The new cave update in 99 Nights in The Forest doesn’t just add a terrifying Bat Entity and underground areas – it also introduces a new progression feature: Blessing Statues. These statues act as permanent buffs that make survival slightly easier, but finding and unlocking them isn’t simple.
Every blessing is hidden behind combat trials, puzzles, and the bat cave system. This guide covers how the blessing system works, where to find the statues, and what each blessing actually does.
How Blessings Work
Blessing statues are found inside cave chambers connected to the new update. Each chamber is locked behind a gate and guarded by waves of cultists, including stronger variants as you go deeper. To unlock a blessing:
- Enter the cave with a flashlight, weapon, healing, and food.
- Activate glowing crystal formations using your flashlight to progress.
- Fight cultists until the gate finally opens.
- Interact with the statue to select your blessing.
- Blow up the exit gate using in-cave TNT to activate the next cave section.
Blessings are permanent per run and can stack, so collecting them early helps make the rest of the update easier.
Blessing Statue Locations and Effects
Right now, there are three confirmed blessing types in the caves. More statues exist behind sealed tunnels, hinting at future expansions.
1. Blessing of the Deer
Effect: Increases day duration and shortens night duration.
This one reduces pressure during overworld travel. Longer daylight means more time to gather resources, hunt, explore, and avoid night threats.
Recommended for:
- Early exploration
- Farming and camp building
2. Blessing of the Owl
Effect: Reduces rain frequency.
Rain affects vision, temperature, and mobility, so fewer storms means better travel and fewer interruptions. This blessing pairs well with long exploration or resource runs.
Recommended for:
- Resource gathering
- Map revealing and travel
3. Blessing of the Bat
Effect: Slows hunger drain.
Since the cave system requires long exploration and constant combat, this blessing is one of the most helpful so far. You’ll spend less time hunting and cooking, and you can carry fewer supplies during cave trips.
Recommended for:
- Cave progression
- Boss encounters
- Speed-running the cave network
4. Blessing of the Ram
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Effect: Decreases amount of lightning (less lightning-related danger).
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Why it’s great: Safer overworld when lightning events trigger; helps protect campfires and items susceptible to lightning.
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How to get it: Found in a shrine room; you usually need to kill cultists and use light mechanics to proceed.
Tips for Unlocking Every Blessing
- Bring a flashlight. Some puzzles don’t trigger without it.
- Use a mid-to-high durability melee weapon.
- Keep extra bandages and cooked meals.
- Expect waves of enemies. Sometimes you’ll fight dozens before a gate opens.
- Each unlocked blessing allows you access to deeper cave tiers through TNT-breakable exits.
If you struggle, consider leaving the cave, upgrading gear, then returning.
Will More Blessing Statues Be Added?
Based on blocked tunnels, unused cave chambers, and hints from update text, more statues are planned. Some marked doors are labeled for later expansions, meaning there will likely be:
- More enemy types
- Another entity beyond the bat
- Additional blessings or modifiers
The update is clearly built to expand over time.
Practical tips and strategy
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Bring a flashlight. Many puzzles and the Bat mechanics depend on illuminating crystals. You can’t reliably progress without it.
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Use ranged + kite tactics. Cultists inside are stronger; kiting with ranged weapons then finishing with melee keeps you alive and conserves ammo.
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Assassin class is strong for cave clearing. If you have high DPS classes, they make wave clearing much faster.
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Farm in daytime where possible. The deer blessing makes day runs longer — useful to farm materials before a cave run.
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Coordinate with friends. If a cave locks while others are inside, coordinate timers and re-entry or clear the whole chamber together.
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Pack food and bandages. Hunger and incoming damage are constant; the Bat’s scream can leave you vulnerable.
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Be patient. Some shrine waves require a large number of kills — expect a long fight rather than a single puzzle.
Blessing statues are one of the most meaningful additions to 99 Nights in The Forest. Instead of just surviving, you now progress your character with long-term buffs that make future exploration easier. Whether you’re trying to fully clear the cave system or prepare for future content, collecting all current blessings is worth the effort.
The Bat Cave update is only the first step. With more sealed passages waiting to open, this system is likely going to become a core part of progression. If you’re planning to tackle the remaining caves, go in prepared – and don’t ignore the flashlight.