Fortnite has thousands of cosmetics, but rare emotes hit differently. Some were locked behind old Battle Passes, some appeared in the Item Shop for only a day or two, and others were tied to limited-time collaborations or device promotions that may never return.
As of May 2026, rarity is not just about how old an emote is. It also depends on how it was released, when it was last available, whether it was tied to a promotion, and whether Epic Games is likely to bring it back. The Fortnite Item Shop refreshes daily, so any Item Shop emote can technically return unless it is blocked by licensing, exclusivity, or special event restrictions.
Quick Look: Rarest Fortnite Emotes in 2026
| Rank | Emote | Why It Is Rare |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fresh | Last seen in 2018 |
| 2 | Hot Marat | Free promo, only two shop appearances |
| 3 | Scenario | Samsung Galaxy S10 exclusive |
| 4 | Kiss The Cup | Last seen in 2019 |
| 5 | Head Banger | Travis Scott set, gone since 2020 |
| 6 | Zombie Shambles | Appeared only once |
| 7 | Raise The Cup | Limited football celebration emote |
| 8 | Out With The Old | New Year emote last seen in 2021 |
| 9 | It’s Complicated | Long-vaulted shop emote |
| 10 | Stuck | Only appeared for two days |
| 11 | Laugh It Up | Confrontational emote, gone since 2022 |
| 12 | Rambunctious | Rare Fresh Prince-inspired emote |
| 13 | The Worm | Season 2 Battle Pass exclusive |
| 14 | Best Mates | Season 3 Battle Pass exclusive |
| 15 | The Robot | Season 3 Tier 95 Battle Pass reward |
1. Fresh
Release Date: December 16, 2017
Last Seen: November 21, 2018
How to Get in 2026: Currently unavailable
Fresh is still one of the most famous rare Fortnite emotes ever released. Inspired by the Carlton-style dance from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, it became an instant OG flex during Fortnite’s early years.
What makes Fresh special is its long absence. It has not appeared in the Item Shop since November 21, 2018, making it one of the longest-vaulted Fortnite emotes still remembered by players today.
2. Hot Marat
Release Date: November 24, 2018
Last Seen: November 25, 2018
How to Get in 2026: Currently unavailable
Hot Marat was a free promotional emote released for the Ralph Breaks the Internet crossover. It was available for a very short window and appeared only two times before disappearing.
Because it was free, many players skipped it without realizing it would become one of the rarest emotes in Fortnite history. Its short availability window makes it a true collector’s item in 2026. (Fortnite.GG)
3. Scenario
Release Date: March 8, 2019
Source: Samsung Galaxy S10 promotion
How to Get in 2026: Currently unavailable
Scenario is one of the most recognizable exclusive Fortnite emotes. It was part of the iKONIK set and was originally available through the Samsung Galaxy S10, S10+, and S10e promotion.
Unlike regular Item Shop emotes, Scenario was not something players could simply buy with V-Bucks. Samsung announced the promotion as a Galaxy S10 exclusive, which is why Scenario remains one of the most desired Fortnite emotes in 2026. (Samsung Global Newsroom)
4. Kiss The Cup
Release Date: July 27, 2019
Last Seen: July 28, 2019
How to Get in 2026: Currently unavailable
Kiss The Cup is a rare victory-style emote that celebrates winning like a champion. It appeared briefly in the Item Shop and has not had a normal rotation since 2019.
Its short shop history makes it even rarer than many older Battle Pass emotes, especially because newer Fortnite players had almost no chance to buy it.
5. Head Banger
Release Date: April 22, 2020
Last Seen: April 27, 2020
How to Get in 2026: Currently unavailable
Head Banger was released as part of the Travis Scott Astronomical event era. It cost 300 V-Bucks and appeared only during a short window in April 2020.
Because the Travis Scott cosmetics have stayed vaulted for years, Head Banger has become one of the rarest Icon Series emotes in Fortnite. Its connection to a huge live event also makes it more memorable than many normal shop emotes.
6. Zombie Shambles
Release Date: November 6, 2020
Last Seen: November 6, 2020
How to Get in 2026: Currently unavailable
Zombie Shambles is one of the strangest cases in Fortnite emote history. It appeared only once in the Item Shop during Chapter 2, Season 4 and then disappeared.
The emote lets players walk around like a classic zombie, making it perfect for Fortnitemares. However, even with multiple Halloween events since then, Zombie Shambles has not returned. Fortnite.GG lists only one occurrence for this emote, which is why it deserves a high place on this list.
7. Raise The Cup
Release Date: August 20, 2020
Last Seen: August 2020
How to Get in 2026: Currently unavailable
Raise The Cup is a simple but iconic celebration emote. It was tied to competitive football-style celebration energy and appeared for a very short time in the Item Shop.
It is not as flashy as some Icon Series dances, but its rarity comes from its limited availability. Players who bought it in 2020 now own one of the hardest-to-find celebration emotes in Fortnite.
8. Out With The Old
Release Date: December 29, 2020
Last Seen: January 1, 2021
How to Get in 2026: Currently unavailable
Out With The Old was released as a New Year-themed emote at the end of 2020. It appeared for only a few days and has not returned since January 1, 2021.
Because it is tied so closely to a specific New Year moment, Epic may not prioritize bringing it back. That makes it a strong rare pick for players who collect forgotten seasonal cosmetics.
9. It’s Complicated
Release Date: August 25, 2020
Last Seen: August 21, 2021
How to Get in 2026: Currently unavailable
It’s Complicated is a Rare dance emote that has been gone from the Item Shop since 2021. It appeared more often than Zombie Shambles or Hot Marat, but its long absence has pushed it into rare territory.
In 2026, it stands out as one of those emotes many players remember seeing but never bought. That regret factor is part of what keeps demand high.
10. Stuck
Release Date: September 6, 2021
Last Seen: September 7, 2021
How to Get in 2026: Currently unavailable
Stuck is an Icon Series emote that appeared for only two days. It quickly vanished from the Item Shop and has not returned since.
That short release window makes Stuck one of the rarest modern Fortnite emotes. Unlike old Chapter 1 cosmetics, this one came out when Fortnite already had a massive player base, yet very few players had time to grab it.
11. Laugh It Up
Release Date: June 4, 2018
Last Seen: May 19, 2022
How to Get in 2026: Currently unavailable
Laugh It Up is one of the most infamous Fortnite emotes ever made. The donkey-laugh sound made it a popular taunt after eliminations, and many players still associate it with toxic endgame moments.
Epic later added the See Confrontational Emotes setting, which applies to Laugh It Up, Take the L, Whipcrack, and Make it Plantain. When this setting is limited, players may see the character standing still with no emote sound instead.
12. Rambunctious
Release Date: June 9, 2018
Last Seen: December 7, 2022
How to Get in 2026: Currently unavailable
Rambunctious is another rare emote linked to The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air dance influence. It returned briefly in 2022 after years away, but it has not become a regular Item Shop rotation item.
Even though it is not as long-vaulted as Fresh, Rambunctious is still rare because of its limited appearances and strong nostalgic value.
13. The Worm
Release Date: December 14, 2017
Source: Season 2 Battle Pass, Tier 28
How to Get in 2026: Currently unavailable
The Worm is one of the oldest Battle Pass emotes in Fortnite. Players could unlock it by reaching Tier 28 of the Season 2 Battle Pass.
Because it came from such an early season, The Worm is now a major OG flex. If someone uses it in a lobby, there is a good chance they have been playing Fortnite since the early days.
14. Best Mates
Release Date: February 22, 2018
Source: Season 3 Battle Pass, Tier 63
How to Get in 2026: Currently unavailable
Best Mates became a meme almost immediately after its release. The goofy walk, swinging arms, and catchy movement made it one of the most loved Fortnite emotes from Chapter 1.
It was unlocked through the Season 3 Battle Pass at Tier 63. Since it has not returned as a standard shop item, Best Mates remains one of the most recognizable rare emotes in 2026.
15. The Robot
Release Date: February 22, 2018
Source: Season 3 Battle Pass, Tier 95
How to Get in 2026: Currently unavailable
The Robot was a high-tier Season 3 Battle Pass reward. Players had to reach Tier 95, which made it harder to unlock than Best Mates.
It is not just rare because it is old. It is rare because only dedicated Season 3 players who progressed deep into the Battle Pass could unlock it. That makes The Robot one of the strongest OG emote flexes in Fortnite.
Why Are Some Fortnite Emotes So Rare?
Some Fortnite emotes become rare because they are tied to limited-time events, collaborations, old Battle Passes, or promotions. Others disappear because of licensing issues, controversy, or because Epic simply chooses not to rotate them back into the Item Shop.
The important thing to know in 2026 is that Fortnite’s Battle Pass rules have changed for newer passes. Epic’s current Battle Pass page says Battle Pass items may appear in the Fortnite Shop at least 18 months after the pass expires, but that does not guarantee every item will return.
Can You Still Get Rare Fortnite Emotes in 2026?
Some rare Item Shop emotes could return someday, but many of the emotes on this list are currently unavailable. Battle Pass emotes from old seasons, device-exclusive emotes like Scenario, and short-lived promotional emotes are much harder to bring back.
Do not buy Fortnite accounts just to get rare emotes. Epic says account buying, selling, or sharing is not allowed and is against its Terms of Service. (Epic Games Store)
Is Boogie Down Rare?
Boogie Down is popular, but it should not be ranked as one of the rarest Fortnite emotes in 2026. Epic still lists Boogie Down as a reward for enabling two-factor authentication on your Epic Games account.
That means Boogie Down is better described as a free security reward, not an unavailable rare emote. (Epic Games Store)
Honorable Mentions
Some emotes are still worth mentioning even if they did not make the top 15:
Groove Jam – A Season 4 Battle Pass Tier 95 emote and one of Fortnite’s most iconic old-school dances. (Fortnite.GG)
Hype – A Season 4 Battle Pass Tier 63 emote that became one of the most recognizable Fortnite dances. (Fortnite Wiki)
Leave The Door Open – A Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak Icon Series emote that has not returned since October 2022. (Fortnite.GG)
Rage – A Travis Scott challenge emote from the Astronomical era, making it rare for the same reason Head Banger is rare. (Fortnite.GG)
Final Verdict
The rarest Fortnite emotes in 2026 are not always the loudest or flashiest ones. Some are rare because they appeared for only one day. Others are rare because they were locked behind old Battle Passes or one-time promotions.
If you want the strongest rare emote flex, Fresh, Hot Marat, Scenario, Kiss The Cup, Head Banger, and Zombie Shambles are some of the biggest names to know. But if you see someone using The Worm, Best Mates, or The Robot, you are probably looking at a true Chapter 1 veteran.
FAQs
What is the rarest Fortnite emote in 2026?
Fresh is one of the rarest Fortnite emotes in 2026 because it has not returned to the Item Shop since November 2018. Hot Marat, Scenario, Kiss The Cup, Head Banger, and Zombie Shambles are also among the rarest.
Can rare Fortnite emotes come back?
Some Item Shop emotes can return at any time, but promotional, exclusive, or old Battle Pass emotes are much harder to bring back. Epic also decides shop rotations, so there is never a guaranteed return date.
Can I get old Battle Pass emotes now?
Most old Battle Pass emotes from Chapter 1 are currently unavailable. Newer Battle Pass rules allow some items to possibly return after 18 months, but that does not mean every old Battle Pass reward will return.
Is Laugh It Up banned in Fortnite?
Laugh It Up is not banned, but it is part of Fortnite’s See Confrontational Emotes setting. Players can limit or hide certain confrontational emotes in their settings.
Can I trade Fortnite emotes with another player?
No. Fortnite does not allow players to trade cosmetics or emotes with each other. The only safe way to get cosmetics is through official Fortnite methods.
