If you’ve logged into BGMI recently, you’ve probably spotted the bright yellow “Bonus Challenge” icon on your main menu and wondered what it is, who it’s for, and if it’s worth your time. If you’ve been asking what is bonus challenge in BGMI, you’re in the right place. I’ve been grinding these matches since the mode first rolled out, and I’ve broken down everything you need to know to decide if it’s a good fit for your playstyle, plus how to get the most out of every match you join. It’s not just for pro players, either—casual players can earn great rewards too, as long as you understand the basic rules and risks before you jump in.
What is Bonus Challenge in BGMI? Core Rules & Eligibility
The Bonus Challenge is a limited-entry competitive game mode that lets you put in-game currency on the line for a chance to win exclusive, hard-to-find rewards. Unlike classic ranked matches, it doesn’t impact your season rank tier, so you can test new strategies or play more aggressively without worrying about dropping from Ace to Crown. It’s a middle ground between casual unranked matches and high-stakes official competitive tournaments, perfect for players who want a little extra excitement from their regular grind.
To join, you first need to meet a few basic eligibility requirements. You have to be at least account level 10, have no active penalties for cheating, toxic chat, or team killing, and hold enough Bonus Coins to cover the entry fee for your chosen tier. Bonus Challenge matches follow the exact same core gameplay rules as classic ranked matches, so you don’t have to learn new mechanics or map layouts to participate. Matches are available in solo, duo, and squad formats, and rotate between all classic maps including Erangel, Miramar, Sanhok, and Vikendi every few hours.
The mode is split into four tiers: Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Diamond, each with higher entry fees and better rewards as you move up. You can only join solo, duo, or squad matches that match your selected tier—you can’t jump straight to Diamond tier right away, even if you have enough coins. You have to win a set number of matches in lower tiers to unlock access to higher ones, which helps keep matches fair for players of all skill levels.
How to Earn Bonus Coins to Join BGMI Bonus Challenge Matches
Bonus Coins are the exclusive currency used to enter Bonus Challenge matches, and you can’t purchase them directly with UC through the official in-game shop. That means you have to earn them through regular gameplay or official events, which keeps the mode accessible to free-to-play players who don’t want to spend real money on extra content. I’ve never spent a cent on Bonus Coins, and I usually have enough to play 3-4 matches a week just from regular daily play.
There are multiple reliable ways to earn Bonus Coins for free, including:
- Daily login rewards and first-win-of-the-day bonuses for classic ranked or unranked matches
- Elite Royal Pass tier rewards, available on both the free and paid track every season
- Limited-time in-game events and community giveaways hosted directly by Krafton
- Converting excess silver fragments to Bonus Coins in the in-game redeem shop
- Consolation rewards for placing top 10 in lower-tier Bonus Challenge matches, even if you don’t win
Never spend real money on third-party sites claiming to sell Bonus Coins. All legitimate Bonus Coins are distributed directly through the official BGMI app, and purchasing coins from unapproved sources will almost always lead to a permanent account ban. There are plenty of free ways to earn coins, so there’s no reason to risk losing your entire account for a few extra matches.
Key Rewards You Can Earn From Bonus Challenge Matches
The rewards for Bonus Challenge matches are tiered based on your rank in the match and the tier you’re playing in. Higher tiers have far better rewards, but they also have higher entry fees and more skilled opponents, so you have to balance risk and reward when choosing which tier to join. Even if you don’t finish in the top 3, you’ll still earn battle points and experience points for playing, so you’re not wasting your time entirely if you lose your entry fee.
Common rewards for Bronze and Silver tier matches include temporary outfit skins, weapon skin coupons, bonus battle points, and extra Bonus Coins to cover your next entry fee. Gold tier matches add permanent rare outfit skins, rename cards, and UC vouchers worth up to 100 UC for top 3 finishers. The highest-value rewards are only available for players who finish in the top 3 of their Diamond tier squad matches—these include permanent mythic weapon skins, custom lobby access, and even invitations to small official BGMI regional tournaments for top leaderboard players.
Of course, there is a catch. If you finish below the top 10 in any tier, you won’t earn any Bonus Challenge-specific rewards, and you’ll lose the entry coins you spent to join the match. I’ve had weeks where I won 3 out of 5 matches and walked away with enough skins to last me two seasons, and other weeks where I lost all my entry coins on bad drops and had to grind classic matches for a few days to earn more. It’s important to only enter matches if you’re comfortable with the risk of losing your entry coins.
Pro Tips to Maximize Wins in BGMI Bonus Challenge
After playing more than 100 Bonus Challenge matches over the last few seasons, I’ve picked up a few tricks that have helped me win more often and get better rewards without spending extra time grinding for coins. You don’t have to be a pro player to win consistently—most of these tips are just common sense that a lot of new players ignore when they first join the mode.
Always check the match mode (Erangel, Miramar, etc.) before you confirm your entry. If you’re not comfortable on a specific map, you can wait 1-2 hours for the rotation to switch to your preferred one instead of wasting coins on a map you struggle with. I always wait for Erangel or Sanhok rotations, since those are the maps I know best, and my win rate is 30% higher when I play on maps I’m familiar with.
Don’t chase kills in Bonus Challenge matches unless you’re 100% sure you can win the fight. Placement gives far more points and better rewards than high kill counts in this mode, so it’s always better to play safe and hide until the final circles than to push every enemy you see. I’ve won multiple matches with only 2 kills just by playing slow and staying out of unnecessary fights, and I earned the same reward as players who got 10+ kills but finished 5th or lower.
If you’re playing squad matches, assign roles to your team before you drop. Have one player act as a scout to spot enemies, one as a sniper to take long-range shots, one as an assaulter to push close-quarters fights, and one as support to carry heals and revive teammates. Squads that have clear roles win far more often than squads that drop with no plan, especially in higher tiers where opponents are more coordinated. If you’re playing solo, prioritize looting quickly and finding a safe, covered spot early in the match instead of running around looking for fights.
At the end of the day, the Bonus Challenge is a fun way to add a little extra stakes to your regular BGMI grind, as long as you don’t risk more coins than you’re comfortable losing. If you’ve been curious about what is bonus challenge in BGMI, start with the lowest Bronze tier first to get a feel for the pace, and work your way up as you get more consistent wins. You don’t have to be a pro player to earn great rewards from it, even casual players can walk away with free skins and coins if they play smart and focus on placement over reckless fights.