If you're anything like me, you've probably stared at that class menu wondering where to spend your hard-earned diamonds. I’ve gone through that same dilemma, trying cheap classes, saving up for expensive ones, and sometimes regretting the buy altogether. And after testing nearly every class and suffering through some painful runs, I can confidently break down how classes really work in 99 Nights in the Forest, which ones are worth it, and what fits your playstyle.
Here’s a quick answer
If you just want the top-tier picks:
- Cyborg, Big Game Hunter, Necromancer, and Vampire dominate solo and late-game runs.
- Lumberjack, Chef, Explorer, and Fire Bandit shine early on and are great for team play.
- Some cheap classes look tempting but fall off fast. Don’t get baited by low costs.
How Class Choice Affects Everything
Your class defines your entire playstyle in 99 Nights. It's not just about the weapon or tool you start with. It affects how you gather, survive, fight, and support others. Every class has three levels, and unlocking each perk takes effort, not just diamonds. So picking a class isn’t just about the now. It’s about how it scales later.
Some classes feel strong early but fall apart by night 15. Others, like the Necromancer, are weak at the start but become absolute monsters later on.
Tip: You can reroll the shop once per day for free to try and grab the class you want. Otherwise, rerolls cost diamonds or Robux.
The Core Meta: What Actually Works Long-Term
S-Tier Classes (Late-game beasts)
These are the ones I saw players carry with in 500+ day runs. They’re expensive, but if you want a class that works in nearly every scenario, it’s these.
| Class | Why It’s S-Tier |
|---|---|
| Cyborg | Laser cannon plus auto-regenerating tech means AoE damage and no ammo issues. Kills restore charge. A bit risky if overheated. |
| Big Game Hunter | Permanent buffs from pelts and tusks. Good early, insane late-game survivability. Great for solo and group. |
| Necromancer | Starts weak, but once you get six cultist summons and a Cultist King revived, it melts mobs. Requires volcano biome access. |
| Vampire | Melee-focused class with lifesteal and night speed. Risky if you don’t like close combat, but powerful with some patience. |
These are investment classes. Not for your first 100 diamonds, but worth saving up for.
Solid Choices That Can Do a Lot
These A-tier classes work really well in teams or as your stepping stones before S-tier. Some scale surprisingly well and help speed up resource grinding.
| Class | Why It’s Good |
|---|---|
| Assassin | Fast, fun, and good for fast farming or speedruns. Throwing knives and crits can carry early-mid game. |
| Lumberjack | Gets you tons of wood and saplings with ease. The team MVP when no one else wants to chop trees. |
| Chef | Makes food that gives buffs and heals. In a group, this is your main support. Also works well in solo once upgraded. |
| Explorer | Cheap, fast, and starts with a map and compass. Great for quick exploration and early chest rushes. |
| Fire Bandit | Better than Pyromaniac for half the cost. AoE fire damage is strong, especially in Cultist Strongholds. |
| Beastmaster | Starts with a taming flute and three steaks. Summons wolves and eventually gets an alpha wolf. Easier than Necromancer early game. |
| Blacksmith | Crafting bench tier skip and scrap refunds make this a strong co-op pick, especially when building up fast. |
Tip: Explorer and Lumberjack are often underrated, but for how cheap they are, they carry hard in the first 10 to 15 nights.
Classes That Are Decent but Situational
Not bad, just specific. These are either team-dependent or only shine in certain maps or loadouts.
| Class | What's the Catch |
|---|---|
| Alien | Feels like a budget Cyborg. Raygun is good, but overheating slows you down. Works best when scavenging or playing support. |
| Berserker | Great for clutch solo plays. Auto-revive is powerful, and damage increases as HP drops. Hard to time with a full team. |
| Poison Master | Niche AoE damage over time. Needs groups to make full use of its perks. |
| Pyromaniac | Used to be good. Now it's mostly outclassed. Needs fuel constantly and costs 600 diamonds. |
| Witch | Seasonal class with unlimited poison ammo. Perks are fine, but not enough to justify grinding candy over better classes. |
| Undead | Cool idea, but clunky in real runs unless your team is tight. |
If you're playing with randoms, avoid these unless you're confident in your own playstyle.
Entry-Level and Support Classes
These classes are cheap, but the usefulness is short-lived unless you're playing a support role in a large team.
| Class | Worth it |
|---|---|
| Scavenger | Starts with no tools but gets extra sack space and faster chest opening. Great first class for 25 diamonds. |
| Medic | Comes with bandage and medkit. Super helpful in new groups, but useless if your team is solid. |
| Base Defender | Makes sense only if you’re allowed to build defenses. |
| Cook | Can make Hearty Stews, but the Chef is better long-term. |
| Ranger | Ammo refund is nice, but Alien does the same job better. |
| Farmer | Can farm pumpkins and cakes, but food handling is awkward during combat. |
| Brute | Useful mainly for strongholds. Too situational otherwise. |
Note: Farmer sounds good, but unless you're farming pumpkins consistently and have a Chef, it’s mid.
Classes to Avoid
If you’re short on diamonds, skip these.
| Class | Why to Avoid |
|---|---|
| Decorator | For furniture only. Doesn’t help survival. |
| Camper | Everything it offers can be found early in chests. |
| Support | Overcomplicated and underpowered. |
| Hunter | Doesn’t help you kill animals faster. |
| Zookeeper | Outclassed by Beastmaster. |
Tip: Always look at Level 2 and Level 3 perks before buying a class.
Event Classes
Seasonal classes like Santa’s Helper and Trick or Treater are not ranked because they disappear after events. If you’re farming candy or candy canes, they’re worth picking up just for the boosts.
Final Thoughts
The best class depends on how you play. Solo players should aim for Cyborg, Necromancer, or Explorer. Teams benefit from Chef, Lumberjack, and Fire Bandit. Beginners should start with Scavenger or Explorer.
Avoid buying classes just because they’re cheap or flashy. Some of my worst runs came from doing exactly that. Spend smart, and your runs will last much longer.
