Why is Black Knight So Rare and Coveted in Fortnite?

The Black Knight skin is undoubtedly one of the rarest, most coveted, and expensive cosmetics in Fortnite history. But why has this medieval knight skin from the Season 2 Battle Pass become so valuable and sought after years later?

The Evolution of Fortnite Cosmetics

To understand why Black Knight is so treasured, it‘s important to first look at the evolution of Fortnite cosmetics. When Fortnite Save the World launched in 2017, the game had no cosmetic skins – players were stuck with default characters. The Item Shop and Battle Pass system were introduced later that year shortly after the launch of Fortnite Battle Royale mode.

The early seasons of Fortnite had far fewer cosmetic rewards compared to today. For example, Season 2‘s Battle Pass only had 70 tiers, while modern Battle Passes have over 100 tiers and dozens of unique skin rewards. And there was far less variety – many rewards were simple color swaps or reskins.

Earning these early cosmetics required substantially more grinding as well. There were fewer challenges providing big XP rewards, so leveling up to max tier was a badge of honor.

Compared to today where new flashy and creative skins release every week, the simple medieval Black Knight skin was a coveted prize for grinding early on.

Grinding for Glory in Season 2

To obtain the Black Knight skin in Season 2, players needed to achieve Level 70 – the max tier in that season‘s Battle Pass. Estimates suggest it took between 75-100 hours of playtime to achieve this, requiring significant dedication to the game.

Not only that, but players needed to complete challenges such as dealing damage, getting eliminations, and surviving matches. With the game in its infancy, this meant learning skills from scratch. According to stats website FortniteTracker, the average player only won 2% of their Season 2 matches – winning was not easy.

All this effort meant Black Knight was a status symbol for overcoming Fortnite‘s early challenges and mastering the emerging Battle Royale genre. Having the skin showed you forged your skills in Fortnite‘s early days.

Purchasing the Battle Pass

Beyond the grinding, acquiring the Black Knight skin required purchasing the Season 2 Battle Pass for 950 V-bucks, equivalent to around $10.

While that may sound trivial, in Fortnite‘s early days many players were still skeptical of in-game purchases. Cosmetic skins themselves were a new phenomenon, and the value of the Battle Pass was unproven. Players were stingier with purchases compared to today‘s landscape where skins are hugely popular.

Willingly buying into Season 2‘s Battle Pass showed dedication to Fortnite itself. Players had faith the game would stick around and committed to unlocking everything on offer. Those who invested early reaped the rewards.

Psychology of Rare Skins

Epic only sells skins for a limited time, after which they are vaulted and unobtainable if you missed out. This has created a psychology around cosmetics – having rare skins bestows a special status.

Reasons players covet rare skins:

• Accomplishment – Shows you put in the effort other players didn‘t.
• Exclusivity – Not everyone can own it.
• Nostalgia – Triggers fond memories of playing during that time.
• Showing Off – Flaunt your OG status and early adoption.
• Economics – Basic supply and demand. Scarcity increases perceived value.

The Black Knight skin checks every box above. It was tremendously difficult to acquire in the early days, so wearing it displays dedication from the start. It also shows off your OG status and brings nostalgia to a simpler time in Fortnite.

And with supply extremely limited and demand growing over time as the player base balloons, its economic value has skyrocketed.

Black Knight‘s Art and Lore

Beyond its rarity, the Black Knight has a fearsome presence and amazing aesthetic design that adds to its popularity. It fits the intimidating medieval theme perfectly with its black armor and horns.

The lore describes Black Knight as an "evil and cruel knight" who "delivers harsh justice on the battlefield." Its menacing look matches this brutal reputation.

For players wanting to roleplay as a powerful dark knight wielding a giant axe harvesting victories on the battlefield, the Black Knight is perfect. Its sinister style makes it stand out.

Famous Players Repping Black Knight

Many top streamers and competitive players rocking the Black Knight skin adds to its legend and recognition. Well-known names displaying their OG status with Black Knight include:

• Ninja
• Myth
• NickMercs
• SypherPK
• Daequan
• Dakotaz

Seeing your favorite entertainers embracing Black Knight gives it credibility. These big names express love for their rare skin from Fortnite‘s early seasons.

Extremely Limited Supply

Rarity ultimately comes down to supply and demand. For the Black Knight skin, supply is as limited as it gets due to being locked in Season 2‘s Battle Pass over 4 years ago now.

Epic has never re-released the Black Knight in the Item Shop or brought it back in later Battle Passes. It remains exclusive to those dedicated few who put in the effort all the way back in Season 2.

Comparing Rarity to Other OG Skins

The Black Knight is in the same ultra-rare echelon as a few other OG Fortnite skins:

Like the Black Knight skin, these were all only available in the early seasons of Fortnite. They require owning an account created in 2017-2018 to acquire. Each of these are over 3 years old now and will likely never be rereleased.

The Black Knight stands among these iconic skins as prime examples of OG status in Fortnite lore.

Soaring Value and Demand Over Time

Over Fortnite‘s evolution, demand for rare skins like Black Knight has steadily increased as the player base grew from millions to hundreds of millions. With supply completely fixed, prices have responded accordingly.

Today, original Fortnite accounts with the Black Knight skin sell for anywhere from $1000 to over $2000. And prices are likely to keep rising over time as more new players try to buy their way into the OG club.

A Truly Timeless Classic

Epic has rereleased many old skins, gliders, emotes, and other cosmetics over the years. This has dampened the rarity of most early cosmetics. But Black Knight remains one of the only skins yet to return.

In my opinion, the Black Knight‘s imposing design and deep roots in Fortnite history ensure it will remain an iconic skin for years to come. Five years from now, seeing those black wings on the battlefield will still induce fear and awe.

For those lucky few who acquired the Black Knight skin originally, it‘s a cosmetic to cherish. And for others hoping to join their ranks, paying homage to this legendary medieval knight won‘t come cheap. But that sky-high price only reflects just how special owning this rare OG skin is.