The winners of the biggest Fortnite tournaments get huge cash prizes, but also something without a price tag, the FNCS Pickaxe. A special prize, an item only the current champions can wield in-game. At least for their first run, with older pickaxes eventually ending up available to everyone. What is the FNCS pickaxe and why is it such an important item in the game?
The FNCS pickaxe has a unique status. The currently in-use model of the pickaxe is only available to the champions of Fortnite esports for that season. A handful available in a region, extremely rare to even be in the same lobby as one. If a player in your game is swinging it, you’ll probably be best off just fleeing. Although, the older pickaxes look very similar, and mean little more than someone’s spent their V-Bucks! These are the different versions we’ve seen over the years.
Source: Fortnite Wiki
The first FNCS pickaxe added was the Axe of Champions. It originated in Chapter 2 Season 2, but was replaced in Chapter 3 Season 2. This first pickaxe is a bit different, years later it hadn’t come to the shop. However, it has now seen a release in one form.
The FNCS Pickaxe is one of the most exclusive items in Fortnite, until it gets sold. However, up until this month there was one pickaxe which had never been given out. One of the first Axes of champions had simply been retired. Never actually brought back! But even this FNCS Pickaxe has now been released.
At the recent Fortnite Pro-AM, the pickaxe got given away. Players who attended the event got given it for free! Definitely beats buying it in the item shop.
For a while, this will probably be the only way to collect the FNCS Pickaxe. However, it might now enter normal rotation. We could see the FNCS Pickaxe come to the item shop now it has been released before. Although, those who got it at the Pro-Am will have the pickaxe early, and they’ll have gotten it for free. There’s still benefits to having collected the code.
If you couldn’t make the event, there might still be a way to get it. You can buy the code on the secondary market, since not everyone in attendance likely wanted the pickaxe. But this method could end up costing more than it should if the pickaxe comes to the item shop at a later date.
Source: Fortnite Wiki
The next Pickaxe was introduced in Chapter 3, Season 2. This one was available until September 2024, when it arrived in the proper item shop instead of being a prize. This one is still occasionally available in the store.
Source: Fortnite Wiki
Next up, we got a change of name for the FNCS pickaxe. The Blade of Champions is the new one. This one is still being given out to the FNCS winners, so it isn’t available in the store! Players will have to earn this one to use it.
The main FNCS Pickaxe, the current one in use, is only available to a single team in each region. To get it, players need to win the FNCS Finals. Essentially, it goes to the best Fortnite players in each lobby, and only for a season.
At the end of the FNCS season, that pickaxe is retired and it enters the store. At this point, anyone can buy it. Once it’s entered the store it isn’t really a marker of anything anymore.
You’ll see it in the hands of rapid building sweats as often as players who might be bots. Try and keep an eye out for which FNCS pickaxe is which, so you know if you’re up against the very best players or just someone with spare V-Bucks or time to attend a LAN.
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