Fortnite teamed up with Ninja Kiwi for a crossover that brings the iconic Dart Monkey into the Battle Royale as a cosmetic pet companion. If you want to learn how to get the Fortnite Bloons TD 6 Sidekick for free, this guide walks you through every method, eligibility rule, and troubleshooting tip you need.
Fortnite has a long history of gaming crossovers, and this one follows a familiar pattern: buy a game on the Epic Games Store, earn a free cosmetic. For more crossover content, check out our complete Fortnite collaborations guide.
What Is a Sidekick in Fortnite?
A Sidekick in Fortnite is a cosmetic pet companion that follows your character around during matches. Think of it as a small animated creature that trails behind you on the Battle Royale island. Sidekicks are purely cosmetic, meaning they do not give you any gameplay advantage.
Sidekicks sit in the same locker slot as pets. They are different from back bling because they move independently and have their own idle animations. The Dart Monkey Sidekick from Bloons TD 6 is part of the Gaming Legends series, which includes items inspired by other video game franchises.
Sidekicks have been in Fortnite since Chapter 1, with popular examples like the Super Meat Boy Sidekick. They show up in your Locker under the pet category and can be equipped alongside any skin, pickaxe, and glider combination.
What Is Bloons TD 6?
Bloons TD 6 is a tower defense game developed by Ninja Kiwi, a New Zealand-based studio. Released in 2018, the game challenges players to place monkey characters along a path to pop waves of colorful balloons (called Bloons) before they reach the end of the track.
The game has earned overwhelmingly positive reviews across platforms thanks to its deep strategy mechanics, frequent content updates, and vibrant art style. Players can choose from dozens of monkey towers, each with multiple upgrade paths that create unique strategies. It is the sixth main installment in a franchise that dates back to the Flash game era.
Fortnite has done crossovers with several gaming franchises before. Our Dumb Ways to Die Fortnite collaboration guide covers another recent example of how these promotions work.
How to Get Fortnite Bloons TD 6 Sidekick for Free?
The main way to get the Dart Monkey Sidekick for free is by purchasing Bloons TD 6 on the Epic Games Store. When you buy the game, Epic automatically grants the Sidekick to your Fortnite Locker at no additional cost. Bloons TD 6 costs $13.99 on the Epic Games Store, which makes this the cheaper option compared to buying the Sidekick directly with V-Bucks.
Here is the step-by-step process:
Step 1: Open the Epic Games Store desktop application or visit the Epic Games Store website in your browser.
Step 2: Make sure you are logged into the same Epic Games account you use for Fortnite. This is critical. If your Fortnite account uses a different Epic account, the Sidekick will not appear.
Step 3: Search for “Bloons TD 6” in the Epic Games Store search bar and navigate to the game’s store page.
Step 4: Click the blue purchase button and complete the transaction. Bloons TD 6 is priced at $13.99.
Step 5: Wait for the automatic grant. According to the official Epic Games Store FAQ, the Dart Monkey Sidekick started being granted to eligible players on April 23, 2026 at 8:00 PM ET. After purchase, the Sidekick typically appears in your Fortnite Locker within 24 hours.
Step 6: Open Fortnite, go to your Locker, and navigate to the pet category. You should see the Dart Monkey Sidekick ready to equip.
The whole process takes about five minutes of active effort, plus the wait time for the grant to process. Ninja Kiwi confirmed the Sidekick went live on their official Twitter/X account, so you can check there for status updates if you run into any delays.
Eligibility Requirements for the Dart Monkey Sidekick
Not everyone who owns Bloons TD 6 qualifies for the free Sidekick. Epic Games has specific eligibility rules, and the biggest source of confusion comes from how you acquired the game. Here is the breakdown:
Paid purchase on Epic Games Store: You qualify. If you bought Bloons TD 6 with real money through the Epic Games Store at any point, the Sidekick will be granted to your account automatically.
Free promotion on Epic Games Store: You do not qualify. Epic Games periodically gives away games for free during Mega Sales and other promotional events. If you claimed Bloons TD 6 during one of these free giveaways, your copy does not count toward the Sidekick reward.
Steam version: You do not qualify. Even if you purchased Bloons TD 6 on Steam with real money, the Sidekick grant only applies to Epic Games Store purchases. Linking your Steam account to your Epic account will not change this.
However, there is a workaround for free promo owners. According to multiple Reddit users, if you got Bloons TD 6 for free from Epic, spending approximately $10 on an in-game purchase (IAP) within Bloons TD 6 on the Epic Games Store makes you eligible. This effectively gets you the Dart Monkey Sidekick at a discount compared to buying it with V-Bucks.
If you are interested in other free cosmetic items, our free Fortnite skin guide covers additional items you can earn without spending V-Bucks.
Alternative: Buying the Dart Monkey Sidekick from the Item Shop (2026)
If you do not want to buy Bloons TD 6, you can purchase the Dart Monkey Sidekick directly from the Fortnite Item Shop. It costs 1,500 V-Bucks, which translates to roughly $12 to $15 depending on which V-Bucks bundle you buy.
This is worth comparing against the Epic Games Store method. Buying Bloons TD 6 for $13.99 gets you both a full tower defense game and the Sidekick. Buying the Sidekick alone for 1,500 V-Bucks gives you only the cosmetic. For most players, the Epic Games Store route is the better deal since you essentially get the game for free when you factor in the V-Bucks value.
If you accidentally purchased the Sidekick with V-Bucks before realizing you already qualified for the free grant, Epic Games does offer a refund policy for double-purchasers. You can contact Epic Games Support through their website to request a V-Bucks refund. Our Champion Kor free skin guide follows a similar pattern where players can earn cosmetics through alternative methods.
Troubleshooting: Why Your Dart Monkey Sidekick Is Not Showing Up?
Some players experience delays or issues when claiming the Dart Monkey Sidekick. If your Sidekick has not appeared in your Fortnite Locker yet, here are the most common reasons and fixes:
Wait longer: The grant process is not always instant. Give it 24 to 48 hours after your purchase. During high-traffic periods, Epic’s systems can take longer to process automatic grants.
Check your account: Make sure you purchased Bloons TD 6 on the same Epic Games account linked to your Fortnite profile. If you have multiple Epic accounts, you may have bought the game on the wrong one.
Verify eligibility: Confirm that you actually paid for Bloons TD 6 on the Epic Games Store, and did not claim it during a free promotion. Check your Epic Games purchase history to see if the transaction shows up as a paid purchase.
Contact Epic Support: If you have waited more than 48 hours and confirmed your eligibility, reach out to Epic Games Support. They can investigate your account and manually trigger the grant if something went wrong on their end.
FAQs
Can I get a Fortnite sidekick for free?
Yes, you can get the Dart Monkey Sidekick for free by purchasing Bloons TD 6 on the Epic Games Store. The game costs $13.99, and once you buy it, the Sidekick is automatically added to your Fortnite Locker at no extra charge. If you already own Bloons TD 6 from a paid Epic Games Store purchase, you should receive the Sidekick automatically.
Is there any way to get Bloons TD 6 for free?
Epic Games has given away Bloons TD 6 for free during past promotional events. However, free promotion copies do not qualify for the Dart Monkey Sidekick grant. You need a paid purchase on the Epic Games Store to be eligible. If you got the game for free, spending roughly $10 on in-game purchases within Bloons TD 6 on the Epic Games Store may qualify you.
Is there any way to get free Fortnite skins?
Fortnite offers several ways to earn free cosmetics. You can complete Battle Pass challenges during each season, participate in special event quests, claim items from the Item Shop during free giveaways, and earn rewards through crossover promotions like the Bloons TD 6 Sidekick offer. Check the in-game news feed regularly for new free item opportunities.
Does Bloons TD 6 have codes?
Bloons TD 6 does not use traditional redeem codes for free content. Progression in the game comes from playing through maps, earning Monkey Money, and unlocking upgrades. The crossover with Fortnite is handled entirely through the Epic Games Store purchase system, not through any in-game code redemption.
Conclusion
Getting the Fortnite Bloons TD 6 Sidekick for free is straightforward: buy Bloons TD 6 on the Epic Games Store for $13.99, and the Dart Monkey Sidekick appears in your Locker automatically. Free promotion copies and Steam purchases do not qualify, but existing paid Epic Games Store owners are already covered. You can also buy the Sidekick directly for 1,500 V-Bucks if you prefer the Item Shop route. For more free cosmetics and crossover content, check out our Chapter 7 Victory Umbrella guide and our full catalog of Fortnite guides.
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