The 15 Rarest Fortnite Emotes in 2026 You Need to Know About

If you’re all about flexing the rarest Fortnite emotes that scream OG vibes and serious style, this list has you covered. From legendary throwbacks to exclusive collabs and Battle Pass-only moves, here are the top 20 rarest Fortnite emotes in 2026. Bookmark this and never miss a chance to show off the most coveted dances around.

Top 15 Rarest Fortnite Emotes in 2026

1. Fresh

• Release Date: December 16, 2017
• Last Seen: November 21, 2018
• How to Get: Never returned

Inspired by Carlton’s iconic dance from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, this is a true Fortnite OG classic. It’s been gone from the Item Shop for over 2,500 days and was reportedly pulled due to legal issues.

2. Head Banger

• Release Date: April 22, 2020
• Last Seen: April 27, 2020
• How to Get: Item Shop, 300 V-Bucks (Travis Scott set – currently vaulted)

One of the first Icon Series collab emotes is tied to Travis Scott’s Astronomical event. It let players thrash along to the beat but only returned a handful of times before disappearing in April 2020.

3. Zombie Shambles

• Release Date: November 6, 2020
• Last Seen: November 6, 2020
• How to Get: Never returned

This 200 V-Bucks traversal emote debuted in Chapter 2, Season 4, letting players stagger like zombies. It only appeared once in the Item Shop and has been gone ever since, making it one of the rarest spooky emotes.

4. Stuck

• Release Date: September 6, 2021
• Last Seen: September 7, 2021
• How to Get: Item Shop, 500 V-Bucks (when available)

This Icon Series emote hit the shop twice before vanishing. Its motivational vibe and unique moves make it one of the hardest emotes to find today.

5. Laugh It Up

• Release Date: June 4, 2018
• Last Seen: May 19, 2022
• How to Get: Item Shop, 500 V-Bucks (when available)

Known as Fortnite’s most toxic emote, featuring a donkey braying laugh. It became a legendary taunt used in salty moments and was flagged as “confrontational.” It can now be turned off in settings but remains an infamous classic.

6. Rambunctious

• Release Date: June 9, 2018
• Last Seen: December 7, 2022
• How to Get: Item Shop, 500 V-Bucks (when available)

This fast, chaotic dance is another emote tied up in legal limbo based on a Fresh Prince clip. Removed quietly, it’s one of the most sought-after emotes in Fortnite history.

7. The Robot

• Release Date: February 22, 2018
• Last Seen: Never returned

Season 3 Battle Pass (Tier 95) reward. Inspired by old-school breakdancing, it’s a fan favorite with clean moves and killer music. A smooth classic locked away forever.

8. Best Mates

• Release Date: February 22, 2018
• Last Seen: Never returned

Season 3 Battle Pass (Tier 63). This goofy arm-swinging march quickly became a meme and a lobby classic thanks to its upbeat tune and loopable animation.

9. Raise the Cup

• Release Date: August 20, 2020
• Last Seen: August 21, 2020
• How to Get: Never returned

Available only for two days in the shop for 200 V-Bucks. It lets players celebrate wins without grind, making it one of the rarest emotes ever.

10. Boogie Down

• Release Date: August 29, 2018
• Last Seen: Never returned
• How to Get: Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on your Epic Games account

Part of a community contest, this funky and fun emote was free for those who enabled 2FA. It’s a classic example of Fortnite’s playful spirit.

11. Hot Marat

• Release Date: November 24, 2018
• Last Seen: November 25, 2018
• How to Get: Never returned (free Ralph Breaks the Internet promo)

One of the rarest and shortest-lived emotes. It was a free promo tied to Ralph Breaks the Internet, lasting just two days before disappearing forever.

12. The Worm

• Release Date: December 14, 2017
• Last Seen: Never returned

Season 2 Battle Pass (Tier 28). This goofy, exaggerated dance with Saturday morning cartoon energy was Fortnite’s first silly flex and is now ultra-rare.

13. Groove Jam

• Release Date: May 1, 2018
• Last Seen: Never returned

Season 4 Battle Pass (Tier 95). Based on Napoleon Dynamite’s dance, it’s quirky, rhythmic, and iconic. You had to grind hard to get it, and it hasn’t returned since.

14. Hype

• Release Date: May 1, 2018
• Last Seen: Never returned

Season 4 Battle Pass (Tier 63). Mimics BlocBoy JB’s viral “Shoot” dance. It was a lobby staple for years, but it remains locked away as a Battle Pass exclusive.

15. Leave the Door Open

• Release Date: April 3, 2021
• Last Seen: October 12, 2022
• How to Get: Item Shop, 500 V-Bucks (when available)

Highly wishlisted, this emote gained new meaning after Bruno Mars headlined Fortnite’s Festival in 2025. It’s iconic and hasn’t been back since late 2022.

If you’re curious about exclusive cosmetics, don’t miss our guide on the rarest skins in Fortnite and what makes them so hard to find.

How to Redeem and Use Fortnite Emotes

1. Open Fortnite and navigate to the Item Shop or Battle Pass rewards section, depending on the emote type.
2. If the emote is available in the Item Shop, purchase it using V-Bucks.
3. For Battle Pass exclusive emotes, you must have reached the required tier during the specific season to unlock them.
4. Some emotes are earned through special promotions or exclusive hardware purchases (like the Samsung Galaxy S10).
5. Emotes from community contests may require specific account settings, such as enabling two-factor authentication (2FA).
6. Once unlocked, equip the emote in your Locker to use it during matches or in lobbies.

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