The update was a locked attic door thrown open — and there it was, a tiny pinecone bobbing in my locker where nothing had been yesterday. I froze for a second, then smiled; some things from Chapter 1 still matter. If you own the original Woodsy back bling, you already have a claim waiting for you.
I’m here to walk you through the clean, no-quest path to that free Sidekick and the fallback if you missed Chapter 1 Season 8. You, me, a quick checklist — no fluff, just the steps that get you scrolling into the match with a new companion.
At my locker this afternoon a tiny pinecone bobbed where nothing had been yesterday — How to Get Woodsy Sidekick in Fortnite for Free
Short version: if your account owns the original Woodsy back bling from the Chapter 1 Season 8 Battle Pass (that was Tier 18), you get the Woodsy Sidekick automatically after the 39.50 update. No quests. No grind. No mystery.
- Step 1 — Sign into Fortnite with the Epic account that owns the original Woodsy back bling.
- Step 2 — After the 39.50 update, check your locker. The Sidekick should appear in the Sidekicks filter.
- Step 3 — Customize the style if prompted, equip it, and bring it into Battle Royale or LEGO Fortnite.
If the Skin/Back Bling was on a console account tied to your Epic account (Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, or PC via the Epic Games Launcher), the entitlement follows that Epic account — so make sure you’re logging into the same profile you used back in Season 8.
Is the Fortnite Woodsy Sidekick free for all players?
No. You only get the free Woodsy Sidekick if you already own the original Woodsy back bling from Chapter 1 Season 8. Epic Games followed the same pattern used for Kitsune and Remus: classic back blings were converted into Sidekicks for existing owners.
On community threads I watch, players keep asking if their old cosmetics still matter — Who qualifies and why this matters
Short reality check: Battle Pass cosmetics give long-term value. Owning the original Woodsy back bling is the literal ticket.
Qualifiers:
- Must own the original Woodsy back bling (Chapter 1, Season 8, Tier 18).
- Must sign in with the Epic account that holds the cosmetic.
- No additional quests or purchases are required if the above are true.
Why Epic does this: turning old back blings into Sidekicks rewards veteran collectors and nudges newer players to check the Item Shop. It’s a win for retention and community chatter — which is why you’ll see threads about this on Reddit, Twitter/X, and the official Fortnite Forums.
Do I need to complete any quests to receive the Woodsy Sidekick?
No quests. If your account owns the original Pet back bling, the Sidekick will be added automatically — just equip it from the Sidekicks filter in your locker.
I watched the Item Shop rotate and saw similar back blings return on a cycle — What if you don’t own the Woodsy back bling?
Short answer: you can still get Woodsy, but it may cost V-Bucks when Epic flips it into the Item Shop later this season.
Purchase details:
- When Woodsy appears in the Item Shop, it will be sold as a Sidekick for 1,200 V-Bucks.
- V-Bucks are Fortnite’s in-game currency; buy them through the platform store on Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, PC (Epic Games Store), or the in-game purchase flows.
If you missed the Chapter 1 back bling, watch the Item Shop cycle and follow Fortnite social channels and the Epic Games account for the exact return window. Community creators and data miners often spot rotations early, so keep an eye on prominent Fortnite leakers and creators on X/Twitter and YouTube for the earliest hints.
Can I buy the Woodsy Sidekick in the Fortnite Item Shop?
Yes. For players who do not own the original back bling, Woodsy will appear in the Item Shop later this season for 1,200 V-Bucks.
Quick pro tip: if you have multiple platform accounts, verify which Epic account holds the cosmetic before logging in. Cross-platform linking through the Epic Games Launcher is the difference between an automatic Sidekick and a missed claim. Woodsy is a loyal shadow at your shoulder — so claim it if it’s yours, or set an alert for the shop drop.
Will you let Woodsy ride shotgun or wait to buy it in the Item Shop?