99 Nights in the Forest Survival Guides

Master the art of survival with our comprehensive guides. From your first night to advanced strategies, we'll help you conquer the forest and rescue the missing children.

Guide Contents

Beginner's Guide

Essential survival tips for your first few days in the forest.

Deer Survival Guide

Advanced strategies for surviving encounters with the terrifying Deer monster.

Advanced Strategies

Pro tips for long-term survival and efficient resource management.

Bandage Location Guide

Where to find these critical life-saving items.

Weapons & Tools Guide

Complete breakdown of all combat equipment and tools.

Base Defense Strategies

How to protect your camp from Cultist raids.

Beginner's Guide: Your First 7 Days

Starting in 99 Nights in the Forest can be overwhelming. This step-by-step guide will help you survive your first week and establish a strong foundation for long-term survival.

Day 1: Immediate Priorities

  • Find the Campfire: This is your safe zone. Never let it go out.
  • Gather Wood: Use your starting axe to collect at least 20 wood pieces.
  • Craft a Map: Your first crafting priority (3 Wood). Essential for navigation.
  • Explore Nearby: Look for Scrap piles and buildings to loot.
  • Fuel the Fire: Before night falls, ensure your campfire has enough fuel.
  • Stay Near Fire at Night: The Deer will appear - stay in the light!

Days 2-3: Establishing Base

  • Craft Farm Plot: 10 Wood investment for renewable food.
  • Find Seeds: Search buildings and containers for berry/carrot seeds.
  • Upgrade Crafting Bench: Requires 20 Wood + 10 Scrap for Level 2.
  • Craft Wood Rain Storage: Protects your wood from weather.
  • Start Hunting: Kill rabbits for pelts and meat.
  • Explore More: Map out nearby areas and resource locations.

Days 4-5: Defense Preparation

  • Craft Bear Traps: 3 Scrap each - place around your campfire.
  • Build Shelves: For storage and as defensive walls.
  • Stockpile Fuel: Wood, coal, or organic matter for the fire.
  • Craft Bed: Requires 10 Wood + 5 Rabbit Pelts for respawn point.
  • Prepare for Cultists: First raid usually happens around Day 5-7.

Days 6-7: Advanced Setup

  • Craft Sundial: 5 Wood + 5 Scrap for time management.
  • Find Pelt Trader: Trade rabbit pelts for better equipment.
  • Upgrade Tools: Better axe and flashlight from trader.
  • Plan Teleporter: 10 Wood + 10 Scrap each (craft 2).
  • Survive First Raid: Use traps and weapons to defend your base.

Critical Beginner Tips

  • Never venture far from light sources at night - The Deer is always hunting
  • Prioritize the Map - Getting lost is often fatal
  • Save rare items - Bandages and medkits are extremely valuable
  • Learn the day/night cycle - Plan activities around daylight hours
  • Don't waste resources - Every piece of scrap and wood counts
  • Stay fed - Hunger affects your ability to revive at beds

Deer Survival Guide: Mastering the Night

The Deer is the most iconic and terrifying threat in 99 Nights in the Forest. This invincible stalker appears every night, and understanding its behavior is crucial for survival.

Understanding the Deer

  • Appearance: Tall, skeletal creature with antlers and glowing eyes
  • Behavior: Relentlessly hunts players during nighttime hours
  • Invulnerability: Cannot be killed by conventional weapons
  • Light Sensitivity: Retreats when exposed to bright light
  • Persistence: Will continue hunting until dawn or deterred by light
  • Speed: Moves faster than players, making escape difficult

Survival Strategies

  • Campfire Safety: Stay within the light radius of your fueled campfire
  • Flashlight Defense: Shine directly at the Deer to make it retreat
  • Light Management: Always carry backup fuel and batteries
  • Building Barriers: Use shelves and walls to create safe corridors
  • Emergency Shelters: Build secondary light sources around the map
  • Team Coordination: In multiplayer, take turns managing light sources

Advanced Deer Tactics

  • Light Cycling: Turn flashlight on/off to conserve battery while keeping Deer at bay
  • Decoy Fires: Build multiple campfires to confuse the Deer's pathing
  • Underground Safety: Some caves provide natural protection from the Deer
  • Timing Escapes: Learn the exact timing of dawn to plan risky moves
  • Sound Awareness: Listen for the Deer's distinctive sounds to track its location
  • Emergency Protocols: Have escape routes planned from every location

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Overconfidence: Never assume you're safe without light
  • Fuel Neglect: Always monitor your campfire's fuel level
  • Battery Waste: Don't leave flashlight on unnecessarily during day
  • Poor Positioning: Avoid getting trapped in corners or dead ends
  • Panic Responses: Stay calm and methodical when the Deer appears
  • Ignoring Sounds: Audio cues are crucial for Deer awareness

The Secret to Defeating the Deer

While the Deer appears invulnerable, the "DEFEAT THE DEER" badge suggests there is a hidden method to overcome this creature. The community has discovered that under very specific conditions involving multiple light sources, specific timing, and possibly hidden game mechanics, the Deer can be defeated. This method is closely guarded and requires extensive preparation and perfect execution.

Advanced Strategies: Long-Term Survival

Once you've mastered the basics, these advanced strategies will help you thrive in the forest for 100+ days and unlock the most challenging achievements.

Resource Management Mastery

  • Fuel Efficiency: Use Biofuel Processor to convert organic matter into high-efficiency fuel
  • Strategic Stockpiling: Maintain reserves of critical materials in multiple locations
  • Trade Optimization: Focus on hunting specific animals for valuable pelts
  • Renewable Systems: Establish multiple farm plots for sustainable food production
  • Scrap Prioritization: Save scrap for high-value items like Generator components
  • Weather Planning: Use Wood Rain Storage to prevent resource loss during storms

Base Optimization

  • Multi-Layer Defense: Create concentric rings of Bear Traps and walls
  • Teleporter Networks: Connect distant resource areas to your main base
  • Backup Systems: Build secondary bases with essential supplies
  • Generator Integration: Use electricity to power advanced defensive systems
  • Storage Optimization: Organize shelves for quick access during raids
  • Escape Routes: Always have multiple exit strategies from your base

Combat Excellence

  • Weapon Mastery: Learn the strengths and weaknesses of each weapon type
  • Trap Placement: Position Bear Traps at chokepoints and entry routes
  • Kiting Techniques: Use movement to avoid damage while dealing damage
  • Ammunition Conservation: Make every shot count with ranged weapons
  • Cultist Patterns: Learn enemy attack patterns and exploit weaknesses
  • Team Coordination: In multiplayer, coordinate attacks and defense roles

Achievement Hunting

  • Badge Planning: Design runs specifically for challenging achievements
  • Pacifist Strategies: Alternative survival methods without combat
  • Vegan Approaches: Plant-based survival without hunting animals
  • Speedrun Techniques: Efficient paths for quick objective completion
  • Secret Discovery: Methods for finding hidden badges and mechanics
  • Community Collaboration: Work with other players for social achievements

Bandage Location Guide: Life-Saving Resources

Bandages and Medkits are the most valuable items in multiplayer 99 Nights in the Forest. They cannot be crafted and are extremely rare, making knowledge of their locations crucial for team survival.

High-Probability Locations

  • Medical Buildings: Small white buildings with red cross symbols
  • Abandoned Houses: Check all rooms, especially bathrooms and bedrooms
  • Military Outposts: Rare but often contain multiple medical supplies
  • Cave Systems: Deep caves sometimes have hidden medical caches
  • Crashed Vehicles: Cars and trucks may contain first aid supplies
  • Ranger Stations: Forest service buildings often have emergency supplies

Search Strategies

  • Systematic Exploration: Check every building in a grid pattern
  • Container Priority: Focus on medical cabinets, drawers, and lockers
  • Team Coordination: Assign different areas to each team member
  • Respawn Timing: Some locations may respawn items after several days
  • Risk Assessment: Balance search time against Deer/Cultist threats
  • Documentation: Keep track of searched locations to avoid redundancy

Usage Strategies

  • Emergency Only: Save bandages for critical revival situations
  • Team Priority: Revive the most skilled or equipped player first
  • Safe Revival: Only attempt revivals in secure, well-lit areas
  • Backup Plans: Always have escape routes when attempting revivals
  • Communication: Coordinate with team before using precious medical supplies
  • Inventory Management: Designate one player as the team medic

Alternative Sources

  • Medic Class: Paid class that starts with 2 bandages
  • Fairy Trades: The mysterious Fairy NPC sometimes offers medical supplies
  • Event Rewards: Special events may provide medical items as rewards
  • Hidden Caches: Secret locations that require puzzle-solving to access
  • Player Trading: In some game modes, players can trade items
  • Daily Bonuses: Some servers offer daily login rewards

Weapons & Tools Guide: Combat Mastery

Understanding your arsenal is crucial for surviving Cultist raids and hunting dangerous animals. Each weapon has unique characteristics and optimal use cases.

Weapon Type Damage Range Source Best Use
Basic Axe Melee Medium Short Starting Equipment Resource gathering, emergency combat
Upgraded Axe Melee High Short Pelt Trader Efficient wood gathering, strong melee
Pistol Ranged Medium Medium Loot/Trader Versatile combat, ammo efficient
Revolver Ranged High Medium Pelt Trader High damage, reliable stopping power
Rifle Ranged Very High Long Rare Loot Long-range combat, hunting large animals
Katana Melee Very High Medium High-tier Trader Elite melee combat, fast attacks
Bear Trap Trap Very High Area Crafted Base defense, area denial

Combat Tips

  • Ammo Conservation: Melee weapons don't require ammunition - use them when possible
  • Range Advantage: Keep distance from enemies when using ranged weapons
  • Trap Synergy: Combine Bear Traps with ranged weapons for maximum effectiveness
  • Weapon Switching: Learn to quickly switch between weapons for different situations
  • Environmental Usage: Use terrain and structures to your advantage in combat

Base Defense Strategies: Protecting Your Camp

Cultist raids are inevitable and increasingly difficult. A well-designed defense system is essential for long-term survival and protecting your precious campfire.

Defensive Structures

  • Bear Trap Perimeter: Create multiple rings around your campfire
  • Shelf Walls: Use shelves to create chokepoints and barriers
  • Elevated Positions: Build platforms for ranged combat advantage
  • Maze Design: Force enemies through trap-filled corridors
  • Backup Defenses: Multiple layers in case outer defenses fail
  • Emergency Exits: Always have escape routes planned

Raid Preparation

  • Fuel Stockpiling: Ensure campfire can burn through entire raid
  • Weapon Readiness: Have weapons and ammo easily accessible
  • Trap Maintenance: Check and replace Bear Traps regularly
  • Team Positioning: Assign roles and positions for each player
  • Medical Supplies: Keep bandages ready for emergencies
  • Communication: Establish clear signals and commands

During the Raid

  • Campfire Priority: Protect the fire at all costs
  • Coordinated Fire: Focus attacks on single targets
  • Trap Monitoring: Watch for enemies caught in Bear Traps
  • Fuel Management: Add fuel to campfire as needed
  • Retreat Protocols: Know when to fall back to inner defenses
  • Resource Conservation: Don't waste ammunition on weak enemies

Post-Raid Recovery

  • Damage Assessment: Check all defensive structures
  • Trap Replacement: Reset all triggered Bear Traps
  • Resource Gathering: Collect Cultist Medallions and other drops
  • Injury Treatment: Use medical supplies if necessary
  • Defense Improvement: Identify and fix weak points
  • Preparation for Next Raid: Raids become more frequent and intense