When the Fortnite battle bus left the station for the first time more than three years ago, gamers would never have imagined the impact the multiplayer battle royale game would have on pop culture. The boom in Fortnite's popularity seemed to happen almost overnight with celebrities, athletes, and big-name streamers joining the millions of gamers worldwide.
Now, getting close to four years later, Fortnite's popularity is still going strong with countless brands waiting for their shot at a collaboration. Street Fighter, Halo, Predator, God of War, and the NFL are just some of the big names that have found their branded cosmetics in the Fortnite item shop.
However, fans would argue the biggest Fortnite collaborations to date have been with Marvel - even devoting an entire season and battle pass to the Marvel universe. Many Marvel superheroes and villains have come and gone to the item shop (some of which will never make a return). Which Marvel characters and cosmetics do you still have a chance at adding to your locker - and will they break the bank?
11 Captain Marvel
U.S. Air Force cadet Carol Danvers - better known as Captain Marvel hit massive mainstream popularity in 2019 with actress Brie Larson portraying the character on the big screen in both Captain Marvel and Avengers: Endgame. Fortnite capitalized on this success and released a Captain Marvel skin after the Marvel-themed season and battle pass late last year.
The Captain Marvel costume came bundled with an Empowered variant style (featuring a glowing energy force surrounding the character), the Alpha Staff pickaxe, Power of Mar-Vell glider, and Kree Backplate back bling (also including a glowing Empowered Style). The bundle became initially available on December 22, 2020 as part of the Marvel: Royalty & Warriors Pack for $24.99.
10 Mystique
The best Fortnite skin is having every Fortnite skin - that's where Mystique comes in. Best known as a villain of the X-Men, as the mother of Nightcrawler, and adoptive mother of Jean Grey, Mystique's character possesses the unique ability to shapeshift - mimicking not only appearance but voice as well.
The Mystique skin became unlockable at level 80 of the Chapter 2: Season 4 Battle pass, with additional challenges to unlock variants and matching cosmetics. In addition, there was also a special three-stage challenge to unlock the Shapeshifter emote in which Mystique could transform into the character she most recently eliminated in-game.
Unfortunately, if you did not unlock Mystique during that season, you will not be able to in the future as Fortnite battle pass unlockables do not make repeat appearances.
9 Silver Surfer
Making his way from the Fantastic Four universe - the Silver Surfer was among the first skins available during the Marvel-themed season that was separate to the battle pass. Silver Surfer is best known for his trademark metallic skin, surfboard, and the ability to travel through space faster than the speed of light.
The Silver Surfer costume Silver Surfer Set, which includes a Silver Surfer pickaxe, Herald's Star contrail, Silver Surfer's Surfboard glider, and a Reflector wrap. The bundle will cost you 1500 V-Bucks and has made 30 appearances in the item shop to date.
8 Groot
The Guardians of the Galaxy wouldn't be the same without the fan-favorite Flora colossus from the Planet X. Although limited in speech, Groot's heart and personality shines through in his relationships with his peers - especially Rocket Raccoon. Groot was another unlockable Marvel character in the Chapter 2: Season 4 battle pass, along with his matching cosmetics.
Special challenges were made available for Groot once players reached level 46 in the battle pass where once completed, would unlock a special Rocket Racoon back bling that would hover and follow Groot around the Fortnite universe.
7 Blade
Long before Buffy was slaying vampires, Eric Brooks - better known as Blade - was hunting the blood-sucking creatures. Rising to prominence in popular culture with Wesley Snipes' portrayal of the Marvel character in three Blade movies, Fortnite introduced the costume during the Marvel-themed season as a separate purchase as part of the Blade Set in the item shop on September 25, 2020.
The skin itself comes in two variants: default, and with his trademark leather jacket. The set also comes with matching cosmetics that include the Sword of the Daywalker pickaxe, Sword of the Daywalker back bling, and the Dayflier glider. Blade has appeared in the Fortnite item shop 25 times since being introduced and will set you back 2,000 V-Bucks if you want to get your hands on it.
6 Captain America
The all-American, patriotic super-soldier, Steve Rogers - better known as Captain America - made his first appearance in the Fortnite item shop on July 3rd, 2020. With many of the Avengers making their appearances in Marvel collaborations, it was only natural that players would see Cap at some point.
Captain America is purchasable as part of the Avengers Set which includes the costume, and his trademark Proto-Adamantium shield that can be used both as back bling and as a fully functional pickaxe. Captain America has made 40 appearances in the Fortnite item shop at a cost of 2,000 V-Bucks.
5 Deadpool
Two seasons before Marvel's big Fortnite collaboration, players who purchased the Chapter 2: Season 2 battle pass had the opportunity to unlock the merc with a mouth himself: Deadpool. While not available as an unlockable character in the traditional sense, Deadpool (and his cosmetics) could be unlocked as a secret character by completing a series of weekly challenges, some of which broke the fourth wall to pay homage to the Wade Wilson character.
The Deadpool skin included the default red outfit with an unlockable unmasked style, along with a grey X-Force variant costume. As Deadpool was a secret character in a battle pass, he will not be available to purchase in future Fortnite item shops.
4 Iron Man (Tony Stark)
Sporting a fitted grey jumpsuit and trademark tinted glasses, Fortnite players had the opportunity to unlock billionaire playboy, inventor, and scientist Tony Stark as part of the Season 2: Chapter 4 battle pass. Stark, better known as Iron man, was unlockable at battle pass level 93, with the ability to unlock the Iron Man suit via "awakening challenges". Once unlocked, players would have the ability to emote to put the suit on mid-game.
In addition to the skin, matching cosmetics were also unlockable as players progressed through the tiers (including silver, gold, and holo foil variants after passing level 100). As with the other battle pass unlockables, Tony Stark will not be appearing in future Fortnite item shops.
3 Wolverine
The face of the X-Men, Wolverine, was the secret, unlockable character for the Season 2: Chapter 4 battle pass. To unlock the iconic, yellow and blue costume and cosmetics, players would have to complete a series of Wolverine challenges, including defeating the Wolverine NPC in the Weeping Woods area of the map (who sported Wolverine's Claws as a superpower, along with regenerative health).
In addition to the default blue and yellow skin, players could unlock the classic brown and yellow costume and a Logan variant without a costume. At a cost of 950 V-Bucks for the Battle Pass, the only opportunity to unlock Wolverine would have been during that season.
2 Venom
One of the most highly-anticipated Marvel skins to be released into the Fortnite universe was Spider-Man villain, Venom - an alien symbiote that can merge itself into different human hosts. Fortnite players could unlock the skin early by competing in Fortnite's Venom Cup and earning enough points, or by purchasing him from the item shop for 2,000 V-Bucks.
Venom made his first appearance in the item shop on November 20, 2020 and has made 15 appearances in the item shop altogether.
1 Black Panther
King T'Challa of Wakanda, the Black Panther, became available to purchase in the item shop as part of the Marvel: Royaly & Warriors Pack for $24.99 in a bundle with the Captain Marvel and Taskmaster skins and cosmetics. The costume came in the default black style along with a Kinetically Charged variant featuring a bright purple glow.
The skin could also be matched with the included King's Cowl back bling, Wakandan Skyrider glider, and Vibranium Daggers pickaxe.