Top 10 Rarest Fortnite Emotes Ever Released

Emotes are one of the best parts of Fortnite. They let you celebrate wins, taunt opponents, and show off your collection in the lobby. Most emotes rotate through the Item Shop on a regular schedule, but some have vanished completely.

Many of Fortnite’s rarest emotes are no longer obtainable, having been tied to limited-time events, promotions, or early Battle Passes. Because of this, players often explore Fortnite accounts for sale to access emotes that are no longer available.

Legal battles, expired licensing deals, one-day promotions, and old Battle Passes have created a tier of emotes that most players will never own. These ten emotes represent the rarest animations in Fortnite, ranked by availability and cultural impact.

1. Fresh

The Fresh emote recreates Alfonso Ribeiro's iconic Carlton dance from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Smooth arm swings paired with side steps make it instantly recognizable, even to people who've never watched the show.

Released on December 16, 2017, Fresh had a decent run in the Item Shop before disappearing on November 21, 2018. Ribeiro filed a copyright lawsuit against Epic Games shortly after, and though he eventually dropped the charges in 2019, Epic never brought the emote back. Over 2,500 days have passed since its last appearance, making it the holy grail for collectors.

The community still requests Fresh regularly on forums and social media. Its combination of nostalgia, legal drama, and extreme rarity keeps it at the top of every "most wanted" list.

• Introduced: December 16, 2017

• Last seen: November 21, 2018

• Reason for rarity: Carlton dance copyright lawsuit with Alfonso Ribeiro

• Shop appearances: 32

• Current status: Over 2,500 days unavailable

2. Rambunctious

Rambunctious brings pure chaotic energy with exaggerated arm and leg movements. The dance pulls from Fresh Prince choreography, which means it shares the same legal problems as Fresh.

First released on June 9, 2018, Rambunctious cycled through the shop a handful of times before vanishing on December 7, 2022. Epic quietly removed it without explanation, and the Fresh Prince connection suggests it won't be coming back. The fast-paced, hilarious animation combined with its sudden removal has made it one of the most talked-about rare emotes in the community.

• Introduced: June 9, 2018

• Last seen: December 7, 2022

• Reason for rarity: Fresh Prince choreography, removed due to legal concerns

• Shop appearances: 8

• Current status: Over 3 years unavailable

Also Read: Top 10 Rarest Fortnite Gliders (And How to Get Them)

3. Hot Marat

Hot Marat Fortnite emote was Disney's first collaboration with Fortnite, released as a free promotion for Ralph Breaks the Internet. The emote features Ralph's awkward, goofy shuffle with quick footwork and swinging arms.

Epic gave players a two-day window in November 2018 to grab it for free. The emote appeared on November 24 and 25, 2018, then never returned. Limited licensing rights explain the disappearance, and over 2,600 days later, it remains one of the least-owned emotes in the game.

• Introduced: November 24, 2018

• Last seen: November 25, 2018

• Reason for rarity: Free Disney promotional emote with extremely limited availability

• Shop appearances: 1

• Current status: Over 2,600 days unavailable

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4. Kiss the Cup

Kiss the Cup arrived during the 2019 Fortnite World Cup as a celebration of competitive Fortnite's biggest moment. The animation shows your character lifting a golden trophy and planting a kiss on it, mimicking traditional sports victories.

Epic released it for 200 V-Bucks on July 27, 2019, and it stayed in the shop for exactly one day. It was last seen on July 28, 2019, and hasn't returned since. The event-specific nature means it's unlikely to ever come back, cementing its status as one of the rarest celebratory emotes in the game.

• Introduced: July 27, 2019

• Last seen: July 28, 2019

• Reason for rarity: One-day World Cup celebration, never re-released

• Shop appearances: 1

• Current status: Over 2,000 days unavailable

5. Zombie Shambles

The Zombie Shambles Fortnite emote captures the classic undead walk, featuring jerky movements, limp arms, and a dragging foot. Released during Chapter 2: Season 4 as part of the Halloween cosmetics lineup, it seemed destined to become a recurring Fortnitemares item.

Instead, it appeared for only one day, on November 6, 2020, at 200 V-Bucks and never returned. Multiple Fortnitemares events have come and gone since then without bringing it back, which is unusual for seasonal content. Over 1,500 days have passed, making it the rarest spooky emote in Fortnite.

• Introduced: November 6, 2020

• Last seen: November 6, 2020

• Reason for rarity: Single-day appearance, never returned for any Halloween event

• Shop appearances: 1

• Current status: Over 1,500 days unavailable

3. Tidy

Tidy is a smooth and relaxed emote inspired by Snoop Dogg’s dance from the “Drop It Like It’s Hot” music video. The animation is slower-paced than most emotes and has a rhythmic, swaying feel.

Tidy Emote first appeared in the Item Shop in April 2018 and was last seen on December 12, 2022. After that, it was removed without any official explanation. Many fans speculate that licensing complications led to its disappearance, especially given its close resemblance to a copyrighted dance.

Despite its brief availability, Tidy gained a strong following and is now one of the most requested emotes on community platforms such as Reddit.

• Introduced: April 30th, 2018 (in the Item Shop)

• Last seen: December 12th, 2022

• Reason for rarity: Heavily inspired by Snoop Dogg’s moves from “Drop It Like It’s Hot” and pulled from rotation

• Shop appearances: 11

• Current status: Unavailable for years

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6. Tidy

Tidy is the Fortnite emote that recreates Snoop Dogg's smooth, laid-back movements from the "Drop It Like It's Hot" music video. The slower, rhythmic animation stands out from Fortnite's typically high-energy emotes.

First released on April 30, 2018, Tidy made 11 appearances before disappearing on December 12, 2022. What makes its absence stranger is that Snoop Dogg has had major Fortnite Festival collaborations in recent years. Despite his continued presence in the game, this original emote stays locked away. There was even a brief incident in late 2022 when Tidy accidentally appeared in the shop for a few hours before Epic quickly removed it.

Fans speculate licensing issues keep it out of rotation, and the accidental reappearance suggests Epic isn't planning to bring it back intentionally.

• Introduced: April 30, 2018

• Last seen: December 12, 2022

• Reason for rarity: Snoop Dogg's copyright concerns, removed despite recent collaborations

• Shop appearances: 11

• Current status: Over 3 years unavailable

7. Head Banger

Head Banger emote in Fortnite was one of the first Icon Series emotes, released during Travis Scott's Astronomical event in April 2020. The emote lets you thrash to a heavy beat, capturing the energy of Scott's virtual concert that became a cultural moment in gaming.

Available for 300 V-Bucks individually or 1,100 V-Bucks as part of the Astronomical Gear bundle, Head Banger appeared six times before its final shop rotation on April 27, 2020. Controversy surrounding Travis Scott led Epic to blacklist all his cosmetics from the shop. The emote represents a collaborative moment that's now permanently locked away.

• Introduced: April 23, 2020

• Last seen: April 27, 2020

• Reason for rarity: Travis Scott collaboration, blacklisted due to controversy

• Shop appearances: 6

• Current status: Nearly 5 years unavailable, unlikely to return

8. Out With The Old

Fortnite’s Out With The Old emote captured the mood at the end of 2020 perfectly. The emote shows your character blowing a party horn that collapses mid-celebration before inflating a fresh 2021 balloon. The anticlimactic animation matched how everyone felt after that year.

Released on December 29, 2020, during Chapter 2: Season 5, it stayed available through New Year's Day before disappearing on January 1, 2021. The year-specific nature means bringing it back wouldn't make sense. Over 1,500 days have passed since its four-day availability window.

• Introduced: December 29, 2020

• Last seen: January 1, 2021

• Reason for rarity: Year-specific New Year's emote, too dated to return

• Shop appearances: 1

• Current status: Over 1,500 days unavailable

Also Read: How to Get OG Fortnite Account: Everything You Need to Know

9. Welcome!

Welcome! is a simple, cheerful Fortnite emote that shows your character enthusiastically waving both arms. The warm, inviting animation works with practically any skin and became a favorite during its brief availability.

It appeared in the Item Shop on October 11, 2019, stayed for three consecutive days, and was last seen on October 13, 2019. Epic never explained why it disappeared, but over 1,900 days have passed without a return. The prolonged absence has turned this uncommon emote into one of the rarest in the game.

• Introduced: October 11, 2019

• Last seen: October 13, 2019

• Reason for rarity: Three-day availability, never returned

• Shop appearances: 1

• Current status: Over 1,900 days unavailable

10. Floss

The Floss became a cultural phenomenon that extended far beyond Fortnite. The Backpack Kid popularized the dance, and it spread across social media, schoolyards, and even mainstream news coverage.

Epic included this Fortnite emote as a reward in the Season 2 Battle Pass at Tier 49 back in December 2017. Battle Pass items never return to the shop, which means anyone who didn't reach that tier during the original season can never obtain it. The combination of cultural impact, early availability, and permanent exclusivity makes Floss one of the most iconic rare emotes in Fortnite history.

• Introduced: December 14, 2017 (Season 2 Battle Pass)

• Reason for rarity: Battle Pass exclusive from early Fortnite

• Current status: Permanently unavailable

Also Read: Can You Gift Skins in Fortnite?

Conclusion

Rarity in Fortnite comes from timing, licensing, and sometimes just bad luck. Legal battles removed Fresh and Rambunctious. Limited promotional windows made Hot Marat nearly impossible to get. Old Battle Passes locked away Floss forever.

These emotes represent specific moments in Fortnite's evolution, from early seasons and major tournaments to controversial collaborations and legal disputes. Players who own them hold pieces of the game's history that most of the current player base will never experience.

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