99 Nights in the Forest: Class Tier List and Upgrade Guide
A comprehensive overview of the classes in 99 Nights in the Forest, detailing their tier rankings, costs, and unique perks.
In the survival game 99 Nights in the Forest, players must endure attacks from creatures like the Deer, Crossbow Cultists, and seasonal event monsters. Choosing the right class from the shop using Diamonds, Robux, or seasonal currencies like Candy Canes is essential for long-term survival.
A Christmas update released on December 21, 2025, introduced the Snowman class (purchasable for 100 Diamonds) and the Gifting Elf class (purchasable for 900 Candy Canes).
Class Tier List
The classes are ranked below based on their general utility for solo and cooperative play:
- S-Tier: Cyborg, Big Game Hunter, Necromancer, Vampire
- A-Tier: Assassin, Beastmaster, Brawler, Chef, Explorer, Fire Bandit, Gambler, Lumberjack
- B-Tier: Alien, Berserker, Blacksmith, Brute, Poison Master, Pyromaniac, Snowman, Witch
- C-Tier: Base Defender, Cook, Farmer, Fisherman, Medic, Ranger, Scavenger, Undead
- D-Tier: Camper, Decorator, Hunter, Zookeeper
Note on Unverified Content: The Gifting Elf class is currently unranked on this list because its gameplay performance has not yet been verified.
Starter Classes and Costs
For players just beginning their runs, several classes offer affordable entry points to help accumulate resources:
- Scavenger (25 Diamonds): Provides +2 inventory sack slots. This class serves as a stepping stone to more advanced roles.
- Lumberjack (70 Diamonds): Offers a 20% chance to secure an extra log when chopping trees. Upgrades increase the drop rate of saplings.
- Explorer (80 Diamonds): Grants a temporary speed boost after clearing fog, a wider map view, and +2 sack space.
- Alien (100 Diamonds): Features excellent night visibility, though sprinting slows down if alien technology overheats.
Top Classes for Solo and Co-op Play
Best Solo Classes
- Cyborg: Regarded as the most consistent class for solo runs. It features superb night vision and self-replenishing ammunition. However, overheating its alien technology causes self-damage and lowers armor.
- Big Game Hunter: Excellent for long survival runs. Players can consume animal pelts for permanent bonuses and eat mammoth tusks to permanently increase maximum health.
- Necromancer: A strong late-game choice that collects souls to summon up to six cultists. Players can resurrect a Cultist King to defeat enemies before they can strike.
Co-op Strategy
When playing with a team, players should coordinate to avoid duplicate roles, such as running multiple Blacksmiths, which renders their crafting perks redundant. Additionally, game difficulty scales up automatically based on the number of players in the lobby.
Class Perks and Upgrade Requirements
To unlock higher-tier perks, players must complete specific gameplay milestones:
- Vampire: Gains lifesteal when using melee weapons and runs faster at night. Level 2 requires healing 450 HP via lifesteal and dealing 5,000 damage. Level 3 requires healing 1,000 HP via lifesteal and dealing 10,000 damage.
- Brawler: Grants +40% HP and +30% melee damage but restricts the use of ranged weapons. Upgrades improve health regeneration and add a 5% block chance.
- Beastmaster: Starts with three steaks to summon up to five wolf pets. Upgrades increase pet movement speed and turn the first summon into an alpha wolf.
- Blacksmith: Allows crafting items from the next bench tier (up to tier 4). Upgrades discount random recipes and grant extra scrap from the grinder.
- Fire Bandit: Starts with an Infernal Crossbow and a Wildfire potion. Upgrades give other tools a chance to ignite enemies.
- Snowman: Starts with a Snowball Cannon and a Beanie. Hitting a target six times applies a slow effect.
- Medic: Revives teammates five times faster. Upgrades improve revive health/hunger recovery and turn bandages into medkits.
- Ranger: Starts with 18 ammo (upgrading to 30 at Level 3) and has a 10% chance to refund ammunition upon firing.
- Undead: Receives permanent bonuses upon being revived and can move for eight seconds after dying.
Event Classes
Event classes are limited-time roles used to farm seasonal rewards:
- Santa's Helper: Starts with 40 coins. Upgrades discount Santa Sack items by 25% and grant extra candy canes from presents.
- Trick or Treater: Receives four candies per house visited. Upgrades increase treat and candle drop rates.