Why the Midas Laser Is Becoming One of Fortnite's Most Wanted Cards

The only Panini Fortnite release to feature Laser parallels is producing one of the hobby's most fascinating chase cards — and recent sales suggest collectors are starting to take notice.

For years, when collectors talked about the premium parallels in Panini Fortnite, the conversation usually centred around Panini Fortnite Series 1 Crystal Shards,  and the eye-catching Cracked Ice parallel found in Series 2/3. But lately, another parallel has been quietly stealing some of the spotlight.

The Laser parallel, exclusive to 2021 Panini Fortnite Series 3, is beginning to build a serious following among collectors, and leading the charge is one of Fortnite's most recognisable characters: Midas.

Recent sales have certainly turned heads. A pair of Midas Laser cards recently sold on eBay for $7,200, highlighting the level of interest that has developed around this particular card. At first glance, it might seem surprising. Series 3 also contains the much more visually dramatic Premium Cracked Ice parallel, which has traditionally been viewed by collectors as one of the headline chase parallels from the release. Yet the Midas Laser is now showing signs of outperforming its Cracked Ice counterpart.

So why is this happening?

Because when it comes to the Midas Laser, the hunt doesn't end when you find one. Finding a truly exceptional example is the real challenge.

The Only Laser Parallel in Panini Fortnite History

One of the things that makes the Laser parallel so interesting is its exclusivity. Across the Panini Fortnite trading card releases, Laser cards appeared only once — in Series 3. There is no Series 1 Laser Black Knight, no Series 2 Laser Peely and no Reloaded Laser equivalent. The Laser is a Series 3-only parallel, giving it a unique place in the history of Panini Fortnite cards.

For collectors who enjoy building complete parallel runs, that matters. Laser isn't simply another variation within a long-running parallel family; it represents a particular chapter in the Panini Fortnite story that cannot be replicated in another release.

The cards also have plenty of visual appeal. The Laser finish creates a distinctive patterned effect across the card that catches and reflects light in a way that is difficult to appreciate fully in a conventional scan.

Why Midas Lasers Are So Difficult to Find in True Gem Condition

There are just 12 PSA 10 Midas Lasers recorded, meaning that genuinely top-grade examples remain a very small part of the overall population.

Series 3 collectors have long noted that Laser cards can be challenging from a grading perspective. Print lines are a recurring issue, while surface imperfections can be difficult to spot until the card is viewed under the right lighting. Centering is another factor that experienced collectors are increasingly scrutinising, particularly when comparing cards at the very top of the grade scale.

And this is where the distinction between a PSA 10 and a genuinely exceptional PSA 10 becomes important. Two cards can carry exactly the same grade, yet one may have noticeably better centering, show no visible print lines and have stronger overall eye appeal. For collectors chasing the best examples, the label is only the starting point.

With just 12 PSA 10s recorded and a gem rate of 16.9%, the pool of potential top-end examples is already small. Add the known challenges with print quality and centering, and the number of Midas Lasers that genuinely satisfy discerning collectors becomes smaller still.

That could help explain why the strongest examples are beginning to command serious attention. The chase isn't simply for a Midas Laser — it's for a Midas Laser that has everything going for it.

Why Midas Still Rules

Not every Fortnite character can carry an entire parallel, but Midas certainly has the credentials.

Introduced during Chapter 2 Season 2, Midas quickly became one of the most recognisable characters of the era. The gold touch, the Agency, the storyline and the distinctive visual design made him one of the defining skins of that period of Fortnite.

That popularity naturally carries over into trading cards. Collectors are often prepared to pay a premium for cards featuring characters with genuine cultural recognition, particularly when those cards belong to scarce or unusual parallels.

The Midas Laser therefore has an appealing combination of ingredients: one of Fortnite's most recognisable characters, a parallel exclusive to Series 3, the challenge of finding a genuinely clean example and a growing collector base that is becoming increasingly familiar with the nuances of Panini Fortnite cards.

And there is another factor that shouldn't be underestimated: collectors love the hunt. Finding the card is one thing. Finding the card that makes you stop and think, that's the one, is something else entirely.

Could Laser Become the Signature Parallel of Series 3?

For years, Cracked Ice has been viewed as the flagship parallel of Panini Fortnite Series 3. That probably isn't going to change overnight.

But collector markets are rarely static. Preferences evolve, new information comes to light and certain cards gradually develop a reputation that they didn't necessarily have when they were first released.

The Midas Laser is a good example of that process.

It isn't the loudest card in the set. It doesn't have the instantly dramatic appearance of Cracked Ice. And for a long time, it may not have received the same attention as some of the more obvious Series 3 chase cards.

But that may be exactly what makes the current story interesting.

A unique parallel, a highly desirable character, grading challenges and increasingly selective collectors are creating a combination that is difficult to ignore. If more strong sales follow, the Midas Laser could establish itself as the defining chase cards of the 2021 Panini Fortnite Series 3 release.

For collectors, that makes the hunt even more interesting.

Because sometimes the card that looks like the obvious favourite isn't the one that ultimately wins the race.

Explore the Fortnite Cards Vault

2021 Panini Fortnite Series 3 Checklist— Explore the complete Series 3 card checklist, including individual card references and parallels.

Midas #218— View the individual Midas card reference and images from Series 3.

Panini Fortnite Prototypes— Discover rare and previously unreleased Fortnite card prototypes.

Source & Editorial Note

The $7,200 sale figure is based on reported completed eBay sales of Midas Laser cards. Fortnite Cards Vault is an independent collector-built reference and is not affiliated with Panini or Epic Games.