Fortnite's Fortnitemares event brought the usual flood of horror collabs, but buried in the update is something genuinely fun: a free sidekick based on Jimothy the Raccoon, the viral internet sensation that took social media by storm earlier this year. No V-Bucks, no Battle Pass tier required. Just a single in-game task standing between you and a raccoon companion following you around the island.
How do you get the free Jimothy Sidekick in Fortnite?
The Jimothy Sidekick is earned by successfully extracting the Dumpster Diver Sprite, a new Sprite added to Fortnite as part of the Fortnitemares update. This Sprite takes the form of a raccoon and comes with a practical bonus: it awards food to restore extra health whenever you jump into a hiding spot. Useful mid-match, but the real prize is what happens after extraction.
To complete the extraction, you need to locate one of the extraction points scattered across the map and use it while carrying the Dumpster Diver Sprite. These points can attract enemy attention, so be ready to defend your position. If you want to skip the wait entirely, a Portable Extractor speeds the process up significantly and is worth tracking down before you commit to a spot.
Once the extraction succeeds and you return to the lobby, the Jimothy Sidekick will be waiting for you automatically. No extra steps, no code to redeem.
Fortnite Guide: How to Get the Jimothy the Raccoon Sidekick for Free
What else can you unlock with Jimothy?
The Sidekick itself is just the start. After claiming Jimothy, you can continue working toward unlocking an additional Emote tied to the raccoon. The source material doesn't detail exactly how this Emote is earned beyond the initial Sidekick unlock, so keep an eye on your in-game challenges for the next step once Jimothy is in your locker.
When does the free Jimothy Sidekick expire?
Epic Games has not published an explicit end date for the Jimothy reward, but the window is tied directly to the Dumpster Diver Sprite's availability in the loot pool. That Sprite is expected to remain available until Fortnitemares ends on November 1, which also marks the close of Chapter 7 Season 4.
After that, a short mini-season is expected to follow as the final season of Chapter 7. New Sprites will likely replace the current season's roster, and the Dumpster Diver Sprite is not expected to carry over. That gives you roughly a full month from the Fortnitemares launch to complete the extraction and claim the Sidekick.
Fortnite Guide: How to Get the Jimothy the Raccoon Sidekick for Free
How does this compare to other free Fortnite Sidekicks?
Free Sidekicks in Fortnite tend to fall into two categories: quest-based rewards and event-specific unlocks. Jimothy sits firmly in the second camp, tied to a timed event mechanic rather than a checklist of challenges. That makes it simpler to grab in a single session compared to something like the Panda Team Jr Sidekick, which requires completing four Cuddles and Chaos quests.
For players who already have the Chapter 1 Season 9 Kyo back bling, there's also a separate free Kyo Sidekick available to claim with essentially no effort beyond owning the qualifying cosmetic. Jimothy requires a bit more active play, but the extraction task is genuinely quick once you have a Portable Extractor in hand.
If you're building out your Sidekick collection, the full Fortnite guides hub has breakdowns for every current Sidekick, including paid options like the Pac-Man and Spyro additions from recent seasons. Jimothy is one of the easiest free cosmetics Epic has offered in a while, and given the month-long window, there's no reason to leave it unclaimed.