Fortnite used to be you dropping hot into a solo fight against 99 strangers. Now you’ve got a tagalong companion making it feel less lonely. Sidekicks are these pint-sized followers that stick by your side, and let’s be real – they’re equal parts charming and cash grab. I’ve messed around with them enough to pull together all the key details. Save this for when you’re eyeing the shop.
What Are Sidekicks Anyway?
Imagine landing at a hot drop, but with a quirky sidekick right there reacting to the chaos. Sidekicks hit the scene in Chapter 6: Mini Season 2, popping up across Battle Royale, Save the World, LEGO Fortnite, and even custom islands if the creator flips the switch. They won’t back you up in a scrap. No building ramps or healing you. Straight cosmetic flair – like a back bling that comes alive and mirrors the action. Storm closing in? Your pal might cower. Clutch a win? They join the party.
You set their core looks at the start – fur shade, build, unique bits – and that’s locked for good. Accessories and names? Those swap on a whim.
How Much Will This Cost You? (Spoiler: A Lot)
Cash talk turns this sour quick.
Individual Pricing:
- Lil’ Raptor – 1,200 V-Bucks
- Spike – 1,200 V-Bucks
- Mothman Jr. – 1,200 V-Bucks
- Teacup Chi-Pup – 1,200 V-Bucks
- The Best Cat – 1,200 V-Bucks
- Bonesy – 1,200 V-Bucks (Item Shop)
- Leviathan Jr. – 1,000 V-Bucks
- Flopsticks – 1,500 V-Bucks
- Cuddle Team Jr. – 1,500 V-Bucks
- Doggo Jr. – 1,500 V-Bucks
- Plopper – 1,500 V-Bucks
- Itchy – 1,500 V-Bucks
Want the full set? That’s north of $17,000 US dollars down the drain. For pets that sit pretty but don’t tilt matches your way.
Most folks won’t chase the whole pack – that’s for deep-pocket spenders. Still, even snagging a couple stings, especially with the next part in mind.
The Customization Trap Nobody Warned You About
Here’s the real gut punch with Sidekicks, and yeah, it burned me too. You tweak your new buddy at first – pick a base hue like yellow or that metallic aqua, slap on some rust if it fits. Run through the four steps for extras. Satisfied? Hit confirm.
Done. No do-overs.
Those base traits stick eternally. No tweaking colors when your squad’s theme shifts. Crave a fresh vibe? Shell out full price for a duplicate and start over. Plenty of players botched their picks because the menu doesn’t scream “permanent” loud enough. Names and earned gear? Flexible anytime. But the foundation? One-and-done.
Free Bonesy (If You Qualify)
Amid the spend-fest, one win: if you’ve got the Bonesy Back Bling from Chapter 1 Season 6, you scored the Bonesy Sidekick free on November 7th. Epic delivered without extra BS. Might lag showing in your Locker post-drop, but poke around if you had the original – it’s yours, no charge.
How Sidekicks Actually Work In-Game
Battle Royale specifics
- Enemies can’t spot them at all
- Bullets whiz right through; zero harm
- Your tag floats over them for squadmates and viewers
- They mirror weather shifts and your moves
- Trail you on autopilot; no babysitting
Cross-mode compatibility
- Full access in Battle Royale
- Stick with you on Save the World runs
- Hang in LEGO Fortnite builds
- Chill offstage at Festival jams (they groove silently)
- Custom maps only with creator opt-in
Zero boosts to speed or stats. Folks have poked every corner – these are just flair that spices up the vibe. Casual players dig the extra life; sweats tune them out.
Sidekick Points and Earning Cosmetics
Time spent with your Sidekick racks up points naturally. Spend those on gear – caps, jackets, wild add-ons that tweak the outer layer (core looks stay fixed). The setup nudges you to keep them equipped instead of shelf-warming. Grind sessions mean fresh looks and ongoing tweaks. Nothing game-changing, but it beats a one-off buy. Some unlocks outshine the starters by a mile.
Complete Sidekick Roster
By November 30th 2026, game files hold 15 Sidekicks total, counting the ones still in testing.
Battle Pass exclusive:
- Peels – The launch pick; grab via Battle Pass tiers from November 1st
Item Shop regulars:
| Sidekick Name | Price | Notable Features |
|---|---|---|
Bonesy |
1,200 V-Bucks |
Loyal dog companion; best seller consistently |
Spike |
1,200 V-Bucks |
Released November 7th alongside initial wave |
Lil’ Raptor |
1,200 V-Bucks |
Dinosaur buddy; part of launch lineup |
Mothman Jr. |
1,200 V-Bucks |
Cryptid companion for the weird-lore fans |
Teacup Chi-Pup |
1,200 V-Bucks |
Tiny dog in a teacup; maximum cuteness |
The Best Cat |
1,200 V-Bucks |
Feline friend with attitude |
Leviathan Jr. |
1,000 V-Bucks |
Cheapest currently available option |
Doggo Jr. |
1,500 V-Bucks |
Anthropomorphic dog pal |
Cuddle Team Jr. |
1,500 V-Bucks |
Pink bear companion; matches Cuddle Team Leader |
Flopsticks |
1,500 V-Bucks |
|
Plopper |
1,500 V-Bucks |
Unique blob aesthetic |
Itchy |
1,500 V-Bucks |
Scratchy personality baked in |
Unannounced ones lurk in files for shop spins or events down the line. Epic’s pacing them out to hook you into daily checks.
Marketplace Reality Check
Pricing gripes and that rigid customization didn’t stop Sidekicks from owning the shop charts at debut. Launch day shook out like:
- Spots 1 to 6: pure Sidekick sweep
- Bonesy locked top billing
- Doggo Jr. at #9
- Mothman Jr. scraping #11
Wallets spoke louder than the complainers. New toy fever won out – folks snapped them up for the novelty, flaws be damned.
Special Emotes and Interactions
Every Sidekick packs tailored emotes for buddy moments, not your usual player dances. Take Doggo Jr.’s “Crash Test Initiated” – kicks off a duo animation that’s pure fun. Each has their signature bit.
Emotes turn basic followers into interactive sparks. They respond to the map on their own, but these let you stage the highlights – lobby hangs or win flexes.
Should You Actually Buy One?
Buy if:
- Companions light you up and the cost doesn’t faze
- You’re set on a forever design with no second thoughts
- Matches feel flat without that extra spark
- Gameplay edges aren’t your spend trigger
Skip if:
- Skins and gear trump pet vibes
- One-shot customization chafes
- 1,200-1,500 V-Bucks for looks-only feels off
- Comp play sidelines cosmetics
I snagged Bonesy off the free back bling hook, and he’s stuck with me. Full price for extras? Nah, not with the no-tweak rule hanging over. That permanence kills the appeal hardest. Epic tweaks it – maybe a fee to reshuffle – and suddenly these click better. For now, it’s a commit-or-bust deal that bites at these rates.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
- “My Sidekick isn’t showing up after purchase”
Wait it out, especially for the free Bonesy claim. Lockers can drag; reboot the game if it’s dragging past a day. - “Next Step button is greyed out during customization”
Missed a step somewhere. Cycle back and nail every pick before advancing. - “Can I buy the same Sidekick twice?”
Yep – that’s how you dodge the lock by duping and redesigning. Pricey hack, but effective. - “My Sidekick disappeared in a Creative map”
Creator skipped the support toggle. Not every island plays nice; scan the details or roll without.
Final Thoughts
Sidekicks straddle cute gimmick and greedy push. They nail the reactions, bring real warmth to drops, and the point grind keeps them relevant. Multi-mode fit means they’re not BR-locked. Still, those prices piled on the no-change core? Rough combo. Full roster at seventeen large is whale bait, and even light buyers wrestle with the forever-lock regret. I’ve dumped the full scoop – costs, how they tick, the customization snag, ways to get them, where they work. All in one spot, so pin this before it slips your mind.
More will drop with seasons, and I’ll stick around watching my lone Bonesy carry the torch. Pay-to-cute to the core. Fun in the end? Surprisingly. Every last one? Only if V-Bucks rain free. Your call – but lock those traits thinking long-term. No resets waiting.
