Fortnite’s Bloons TD 6 crossover is reportedly returning to the Item Shop tonight, with the Dart Monkey Sidekick expected to become available again after its original April run. HYPEX and ShiinaBR both reported the return on September 22, while FireMonkey’s latest shop-tab data independently lists a Bloons TD section for the next rotation. Epic Games has not yet formally announced the return, so the timing should still be treated as a leak until the shop refresh goes live.
The Dart Monkey Sidekick originally debuted on April 23 at 8:00 PM ET as part of Fortnite’s collaboration with Ninja Kiwi’s Bloons TD 6. Epic’s support documentation confirms that the Sidekick was sold separately in the Fortnite Shop through April 29, while also being offered through a gift-with-purchase promotion tied to Bloons TD 6 and eligible purchases on the Epic Games Store. Epic specifically noted that the cosmetic could return to the Item Shop at a later date.
That appears to be happening now. HYPEX posted that the Bloons Sidekick would return tonight, while ShiinaBR separately identified the cosmetic as the Dart Monkey. FireMonkey’s backend shop-tab list adds stronger support to those claims by including a dedicated Bloons TD tab among the categories scheduled for the upcoming rotation.
The Dart Monkey is a Gaming Legends Series Sidekick rather than an Outfit. Sidekicks are companion cosmetics that follow players across supported Fortnite experiences and react to events during gameplay. Epic introduced the system in late 2025, with companions capable of using accessories and other customization options depending on the specific Sidekick.
Dart Monkey was priced at 1,500 V-Bucks during its original Item Shop appearance. Epic’s official support page also states that players who buy the Sidekick and later purchase an eligible Bloons TD 6 product through the Epic Games Store can receive a one-time 1,500 V-Bucks grant instead, provided the relevant promotion conditions are met. The broader gift-with-purchase offer remains listed through Epic’s storefront for qualifying Bloons TD 6 purchases.
The cosmetic itself includes several customization options connected to the Bloons character. Players can change its bandana color, toggle the bandana on or off and unlock the Bloon Popper Sidekick emote through its associated rewards. Unlike many collaboration cosmetics, Dart Monkey also allows players to change its name, giving it some of the customization normally associated with Fortnite’s original Sidekick designs.
Its return would add another collaboration-focused cosmetic to a busy stretch of Fortnite’s current shop rotation. Epic has continued expanding the Sidekick lineup through both original characters and crossovers, while leaked upcoming companions include Persona 5’s Morgana as a Sidekick and Sprite. The system has increasingly become another way for Fortnite to incorporate characters that may not naturally fit the proportions or gameplay requirements of a full Outfit.
The reported comeback also follows several other Item Shop return leaks during the current update, including Sabrina Carpenter and Hero Baymax. As with those reports, the Dart Monkey information is based on reliable Fortnite leakers and backend shop data rather than an advance announcement from Epic.
Fortnite’s Item Shop normally refreshes at 8:00 PM ET, which is when the reported Bloons TD tab and Dart Monkey return should become visible if the leaked rotation is accurate. The exact duration of the returning offer has not been disclosed.
For now, players who missed Dart Monkey during its April debut appear set to get another opportunity to purchase it directly with V-Bucks. The return is not officially live yet, but multiple established Fortnite sources and FireMonkey’s shop-tab data all point to the Bloons TD 6 Sidekick reappearing with tonight’s rotation.
