Summary:
- Epic originally gave away the Rust Bucket to all players as a compensation after a login failure back in 2018.
- Then, Epic and NVIDIA brought it back in 2025 through the GeForce RTX Cup.
After being locked away for more than seven years, Fortnite is finally re-releasing the Rust Bucket back bling—and best of all, it’s free! Creators are already posting clips of their outfits, and the Rust Lords are all going crazy trying to mix and match with all the different themes. Not only that, but it’s creating a ton of nostalgia and FOMO for all players. Keep reading to learn more about how you can get this back bling and why you will regret missing it.
What Is the Rust Bucket Back Bling?
The Rust Bucket Back Bling is an Epic cosmetic in Fortnite: Battle Royale that came out on April 13, 2018. Specifically, this back bling was a part of the Storm Scavenger set during Chapter 1 Season 3.
The Rust Bucket is totally cosmetic with no benefits in-game. However, it gives your loadout a unique look based on the player’s play style. Just like the Rust Lord, it fits perfectly into that junkyard warrior style with all its grunge and grit.
Rust Bucket’s History and Rarity
The Rust Bucket Back Bling was originally available for free in the Fortnite Item Shop from April 13 to 19, 2018 as Epic’s way of apologizing to players for a huge login error.
There were very few available during that period, and it has not shown up in the shop again until recently. Thus, this item has become one of the rarest back blings within Fortnite.
Rust Bucket’s Return in 2025
The iconic Epic Rust Bucket Back Bling made a return after being gone for over 7 years in the NVIDIA GeForce RTX Cup tournament. Epic Games teamed up with NVIDIA to put on this global solo Battle Royale tournament on December 21st.
Fortnite communities created a huge level of interest to see how to get the free Epic Rust Bucket Back Bling. All you need is:
- Account level 350+
- 2FA enabled
- Gold ranked or above in Ranked or Zero Build mode
In addition to getting the Rust Bucket Back Bling, top finishers in each region were competing to win additional prizes. This includes an MSI GeForce RTX 5080 graphics card and cash prizes worth up to $4000.
How to Unlock Rust Bucket Back Bling for Free in Fortnite
To play in the NVIDIA GeForce RTX Cup, make sure your Fortnite Account is set up as needed before the event starts. When the event begins, look for the Competitive tab in Fortnite’s in-game interface between December 21st and the regional start times, and then sign up for the NVIDIA GeForce RTX Solos Cup.
Points are earned based on eliminations and placement. For every elimination, you will receive 2 points, and placement will result in additional points. When you reach a total of 8 points, you will receive the Rust Bucket Back Bling in your locker.
Conclusion
The fact that the Rust Bucket back bling is back for free after seven years is probably the best surprise for OG collectors and casual players of Fortnite. If you want Rust Bucket in your collection, all you need to do is earn 8 points in the NVIDIA GeForce RTX Cup. No V-Bucks required! And even if you’re not the best player, you don’t have to worry about not getting Rust Bucket. Next thing you know, your locker will be a legend-level locker.
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