How to Get Gem Sprites in Fortnite (Release Time and Locations)

Gem Sprites are the diamond-faceted variant of Fortnite’s companion Sprites, and they are among the rarest versions you can currently chase during the Runners season. Only a handful of base Sprites get a Gem form at launch, each one carries the same fall damage perk on top of its normal ability, and every one of them spawns from a specific place or activity on the map.

Quick answer: Gem Sprites go live Thursday, July 30th, 2026 at 6:00 AM PT as part of the weekly New Sprite Thursday drop. Once the update is live, find them by dropping at their fixed locations or opening Sprite Chests, then use a Portable Extractor to lock the Sprite in before another player takes it.

Gem Sprites release time by region

The update rolls out worldwide at the same moment, so the local time you see it depends on your time zone. A small number of Gem Sprites briefly appeared early during a previous update alongside a rift anomaly, but Epic disabled them, including any that players managed to collect. They return with the proper release below.

What Gem Sprites do

Every Gem Sprite shares one base perk: 30% less fall damage. On its own that perk does very little in practice, since Zero Build gives everyone glider redeploy and Build mode lets you pull a glider often enough that fall damage rarely decides a fight. It does not outperform Gummy Sprites, which increase Sprite Dust on extraction, or Gold Sprites, which give bonus XP on eliminations.

The value comes from the second ability. Each Gem Sprite keeps the unique effect of its base version and stacks the fall damage reduction on top, so the reason to chase a specific Gem is the effect it already had, not the shine. Of the launch batch, the Gem Demon Sprite stands out for aggressive play thanks to health and shield siphon on eliminations, and the Gem Zero Point Sprite is strong for its Shield Bubble Jr. that helps you heal mid-fight.

All Gem Sprites and where to find them

Not every base Sprite gets a Gem form at launch. Seven are confirmed for the first drop, each with a fixed spawn spot or acquisition method. Location-based Sprites appear when you visit the right area, vault-based ones need access, and chest-based ones roll from Sprite Chests at a low rate.

Gem Sprite	Base rarity	Secondary ability	Where to find
Gem Water Sprite	Rare	Shields regenerate while standing in water	Near rivers and beaches
Gem Earth Sprite	Rare	Chance to find extra rare loot from chests	Forests and wooded areas
Gem Duck Sprite	Epic	Emoting or jamming replenishes shields	Business mogul’s vault (keycard required)
Gem Demon Sprite	Epic	Siphon health and shields on every elimination	Sprite Chests (rare)
Gem Aura Sprite	Epic	Earn a Shock Rock charge after dealing enough damage	Near mountains and high ground
Gem Punk Sprite	Legendary	Chance for an infinite-ammo effect	Sprite Chests (rare)
Gem Zero Point Sprite	Mythic	Spawns a Shield Bubble Jr. when you use a healing item	Sprite Chests (rare)

How to farm Gem Sprites efficiently

Tip: Chase the combat-locked Sprites only when you are healthy. Fighting for a Sprite Chest with half your shields gone is how a collection run turns into an early exit.

Extract the Sprite before you leave the match

Finding a Gem Sprite is only half the job. Other players can steal it if you leave it exposed, so use a Portable Extractor as soon as you pick one up to send it safely back to your lobby. Once the extraction completes, the Sprite appears in your collection, and you can then level and master it to unlock its full effect. If a Gem Sprite you grabbed does not show up afterward, the most common cause is that it was never extracted before you were eliminated.

The seven launch variants are just the first batch, and Epic has been adding a new Sprite or variant every Thursday through the season, so expect more Gem forms to fill out the roster in later drops.