In 99 Nights in the Forest, diamonds are your golden ticket to premium classes, top-tier gear, and bragging rights. The problem? They're slow to earn if you don't know what you're doing.
This guide is my go-to diamond farming route, tested after multiple runs and backed by community findings. You'll get step-by-step instructions so you can start stacking diamonds fast.
99 Nights in the Forest: Fastest Diamond Farming Methods
What Diamonds Are Used For
Diamonds are the premium currency in 99 Nights in the Forest.
You'll need them for:
- Unlocking premium classes (Cyborg, Assassin, etc.)
- Buying rare upgrades
- Skipping certain grindy requirements
Key Fact:
The fastest way to farm them is Cultist Stronghold speed runs, but there are also passive ways to stack them over time.
Main Farming Method – Cultist Stronghold Speed Runs
This is hands-down the best diamond per hour ratio in the game.
Why This Works
- Each Cultist Stronghold run gives a Diamond Chest → 5 Diamonds.
- A well-coordinated team can clear it in 20–25 minutes.
- That's 12–15 Diamonds/hour if you keep momentum.
Step-by-Step Run Plan
Step 1 – Get Your Team Ready
- Ideal team: 3–4 players.
- Include at least one Alien class → infinite ammo saves huge time.
- Voice comms help—call out enemy positions and skips.
Step 2 – Stock Up Before Entering
- Food: Cooked meat/mushrooms for quick healing.
- Healing items: Bandages or medkits—don't rely only on food regen.
- Ammo: Everyone except Alien needs full stacks.
Step 3 – Execute the Speed Run
- Sprint past trash mobs—kill only what's blocking the path.
- Take shortcut routes where possible.
- Save ultimates for the Cultist High Priest boss.
- Avoid his AoE—bait attacks, then punish.
Step 4 – Cash Out and Repeat
- After looting the Diamond Chest, immediately restart the mission.
- With no breaks, you can fit 3 runs/hour.
If you want to skip the grind and get your upgrades faster, you can always buy 99 Nights in the Forest Diamonds from a trusted marketplace for instant progress.
Cultist Stronghold Quick Reference
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Forest Zone – Mission Terminal |
| Reward | 5 Diamonds per run |
| Run Time | ~20–25 mins (fast team) |
| Difficulty | Medium (easy with Alien + healer) |
| Best Tip | Skip unnecessary fights to save minutes |
Secondary Diamond Sources (Passive Gains)
These won't match Stronghold runs but are good side grinds.
| Method | Diamonds | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Achievements | 1–3 each | Survival milestones (Day 50 = 2 Diamonds, Day 99 = 3 Diamonds) |
| Legendary / Gold Chests | Random | Rare drop—good if you're already exploring |
| Cultist Attacks | 1–2 each | Kill all cultists during raids for bonus loot |
| Badge Rewards | 1–5 each | Check your badge list for unclaimed rewards |
My Recommended Daily Diamond Loop
- Run Cultist Stronghold 2–3 times with a fast team (main income).
- During downtime, finish quick achievements or hunt badges.
- Kill cultists during raids if they show up while you're prepping.
- Loot every Gold/Legendary Chest you pass in free roam.
Extra Player Tips
- Alien class = MVP for ammo efficiency and speed.
- Don't over-prepare—every minute spent in the lobby is lost farming time.
- Shortcut knowledge saves runs—learn every path inside Stronghold.
- Balance grind with fun—swap to passive farming if you're burning out.
Cultist Stronghold – Full Drop Table
Note: This table is compiled from in-game runs and community data (Fandom wiki + Discord farming groups). Minor variations can happen due to RNG and future patches.
1. Regular Mobs
| Enemy Type | Common Drops | Rare Drops | Drop Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cultist Grunt | Small Ammo Packs, Cooked Meat | Gold Trinket (sell for coins) | Low threat—skip if not blocking doorways |
| Cultist Marksman | Small Ammo Packs, Bandages | Rare Bow Blueprint | Dangerous from range—quick kill if in sight |
| Cultist Brute | Cooked Meat, Large Ammo Pack | Gold Chest Key | Slow but tanky—only kill if blocking path |
| Cultist Mage | Small Mana Potion, Cooked Mushrooms | Cultist Gem (for crafting) | Annoying AoE—dodge and move on |
2. Elite Units
| Enemy Type | Common Drops | Rare Drops | Drop Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cultist Champion | Large Ammo Pack, Bandages | Legendary Weapon Part | Good loot, but long kill time—skip unless easy |
| Cultist Shadow Assassin | Cooked Meat, Small Mana Potion | Gold Chest Key | High damage—avoid prolonged fights |
3. Boss – Cultist High Priest
| Loot Type | Guaranteed | Possible Bonus Drops | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boss Chest Loot | Diamond Chest (5 Diamonds) | Rare Gear (Purple+), Cultist Gem x2 | Always open this—it's the main reason you're here |
| Extra Drop (If lucky) | None | Badge unlock progress | Kill him clean for fastest time |
4. Chests Inside Stronghold
| Chest Type | Common Loot | Rare Loot | Respawn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wooden Chest | Coins, Small Ammo Pack | Low-tier gear | Per run |
| Gold Chest | Coins, Rare Gear | 1–2 Diamonds (low chance) | Per run |
| Diamond Chest | 5 Diamonds (guaranteed) | N/A | Per run |
Farming Efficiency Tips with Drop Table in Mind
- Skip all Wooden Chests — not worth slowing down for 10 coins.
- Open Gold Chests only if they're on the main route — don't backtrack.
- Always loot the Boss Diamond Chest — that's your payday.
- Ignore non-blocking mobs unless you need healing/ammo drops.
- If a Cultist Gem drops — grab it, since it's used in crafting high-value gear.
Cultist Stronghold – Drop Table
1. Regular Enemies
| Enemy | Common Drops | Rare Drops | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cultist Grunt | Small Ammo Pack, Cooked Meat | Gold Trinket (sell for coins) | Low threat—skip unless blocking your route |
| Cultist Marksman | Small Ammo Pack, Bandage | Rare Bow Blueprint | Dangerous at range—quick headshots if you engage |
| Cultist Brute | Cooked Meat, Large Ammo Pack | Gold Chest Key | Slow and tanky—avoid unless blocking the way |
| Cultist Mage | Small Mana Potion, Cooked Mushroom | Cultist Gem (crafting) | Annoying AoE—dodge and move on |
2. Elites
| Enemy | Common Drops | Rare Drops | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cultist Champion | Large Ammo Pack, Bandage | Legendary Weapon Part | Only fight if in your path—takes time to kill |
| Cultist Shadow Assassin | Cooked Meat, Small Mana Potion | Gold Chest Key | High burst damage—avoid drawn-out fights |
3. Boss – Cultist High Priest
| Loot Type | Guaranteed | Possible Bonus | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boss Chest | Diamond Chest (5 Diamonds) | Rare Gear (Purple+), Cultist Gem x2 | Main source of diamonds—always open |
| Bonus Drop | None | Badge progress | Kill cleanly for fastest run |
4. Chests Inside Stronghold
| Chest Type | Common Loot | Rare Loot | Respawn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wooden | Coins, Small Ammo Pack | Low-tier gear | Per run |
| Gold | Coins, Rare Gear | 1–2 Diamonds (low chance) | Per run |
| Diamond | 5 Diamonds (guaranteed) | — | Per run |
Efficiency Tips with the Table
- Skip wooden chests—not worth the detour.
- Only grab gold chests if they're on your main path—don't slow the run.
- Always loot the boss's diamond chest—this is your main payday.
- Ignore mobs that aren't blocking you, unless you need their ammo/healing drops.
- Pick up Cultist Gems when they drop—they're useful for crafting high-value gear.
Recap
If you want diamonds fast in 99 Nights in the Forest:
- Main grind: Cultist Stronghold speed runs → 12–15 Diamonds/hour.
- Supplement: Achievements, chests, cultist raids, badges.
- Teamwork beats solo—grab an Alien friend and skip unnecessary fights.
With this loop, you can realistically stack 50+ Diamonds in a few sessions, unlocking premium classes much faster than casual play.
