If you’ve been wandering through the eerie beauty of 99 Nights in the Woods and want to unlock every hidden gem the game offers, you’re in the right place. Gems in this mysterious survival-crafting adventure aren’t just shiny collectibles — they’re powerful items that unlock essential upgrades, new tools, and progression features.
This complete guide will walk you through how to find, collect, and use every gem efficiently. Whether you’re a newcomer still learning the ropes or a seasoned survivor pushing into the late nights, you’ll learn the best farming strategies, drop locations, and crafting uses of gems in 99 Nights in the Woods.
What Are Gems in 99 Nights in the Woods?
In 99 Nights in the Woods, gems act as rare and valuable crafting materials. They play a key role in progressing through the game, upgrading your crafting bench, and building advanced tools that make surviving deep into the night easier.
The most important gem you’ll encounter is the Gem of the Forest. Unlike common resources like wood, ore, or cloth, this gem is extremely rare — you’ll need to gather multiple fragments before you can craft a complete gem.
In short:
- You must collect four gem fragments.
- Combine them to form one complete Gem of the Forest.
- Use that gem to unlock Tier 5 upgrades and rare items.
Understanding how and when these gems drop is the first step toward efficient farming.
Why Gems Are So Important
While there are many resources in 99 Nights in the Woods, gems are the key to late-game progression. Here’s why they matter:
- Crafting Bench Upgrades: Gems are required to upgrade your crafting bench to Tier 5, unlocking powerful recipes and rare tools.
- Endgame Tools: Items like the Respawn Capsule, Temporal Accelerator, and Weather Machine all require gems.
- Prestige and Efficiency: Gems allow you to automate or simplify late-game survival, reducing the grind and increasing your control over the environment.
Without gems, your progress will eventually stall — making gem collection one of the top priorities once you’ve reached mid to late game.
Where to Find Gem Fragments
Finding gem fragments is the toughest part of the process. They are hidden throughout the world and typically drop only after you’ve survived into later nights — often after Night 90 or 100. Here are the top sources where gem fragments are most likely to appear.
Cultist Raids
Cultist raids begin occurring more frequently as the nights progress. These raids are dangerous, but defeating cultist enemies gives you a chance to obtain gem fragments.
Pro tip:
Wait for later raids (around Night 90+), as higher-level cultists have a better drop rate for fragments. Always go into these fights well-equipped with healing items and upgraded weapons.
Cultist Strongholds
Cultist Strongholds are multi-level dungeons scattered around the map. They’re difficult to clear but highly rewarding. When you complete a stronghold, you often receive one or more gem fragments as loot.
Tips for Stronghold Runs:
- Bring high-tier armor and food before entering.
- Always clear every floor to maximize your loot.
- In co-op mode, divide responsibilities among teammates for faster clearing.
Golden and Ruby Chests
While exploring, you may come across rare Golden or Ruby Chests. These contain high-value loot, and occasionally, gem fragments. Although the drop rate is lower than from strongholds, opening these chests during your travels is always worthwhile.
Keep a mental map of chest spawn locations so you can revisit them when they respawn after several nights.
How to Combine Gem Fragments
Once you’ve collected four fragments, you can merge them into one complete Gem of the Forest. Combining them is simple:
- Gather all four fragments in your inventory.
- Combine them using your crafting menu or workbench.
- The fragments will automatically fuse into one gem.
This gem can then be used in crafting recipes or upgrades. Combining fragments also saves inventory space, freeing you to collect more resources.
Best Strategies to Collect Gems Efficiently
If you want to collect all gems quickly, it’s crucial to play smart. Here’s a breakdown of the most effective strategies for gem farming in 99 Nights in the Woods.
Focus on Survival First
Before you start hunting gems, you need to reach the late stages of the game. Gem fragments don’t drop until you’ve survived around 90+ nights, so your early focus should be on building a strong base, crafting high-tier gear, and preparing for difficult enemies.
Prioritize Strongholds Over Random Encounters
While cultist raids and chests can drop fragments, strongholds offer the best odds and most consistent returns. Make it your goal to locate and clear every stronghold you can find once you’re strong enough to handle them.
Use an Efficient Farming Route
As you explore the map, mark or memorize where strongholds and chests appear. Plan your routes to hit multiple strongholds per day cycle, saving time and increasing your total fragment yield.
Manage Your Inventory Wisely
Gem fragments are rare, but so are the high-value items that come with them. Keep your inventory light before farming runs so you can carry all the loot without discarding anything valuable.
Team Up for Multiplayer Efficiency
If you’re playing in multiplayer mode, coordinate with teammates. Split up to cover more ground, clear multiple strongholds faster, and share fragments for faster merging.
Merge as Soon as You Have Four Fragments
Don’t wait to merge fragments. Doing it right away frees up inventory space and allows you to immediately upgrade or craft critical items that make farming easier.
Using Gems: What You Can Craft
Once you’ve assembled your first complete Gem of the Forest, the real rewards begin. Here’s what you can build and why it matters.
Tier 5 Crafting Bench
The most important use for your first gem is upgrading your crafting bench to Tier 5. This unlocks advanced recipes, rare materials, and high-level tools that drastically improve your survival capabilities.
Respawn Capsule
The Respawn Capsule acts as a checkpoint system. When you die, you’ll respawn at the capsule instead of restarting from scratch. This saves hours of progress and makes risk-taking much safer.
Temporal Accelerator
This powerful tool allows you to skip the next night, giving you more control over the game’s pacing. Use it when you need extra preparation time or want to avoid a particularly dangerous night cycle.
Weather Machine
The Weather Machine lets you manipulate the weather, preventing rain or storms for several days. This is especially useful for base-building, farming, or exploring without environmental hazards.
Each of these items represents a major quality-of-life improvement, making gems one of the most rewarding resources in the entire game.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Farming Gems
Even experienced players make these errors when trying to collect all gems. Avoid these pitfalls to save time and effort.
- Starting Too Early: Gems don’t drop until later nights. Focus on progression first.
- Ignoring Strongholds: These are the primary gem sources; skipping them slows your progress.
- Poor Preparation: Entering strongholds without food, weapons, or healing items can lead to failure.
- Hoarding Fragments: Always merge them as soon as you have four.
- Solo Farming Without Strategy: Co-op farming is far more efficient if available.
Weekly Gem Collection Plan
To help you structure your gem farming, here’s a sample week-long plan to earn your first Gem of the Forest efficiently.
Day 1–2: Focus on upgrading your base and crafting bench. Gather strong weapons and armor.
Day 3: Begin exploring and marking stronghold and chest locations.
Day 4: Attempt your first stronghold clear. Collect fragments and upgrade gear.
Day 5: Rest, rebuild, and prepare more supplies.
Day 6: Run multiple strongholds for additional fragments.
Day 7: Merge fragments into your first Gem of the Forest and use it to craft Tier 5 upgrades.
By following this simple routine, you’ll consistently progress without wasting effort on random farming.
Advanced Tips for Hardcore Collectors
If you’re aiming for all gems in the game or pushing for 100% completion, these advanced strategies will help you stay efficient:
- Track Stronghold Respawns: Some strongholds respawn after a set number of nights. Keep notes and revisit them regularly.
- Optimize Night Skipping: Once you have the Temporal Accelerator, skip low-yield nights to focus only on productive farming sessions.
- Use Buff Foods or Potions: Temporary buffs can increase your survivability and speed during raids.
- Trade or Share in Multiplayer: Coordinate with friends to share fragments, ensuring everyone completes their gems faster.
- Build Multiple Respawn Capsules: Having multiple safe respawn points makes exploration safer in late game.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are gems used for in 99 Nights in the Woods
Gems are rare crafting materials used to upgrade your crafting bench to Tier 5 and create powerful late-game tools like the Respawn Capsule and Weather Machine
How do I get gems in 99 Nights in the Woods
You can get gems by collecting four gem fragments which drop from Cultist Raids Cultist Strongholds and rare Golden or Ruby Chests found throughout the world
When do gem fragments start appearing in the game
Gem fragments usually start dropping after around Night 90 or later when stronger enemies and cultist raids become more frequent
How many gem fragments do I need to make one full gem
You need four gem fragments to craft one complete Gem of the Forest
Where is the best place to farm gem fragments
The best places to farm gem fragments are inside Cultist Strongholds as they offer the highest drop rates and multiple rewards per clear
Conclusion
Mastering gem collection in 99 Nights in the Woods is one of the most rewarding challenges in the entire game. Gems aren’t just rare treasures — they’re the foundation for crafting, upgrading, and surviving deep into the later nights. By focusing on strongholds, preparing for cultist raids, and combining your fragments efficiently, you can unlock every gem without unnecessary grinding.Whether you’re upgrading your crafting bench to Tier 5, building a Respawn Capsule for safety, or controlling the weather with advanced tools, each gem you collect brings you one step closer to mastering the forest. Stay strategic, manage your nights wisely, and use teamwork or planned routes to make the process smoother.
