
The KPop Demon Hunters collaboration just got better! Epic Games has dropped the Jinu skin as part of Wave 2, and I’m here to show you exactly how to claim it for free before it hits the Item Shop. This isn’t just another collaboration it’s your chance to grab one of the most anticipated villain skins in Fortnite history without spending a single V-Buck.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Release Date | February 6, 2026 |
| Free Method | KPop Demon Hunters Cup (Tournament) |
| Item Shop Price | 1,500 V-Bucks (part of 3,000 V-Buck bundle) |
| Skin Styles | 2 (Regular Saja Boys outfit + Demon Form) |
| Included Back Bling | Sussie (bird companion) |
| Tournament Format | Solo Battle Royale |
| Session Duration | 3 hours |
| Maximum Matches | 10 games |
Jinu, the charismatic antagonist from Netflix’s record-breaking KPop Demon Hunters film, finally makes his Fortnite debut. This skin comes with two incredible edit styles—his stylish Saja Boys outfit from the “Soda Pop” performances and his terrifying demon form from the movie’s climactic “Your Idol” scene. Trust me, both styles are absolute fire and worth the competitive grind.
Epic Games surprised everyone by offering the Jinu skin through a competitive cup before it even drops in the Item Shop. Here’s everything you need to know about claiming yours.
The KPop Demon Hunters Cup takes place on February 6, 2026. Here’s when it starts in each major region:
| Region | Local Start Time | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North America (PT) | 7:00 AM | 3 hours |
| North America (ET) | 10:00 AM | 3 hours |
| Europe (CET) | 4:00 PM | 3 hours |
| Brazil (BRT) | 12:00 PM | 3 hours |
| Asia (JST) | 12:00 AM (Feb 7) | 3 hours |
| Oceania (AEDT) | 2:00 AM (Feb 7) | 3 hours |
| Middle East | 6:00 PM | 3 hours |
Pro Tip: You can compete in multiple regions if you want more chances to win, but expect higher ping which might affect your performance. I’d recommend sticking to your home region for the best experience.
Here’s the crucial part—how many players can actually win the Jinu skin in each region. The placement requirements vary significantly based on population:
| Region | Placement for Jinu Skin | Placement for Sussie Back Bling |
|---|---|---|
| Europe (EU) | 1st – 2,350th | 1st – 2,350th |
| North America Central (NAC) | 1st – 900th | 1st – 900th |
| North America West (NAW) | 1st – 400th | 1st – 400th |
| Brazil (BR) | 1st – 400th | 1st – 400th |
| Asia | 1st – 250th | 1st – 250th |
| Oceania (OCE) | 1st – 250th | 1st – 250th |
| Middle East (ME) | 1st – 250th | 1st – 250th |
Europe has the most generous placement requirements with 2,350 winners, while smaller regions like Asia, Oceania, and Middle East only award the top 250 players. If you’re in a competitive region, you’ll need to bring your A-game.
Understanding how points work is critical to winning the Jinu skin. Here’s the complete breakdown:
Tournament Structure:
Scoring Breakdown:
| Achievement | Points Earned |
|---|---|
| Victory Royale | 60 points |
| 2nd Place | 57 points |
| 3rd Place | 54 points |
| 4th-5th Place | 51 points |
| 6th-10th Place | 46 points |
| 11th-15th Place | 42 points |
| 16th-20th Place | 38 points |
| 21st-25th Place | 34 points |
| 26th-30th Place | 30 points |
| Each Elimination | +2 points |
Tiebreaker Order:
The scoring heavily favors survival over elimination. A single Victory Royale with just a few eliminations can net you more points than multiple games with high eliminations but poor placements.
Even if you don’t place high enough for the Jinu skin, there are still rewards you can earn just by participating:
| Reward | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Jinu Outfit (2 styles) | Top placement (varies by region) |
| Sussie Back Bling | Top placement (same as outfit) |
| HUNTR/X Emoticon | 8 points |
| Saja Boys Emoticon | 40 points |
| Pink Tiger Wrap | 80 points |
The point-based rewards are super achievable—you can literally earn 8 points in a single match by getting a decent placement and a couple of eliminations. The 40 and 80-point thresholds require more consistency, but they’re definitely within reach for most players.
Before you can compete, you need to meet Epic Games’ requirements:
How to Enable 2FA:
Most players already meet these requirements, but double-check your account level and 2FA status before the cup starts. Nothing’s worse than being ready to compete only to find out you’re not eligible.
I’ve competed in dozens of these cups, and I’ve developed strategies that consistently help me place in the top percentiles. Here’s exactly what works:
This is the golden rule. Look at the scoring system—a 2nd place finish with zero eliminations (57 points) beats a 26th place finish with 10 eliminations (30 + 20 = 50 points).
What I do:
Popular drop spots to avoid during cups: Tilted Towers, Pleasant Park, Retail Row, and any named POI near the center of the map.
The difference between finishing 15th and 5th can be worth 10+ extra points. Here’s how I maximize my endgame placement:
Positioning Tips:
Fighting Smart:
You only get 10 matches in 3 hours, so every game counts. Here’s my game plan:
Games 1-3 (Warm-up Phase):
Games 4-7 (Point Building):
Games 8-10 (Final Push):
Time Management: Each match averages 15-20 minutes. With 180 minutes total, you have minimal downtime. Land quickly, loot efficiently, and don’t waste time looting unnecessary items.
Here’s the loadout I prioritize every single game:
Priority Order:
Inventory Setup:
I always carry at least 6 heals and 6 shields. Sustain wins cups more than raw fighting ability.
Cup performance is as much mental as mechanical:
Stay Calm:
Maintain Energy:
Track Your Progress:
If you’re at 200 points after 7 games in EU, you’re probably safe. If you’re at 180 points, you need strong finishes in your final 3 games.
Didn’t place high enough in the cup? Don’t worry you can still grab Jinu when he arrives in the Item Shop.
Release Date: February 6, 2026 at 7:00 PM ET
Bundle Contents:
| Item | Type | Individual Price |
|---|---|---|
| Jinu (with Demon edit style) | Outfit | 1,500 V-Bucks |
| Golden Rumi (with Patterns edit style) | Outfit | 1,500 V-Bucks |
| Ancient Hunter’s Ssang-geum | Pickaxe | 800 V-Bucks |
| Saja Boys Light Stick | Pickaxe | 800 V-Bucks |
| Kimbap To Go | Back Bling | 500 V-Bucks |
| Sussie | Back Bling | 500 V-Bucks |
Expected Bundle Price: 3,000 V-Bucks (saves 1,600 V-Bucks vs buying separately)
Individual Jinu Purchase: 1,500 V-Bucks (includes both skin styles and Sussie back bling)
The bundle is a great value if you want both Jinu and Golden Rumi. However, if you’re only after Jinu, the individual purchase saves you money. The skin will likely rotate out of the shop within 3-5 days, so don’t wait too long if you miss the cup.
According to Epic Games’ current stance, the Jinu skin is not exclusive and will return to the Item Shop in future rotations. However, KPop Demon Hunters collaborations don’t return frequently—the original Wave 1 skins from October 2026 only came back once so far.
My recommendation: If you want Jinu, get him during this release window either through the cup or Item Shop. Waiting for a return could mean months of waiting.
While Jinu is the star, Epic Games is releasing a bunch of other incredible cosmetics as part of Wave 2:
1. Jinu
2. Golden Rumi
3. Golden Mira
4. Golden Zoey
Back Blings:
Pickaxes:
Emotes:
Rumored Items (Not Confirmed):
The Golden skins are completely separate purchases from the original Wave 1 outfits, so if you bought Rumi, Mira, or Zoey before, you’ll need to buy these new versions separately. Some fans are upset about this, but the Golden versions look so different that I think it’s justified.
I’ve seen countless players ruin their chances with these rookie errors:
The Error: Dropping hot spots and fighting everyone for kills.
Why It Fails: You might get 6 eliminations (12 points) but die in 42nd place (8 points) = 20 total points. A passive game with 2 eliminations and 6th place finish = 4 + 46 = 50 points.
The Fix: Drop edge locations. Avoid unnecessary fights. Play for endgame.
The Error: Taking too long to loot, waiting in lobbies, not starting games quickly.
Why It Fails: You only have 180 minutes for 10 games. Wasting 5 minutes between matches means you might only get 8 games in.
The Fix: Ready up immediately after each match. Set a timer. Know when the cup ends.
The Error: Having one terrible game and mentally checking out or playing recklessly.
Why It Fails: You can easily make up for one bad game with several strong performances. Tilting ruins your remaining matches.
The Fix: Reset mentally after each game. Take a 30-second breather. Stay positive.
The Error: Staying in dead zones for loot or fighting while the storm approaches.
Why It Fails: Storm damage in competitive modes is brutal. You’ll lose all your health and shields trying to outrun it.
The Fix: Always rotate early. Value positioning over an extra chest.
The Error: Never checking your standing during the cup.
Why It Fails: You won’t know if you need to play more aggressively or if you can coast on safe placements.
The Fix: Check after games 3, 6, and 9. Adjust your strategy based on where you stand.
The KPop Demon Hunters Cup begins on February 6, 2026. Start times vary by region: 10:00 AM ET for North America East, 7:00 AM PT for North America West, and 4:00 PM CET for Europe. Check the Compete tab in-game for your exact regional start time.
You don’t need a specific point total—you need to place within the top placements for your region. Europe requires top 2,350, North America Central needs top 900, and smaller regions like Asia and Oceania require top 250. The exact point threshold varies, but aim for 250+ points to be safe in most regions.
Yes, you can compete in any region you want. However, playing outside your home region will result in higher ping, which can significantly impact your performance. Most competitive players stick to their home region for the best experience.
If you don’t place high enough for the free Jinu skin, you can purchase it from the Item Shop starting February 6, 2026 at 7:00 PM ET. The skin costs 1,500 V-Bucks individually or is included in the 3,000 V-Buck Rumi & Jinu Bundle.
Yes! If you win Jinu through the cup, you get both his regular Saja Boys outfit and his Demon Form edit style, plus the Sussie back bling—everything that’s included in the Item Shop version.
Go to your Epic Games account settings, navigate to “Password & Security,” and enable Two-Factor Authentication using either email or an authenticator app. This is required to participate in any Fortnite competitive event.
No, the Golden versions of Rumi, Mira, and Zoey are completely separate skins that must be purchased even if you own the original Wave 1 versions. Epic confirmed these are not edit styles but new outfits.
Yes, Epic Games has confirmed the Jinu skin is not exclusive and will return in future Item Shop rotations. However, KPop Demon Hunters collabs don’t return frequently, so it may be months before you get another chance.
Prioritize survival over eliminations. Drop at edge locations, avoid hot spots, rotate early to zones, and play for consistent top 10 finishes rather than high-kill games. A 5th place finish with 2 eliminations scores more points than 20th place with 10 eliminations.
Yes, the KPop Demon Hunters Cup is available on all platforms including mobile, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, and PC. All platforms compete in the same tournaments, though mobile and Switch players may face disadvantages against PC players in cross-platform lobbies.
Absolutely. As someone who’s followed the KPop Demon Hunters collaboration since Wave 1, Jinu is hands-down one of the best villain skins Fortnite has released. Both edit styles are incredibly detailed, the Demon Form is legitimately intimidating, and Sussie is one of the cutest back blings in the game.
Whether you go for the free cup route or buy him from the Item Shop, you won’t regret adding Jinu to your collection. The cup gives you a fantastic competitive challenge and the satisfaction of earning the skin, while the Item Shop option provides guaranteed access without the stress.
My plan? I’m competing in the cup for the thrill, but I’ve got my 1,500 V-Bucks ready just in case. Either way, I’m walking away with Jinu on February 6.
Good luck in the KPop Demon Hunters Cup, and I’ll see you on the battlefield! Make sure to bookmark this guide and share it with your squad—let’s all grab that free Jinu skin together.