How Rare is Royale Knight in Fortnite?
The Royale Knight skin in Fortnite is considered a moderately rare skin. It’s not the absolute rarest, like the Aerial Assault Trooper, but it definitely holds some prestige due to its availability being limited to the Season 2 Battle Pass. If you see someone rocking the Royale Knight, it means they were playing Fortnite back in the early days and either invested in the battle pass or played enough to reach Tier 21. The skin is a symbol of veteran status, marking them as a player who has been around for a considerable amount of time.
Understanding Fortnite Skin Rarity
Before diving deeper into the Royale Knight, let’s establish what determines a skin’s rarity in Fortnite. Several factors contribute to this:
- Availability: Skins that were only available for a limited time, such as through Battle Passes or specific events, are generally rarer. Once the opportunity to acquire them passes, they’re gone for good (usually).
- Battle Pass Tier: Skins earned at higher tiers in Battle Passes tend to be rarer as they required more playtime and dedication to unlock.
- Item Shop Rotation: Skins that appear frequently in the Item Shop are common. Those that haven’t been seen in the shop for a long time become increasingly rare.
- Season of Release: Skins from early seasons (1 and 2) of Fortnite are significantly rarer because the game had a smaller player base back then. Fewer players were around to acquire them when they were initially available.
The Royale Knight: A Season 2 Relic
The Royale Knight was introduced during Fortnite’s Season 2. Back then, the game was gaining popularity but hadn’t yet reached its peak. This means fewer players participated in the Battle Pass, making the skins from that season relatively scarce. The Royale Knight was obtainable by reaching Tier 21 of the Season 2 Battle Pass.
This places it in a unique position. It wasn’t the hardest skin to unlock in that Battle Pass (that honor belongs to the Black Knight), but it still required commitment. Players had to actively play and complete challenges to progress through the tiers. Consequently, the Royale Knight is more common than the Black Knight but rarer than the Blue Squire, which was available immediately upon purchasing the Battle Pass.
Why Royale Knight Retains Its Value
Even though the Royale Knight isn’t the rarest of the rare, it still possesses significant value within the Fortnite community for a few reasons:
- OG Status: It’s a classic “OG” skin. This means it’s a testament to a player’s long-term involvement with the game, and showing this in the game makes other people know about how long you have been in the game.
- Simplicity: The skin’s design is relatively simple compared to some of the more elaborate skins released later on. This understated aesthetic appeals to many players who prefer a less flashy look.
- Nostalgia: It evokes a sense of nostalgia for the early days of Fortnite, a time before the game became a global phenomenon.
Comparing Royale Knight to Other Rare Skins
To truly appreciate the Royale Knight’s rarity, it’s helpful to compare it to other sought-after skins:
- Aerial Assault Trooper: Arguably the rarest skin in the game, obtainable in the Season 1 Item Shop only.
- Renegade Raider: Another extremely rare skin from Season 1, requiring both a level requirement and a V-Bucks purchase.
- Black Knight: The final reward of the Season 2 Battle Pass, considered rarer than Royale Knight due to the higher tier requirement.
- Red Knight: An Item Shop skin that was initially very rare but has returned to the shop multiple times, diminishing its rarity.
- Galaxy Skin: Obtained through purchasing a specific Samsung device, making it exclusive and rare.
Considering these comparisons, the Royale Knight sits comfortably in the upper echelon of rare Fortnite skins, though not at the very peak.
The Impact of Re-Releases
A key factor influencing a skin’s rarity is whether it gets re-released. Many once-rare Item Shop skins have returned, significantly reducing their value in the eyes of collectors. The Royale Knight, however, has never been re-released since its initial availability in Season 2. This contributes significantly to its continued perceived rarity.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Was the Royale Knight skin a battle pass exclusive?
Yes, the Royale Knight was exclusively available as a reward for reaching Tier 21 of the Season 2 Battle Pass.
2. Can you still get the Royale Knight skin in Fortnite?
No, the Royale Knight skin is no longer obtainable. Once Season 2 ended, the Battle Pass was removed, and the Royale Knight has never returned to the Item Shop.
3. Is the Royale Knight rarer than the Black Knight?
No, the Black Knight is considered rarer. It was the final reward of the Season 2 Battle Pass, requiring more playtime and dedication to unlock than the Royale Knight.
4. Is the Royale Knight rarer than the Blue Squire?
Yes, the Royale Knight is rarer than the Blue Squire. The Blue Squire was available immediately upon purchasing the Season 2 Battle Pass, making it much more common.
5. Has the Royale Knight ever been in the Item Shop?
No, the Royale Knight has never been available in the Item Shop. It was exclusively a Battle Pass reward.
6. What season was the Royale Knight in Fortnite?
The Royale Knight was introduced in Season 2 of Fortnite: Battle Royale.
7. How much did the Season 2 Battle Pass cost?
The Season 2 Battle Pass cost 950 V-Bucks.
8. Is the Red Knight skin rare in Fortnite?
The Red Knight was initially rare but has been re-released in the Item Shop multiple times, significantly reducing its rarity.
9. What is the rarest skin in Fortnite?
The Aerial Assault Trooper is generally considered the rarest skin in Fortnite.
10. Are Battle Pass skins ever re-released?
Generally, Battle Pass skins are not re-released in Fortnite. Epic Games has maintained that Battle Pass items are exclusive to their respective seasons.
11. What are “OG” skins in Fortnite?
“OG” skins refer to skins that were available in the early seasons of Fortnite (Seasons 1-3). They are highly valued by the community for their rarity and nostalgic appeal.
12. How does Fortnite determine skin rarity?
Skin rarity is determined by a combination of factors, including availability (Battle Pass vs. Item Shop), the season of release, and whether the skin has been re-released.
13. Is Fortnite still popular?
Yes, Fortnite remains one of the most popular video games in the world, with millions of active players.
14. Where can I learn more about game design and the learning potential of games?
You can explore more on game design, game-based learning, and the broader educational impact of video games at the Games Learning Society website: GamesLearningSociety.org. The Games Learning Society is a vibrant community of researchers, educators, and game developers dedicated to advancing the field of game-based learning.
15. Does the Royale Knight skin give any in-game advantages?
No, cosmetic skins in Fortnite, including the Royale Knight, provide no in-game advantages. They are purely aesthetic and do not affect gameplay.
Conclusion
The Royale Knight is a significant piece of Fortnite history. Its limited availability, association with Season 2, and never being re-released, all contribute to its enduring appeal and moderate rarity. While not the rarest of the rare, spotting a Royale Knight in a match signifies a player’s long-term commitment to the game. It’s a symbol of Fortnite’s early days, a badge of honor for those who were there from the start.