The Dark Voyager Sidekick is one of the more interesting free cosmetics Epic has put together in a while. It's a small flaming pet that follows you around Battle Royale, and you can grab it without spending a single V-Buck. All it takes is showing up to the right event at the right time, with at least one friend in tow. Here's everything you need to know before June 5.
What are the Dark Voyager Sidekick and Pickaxe?
Sidekicks are cosmetic pets that follow your character around during matches in Fortnite. They don't affect gameplay, but the Dark Voyager Sidekick is tied to one of the season's most prominent characters, making it a collector's item worth grabbing. The matching Dark Voyager Pickaxe completes the set and is slightly easier to unlock since you don't need a friend present to claim it.
Both items are tied exclusively to the Shattered live event, which marks the end of Chapter 7 Season 2. There's no confirmed path to getting either item through the Item Shop after the event, so treating this window as your only realistic shot is the smart play.
If you miss the Shattered live event entirely, neither the Sidekick nor the Pickaxe has a confirmed future release date. Don't assume they'll return.
Dark Voyager Sidekick in locker
How do you get the Dark Voyager Sidekick for free?
The Dark Voyager Sidekick requires one condition beyond just attending: you need at least 1 friend in your party when the Shattered live event begins. A full squad of up to 4 players works fine, but the minimum is 2. Here's the step-by-step process:
- Launch Fortnite and navigate to the Shattered live event playlist.
- Invite at least 1 friend from your friends list to your party.
- Ready up together and complete the live event.
- After the event ends, open your Locker.
- Both the Dark Voyager Sidekick and Dark Voyager Pickaxe should appear there.
Fortnite servers go into downtime immediately after the Shattered event closes, so the rewards are likely to show up when you first log into Chapter 7 Season 3.
The lobby doors open at 6:20 PM ET on June 5, a full 40 minutes before the event starts at 7 PM ET. Get in early to avoid queue issues.
How do you get the Dark Voyager Pickaxe for free?
The Dark Voyager Pickaxe has a lower barrier. You just need to attend the Shattered live event, even as a solo player. No friends required. Show up, watch the event, and it's yours.
Dark Voyager Pickaxe reward
What if you don't have any friends online?
This is the part that trips people up. If your friends list is quiet or nobody plays Fortnite anymore, you still have options.
- Use a second account. Create a secondary account on another device, whether that's a spare console, a phone, or a second PC profile. Add your main account, then join the event as a duo. Both accounts just need to be present at the start.
- Ask the community. The r/FortNiteBR subreddit regularly organizes friend requests around live events. Post before June 5 and you'll find someone.
The friend must be in your lobby when the event starts, not just added to your friends list. Make sure they're actually queued with you.
When exactly is the Shattered live event?
The Shattered live event runs on June 5, 2026 at 7 PM ET. Lobby access opens at 6:20 PM ET. This event closes out Chapter 7 Season 2, and the servers drop into downtime the moment it ends. Chapter 7 Season 3 launches on the other side of that downtime.
If you're planning to grab the Dark Voyager Sidekick, coordinate with your friend ahead of time. Don't wait until 6:55 PM to send the invite.
The Shattered event also includes a server stress test that rewards free XP. If you want to farm some extra experience before the season ends, that's worth checking out separately.
What else should you do before Chapter 7 Season 2 ends?
With the season wrapping up, there are a few other things worth finishing before the servers go down. If you haven't tracked down the Dark Voyager Echo location and claimed the Mythic Obliterator, that's a priority. The Skyline Deployer quest is another quick win for XP before the season closes.
For everything else you need to wrap up before Chapter 7 Season 3 arrives, the full Fortnite guides collection has you covered.