How to Get and Use a Birthday Medallion in Fortnite

Everything you need to know about Fortnite’s Birthday Medallion.

By Ali Usama - Senior Editor

Fortnite’s birthday celebrations—there’s cake, balloons, and, of course, some unique rewards. But what’s been grabbing everyone’s attention lately? The Birthday Medallion. If you’re like me and want to make the most of Fortnite’s anniversary event, here’s your all-in-one guide to snagging and using this special medallion, and a few reasons why it’s worth the grind.

Introduced for Fortnite’s 7th birthday celebration, Birthday Medallion is not your run-of-the-mill item. While it doesn’t have crazy combat perks like Boss Medallions from Season 4, the Birthday Medallion comes with its party trick—it spawns balloons. Slap the medallion on, and you can float around the map. But be warned—if your enemies strike these balloons mid-air, you will drop to the ground.

How to Get a Birthday Medallion

Looting Birthday Presents from the chest in Fortnite

You can not find it easily, it’s very rare and tied to Birthday Presents—the gift-wrapped boxes you can toss down on the ground. Finding these presents is a bit of a scavenger hunt, so here’s what you need to know:

  1. Birthday Presents Are Random Loot: You won’t find these at set locations like treasure chests or ammo boxes. Instead, these presents spawn as random floor loot or inside chests. They’re described as Legendary-rarity, so don’t expect to come across them every five minutes (unless you are very lucky).
  2. Be Persistent: Finding a present can be tricky due to the low spawn rate. You must search through major Points of Interest (POIs) and loot as many chests as possible.
  3. Loot the Present: Once you find a present, throw it on the ground like a grenade and bash it open with your pickaxe to access the goodies inside. Along with some high-tier loot, you’ll get your Birthday Medallion.

How to Use Birthday Medallion in Fortnite

Fortnite Birthday Medallion Balloons
Image: Fortnite Events/YouTube

Equipping the Birthday Medallion is pretty simple, but what happens afterward is where things get interesting. Once it’s in your inventory, balloons will automatically start spawning on your back. These balloons are a fun way to get around, and the more balloons that appear, the higher you’ll float into the air.

  • 1-2 Balloons: You’ll have a higher jump height and can move across the map more fluidly. It’s perfect for getting away from enemies or outpacing the storm.
  • 3 Balloons: In this case, you will be floating and start to lift off the ground completely. This can be fun and strategic, but it also makes you an easy target for enemy snipers. Just hit the “release balloon” button to drop back down before you get picked off mid-air.

Another reason to love the Birthday Medallion is that it’s connected to Birthday Quests, and completing these can earn you Battle Pass XP. One such quest challenges you to travel 777 meters while airborne using the balloons from your Birthday Medallion. So, if you’re looking to rack up some XP while showing off your floating skills, you should take on this quest.

A Few Tips Before You Take Flight

  • Stay Armed: While you’re hunting for the Birthday Presents, remember that other players are after them too. Keep your weapons handy because a birthday brawl is always a possibility.
  • Use Balloons Strategically: Balloons are fun, but remember, the higher you float, the more vulnerable you are. Keep a finger ready to pop them yourself before enemies do it for you.
  • Keep Moving: Because the spawn locations for Birthday Presents are random, don’t waste too much time in one spot. Keep looting and moving between POIs to increase your chances of finding one.

That’s the lowdown on where to find Birthday Medallions and how to use them in Fortnite. You can check out more on the game from our Fortnite page.