Most Fortnite Sidekicks are cute on purpose. Rad Rat goes the other way: it’s a glowing rat, and its Item Shop tagline reads “Just a little radioactive.”
Epic added Rad Rat to the Item Shop on September 29, 2026, during Chapter 7 Season 4. It costs 1,200 V-Bucks, it’s fully customizable, and the choices you make during setup are permanent. That last part matters more than the price.
Here’s what you get, how the styles work, and what the rat actually does in a match.
How Much Does the Rad Rat Sidekick Cost?
Rad Rat costs 1,200 V-Bucks. Here are the quick facts:
- Price: 1,200 V-Bucks
- Rarity: Uncommon
- Set: Totally Rat-ical
- Shop debut: September 29, 2026 (Chapter 7 Season 4)
- Item Shop description: “Just a little radioactive.”
- Customizable: Yes, with unlockable reward styles
That puts Rad Rat in Fortnite’s standard Sidekick price tier, the same 1,200 V-Bucks most original pets cost. Licensed Sidekicks cost more. The Pac-Man Sidekick costs 1,500 V-Bucks on its own, so Rad Rat is the cheaper pick if you want a companion without paying for a brand name.
What Comes in the Totally Rat-ical Set
Fortnite.GG groups three extra cosmetics with Rad Rat under the Totally Rat-ical set:
- Radical Rats Loading Screen: Tagline “Radness is everywhere,” with art by GhostShrimp.
- Rad Rat Was Here Emoji: An animated emoji.
- Banner Icon: A rat-themed icon for your banner.
Fortnite.GG lists these as part of the Rad Rat purchase rather than as separate Item Shop items. Epic’s official shop page doesn’t list the extras, so check the item preview before you buy.
Rad Rat Styles: 21 Options Across Five Categories
Fortnite.GG’s datamined listing shows 21 style options split into five groups:
| Category | Options | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Base | 4 | The rat’s core body color |
| Accent | 5 | Secondary color details |
| Eyes + FX | 5 | Eye color and visual effects |
| Outline | 2 | The outline around the model |
| Rewards | 5 | Extra styles unlocked by playing |
Multiply the first four categories (4 × 5 × 5 × 2) and you get 200 possible looks before you touch a single reward. That’s a lot of choice for a one-time decision.
Why You Should Take Your Time Before Locking In
Most shop listings skip this: you can lock in a Sidekick’s appearance only once. After you confirm your colors and effects, they’re permanent. If you want a second combination later, you have to buy the Sidekick again.
So treat the setup screen like a character creator, not a settings menu. Preview each Eyes + FX option in particular. The effects sell the “radioactive” idea, and a combination that looks great in the Locker can look very different on a dark map at night.
How to Unlock the Reward Styles
The five Rewards styles start locked. You earn them with Sidekick Points:
- Equip Rad Rat in your Locker.
- Play a compatible mode, such as Battle Royale or Zero Build.
- Track your progress in the Quests tab under the Sidekick section.
Epic hasn’t published how many points each reward needs, and requirements vary between Sidekicks. The only sure method is to keep Rad Rat equipped and play. Reward unlocks add to your rat without changing the colors you locked in.
What Rad Rat Does in a Match
Rad Rat is a cosmetic companion. It follows you around and reacts to what’s happening, but it gives you no combat advantage.
- It copies your emotes. Dance in the lobby or mid-match and Rad Rat joins in.
- It reacts to your moments. Sidekicks celebrate wins and look dejected when you get knocked down.
- You can interact with it. Walk up to the rat and press the prompt that appears above it (Y on Xbox, Triangle on PlayStation) to trigger a Sidekick emote.
- It can’t take damage. Epic says Sidekicks can’t be hurt, so you never have to protect it.
- It won’t spot enemies or loot. Epic says Sidekicks respond to their surroundings but don’t detect enemies or items.
In Battle Royale, only you and your teammates can see your Sidekick. Opponents can’t spot you by the glowing rat behind you, so pick the loudest effect you like without worrying about giving away your position.
Sidekick vs. Sprite: Don’t Mix Them Up
Chapter 7 Season 4 has a second kind of companion, and new players often confuse the two. Sprites give you gameplay abilities and level up through the Sprite Garden system (they recently got easier to level up after a September update). Sidekicks like Rad Rat don’t give abilities. You buy Rad Rat for personality, not power.
Where You Can Use Rad Rat
Rad Rat isn’t limited to Battle Royale. According to Epic’s support page, Sidekicks work in:
- Battle Royale and Zero Build
- Save the World
- LEGO Fortnite
- Fortnite Festival (your Sidekick stays backstage)
- Creator islands, if the island’s creator turns Sidekicks on
That covers most of Fortnite, which makes 1,200 V-Bucks easier to justify than a Back Bling you only notice in one mode.
Is Rad Rat Worth Buying?
Buy it if you want an original Sidekick at the standard price and like the idea of a slightly gross, glowing companion. Fortnite.GG shows about 1,800 wishlist adds on launch day, so plenty of players like the idea.
Skip it if you want a gameplay advantage (that’s what Sprites are for) or if you don’t want to commit to a permanent look.
Epic hasn’t announced when Rad Rat leaves the Item Shop. Sidekicks usually stay for a few days before rotating out, so don’t wait too long if you want it.
Signing Off
Rad Rat won’t win you a fight. It’s a glowing, customizable companion at the standard 1,200 V-Bucks price, with 200 base looks and five more styles to earn. The one decision you can’t undo is your look, so spend a few minutes on the style screen before you hit confirm. Which color combo are you locking in?
