper was only available for purchase during October 2017 along with two other OG skins – Ghoul Trooper and Reaper.

For the entirety of 2017 and 2018, the only selectable style for Skull Trooper was the white "Classic" look. Then in October 2018, a special new purple "Glow" style was granted to all players who had originally purchased the Skull Trooper before its return in 2018. This new glowing variant became the first indicator of OG Skull Trooper owners.

Over the years, Skull Trooper has made a handful of appearances in the Fortnite item shop, usually coinciding with Halloween. But the exclusive Glow style remains accessible only to OG owners as a badge of honor. Most recently, Skull Trooper returned in October 2022 for 1200 V-Bucks featuring its Classic and Glow styles.

Analyzing the Rarity of Skull Trooper

As one of Fortnite‘s oldest skins ever, Skull Trooper boasts an incredible level of rarity, especially the OG Purple Glow version. Thanks to its age and seasonal exclusivity, Skull Trooper has never been a widely owned skin.

According to rarity analysis from several skin tracking sites, Skull Trooper has been owned by less than 5% of all Fortnite players at any given time. Compare that to popular skins like Aura and Dynamo with over 50% ownership rates.

For statistic perspective, if Fortnite has 350 million total players, only around 17.5 million accounts could potentially possess Skull Trooper. And the number of Purple Glow style owners is a fraction of that.

Additionally, the Astronomical return rate for Skull Trooper is well below 10% compared to skins like Tomatohead with a 40% return rate. This data corroborates Skull Trooper‘s prestige as an incredibly rare skin to encounter in-game.

Estimating the Value of OG Skull Trooper Accounts

The rarity and OG status of Skull Trooper make accounts with the skin highly valuable and desirable. While against Epic‘s Terms of Service, OG Skull Trooper accounts have been sold for thousands of real dollars.

In May 2021, respected Fortnite account seller Zer0Tw0 sold an account with Skull Trooper and other rare skins for $5,000 USD according to Dexerto. And accounts with Skull Trooper often get listed for $10,000 to $20,000 based on additional skins.

However, Skull Trooper alone can increase an account‘s value tenfold or more. On average, accounts with OG Skull Trooper tend to sell for anywhere from $1,000 to $5,000. And during Fortnitemares, prices spike due to high demand. But sellers should beware of scams when transacting outside of the game.

Why Do Tryhards Love Skull Trooper?

Within the Fortnite community, Skull Trooper has become synonymous with skill and sweatiness. Seeing a Glowing Purple Skull Trooper in your lobby or game indicates you likely face stiff competition.

Because the skin is so incredibly rare, most Skull Trooper users are seasoned veterans at the game. They have the experience and game sense matched with flashy mechanics that newer players lack.

An aura of intimidation and dread surrounds the OG Skull Trooper thanks to this reputation. Some players even accuse Skull Troopers of being toxic or aggressive thanks to the sweaty stigma. In reality, it‘s more about displaying dedication through an iconic skin.

OG Skull Trooper vs Other Rare Skins

To put Skull Trooper‘s rarity into perspective, let‘s compare it against some other famously rare skins:

• Black Knight: Battle Pass season 2 skin, but over 25x more common than Skull Trooper
• Renegade Raider: Season 1 skin but still 15x more common than Skull Trooper
• Aerial Assault Trooper: Season 1 skin and closest contender, but 3x as common
• Double Helix: Extremely limited 2018 Nintendo Switch promotion skin
• Pink Ghoul Trooper: 2017 OG like Skull Trooper but in higher supply originally

Only Double Helix provides comparable scarcity to OG Skull Trooper. But Skull Trooper‘s iconic design gives it much more notoriety and demand.

Is Buying Skull Trooper Worth It Now?

For new players, purchasing a Skull Trooper account can be tempting but comes with too many risks. Instead, buying Skull Trooper directly from the item shop is a more secure option. However, you‘ll be missing out on the exclusive OG Glow style, which is the true status symbol.

Personally, I only recommend buying Skull Trooper for the nostalgia and skin history. Without the Purple Glow, Skull Trooper loses its sweaty mystique. But at just 1200 V-Bucks, it‘s a decent purchase for fans of Fortnitemares.

However, collectors should still pursue Skull Trooper for their lockers, even without the OG styles. It‘s an icon of early Fortnite and shows dedication to the game we all enjoy.

The Legacy of Skull Trooper

While seemingly just another Fortnitemares costume, Skull Trooper has far surpassed that label to become one of Fortnite‘s most legendary and coveted skins. Its haunting design and paltry supply has made the OG Purple Glow style a holy grail for collectors.

Despite occasional returns to the item shop, Skull Trooper‘s reputation as an intimidating sweat skin persists thanks to its storied history. There are certainly rarer skins in terms of ownership percentages, but Skull Trooper‘s place in the culture is virtually unmatched.

For true OGs, the glowing Purple Skull Trooper remains a badge of honor representing veteran status. And every Fortnitemares, a new generation of players get to experience its macabre magic.