Why is Black Knight so rare?

The Black Knight skin has become one of the most elusive and coveted skins in Fortnite. Its prestige comes from being one of the rarest OG skins from the early seasons of the game. I‘ll explain here what makes it so difficult to get your hands on Black Knight even today.

Only 0.16% of Early Players Unlocked Black Knight

Epic Games reported Fortnite had about 45 million players globally during Season 2. Data suggests only around 73,000 of them unlocked the Black Knight skin by reaching Battle Pass Tier 70 – that‘s around 0.16% of the entire player base! Even at Tier 100, only 2% of players got John Wick in the same pass.

Black Knight Rewarded the Most Dedicated Players

The reason so few could get Black Knight was the massive grind required. Unlike seasonal skins today that can be unlocked in the last week, getting Black Knight meant playing from the start of Season 2 all the way through 10 grueling weeks of challenges. Only the most dedicated early adopters could reach Tier 70 before time ran out.

Here‘s How Black Knight Compares to Other Rare Skins

As you can see, Black Knight had the most restrictive unlock criteria of any original skin.

Fortnite‘s Player Base Has Grown Over 40X Since Season 2

Epic Games reported over 350 million Fortnite players as of May 2022. Compare this to the estimated 45 million in February 2018 during Season 2 – that‘s over 40X growth in 4 years! With such an exponentially larger player pool now, skins from early seasons have become priceless trophies.

Why Hasn‘t Epic Re-released Black Knight?

Some rare skins like Skull Trooper have appeared in the shop again to give new players a chance to own a piece of history. However, Black Knight remains the one OG skin Epic has kept exclusive. This is likely to preserve its prestige as the ultimate status symbol of early Fortnite mastery.

You‘ll Never See it in Gameplay Again

Popular streamer Ninja said about his Black Knight skin: "This game has been out for years now. No one will ever, ever be able to get this skin again." And he‘s right – no re-release or re-color means you‘ll never see this OG skin in your gameplay.

Owning Black Knight Commands Respect

Simply equipping Black Knight in the pre-game lobby is enough to get reactions from teammates and opponents. Streamers like Tfue and Myth have spoken about seeing the skin and immediately knowing they‘re facing off against an old-school player. It just has that aura of intimidation and prestige.

Accounts With Black Knight Sell for Thousands

Rare skin accounts are in hot demand, and those with Black Knight easily fetch the highest prices. On marketplace sites like eBay, accounts with Black Knight regularly sell for $100 to even over $1,000. Even single sign-on access to accounts are being sold just to temporarily use this exclusive skin.

For fans who dream of owning even a small piece of Fortnite history, the Black Knight continues to remain highly coveted yet elusive. In many ways, its rarity and prestige have only grown over time. So if you spot this ominous dark knight in your game, take a moment to admire a true OG!