Every 99 Nights in the Forest class ranked S to D with gem cost and starter tool. Find the best classes for the Dino Kid update meta.
Last updated: July 12, 202699 Nights in the Forest — Class Tier List
All 41 classes ranked S→D with gem cost and starter tool. Updated 2026-08-01.
Big Game Hunter
600 GemsLate-game powerhouse with permanent buffs; best for long runs.
A late-game powerhouse built for marathon runs. Permanent buffs stack as you survive longer, turning the Rifle into a sustained-damage machine. Expensive at 600 Gems, but it is the clearest win-condition for Day 50+ pushes and boss farming once you have the economy to afford it.
Cyborg
600 GemsWidely regarded as the best all-rounder; infinite ammo.
The community's default pick and the safest all-rounder. The Laser Cannon never runs out of ammo, so you never scavenge for bullets mid-fight, and Alien Armour keeps you alive through the Deer and Cultist waves. Strong in both solo and co-op, which is why it tops most tier lists.
Necromancer
600 GemsRaises an army of undead; strong late-game.
Raises fallen enemies as an undead army that fights for you, scaling hard into the late game. The Cultist Staff enables a snowball playstyle where your summons clear camps while you stay safe. Best when you can afford to play slow and greedy rather than race the clock.
Vampire
600 GemsLifesteal bruiser that sustains through fights.
A lifesteal bruiser that heals by dealing damage, sustaining through prolonged fights without constant bandages. The Scythe plus Vampire Cloak make it excellent for solo boss kills and Cultist Stronghold clears. Its only real weakness is burst it cannot out-trade before the lifesteal ramps.
Assassin
500 GemsHigh-burst melee assassin.
A high-burst melee specialist. The Katana deletes squishy mobs instantly and 120 Throwing Knives give reliable ranged poke. Fantastic for hit-and-run Cultist kills, but fragile — mispositioning gets you killed before the burst lands, so positioning is everything.
Beastmaster
400 GemsTames animals to fight alongside you.
Tames wild animals to fight alongside you, effectively giving you free allies for every encounter. The Good Taming Flute opens the strongest pet economy in the game. Great for players who want a passive army without the Necromancer's heavy late-game commitment.
Brawler
100 GemsTanky frontliner that soaks damage.
A cheap, tanky frontliner at just 100 Gems. Leather Body soaks enormous damage, letting you body-block the Deer or hold a doorway while teammates loot. Low skill floor and solid value, but it trades raw damage for pure survivability.
Chef
150 GemsCooks Hearty Stew — the best food in the game.
Cooks Hearty Stew — the best healing food in the game — from a station you place at base. Indispensable for keeping Dino Kid's Hunger bar full and reviving teammates fast. The 150-Gem price is a steal for any co-op or care-focused run.
Explorer
80 GemsReveals the map and aids navigation.
Reveals the map and dramatically improves navigation, so you stop getting lost in the forest at night. The Compass and Map pay for themselves by cutting travel time and avoiding ambushes. A strong quality-of-life pick for newer players.
Fire Bandit
200 GemsFire damage-over-time specialist.
A fire damage-over-time specialist. The Infernal Crossbow plus Wildfire Potion melts groups as burning stacks tick, and the DoT keeps chipping through armor. Best against clustered mobs; single-target boss DPS is merely good rather than great.
Gambler
55 GemsRisky loot roulette; cheap entry.
The cheapest meaningful class at 55 Gems, offering a random starter-item roulette. High variance — you might roll something broken or something useless. Fun for alts and meme runs, but never a serious pick for a planned progression.
Lumberjack
70 GemsWood farming; best early-game economy.
The best early-game economy class. The Good Axe accelerates wood farming, which Dino Kid's Camp Jobs and every base build depend on. At 70 Gems it pays for itself immediately, and it stays relevant all game as your wood backbone.
Gunslinger
600 GemsRevolver specialist with deep ammo.
A revolver specialist with deep ammo reserves (60 rounds). Reliable, consistent ranged DPS that does not rely on ability cooldowns. Pairs well with any frontliner; less flashy than Cyborg but far cheaper at 600 Gems for what it delivers.
Alien
100 GemsAlien-tech ranged damage.
Alien-tech ranged damage via the Ray Gun. Solid mid-tier DPS with a unique aesthetic tied to the Aliens' Revenge event. Outclassed by S-tier ranged options but a fun, capable pick if you enjoy the sci-fi flavor.
Berserker
100 GemsAuto-revives once on first death; deals more damage the lower your HP.
Auto-revives once on your first death and ramps damage as your HP drops — a high-risk, high-reward melee. The Med Kit sustains the gamble. Excellent for aggressive players who can straddle the low-HP damage spike without dying twice.
Blacksmith
200 GemsCrafts armor and weapons.
Crafts armor and weapons with the Hammer, letting you self-supply gear instead of relying on chest RNG. A backbone class for long runs where durability matters more than kill speed. Slow start, but it removes a major late-game bottleneck.
Brute
50 GemsShield tank for base defense.
A shield tank for base defense. The Brute Shield lets you facetank raids on the campfire while others rebuild. Pure utility against waves, near-useless for exploring — pick it when your group needs a dedicated wall.
Grenadier
100 GemsExplosives damage.
Explosives damage via Dynamite and Impact Grenades. Big AOE bursts clear clustered mobs and crack Stronghold groups, but ammo is limited and friendly-fire is real. Positioning matters more than with any other class here.
Engineer
1000 GemsTurret-based base defense.
Turret-based base defense. The Candy Turret plus Hammer create an automated kill-zone around your camp, freeing you to farm. Extremely strong for passive protection, but the 1000-Gem cost is the highest in the game.
Poison Master
200 GemsPoison damage-over-time.
Poison damage-over-time through the Blow Pipe and Poison Armor. Grinds down tanky enemies and bosses safely from range, though the ramp is slow. Strong versus high-HP targets, weak in fast skirmishes where the DoT never fully stacks.
Pyromaniac
600 GemsAOE fire damage.
AOE fire damage with the Flamethrower. Crowd-control nightmare for dense mob packs and Cultist groups, but fuel and range limit it. Best used to hold chokepoints rather than chase kills across the map.
Snowman
100 GemsFestive ranged class.
A festive ranged class firing Snowball cannons. More novelty than meta, but serviceable ranged poke during the Snow Biome season. Pick it for fun or themed runs, not for serious optimization.
Witch
900 CandiesCandy-event spellcaster.
A candy-event spellcaster wielding the Witches Potion. Strong during its limited event window and cheap in Candies, but irrelevant outside it. A seasonal flex pick, not a permanent roster staple.
Base Defender
40 GemsPlaces and upgrades defenses.
Places and upgrades defenses with 2 Defense Blueprints, turning your camp into a fortress. Pure defensive value; you contribute little while roaming. Essential for passive base protection in long co-op nights.
Cook
40 GemsBasic cooking starter.
A basic cooking starter with Seasoning. Lays the groundwork for food production but is strictly outclassed by Chef's Hearty Stew. Only worth it if you want cooking without the 150-Gem premium.
Farmer
80 GemsGrows crops for food.
Grows crops for food using the Watering Can, building a renewable food source at base. Slow to pay off but removes the hunger grind long-term. A peaceful, economy-first pick for patient players.
Fisherman
50 GemsFishing for food and loot.
Fishes for food and loot with the Fishing Rod. A relaxed side-income that occasionally yields rare catches, but rarely worth the 50-Gem opportunity cost versus combat classes. Niche and situational at best.
Medic
40 GemsHeal and revive teammates.
Heals and revives teammates with 2 Bandages. The only reliable support for co-op survival, but near-dead weight solo. Pick it when your group lacks healing and someone must play the clutch role.
Ranger
70 GemsRanged starter with a sidearm.
A ranged starter with a Flashlight and Revolver (18 Ammo). Decent early-game kit that bridges into gunslinger territory, but the low ammo cap caps its ceiling. Fine as a cheap beginner ranged option.
Scavenger
25 Gems+2 sack space for loot.
Grants +2 sack space for loot, maximizing what you haul per trip. Pure inventory economy — no combat value, but a favorite for farmers and hoarders running supply routes. Cheapest class at 25 Gems.
Undead
100 GemsUndead-themed survivor.
An undead-themed survivor with a Bandage. Largely a reskin of the standard survivor kit with light flavor; no mechanical edge over better C-tier picks. Collector appeal only.
Camper
10 GemsCheapest starter; weak perks.
The cheapest starter at 10 Gems with just a Flashlight. Almost no perks — you are paying for the class slot, not power. Only for meme runs or filling a roster slot you never intend to use.
Decorator
40 GemsBase decoration.
Base decoration via the Hammer. Zero combat or economy value; purely cosmetic camp-building. Skip it unless you care about base aesthetics over survival.
Support
45 GemsLight support utility.
Light support utility with a Bandage. A weaker, more generic version of Medic — minor healing without the revive. Hard to justify when Medic exists for 5 Gems more.
Hunter
40 GemsLays traps for mobs.
Lays Bear Traps for mobs, a light crowd-control starter. Some value against the Deer or camping doorways, but traps are telegraphed and easily avoided. Mild utility at best.
Zookeeper
70 GemsTaming utility.
Taming utility via the Taming Whistle. A budget cousin of Beastmaster — helps with pets but lacks the flute's power. Only if you want taming on a tight Gem budget.
Nightcrawler
200 GemsShadow-melee striker.
A shadow-melee striker with the Shadow Dagger. Thematic and capable in bursts, but stuck in D-tier by low survivability and no scaling. A flavor pick for melee enthusiasts.
Santa's Helper
30 Candy CanesFestive event class.
A festive event class (30 Candy Canes) with no starter tool. Pure holiday flavor; no mechanical value outside the Christmas event. Collect it for the badge, not for builds.
Trick or Treater
30 CandiesHalloween event; boosts Candy drops.
Halloween event class (30 Candies) that boosts Candy drops. Strong during its window for farming event currency, then worthless. A seasonal farm pick, not a main roster choice.
Gifting Elf
900 Candy CanesFestive event class.
A festive event class (900 Candy Canes) that starts with a Present. Expensive for an event cosmetic-tier pick; only worth it for completionists during the Christmas event.
Feaster
150 GemsFestive event class.
A festive event class (150 Gems) starting with 5 Stew. Decent free food for the event period, but the value evaporates once the season ends. A limited-time convenience pick.
Tiers synthesised from PC Gamer’s class rankings and community consensus; costs and starter tools from the in-game class shop.