The Star Wand is Fortnite’s most-used Pickaxe of all time, but why? Here’s the answer!
Fortnite's seemingly endless list of cosmetics has become the topic of much discussion over the years. Players have spent countless hours and V-Bucks to customize their ideal loadout. Some would argue that your Pickaxe is equally essential apart from your go-to skin. This tool allows you to farm building materials and sometimes even embarrass your opponents. While there are many Pickaxes, the Star Wand Pickaxe is arguably the most popular in Fortnite history, but why? Today, we will attempt to answer that question once and for all.
A brief history of the Star Wand Pickaxe in Fortnite
As one of the most popular Pickaxes in Fortnite's storied history, we must start at the beginning, on July 18, 2019. The Star Wand Pickaxe debuted in the Item Shop on this day, which coincidentally occurred two days before "The Final Showdown" event during Season X. Fortnite was arguably at its peak in July 2019, with millions playing and watching the game.
From a competitive perspective, the $30 million Fortnite World Cup concluded just weeks prior. As a result, the interest in Fortnite's tournament scene was at an all-time high. Interestingly, the Star Wand Pickaxe signaled a shift, as Fortnite players flocked to this item for a completely understandable reason. However, this wouldn't unfold until September 2019, two months after its debut.
The legend of the 56-damage Pickaxe
In September 2019, players noticed something different about the Star Wand Pickaxe. Unlike others, this Pickaxe would deal 56 damage to opponents all of a sudden, rather than the appropriate 20 damage. With competitive players always ahead of the game, Epic Games' unintended outcome led to the rapid increase in popularity of the Star Wand.
Content creator Ali "SypherPK" Hassan was one of many who identified and publicized the Star Wand Pickaxe's brokenness. He published a video covering the increased damage, showcasing that you could eliminate an opponent with full health and shield in just four swings.
Epic Games acted fast and fixed the issue, but that did not hinder the rise of Fortnite's Star Wand Pickaxe. Over the years, players consistently flocked to this Pickaxe, and its legend took on a life of its own.
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Why is the Star Wand Pickaxe so popular?
Much of the Star Wand's popularity stems from the 56-damage glitch. Those who learned of this unintended result flocked to the Item Shop to purchase the Pickaxe and continued using it. The Star Wand became a go-to for professional and "sweaty" players, which led to more and more carrying it in tournaments and regular public matches.
Former professional Fortnite player and current Valorant pro Benjy "benjyfishy" Fish helped popularize the Star Wand. Epic Games even allowed him to include it in a Locker Bundle on November 29, 2020. Benjy and countless other professional players have sported the Star Wand over the years. Its exponential use in the competitive scene and the 56-damage glitch help explain why the Star Wand Pickaxe is so popular.
According to Fortnite.GG, The Star Wand Pickaxe has returned to the Item Shop 67 times over the last five years, costing players just 800 V-Bucks. The same website also lists the Star Wand as the most-used Pickaxe in Fortnite history, with 18.7% of players, or 55.6 million players, using it. That's almost 10 million more than the Ice Breaker, which landed second place.
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