Survival Strategies for Facing Deer, Owl, and Cultist Invasions in 99 Nights in the Forest

Surviving in the wilderness is no easy feat, and 99 Nights in the Forest takes that challenge to a whole new level—just as the title suggests. This survival crafting experience from Grandma’s Favourite Games is intense, and after facing off against its vicious deer entity multiple times, I quickly learned that a solid strategy is essential.

It took me longer than I expected to get the hang of things, but after plenty of trial and error, I’m on my way to becoming a pro at hunting that demonic deer. The good news? Mastering the game doesn’t take long, so I’m sharing my top tips and tricks for tackling Cultists, dealing with The Owl, and building a solid base.

With ongoing updates, I’ve added fresh strategies for surviving encounters with the deer and its gang of hostile woodland creatures. Some of my earlier tips were outdated, so I’ve cleaned up the guidance to keep it relevant.

The flashy tools in the lobby might tempt you to spend your diamonds on new classes, but don’t underestimate the value of the two or three-star classes. Start with something affordable, then save up for the big-ticket items.

I made significant progress through the toughest achievements as a Scavenger, which only cost me 25 diamonds for a class that offers extra sack space. Focus on learning the game first, then consider options like the Lumberjack, Explorer, or Alien classes for your initial diamond purchase.

After a dry spell, we finally have active codes to redeem for more diamonds. While it might not be enough to snag your desired class right away, keep saving. As you hit achievement milestones, like completing the secret action for the Humiliation Badge, you’ll eventually accumulate enough diamonds for pricier classes and talent rerolls.

Once you load in, the countdown to night begins. That’s when The Deer and other menacing entities emerge, so chop down a couple of trees, stoke your fire, and scout nearby buildings as quickly as possible.

Inside most structures, you’ll find valuable items and common chests. I prioritize collecting good fuel sources like wooden chairs, coal, and gasoline. It’s also wise to open as many chests as you can before the Pelt Trader arrives, allowing you to trade for items that aren’t easily found nearby.

The Pelt Trader makes his first appearance on day two, requesting a Rabbit’s Foot, and he’ll return every few days with the same request until it’s fulfilled. While I’m out searching for buildings, I take down any bunnies I encounter, usually securing a Rabbit’s Foot within a few kills. You can trade this for upgrades like the Good Axe, Good Sack, or Old Flashlight.

I typically skip the flashlight (they’re easy to find) and make my first upgrade the Good Axe for quicker tree chopping.

Crafting the map requires just three pieces of wood, and it becomes accessible from anywhere outside of camp by pressing M. Once I have the map, I upgrade my crafting bench and grab the compass and sundial to avoid getting lost in the dark.

Next, I usually set up a few farm plots and aim for Crafting Bench Tier 3 to craft a crock pot and lightning rod—braving a storm without one can be tough.

One of the biggest mistakes I see in 99 Nights in the Forest happens early on and can snowball into a disaster later. Many players forget to replant trees after chopping them down, and it only takes a few weeks of this to turn the forest into a barren wasteland.

It drives me crazy! You need as much wood as possible for building (stop burning it all), and if you’re smart about it, replanting trees can also serve as a makeshift defense for your base. Plant them in a tight circle around the campfire, and you’ll have a natural barrier against invading Cultists.

Cultist invasions become more intense with each passing night, so stock up on medkits and bandages to survive. Both items can revive fallen teammates, but I recommend saving medkits for larger heals. Use bandages for reviving downed allies instead.

Fortunately, you can craft bandages after finding the Anvil and gathering some common materials. Just remember that the resource cost increases with each craft, so avoid patching yourself up after every minor skirmish if you can wait for your HP to regenerate by the campfire.

Even if you’re not playing a class focused on recruiting furry companions, make sure to pick up and upgrade the taming flute. Late-game upgrades allow you to command powerful mammoths, but even a couple of wolves can help fend off pesky cultist invasions.

There’s a growing list of tameable animals, and even if you don’t want to deal with the hassle of upgrades, befriending a few wolves won’t drain your resources too much.

A new enemy has emerged in 99 Nights in the Forest: The Ram. It behaves similarly to The Owl, charging up attacks with a warning icon before pursuing you. It’s particularly dangerous in the volcano biome, and you’ll hear its distinctive snorting and huffing sounds before it strikes.

If you find yourself being chased by this beast, run at an angle and place as many objects between you and it as possible. Once The Ram charges, escaping becomes difficult, and it will destroy any trees in its path—be cautious if you don’t want it wrecking your camp.

While The Deer is notorious for its terrifying sounds, have you ever had The Owl swoop down on you while chopping trees? This flying menace tends to appear after the fifth night and, like The Deer, delivers a jumpscare when it catches you. If you don’t have a flashlight, it’s best to stay at camp when it’s lurking at night.

You can’t kill The Owl, so don’t waste ammo or time trying. Shining a flashlight on it will stun the bird, but be careful when aiming, as it gets faster while chasing you—outrunning it for long is nearly impossible.