99 Nights in the Forest Best Class Guide

Why the Right Class Matters in 99 Nights in the Forest

Choosing the 99 Nights in the Forest best class isn't just about picking a cool-looking character. Your class determines your survival rate, how quickly you can clear enemy camps, and your ability to take down bosses in the dark, unforgiving forest biome. With over a dozen classes available—some costing hundreds of Diamonds—you need to know where to invest your hard-earned currency.

The game throws you into a procedurally generated forest where night cycles bring dangerous enemies. Each class comes with unique starting weapons, passive abilities, and stat distributions. Some classes excel at clearing mobs, others at single-target damage, and a few offer hybrid utility. This guide ranks every class from S-tier to C-tier, explains their strengths and weaknesses, and helps you decide which one fits your playstyle.

Complete Class Tier List for 99 Nights in the Forest

Based on community reports, player experience from the official wiki, and testing across multiple runs, here's the definitive tier list for all classes currently available.

S-Tier: The Best Classes

Cyborg — The Most Consistent Class

Many players consider Cyborg to be the 99 Nights in the Forest best class for any circumstance. According to PC Gamer's tier list, Cyborg remains widely regarded as the top pick due to its balanced stat spread and powerful starting equipment.

Starting Equipment:

• Cyborg Arm (melee weapon with 15 base damage)
• Plasma Pistol (ranged, 12 damage per shot)
• Energy Shield (blocks 30% of incoming damage for 5 seconds)

Key Strengths:

• High base health (120 HP)
• Energy regeneration passive (+2 energy per second)
• No major weakness against any enemy type

Why It Dominates: The Cyborg class starts with both melee and ranged options, meaning you never feel helpless at any range. The Energy Shield ability lets you tank heavy hits from bosses like the Forest Warden, and the passive energy regen means you can spam abilities more freely than other classes. For new players buying their first premium class, Cyborg offers the best value.

Big Game Hunter — The Boss Slayer

IGN's wiki names Big Game Hunter as the absolute best class in the game, with Cyborg as a runner-up. This class specifically benefits from the game's boss mechanics and late-game scaling.

Starting Equipment:

• Hunting Rifle (ranged, 25 damage, 2-second reload)
• Trap Kit (places a beartrap dealing 40 damage)
• Tracking Goggles (reveals enemy health bars)

Key Strengths:

• +50% damage against boss-type enemies
• Passive: 10% chance to deal double damage on critical hits
• Can track enemies through walls within 30 meters

Why It's S-Tier: While Cyborg excels at general survival, Big Game Hunter specializes in what matters most in the endgame: killing bosses. The Hunting Rifle lets you safely damage enemies from range, and the Trap Kit creates area denial. If you're grinding for rare drops from the Nightmare King or Forest Titan, this class cuts your kill time by nearly half.

A-Tier: Excellent Choices

Vampire — Night King

The official Fandom wiki describes Vampire as the most powerful class in terms of pure combat, thanks to superior night vision and the Vampire Scythe.

Starting Equipment:

• Vampire Scythe (melee, 20 damage, lifesteal 10%)
• Vampire Cloak (increases movement speed by 15% at night)
• Blood Orb (consumable, restores 30 HP)

Key Strengths:

• Passive night vision (see enemies in complete darkness)
• Lifesteal on all melee attacks
• 20% damage boost during night cycles

Why It's A-Tier: The night vision alone makes Vampire invaluable. Most players struggle during the first night cycle when visibility drops to near zero. Vampire sees perfectly, letting you hunt enemies while others hide. The lifesteal keeps your health topped off without needing bandages. However, Vampire struggles during daytime when its damage boost disappears, making it slightly less consistent than Cyborg.

Necromancer — Army of Darkness

Esports.gg ranks Necromancer as one of the five best classes, and for good reason. This class turns the tide of battle by summoning minions.

Starting Equipment:

• Bone Staff (ranged, 10 damage, summons skeleton on kill)
• Skeleton Amulet (increases max summons by 2)
• Dark Ritual (consumable, instantly summons 3 skeletons)

Key Strengths:

• Summons skeleton minions that tank and deal damage
• Each skeleton deals 8 damage per hit
• Can have up to 5 skeletons active simultaneously

Why It's A-Tier: Necromancer completely changes how you approach combat. Instead of fighting enemies directly, you let your skeleton army absorb damage while you pick off targets from range. This class excels at clearing large camps of enemies, as each kill adds another skeleton to your army. The downside: skeletons are weak against area-of-effect attacks, and the class has low base HP (80).

B-Tier: Solid but Situational

Fire Bandit — Budget Speedrunner

At only 200 Diamonds, Fire Bandit offers the best value among premium classes. Esports.gg lists it as the top budget pick.

Starting Equipment:

• Fire Sword (melee, 18 damage, burns enemies for 3 damage over 5 seconds)
• Molotov Cocktail (consumable, deals 30 damage in area)
• Fire Resistance Charm (reduces fire damage by 50%)

Key Strengths:

• Fast attack speed with Fire Sword
• Burn damage prevents enemy health regeneration
• Cheap cost for early-game power spike

Why It's B-Tier: Fire Bandit is excellent for speedrunning the early game. The burn effect stops enemies from healing, which is crucial against regenerating foes like the Forest Troll. However, the class falls off in late-game content where enemies have high fire resistance. It's a great stepping stone class, but not your final destination.

Ninja — Hit and Run

Ninja offers unmatched mobility but requires precise timing and positioning.

Starting Equipment:

• Katana (melee, 22 damage, fast attack speed)
• Smoke Bomb (consumable, blinds enemies for 3 seconds)
• Grappling Hook (utility, pulls you to surfaces)

Key Strengths:

• Highest base movement speed (25% faster than other classes)
• Double jump passive
• Backstab bonus (+50% damage when attacking from behind)

Why It's B-Tier: Ninja is incredibly fun and powerful in the hands of an experienced player. The backstab mechanic rewards positioning, and the grappling hook lets you escape dangerous situations. However, Ninja has the lowest base HP (70) in the game, meaning one mistake can send you back to the lobby. Not recommended for beginners.

C-Tier: Starter Classes

Knight and Archer

These free classes serve as introductions to the game but fall short compared to premium options.

Why They're C-Tier: Knight can tank hits but can't deal with ranged enemies or flying bosses. Archer can poke from safety but folds instantly if anything gets close. Both classes lack the versatility needed for consistent success. Use them to learn the game mechanics, then save Diamonds for Cyborg or Big Game Hunter.

How to Unlock the Best Classes

Classes are purchased from the Class Vendor NPC located in the starting hub area. Here's the unlock system:

Pro Tip: Don't rush to buy the most expensive class first. Start with Fire Bandit (200 Diamonds) to speed up your early grinding, then save for Cyborg (800 Diamonds) once you understand the game's mechanics. Big Game Hunter is best reserved for second playthroughs or endgame farming.

Best Class for Different Playstyles

Solo Play: Cyborg

If you're playing alone, Cyborg's self-sufficiency makes it the 99 Nights in the Forest best class. The Energy Shield gives you a panic button, and the hybrid melee/ranged loadout means you handle any situation. You don't need teammates to cover your weaknesses.

Co-op Play: Necromancer

In group play, Necromancer shines. Your skeleton army draws aggro away from teammates, letting them deal damage safely. Coordinate with a Cyborg or Big Game Hunter for maximum efficiency. The Necromancer's skeletons also provide a meat shield during boss fights.

Speedrunning: Fire Bandit

Fire Bandit's burn damage lets you clear early camps in record time. The Molotov Cocktail destroys groups of weak enemies instantly. Speedrunners consistently use Fire Bandit to reach the first boss within 10 minutes.

Boss Hunting: Big Game Hunter

When you need specific boss drops for crafting, Big Game Hunter is unmatched. The 50% bonus damage against bosses cuts fight durations dramatically. Tracking Goggles also help you locate rare boss spawns that other players might miss.

Advanced Class Strategies

Cyborg Energy Management

Cyborg's passive energy regeneration is its hidden strength. Use this rotation:

1. Engage with Plasma Pistol (2 shots)
2. Close distance with melee (3-4 hits)
3. Activate Energy Shield when taking damage
4. Repeat

The key is never letting energy hit zero. Keep 20 energy reserved for emergency shields.

Vampire Night Cycle Abuse

Vampire's 20% night damage boost makes night cycles your hunting time. Here's how to maximize it:

• Farm enemies during the day to stockpile healing items
• At nightfall, aggressively hunt elite enemies
• Use lifesteal to maintain health without consumables
• Retreat before dawn if low on health

Necromancer Minion Management

Your skeletons are valuable but fragile. Keep these rules in mind:

• Don't let all skeletons die at once (rebuild time is long)
• Position yourself behind your skeleton line
• Use Dark Ritual only when facing 5+ enemies
• Skeletons can trigger traps safely — use them to scout

Common Class Mistakes to Avoid

1. Buying Vampire First New players often choose Vampire because it sounds cool. While powerful, Vampire requires knowledge of enemy patterns to use lifesteal effectively. Start with Cyborg or Fire Bandit.

2. Neglecting Ranged Options Classes like Knight and Ninja lack strong ranged attacks. This becomes a problem against flying enemies and bosses that stay at range. Always carry at least one ranged weapon, even if your class doesn't start with one.

3. Overpaying for Big Game Hunter Too Early Big Game Hunter costs 1,000 Diamonds — a huge investment for new players. Wait until you're consistently reaching the second boss before purchasing this class.

4. Ignoring Class Synergies In co-op, having two Cyborgs is inefficient. Coordinate with teammates to cover different roles: one tank (Cyborg), one damage (Big Game Hunter), one support (Necromancer).

Class Stats Comparison Table

Which Class Should You Choose?

For most players, Cyborg remains the 99 Nights in the Forest best class due to its balance, consistency, and forgiving playstyle. It's the safest investment of your Diamonds and will carry you through all content.

If you're experienced and want maximum damage output, Big Game Hunter offers the highest ceiling for boss farming. Vampire provides a unique night-focused playstyle that rewards aggressive play. Necromancer changes the game's fundamental mechanics by giving you an army.

No matter which class you choose, remember that skill and game knowledge matter more than class selection. A skilled Ninja player will outperform a careless Cyborg player every time. Practice, learn enemy patterns, and upgrade your gear.

Frequently Asked Questions