How to Buy and Open Loot Crates in 100 Waves Later (March 2026) Full Guide

Updated by Sunny Kaushik
January 22, 2026
Gaming

If you’ve been spending hours surviving the relentless onslaught in 100 Waves Later, you know that standard weapons can only take you so far. Eventually, you hit a wall where your damage output just isn’t enough to scratch the enemies in later waves. That’s exactly where Loot Crates come into play. These crates are the game-changers, offering high-tier weapons and exclusive items that can turn the tide of battle.

I’ve spent countless hours in this game, testing every strategy to maximize my loot. In this comprehensive guide, I’m going to walk you through exactly how to buy and open loot crates in 100 Waves Later Roblox. Whether you’re a newbie just starting your first run or a veteran looking to optimize your crate opening strategy, I’ve got you covered.

Understanding Loot Crates in 100 Waves Later

Before we jump into the “how-to,” let’s quickly break down what loot crates actually do and why they are essential for your progression in March 2026. Unlike standard shop purchases where you know exactly what weapon you are buying, loot crates operate on a Gacha (RNG) system. This stands for Random Number Generator, meaning the items you receive are randomized based on specific drop rates.

Here’s a quick overview of the crate system:

Crate Type	Currency Used	Rarity Potential	Best Use Case
Basic Crate	In-Game Cash	Common to Uncommon	Early game boosting
Rare Crate	In-Game Cash (High)	Uncommon to Rare	Mid-game power spikes
Legendary Crate	Robux / Premium Currency	Rare to Legendary	Late-game / End-game gear
Event Crate	Event Tokens	Exclusive Items	Limited time events

Why Loot Crates Are Essential?

You might be wondering, “Why should I risk my hard-earned cash on a random item when I can just buy a good gun?” The answer lies in the power ceiling.

In 100 Waves Later, the best weapons are often locked behind these crates. While the shop offers reliable, decent weapons, the loot crates can contain items with stats that significantly outperform the standard inventory. I’ve pulled assault rifles with double the fire rate and shotguns with wider spreads from a single lucky crate opening. If you want to reach Wave 100 and beyond, learning to navigate the crate economy is non-negotiable.

How to Buy Loot Crates: Step-by-Step Guide

Now, let’s get into the meat of the guide. Buying crates isn’t just about having money; it’s about knowing where to go and when to buy.

Step 1: Accumulate Sufficient Currency

First things first, you need the cash. In 100 Waves Later, money is earned by killing enemies and surviving waves.

Focus on Kill Streaks: The game often rewards consecutive kills with bonus multipliers. Don’t just spray and pray; aim for headshots to maximize cash per bullet.
Survive Bonus: Make it to the end of a wave interval to get a lump sum of cash.
Team Synergy: If playing with others, try to distribute kills so everyone can afford crates, or pool resources if the game allows trading (though typically, crate purchases are individual).

Tip: Don’t spend all your money on ammo or low-tier repairs in the early waves. Save a buffer for your first crate purchase around Wave 10-15.

Step 2: Locate the Loot Crate Merchant

This is where many players get stuck. The merchant isn’t always marked clearly on the mini-map, especially if you are in the heat of battle.

Spawn Area: In most standard maps, the Loot Crate Merchant is located near the spawn point or the central “Safe Zone.”
Visual Indicator: Look for a NPC (Non-Playable Character) holding a large box or standing near a stack of glowing crates. They usually have a distinct icon floating above their head—often a treasure chest or a question mark.
Map Variant: If you are playing on a custom or event map, the location might change. However, the developer usually keeps the logic consistent: look for the shop area where you buy standard guns.

Step 3: Initiating the Purchase

Once you find the merchant:

Walk up to the NPC and press the interaction prompt (usually E on PC or the Button Prompt on Mobile/Console).
A menu will pop up. Look for the tab labeled “Crates” or “Loot.”
Select the crate you wish to purchase.
- Check the Price: Ensure you have enough funds. The price scales with the difficulty of the server in some cases.
Confirm the purchase. The crate will either go directly into your inventory or appear on the ground nearby, depending on the specific update of the game you are playing.

Step 4: Dealing with Different Currencies

While most crates use the standard cash you earn from waves, keep an eye out for Premium Crates. These require Robux.

Is it worth it? In my experience, unless you are supporting the developer, the standard cash crates are sufficient for gameplay. Premium crates often offer cosmetic variants or slightly boosted stats that aren’t strictly necessary to win, but they do look cool.

How to Open Loot Crates in 100 Waves Later?

Buying the crate is only half the battle. Opening it is where the excitement (and anxiety) happens. I’ve seen players accidentally sell their crates or open them at the worst possible time, wasting the potential advantage.

Method 1: Opening from Inventory (Safe Mode)

This is the most reliable method and the one I recommend.

Press the Inventory Key (usually I or Backpack icon on the HUD).
Navigate to the “Items” or “Consumables” tab.
Find the Loot Crate you just purchased.
Click on it and select “Open” or “Use.”
The Animation: A screen will appear showing the crate shaking or spinning. It will cycle through potential items before landing on your reward.

Method 2: Instant Open (In-World)

If the crate appeared in the game world after purchase:

Simply walk over to the crate.
Press the interaction key (E).
Your character will perform an opening animation, and the loot will fly directly into your inventory or equip automatically if it is a weapon.

Important: When to Open Crates

Timing is everything in 100 Waves Later.

The “Safe Zone” Rule: Only open crates during the intermission between waves. Opening a crate while zombies are charging at you is a death sentence. You are vulnerable while watching the opening animation.
Inventory Management: Before opening a crate, ensure you have an empty slot in your weapon loadout. If you pull a Legendary Sniper but your inventory is full of pistols, you might be forced to discard something valuable immediately. Sell your worst weapon before you crack open that crate.

Analyzing Crate Rewards and RNG

Understanding the drop rates can save you from frustration. In March 2026, the meta for 100 Waves Later relies heavily on specific weapon archetypes.

Understanding Rarity Tiers

When you open a crate, the item usually comes with a colored border indicating its rarity:

Grey (Common): Basic stats. Often sellable for quick cash.
Green (Uncommon): Slightly better damage or fire rate. Good for the mid-game grind.
Blue (Rare): Significant stat boosts. These weapons usually carry you to Wave 50.
Purple (Epic/Legendary): The game-changers. High damage, large magazines, and sometimes unique abilities (like explosive rounds).

Dealing with “Bad” Luck

It happens to the best of us. You save up for 20 waves, buy a Legendary Crate, and get a Common Pistol.

My Strategy: If you get a bad item, sell it immediately. Do not get attached. Use the cash from the bad item to buy ammo or health kits for the next wave. The beauty of the crate system is that as long as you survive, you get another chance to roll the dice later.

Advanced Tips for Loot Crate Mastery

To truly dominate the leaderboards, you need to go beyond the basics. Here are some pro-tips I’ve learned through my playtime:

1. The “Wave 30” Strategy

In the first 30 waves, focus on survival and economy. Do not buy crates in the first 10 waves. Save every penny. The enemies are weak enough that starter weapons work fine. Once you hit Wave 30, dump all your savings into 3-5 Basic Crates. The statistical probability of getting at least one Rare item is in your favor. This gives you a massive power spike for the mid-game.

2. Duping and Trading (If Applicable)

Check the specific server rules or updates for 2026. Some updates allow players to drop items. If this is the case, coordinate with your team. If you pull a Sniper but your friend needs it, and you get an SMG, trade. This ensures the team’s overall Damage Per Second (DPS) is maximized.

Note: Always be careful with “Duping” glitches. Using bugs to duplicate crates is a bannable offense in most Roblox games and ruins the economy. Stick to legitimate grinding.

3. Farming Efficiency

If you are grinding for crates specifically, play on maps with high density but low difficulty.

Open Maps: Easier to kite enemies.
Choke Points: Good for blasting waves quickly with AoE (Area of Effect) weapons to farm cash fast.

4. Watch for Updates

Roblox developers update 100 Waves Later frequently.

Follow the official Twitter/X Account (or the specific developer if known) to spot “2x Drop Rate” events or “Loot Crate Sales.”
Opening crates during a double-drop event effectively doubles your value for money.

Troubleshooting Common Crate Issues

Sometimes, things don’t go as planned. Here are solutions to common problems I’ve encountered in the community and personally.

“I bought a crate but it didn’t appear.”

Check Your Inventory: It likely went straight there instead of spawning on the floor.
Server Lag: Sometimes the Roblox server lags. Wait 30 seconds. If it still hasn’t appeared, rejoin the server (careful, you might lose wave progress, but the crate should be in your inventory).
Inventory Full: If your inventory was totally full, the purchase might have failed but the money deducted. If this happens, contact support or check if the game has a “Claim Lost Items” feature.

“I can’t find the Shop/Merchant.”

Map Change: Did the map just rotate? Some servers cycle maps, and the shop moves.
Obstruction: Another player or a pile of debris might be blocking the NPC. Look for the glowing interaction prompt through walls.

Game Updates & Meta Changes in 2026

The landscape of 100 Waves Later is always shifting. In the current meta of March 2026, developers have tweaked the loot pools to prevent “god-tier” weapons from dropping too early in Basic Crates. This makes the economy slightly harder, but also more rewarding.

Recent Changes to Note:

Buffed Rare Crates: The drop rate for Blue (Rare) items in standard cash crates has been slightly increased.
New Currency: A “Boss Token” system was introduced recently. Defeating the boss at Wave 50 guarantees a token which can be used for a Boss Crate. These crates guarantee Rare or better loot. This is currently the most efficient way to get high-tier gear.

Make sure you prioritize killing the Boss when it spawns. Don’t just hide

FAQ’s

Do loot crates carry over between servers?

No, typically in 100 Waves Later, crates and weapons are session-specific. Once you leave the server, you lose your inventory. You must start fresh each time you join a new game.

Can I sell crates I don’t want?

In most versions, you cannot sell the unopened crate back to the merchant. However, you can open it and sell the contents immediately. Usually, the trash items inside sell for enough to make your money back, meaning opening them is a net-neutral operation at worst.

What is the best crate to buy?

If you are looking for value, the Basic Crate is best for volume. If you are looking for power to beat a hard wave, save up for the Boss Crate (using Boss Tokens) or Legendary Crate. The Basic Crate is a gamble; the Boss Crate is an investment.

How do I get Boss Tokens?

Boss Tokens drop from the Boss enemies that appear at milestone waves (typically Wave 20, 50, and 80). Ensure you contribute damage to the boss to secure the drop.

Are there codes for free loot crates?

Developers occasionally release codes on social media. I recommend checking the official game description page or the Discord community for active codes. These codes often grant free crates or cash.

Conclusion

Mastering the loot crate system in 100 Waves Later is a mix of economic strategy, combat skill, and a little bit of luck. By following the steps I’ve outlined—saving your early-game cash, locating the merchant efficiently, and timing your openings during safe intermissions—you will drastically increase your chances of pulling that game-changing Legendary weapon.

Remember, the key is persistence. Don’t get discouraged by a bad roll. Keep grinding those waves, manage your inventory wisely, and before you know it, you’ll be the one carrying the team to Wave 100.

Good luck, and I’ll see you on the battlefield!

Note: Game mechanics and features are subject to change as the developer updates 100 Waves Later. Always check the latest patch notes for 2026 to stay ahead of the meta.