The best Fortnite skins and how to get them

Few online video games offer the same level of customization as Fortnite does. With its ever-changing map and a giant assortment of items to collect, part of what makes Fortnite so fun is being able to create your own unique sense of style. The coolest battle royale outfits are some of the rarest and exclusive items in the game, usually requiring you to get some V-bucks or invest in a battle pass to get them.

As Fortnite has grown in popularity, more licensed characters have been implemented, from franchises like Star Wars to Marvel and other famous properties. Some cosmetic skins, such as Wolverine or Kratos, were only available for a limited time as part of an event or holiday. As such, some of the best skins aren’t even available anymore, unfortunately. But sometimes skins reappear, so it’s always good to check out the Item Shop when you jump into the game.

With that in mind, here’s a list of the best Fortnite skins ever released from launch all the way into chapter 3, season 2. We’ll also cover how to unlock them and estimate when they might be available to buy from the Item Shop again.

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Ariana Grande

Kicking off the list is none other than Ariana Grande, a character skin that was first available in August 2021. This skin is based on the pop icon, similar to the Travis Scott outfit. It’s absolutely wild to see musicians make their way into Fortnite, and we’re hoping for more to be added in the future. Ariana was available to purchase from the Item Shop as recently as March 2022, so it’ll be a while before she reappears.

Batman

Let’s kick things off with one of the most popular heroes of all time: None other than Batman. This skin was first available in 2019 during chapter 1, season 10, and was buyable through the Fortnite Item Shop. If you purchased the Batman Caped Crusader Pack Bundle, you got a Batwing glider, the Christopher Nolan Batman skin, a set of capes, and a fancy pickax to complete the set. It’s not available anymore, sadly, but it’s possible we’ll see it again sometime. Batman did make a reappearance in the Item Shop on July 10, 2020, so we’re definitely overdue for another chance to buy the skin.

Black Panther

To honor the Marvel franchise, as well as the tragic passing of actor Chadwick Boseman, Fortnite featured the Black Panther skin earlier in chapter 2, season 5. The skin, along with a slew of extra goodies, were available through the Item Shop but have since been delisted — though the skin did make a brief appearance for a couple of days after originally being added as part of the Royalty and Warriors packs, so it’s possible we’ll get another chance to buy the Black Panther skin in Fortnite.

Bugha

This skin is fascinating because it’s based on a real-life Fortnite player. Modeled after Kyle “Bugha” Giersdorf, this skin was available from the Item Shop for 1,500 V-bucks. Or, you were able to get the Bugha Bundle, which came with an emote and harvesting tool for 1,800 V-bucks. This is one that will likely reappear in the store if you miss it, as cosmetics in the Item Shop are known for coming back every now and again. It was last available in August 2021.

Captain America

First making an appearance during Fortnite chapter 2, season 3, Captain America was buyable from the Item Shop for 2,000 V-bucks. This famous Marvel character has made frequent appearances in the Item Shop after being initially delisted — showing up as recently as December 29, 2021. Considering the popularity of this character, it’s highly likely Captain America will reappear in the Item Shop in a few months — perhaps later this summer.

Crackshot

If you want to creep other players out, then this is the best Fortnite skin to do it with. Going toe to toe with a giant wily nutcracker is definitely fuel for nightmares, but once you get past his off-putting appearance, it’s actually kind of hilarious. This legendary skin was exclusive to the 2018 holiday event for around 2,000 V-bucks. It has since been removed from the Item Shop, though it sometimes pops up during seasonal events, and was recently available on January 5, 2022.

Daredevil

Upon its initial release, it was possible to earn the Daredevil skin for free by placing it within a certain ranking during a tournament during chapter 2, season 4. After that, Daredevil was implemented into the Item Shop and could be purchased for 1,500 V-bucks. It has since been delisted, but like many Marvel characters, it has reappeared within the Item Shop as recently as December 29, 2021. It will likely show up once again, perhaps later this summer.

Daryl Dixon

The Walking Dead‘s Daryl Dixon skin was first added to the Fortnite Item Shop in December. You could purchase it for 1,800 V-bucks, as well as the Michonne skin, as part of the Survivors in Arms set. It’s no longer available to buy, but it did reappear on October 16, 2021, so it’s possible the skin will reappear again soon, likely to coincide with the upcoming spinoff show.

Deadpool

As one of the most popular Fortnite skins, you probably have seen lots of players using the Deadpool outfit. It was available as part of the chapter 2, season 2 battle pass, and is no longer obtainable. At the time, you could earn this skin without having to buy it from the Item Shop, but since season 2 has concluded, there’s no telling if you’ll be able to get your hands on the Deadpool outfit again. There have been other Deadpool-related items added to the Item Shop afterward, like the Cuddlepool and Ravenpool skins.

Doctor Slone

Doctor Slone is, simply put, one of the best Fortnite characters ever created — not just due to her importance in the storyline, but also because she’s featured prominently as a Black woman leading the charge during chapter 2, season 7. To unlock her, you had to have purchased the chapter 2, season 7 battle pass, and then used stars to buy Doctor Slone. It was a bit of a long process, but if you were playing regularly throughout chapter 2, season 7, you should have earned enough currency to unlock her. Currently, this character skin is unobtainable, sadly.

Doctor Strange

To coincide with his new movie, Doctor Strange is available as part of the Fortnite chapter 3, season 2 battle pass. This will be one of the last rewards you unlock from the battle pass since it requires so many stars, but if you play frequently throughout the season, you’ll unlock the skin eventually. Since this one is tied to the battle pass, it’s unlikely you’ll be able to get your hands on it again after the season ends.

Galaxy

The Galaxy skin is one of the most sought-after and controversial skins ever and for a good reason. As we covered in our guide on how to unlock it, this cosmetic was only available to players who purchased a Samsung Galaxy S6 phone or S4 tablet. This didn’t stop players from showing up to stores that had demo phones and tablets that they would use to nab this cool galactic outfit. After all, this skin is truly out of this world.

Ghost Rider

Similar to Daredevil, you could have earned the Ghost Rider skin by placing within a certain ranking during a Fortnite tournament in 2020, granting you access to the skin for free. Following the conclusion of the tournament, Ghost Rider has been added to the Item Shop multiple times, where you could buy the skin for 1,5000 V-bucks. In fact, the skin was available as recently as December 29, 2021, and will likely reappear later this summer.

The Ice King

In the midst of the wintery chapter 1, season 7, the most elusive reward was the Ice King skin, only available for players who reach the coveted tier 100 in that season’s battle pass. The Ice King skin is cool, terrifying, and epic all at the same time. It’s one of the best skins around if you want to strike fear and envy into the hearts of your foes on the battlefield.

The Joker

Available through the Last Laugh set, The Joker is, of course, one of the most famous supervillains of all time. This bundle was buyable for $30 and also included Poison Ivy and Midas Rex and has reappeared in the Item Shop after its initial release. This set is different from many others in that you must buy it with real money, but the nice thing is that it comes with 1,000 V-bucks. It was available as recently as March 9, 2021, and will likely reappear in the Item Shop.

Kratos

This is one of the most interesting skins because it’s based on a character who is exclusive to PlayStation. Despite this, you could have acquired the Kratos skin across any version of Fortnite, regardless of platform (yes, even Xbox). The main character of the beloved God of War series could be purchased from the Item Shop for 1,500 V-bucks when it was available and has been listed multiple times. It was originally available toward the end of 2020 but was buyable as recently as March 19, 2021.

Kymera

The Kymera is unique because it’s the only skin that offers customization, with over 2,000 different combinations to choose from. You can add different eyes, horns, skin colors, and head shapes that are unlocked as you earn Alien Artifacts. To get your hands on this skin, you simply needed to have purchased the chapter 2, season 7 battle pass, which you might’ve already done if you’re reading this.

Lara Croft

Lara Croft, the star of the acclaimed Tomb Raider series, was available during chapter 2, season 6 of Fortnite. With that season focusing on a Primal theme, it was fitting to see the adventurer heroine included. To unlock her, you needed to have purchased the battle pass and leveled it up to 15. Unfortunately, the character is not available for purchase anymore, and it’s unlikely she will be included in the game again.

LeBron James

LBron James in Fortnite. — Image used with permission by copyright holder

NBA player and star of Space Jam: A New Legacy, LeBron James was available to purchase in Fortnite. There were a handful of styles and different pieces of gear you could get with LeBron, but the skin is no longer available, unfortunately. The skin’s last appearance was on July 28, 2021, and it’s unclear if it’ll be added back into the gam again.

Lynx

Lynx is a bit like Catwoman mixed with the beloved Omega skin. It not only looks like a female version of the Omega skin in its black form-fitting outfit but also has several other colors to choose from. If you don’t like the sleek catsuit, Lynx can also look like a pop star. Unfortunately, it was only available as part of the chapter 1, season 7 battle pass, and is no longer obtainable.

Mandalorian

Kicking off chapter 2, season 5 of Fortnite, all players gained access to Din Djarin from The Mandalorian. This skin was available right from the start of the season with no stipulations. There was also a secondary Beskar Armor set that could be unlocked by completing various challenges during season 5’s duration. Currently, there’s no way to get your hands on this skin, but it’s possible it will be reintroduced at a later date.

Master Chief

Master Chief is yet another character from a franchise that is exclusive to one platform. The star of Xbox’s Halo series made an appearance in Fortnite during The Game Awards 2020 and could be purchased for 1,500 V-bucks. Much like Kratos, Master Chief was available across all platforms, despite Halo being exclusive to Xbox. The character has since been buyable from the Item Shop on more than one occasion, as recently as May 9, 2022.

Meowscles

Meowscle in Fortnite. — Image used with permission by copyright holder

This list wouldn’t be complete without everyone’s favorite calico cat spy agent, Meowscles. Also introduced in the chapter 1, season 12 battle pass at tier 60, this swole boy is a highly-customizable cat-man. By completing the weekly challenges, you can pledge your allegiance to Ghost or Shadow and have his fur color change in the process.

Midas

Midas is the crowning jewel of chapter 1, season 12. Only unlocked at tier 100, this skin is a handsome leader of the spies who has that golden touch. The default skin is solid, with Midas having a concrete-like skin color with some gold elements. However, the Ghost and Shadow variants elevate the skin further, making his body entirely gold with a gray or black suit.

Naruto

As one of the most popular anime/manga series of all time, Naruto was featured in Fortnite as a buyable skin from the Item Shop. This character was available for 1,500 V-bucks when it launched in November 2021 and was featured as recently as March 2022. Because of this, it’ll likely be summertime before you’ll be able to buy this skin again, so keep your eyes peeled.

Predator

As part of chapter 2, season 5, players had the ability to unlock the Predator skin in Fortnite for free! All you had to do was complete certain in-game challenges, which we covered extensively here. Unlike most skins on this list, you did not need to buy the Predator skin. In addition to the skin, you were able to unlock a few Predator-themed cosmetics, such as a weapon skin, emote, and spray — each available by completing certain challenges. The skin is no longer available and it’s unclear if it will make a return.

The Reaper

We love Easter eggs in games, and the Reaper skin in Fortnite is definitely one of them. This tall man dressed in all black as if he’s some kind of undercover agent is a reference to Keanu Reeves’ character in John Wick. Unfortunately, this legendary skin is no longer available since it was an exclusive item for tier 100 on the chapter 1, season 3 battle pass. Though there was also an official John Wick skin that came out after, this one still holds a soft spot in our hearts for the countless memes.

Rebirth Raven

Raven from Fortnite. — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Arguably the best skin of Fortnite during chapter 2, season 6 was Rebirth Raven. You might remember Raven from DC Comics’ Teen Titans as one of the leading stars. This one was another outfit tied to the battle pass and was unlocked at level 77. Sadly, this skin is no longer obtainable since it was tied to a previous season’s battle pass. Here’s hoping Epic allows players to acquire her once again at a later time.

Rey

Rey in Fortnite. — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Rey, one of the main protagonists of the recent Star Wars films, was available to purchase in Fortnite‘s Item Shop toward the end of 2019. The character was buyable for 1,500 V-bucks, alongside other Star Wars heroes/villains, but has unfortunately been delisted. The nice thing is that Rey and the others were re-added to the Item Shop after the first appearance, so there is hope we’ll see them again. The last time you could buy Rey was in May 2022 for Star Wars day.

Rick Sanchez

Rick and Morty’s Rick Sanchez was available as a playable character in Fortnite as part of chapter 2, season 7. This was a notable inclusion because the art style is so vastly different from Fortnite’s. Rather than trying to change the character to suit the game’s style, Epic Games opted to keep Rick as he is in the show, thick outlines and all. To unlock Rick, you needed to simply purchase the battle pass for that season. Rick is no longer available, but it’s possible he’ll make a return.

Spider-Man

Unsurprisingly, Spider-Man was featured in Fortnite and was available as a battle pass reward during chapter 2, season 1. There was a different Spider-Man skin available around the same time, which was based on the No Way Home movie, but to acquire the comic book version shown above, you needed to have completed the battle pass during season 1. Because of this, you likely won’t be able to get it again, but at least you can expect to see the movie version reappear later this summer.

T-800

It’s pretty wild to see a deadly Terminator T-800 in such a colorful game, but here we are. The T-800 was first available during chapter 2, season 5, and could be bought from the Item Shop for 1,500 V-bucks. T-800 isn’t in the game anymore, but it’s possible the skin will come back at some point in the future. It was last buyable in March 2021, so we could see it again later this summer.

Travis Scott

Initially available to buy from the Fortnite Item Shop in April 2020, rapper Travis Scott is one of the most sought-after skins in the game. While it was available, you could buy the skin for 1,500 V-bucks. Since the outfit was delisted from the Item Shop, it has not made a reappearance, so it’s unlikely players will be able to acquire it if they missed it the first time. You might recall the popular in-game Travis Scott concert that occurred last year, which attracted 27 million players.

Venom

As one of the most beloved Marvel villains ever, Venom was added to the Fortnite Item Shop toward the end of 2020. At the time, you could buy Venom for 2,000 V-bucks, along with the villain’s emote and Back Bling. After its debut, Venom didn’t appear in the Item Shop until March of 2021, so this is a good sign for players who couldn’t get it the first time. The skin was recently available on December 29, 2021.

Wolverine

Wolverine was obtainable through Fortnite’s chapter 2, season 4 battle pass but has since been discontinued. At the time, you could earn the character by leveling up the battle pass, and other Wolverine cosmetics were available by finishing certain challenges. Since this character was never available to buy in the Item Shop, it’s unlikely it will be added in the future. Even so, there’s a good chance you already acquired this skin when you completed season 4.

Xenomorph

Finally, one of the coolest skins ever to be implemented into Fortnite is the Xenomorph from the Aliens series. Just look at this thing. It first made an appearance in the Item Shop in February 2021 and was buyable for 1,600 V-bucks. Since it reappeared in December 2021, we’ll likely see it once again later this summer.