Does Fortnite skin trading actually work? Second-hand cosmetics market explained

Cosmetics are a big part of Fortnite. Players spend an entire season trying to unlock cosmetics available on the battle pass and routinely spend V-Bucks on them in the Item Shop. Obtaining skins adds to the game's visual appeal and fun factor.

However, some skins are unobtainable beyond a certain point, such as battle pass exclusives like Tony Stark, Black Knight, and Midas. Some, like the Travis Scott bundle, might even be discontinued from Item Shop skins.

For whatever reason, some skins become obsolete, pushing players to second-hand cosmetic options. Are they legitimate, though?

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Fortnite skin trading: Is this legitimate?

Fortnite skin trading does occur with some websites dedicated to the trade. Generally, these are for Save the World, where players can drop items if they choose. Trading is less accessible for Battle Royale, where skins effectively stay in a locker.

These sites may not be completely trustworthy, although many gamers have had successful experiences.

However, Epic Games has made it clear that trading in either Battle Royale or Save the World is not supported:

"Trading with other players is not a supported feature in Fortnite. Drop items for other players at your own risk, so if you do choose to trade by dropping items, please be cautious of scams that can result in losing your items."

It's impossible to trade skins without some risk being involved. Since the game itself doesn't support skin trading, players resort to other unofficial methods to acquire them. However, such practices are questionable and one should understand that there's no insurance.

Putting items up for trade can often result in scams and lead to players receiving nothing in return. In this regard, Epic Games will not provide any support, which makes it a risky proposition.

With Battle Royale, there's no way of transferring skins to another locker. Players can only get skins by gaining access to an entire account. However, account merging is also no longer possible.

Spider-Man was a battle pass exclusive (Image via Epic Games)

To do this, a Fortnite gamer would have to engage with a potential buyer or seller they trust. They will then have to exchange money or an agreed-upon compensation for the account. Log-in credentials will have to be provided to the buying party. They can then log in and use the account from where the purchase was made.

As a result, they will only have access to the skins from the said account and not their own.

In such a situation, Epic Games will not be able to ensure protection. Account selling is a bit safer, but is not really a supported feature. As such, there is a risk of losing your account or money, so be aware.