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Fortnite pickaxes aren't just harvesting tools – they're status symbols that showcase a player's journey through Epic Games' ever-evolving battle royale. While skins might get all the glory, a truly rare pickaxe can turn heads and spark envy among even the most seasoned Fortnite veterans. As we move through 2025, some harvesting tools have reached almost mythical status due to their scarcity and the stories behind them.

The Crown Jewels: The Absolutely Rarest Fortnite Pickaxes

When it comes to the rarest fortnite pickaxes, nothing beats those that are literally impossible to obtain anymore. At the top of this exclusive mountain sits the legendary Axe of Champions – a gleaming golden harvesting tool that only 14 players in the entire world possess. This prestigious pickaxe was awarded exclusively to FNCS Champion Series winners in Chapter 2, making it perhaps the ultimate status symbol in the game.

"That Axe of Champions is like spotting a unicorn in the wild," as one pro player put it. "When you see someone wielding it, you know you're up against Fortnite royalty."

Following closely behind are the Pointer & Power Grip pickaxes – items so rare that most players don't even know they exist. These were exclusive to Fortnite: China, which shut down its servers back in November 2021. Since there was no way to transfer these items to the main game, they've become digital artifacts of a Fortnite variant that no longer exists.

Collab Casualties: Licensed Pickaxes Lost to Time

Some of the game's rarest harvesting tools come from collaborations that, for various reasons, never returned to the Item Shop. The Diamond Jack pickaxe from the Travis Scott collection hasn't been seen since April 2020 – over five years ago! Despite massive demand from players, even Epic Games' CEO Tim Sweeney has admitted he has no control over its return.

The Leviathan Axe from the God of War collaboration is another highly coveted item that's been missing since March 2021. This isn't just any pickaxe – it features unique one-handed swinging animations that some players believed gave a slight speed advantage. Licensing disagreements between Sony and Epic have likely kept this beauty locked away.

The Arcane collaboration items like the Pow Pow Crusher and Piltover Warden Hammer have also vanished, with Riot Games co-founder Marc Merrill publicly stating there are no plans to work with Epic on bringing these items back.

"It's like these companies create digital treasure and then lock it away in a vault," one frustrated collector told me. "The Leviathan Axe is sitting somewhere on a digital shelf collecting dust when it could be in my locker!"

Regional Exclusives and Limited-Time Treasures

Some pickaxes are rare not because they're old, but because they were nearly impossible to obtain even when available. The Sunfall Scythe could only be claimed by redeeming Japanese V-Bucks cards during a specific month in 2023. The Resonator pickaxe required purchasing a specific Xbox One Eon Bundle that retailed for $249.99 back in 2018 – and now these codes sell for upwards of $900 when they rarely appear online.

Other rare gems include the Lucky Lance (available only by completing specific Chapter 3 Season 3 quests), the Qwerty Axe (from a week-long event in Chapter 2 Season 7), and the Plasma Carrot (which required bringing back a friend who hadn't played in over 30 days during April 2021).

The Throwback Axe holds a special place in many veterans' hearts as it was a free Item Shop offering that paid homage to the original default pickaxe. Available for just a few months between late 2020 and early 2021, it's now a badge of honor for those who claimed it.

Why Rarity Matters in Fortnite Culture

The fascination with rare fortnite pickaxe collectibles isn't just about showing off – it's about preserving the game's history. Each of these items tells a story about a specific moment in Fortnite's timeline, whether it was a limited-time collaboration, a special event, or a tournament accomplishment.

"When I pull out my Rockbreaker pickaxe that hasn't been in the shop since 2019, it's like wielding a piece of Fortnite history," says longtime player DarkStorm72. "New players look at it and have no idea what it is – that's what makes it special."

Will These Pickaxes Ever Return?

For most of these ultra-rare harvesting tools, the chances of a comeback are slim to none. Battle Pass items never return (by Epic's own policy), and many collaboration items are trapped in licensing limbo. Regional exclusives like the Pointer & Power Grip are permanently unavailable now that their distribution platforms no longer exist.

However, Epic has occasionally surprised players by bringing back items thought to be gone forever. The Recon Expert skin returned after 900+ days, so there's always a glimmer of hope for pickaxe collectors.

The Bottom Line on Rare Pickaxes

If you're lucky enough to own any of these rare harvesting tools, you possess something truly special in the Fortnite universe. For collectors and completionists, these elusive items represent white whales that may never be caught.

The next time you drop into a match and spot someone wielding a pickaxe you've never seen before, take a moment to appreciate it – you might be witnessing one of the rarest fortnite pickaxes that only a handful of players will ever possess.

Whether you're swinging the common default pickaxe or the ultra-exclusive Axe of Champions, remember that in Fortnite, your harvesting tool isn't just functional – it's part of your digital identity in one of the world's most popular games.

What's your white whale pickaxe? The one that got away? Let us know in the comments!

Research highlighted by PC Gamer underscores the cultural significance of rare Fortnite cosmetics, including pickaxes, in shaping player identity and status within the community. PC Gamer's editorial coverage frequently explores how limited-time collaborations and exclusive tournament rewards, such as the Axe of Champions, have become coveted symbols of achievement and rarity, driving both collector enthusiasm and ongoing debates about digital ownership in modern gaming.