How to survive The Deer in 99 Nights in the Forest: Night-by-night strategy

The Deer in 99 Nights in the Forest is one of the toughest challenges you’ll face. It only appears at night, can kill you fast, and you can’t hurt it back. If you don’t know how to handle it, you’ll keep dying over and over. Let me break down exactly what you need to do to survive The Deer and last longer in this intense game.

Stay close to your campfire and keep it burning

Your campfire is your safest spot. The Deer hates fire and light, so it won’t enter the area around a lit campfire. If The Deer chases you, running into the campfire’s light zone will stun it briefly, giving you a chance to escape. Always keep your campfire fueled and lit at night to create this safe zone.

Replant trees around your campfire after chopping wood. These trees help slow down Cultist invasions and keep your wood supply steady. But remember, trees won’t stop The Deer : only fire and light can.

Use your flashlight wisely when you leave camp

If you need to move away from your campfire, always bring a flashlight. Shining it on The Deer stuns it for a short time and makes it run away. This also works on The Owl, another invincible enemy. But don’t keep your flashlight on all the time because the battery drains quickly.

Use quick flashes of light to stun The Deer, then run. A good trick is to strafe backward while flashing the light, then turn it off immediately to save battery. Keep in mind, each stun works less effectively as The Deer recovers faster, so use the flashlight mainly to create distance.

Run and hide if you can’t fight

You can outrun The Deer at first, but only if you have enough hunger and energy. Sprinting uses energy fast, so eat food to refill your hunger bar before trying to escape. The Deer gets faster the longer it chases you, so combine sprinting with flashlight stuns.

If you can’t get away, hide inside buildings. The Deer can sometimes climb over shelves or squeeze through doorways when it’s hungry, so hiding isn’t always 100% safe. Stay inside until morning or until The Deer leaves.

Prepare early and upgrade smartly

The first two nights are crucial for setting up your defenses and tools:

1. Craft a Map early (just 3 wood, press M) to navigate without wasting campfire fuel.
2. Loot nearby buildings for fuel items like chairs, coal, and gasoline before the Pelt Trader arrives on Day 2.
3. Hunt rabbits to get a Rabbit’s Foot.
4. Trade with the Pelt Trader for the Good Axe (faster tree chopping), Good Sack, or Old Flashlight. Skip flashlight upgrades early since you’ll find better ones later.
5. Build the Old Bed to get a +1 day multiplier and speed up your progress.
6. Upgrade your Crafting Bench to Tier 2 for better recipes, then Tier 3 for a crock pot and lightning rod.
7. Consider the Scavenger class (cheap at 25 diamonds) for extra sack space and focus on learning the game basics before buying expensive classes.

For a full list of classes and their perks, check out the class tier list.

Keep healing items ready for tough nights

Cultist attacks get harder each night. Craft bandages and medkits to heal yourself and teammates. Bandages are quick for small heals, while medkits restore more health. You’ll need the Anvil to craft these, and resource costs go up with each craft. Resting near the campfire also helps regenerate HP.

What happens when The Deer shows up during Cultist attacks

During Cultist raids, The Deer appears but stays passive and won’t attack you. Focus on defeating the Cultists first. Once they’re gone or you get close to The Deer, it will run away. This is your best chance to handle raids without worrying about The Deer.

A special way to turn The Deer into an ally

After an attack event that spawns alpha wolves and injures The Deer, you can help heal it by bringing a Purple Fur Tuft. Once healed, The Deer will hunt down the attacker and help defend your camp during future Cultist raids. This makes it a powerful ally if you take the time to help.

What you can’t do: don’t try to fight The Deer

No weapon or trap can hurt The Deer. It’s completely invincible. Your only option is to avoid it, stun it with light, and run away. Accepting this saves a lot of frustration and helps you focus on surviving.

Here’s a quick night-by-night survival checklist

1. Keep your campfire lit and fueled.
2. Stay close to the fire or inside buildings at night.
3. Carry a flashlight if you must leave camp.
4. Use flashlight stuns and sprint to escape The Deer.
5. Replant trees around camp to slow Cultists.
6. Upgrade tools, craft maps, and build beds early.
7. Craft healing items and rest near the campfire.

Surviving The Deer is all about smart play and preparation. Stick close to your fire, use light to your advantage, and don’t waste time trying to fight an unbeatable enemy. For more survival tips and crafting guides, check out the complete craftable items guide and the missing kids rescue walkthrough to level up your game.

Follow these strategies, and you’ll last longer in 99 Nights in the Forest while handling The Deer like a pro.