How to Mine Meteors in 99 Nights Forest (Expert 2026 Guide)
The Meteor Shower update has completely revolutionized survival in 99 Nights in the Forest, introducing powerful cosmic resources that can transform your gameplay experience. After mining hundreds of meteors since the update launched, I’ve mastered every aspect of this game-changing event—from tracking meteor falls to crafting the legendary Obsidiron Chest. Whether you’re struggling to find your first crater or optimizing your farming routes for maximum efficiency, this comprehensive guide reveals everything you need to dominate the meteor mining meta in 2026.
Quick Meteor Mining Overview (2026)
| Essential Info | Details |
|---|---|
| Event Start | Day 5 or later |
| Alert Message | “The sky is on fire” |
| Required Tools | Any axe + sack for storage |
| Main Resources | Meteor Shards, Gold Shards, Raw Obsidiron Ore |
| Key Location | Meteor Anvil (red anvil icon on map) |
| Best Axe | Chainsaw or Strong Axe |
| Enemies | Meteor Crabs, wolves |
When Do Meteors Appear in 99 Nights Forest?
The Meteor Shower event becomes available starting from Day 5 of your survival journey, triggered randomly with the dramatic message “The sky is on fire” appearing on screen. During this celestial spectacle, the entire sky transforms into a deep crimson red, creating one of the most visually stunning moments in the game.
When the meteor shower begins, you’ll witness glowing trails of meteors crashing down across the forest, and these impacts create permanent craters that persist until you mine them. This persistence means even if you miss the initial shower, you can still locate and harvest meteors later in your playthrough.
Tracking Meteor Impact Locations
The most challenging aspect of meteor mining is locating the crash sites, as meteor craters never appear on your map or minimap, requiring visual tracking of the shower and movement toward impact zones. Here’s my proven strategy for finding craters efficiently:
Visual Tracking Method:
- When you see the alert, immediately face the direction of visible impacts and note nearby landmarks to shorten your search when leaving your base
- Listen for impact sounds—meteors create distinctive crash noises that help pinpoint their general direction
- Watch where meteors fall actively, as craters are typically large and noticeable once you’re in the right area
- If you missed the exact location, systematically explore adjacent forest tiles
Pro Tip: Build watchtowers at strategic points around your base before Day 5. These elevated positions give you better visibility during meteor showers, making tracking much easier.
Essential Tools and Equipment for Mining Meteors
Best Axes for Meteor Mining
Mining meteors works just like chopping wood, but meteor nodes require significantly more hits than trees, making your axe choice crucial for efficiency. Based on extensive testing, here’s the definitive axe tier list:
| Axe Type | Mining Speed | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Admin Axe | Instant (1 hit) | Admin-exclusive, not obtainable |
| Chainsaw | Fastest (3-5 hits) | Best overall choice |
| Strong Axe | Fast (5-7 hits) | Excellent alternative |
| Ice Axe | Moderate (7-9 hits) | Decent mid-game option |
| Good Axe | Slow (9-12 hits) | Acceptable for beginners |
| Old Axe | Very Slow (12-15 hits) | Only if no alternatives |
For optimal meteor farming efficiency, always bring a Chainsaw or Strong Axe. The time saved mining each node adds up significantly during extended farming sessions. Check our 99 Nights Forest Crafting Recipes guide for chainsaw trading requirements.
Storage Solutions: Choosing the Right Sack
You’ll need a sack to carry the meteor materials, with better sacks offering more storage capacity for extended farming sessions. Here’s what you should know:
| Sack Type | Capacity | Special Features |
|---|---|---|
| Giant Sack | 30 slots | Maximum storage |
| Infernal Sack | 20 slots | Auto-cooks food |
| Good Sack | 15 slots | Solid mid-tier option |
| Old Sack | 10 slots | Basic starter storage |
Farming Strategy: Always bring at least a Good Sack or higher. Meteor loot stacks up quickly, and running back with a small sack significantly slows your grinding efficiency. For serious farming sessions, the Giant Sack is invaluable. Learn more about obtaining the Infernal Sack with auto-cooking for ultimate efficiency.
How to Mine Meteors Safely and Efficiently?
Step-by-Step Mining Process
Once you locate a crater, the actual mining process is straightforward but requires proper preparation to avoid enemy interruptions:
- Scout the Crater: Approach the crater edge carefully and survey for Meteor Crabs and wolves, as these hostiles can interrupt mining and waste valuable time
- Clear All Threats: Always eliminate nearby enemies before starting to mine, creating a safe perimeter that prevents damage while you focus on resource gathering
- Position Strategically: Stand directly beside the meteor for optimal hit registration—poor positioning can cause swings to miss
- Mine Systematically: Strike the meteor consistently with your equipped axe, expecting more hits than standard wood chopping
- Collect Immediately: After the node breaks, collect all dropped pieces promptly as items can scatter slightly around the crater floor
- Check for Multiple Nodes: Most craters contain 2-4 meteor nodes—mine them all before moving on
Dealing with Meteor Crabs and Other Threats
Meteor Crabs spawn around craters and aggressively attack players, while wolves often patrol nearby during the chaos. These enemies pose significant threats if not handled properly:
Combat Tips:
- Bring a crossbow or gun for quick elimination from range
- Meteor Crabs have moderate health but deal high damage up close
- Clear the entire crater perimeter before mining—enemies can respawn
- Consider bringing bandages or food for healing
- In multiplayer, designate one player for defense while others mine
What You Get from Mining Meteors?
Complete Loot Table
There are two visual meteor types—Black Ore and Red Crystals—but both yield identical resources, with only the appearance being different. Here’s what you can obtain:
| Resource | Drop Rate | Primary Use |
|---|---|---|
| Meteor Shard | Common (80%) | Crafting recipes at Meteor Anvil |
| Gold Shard | Rare (15%) | High-tier crafting requirements |
| Raw Obsidiron Ore | Very Rare (5%) | Obsidiron Ingot refinement |
Gold Shards are less common than Meteor Shards, so expect to mine multiple nodes to meet recipe requirements for advanced items. The RNG can be frustrating, but persistence pays off with these valuable materials.
Understanding Resource Importance
These materials are crucial as they’re used to craft various items and blueprints from the Meteorite Anvil Tool Workshop in the Anvil Building. Without these resources, you’ll miss out on:
- Obsidiron Chest: Spawns high-tier loot when placed
- Meteor Armor: Superior protection against forest threats
- Axe/Armor Trims: Damage and defense upgrades
- Exclusive Blueprints: End-game crafting recipes
How to Process Raw Obsidiron Ore into Ingots?
The Complete Obsidiron Refinement Process
Turning Raw Obsidiron Ore into usable Obsidiron Ingots is a multi-step process that many players struggle with initially. Follow this exact sequence:
- Mine Raw Obsidiron Ore from meteor nodes (5% drop rate)
- Break the Ore: Drop the Raw Obsidiron Ore from a high place like a watchtower to break it into Broken Obsidiron Ore pieces
- Heat in Lava: Throw the broken pieces into lava—the meteor crater center works perfectly—to create Scalding Obsidiron Ingots
- Cool in Water: Drop the scalding ingot into water, such as the fishing hole, to cool it into a regular Obsidiron Ingot ready for crafting
Critical Tips:
- Verify you’ve completed each step—skipping any stage prevents the transformation and wastes materials
- Keep track of where items land after dropping
- The crater’s lava pool is ideal for the heating step
- Any water source works for cooling—ponds, rivers, or fishing spots
Crafting at the Meteor Anvil
Finding and Accessing the Meteor Anvil
After a Meteor Shower, locate the Anvil Building marked by a distinctive red anvil icon on your map. This special workshop only appears after the first meteor event triggers.
Anvil Activation Process:
- Enter the building and defeat all Meteor Crabs inside to clear the room for safe interaction
- Assemble the Meteor Anvil from parts found in the building—once complete, the crafting menu becomes available
- Access the Meteorite Anvil Tool Workshop interface
Crafting the Legendary Obsidiron Chest
The Obsidiron Chest represents the pinnacle of meteor-based crafting. Here’s the complete blueprint:
Required Materials:
- 10 Meteor Shards
- 5 Gold Shards
- 3 Obsidiron Ingots
At the Meteor Anvil, craft the Obsidiron Chest blueprint using these materials, then place the blueprint to summon the chest and claim the associated reward and achievement.
The Obsidiron Chest works like any other chest you find in the wild—once opened, its contents spill out for anyone to collect, making it an infinitely repeatable way to spawn high-tier loot.
2026 Advanced Meteor Farming Strategies
Optimizing Your Farming Routes
After extensive testing, I’ve developed the most efficient meteor farming approach:
- Base Preparation (Before Day 5):
- Build multiple storage chests near your base
- Stockpile food and healing items
- Trade for a Chainsaw if possible
- Construct watchtowers for better visibility
- During Meteor Showers:
- Don’t AFK during meteor showers—actively watch for impact trails to locate craters quickly
- Mark impact directions with torches or signs
- Coordinate with teammates to cover more ground
- Efficient Mining Patterns:
- Start with the closest crater to your base
- Work outward in a spiral pattern
- Clear all nodes in each crater before moving
- Always carry extra sacks—farming 10+ Meteor Shards in one run saves significant time
Multiplayer Coordination Tips
Farming meteors is faster and safer in groups, especially with Meteor Crabs defending the craters. Here’s how to maximize team efficiency:
Role Distribution:
- Scout: Tracks meteor falls and marks locations
- Defender: Clears enemies and provides overwatch
- Miners (2-3 players): Focus purely on resource extraction
- Runner: Transports materials back to base storage
Communication Strategy:
- Use voice chat for real-time coordination
- Call out crater locations using landmarks
- Alert team to Gold Shard or Obsidiron drops
- Coordinate Meteor Anvil usage to avoid conflicts
Troubleshooting Common Mining Problems
Can’t Find Any Craters?
If you can’t locate craters, wait for the next shower, then move immediately toward visible impacts after seeing “The sky is on fire” alert—searching promptly reduces wander time significantly.
Solutions:
- Build higher vantage points for better visibility
- Explore systematically in grid patterns
- Check areas you haven’t visited recently
- Remember craters persist until mined
Mining Taking Too Long?
Switch to a stronger axe if available, as higher-tier tools dramatically reduce the swings needed per node.
Speed Improvements:
- Upgrade from Old Axe → Good Axe (30% faster)
- Good Axe → Strong Axe (40% faster)
- Strong Axe → Chainsaw (50% faster)
- Bring food buffs that increase mining speed
Obsidiron Not Working?
Many players struggle with the Obsidiron refinement process. Verify you broke the ore by dropping it from height, heated it in lava to create a Scalding state, then cooled it in water—skipping any stage prevents successful crafting.
Troubleshooting Checklist:
- ✓ Dropped Raw Obsidiron from sufficient height
- ✓ Collected all Broken Obsidiron pieces
- ✓ Threw pieces directly into lava (not near it)
- ✓ Retrieved Scalding Obsidiron before it despawns
- ✓ Fully submerged scalding ingot in water
Meteor Mining Achievements and Badges
The Meteor Shower update introduced several exclusive achievements:
| Achievement | Requirement | Reward |
|---|---|---|
| Meteor Miner | Mine 20 meteors | 5 Gems |
| Cosmic Collector | Collect 50 Meteor Shards | 10 Gems |
| Kill 20 Meteor Crabs | Defeat crab enemies | Badge + 5 Gems |
| Obsidiron Master | Craft Obsidiron Chest | 15 Gems + Title |
2026 Essential Tips for Meteor Mining Success
Before the Meteor Shower
- Reach Campfire Level 3+ to unlock the full map for easier navigation
- Stock up on healing items—Meteor Crabs hit hard
- Prepare multiple sacks for extended farming sessions
- Build strategic outposts across the map for quick shelter
- Join the official Discord for event notifications
During Active Mining
- Upgrade your axe as priority one—Strong Axe or Chainsaw makes a massive difference in farming efficiency
- Clear enemies first, mine second—dying loses all collected materials
- Stay near water sources to make refining Obsidiron Ingots easier when ponds are close by
- Mark mined craters to avoid revisiting empty sites
- Coordinate with other players for protection and faster clearing
Resource Management
- Prioritize Gold Shards when inventory is full—they’re the rarest
- Bank materials frequently to avoid losing progress
- Save Obsidiron for essential crafts like the chest
- Trade duplicate Meteor Shards for other resources
- Don’t waste materials on low-priority Anvil recipes initially
Best Classes for Meteor Mining
While any class can mine meteors, some excel at the task:
| Class | Cost | Advantages for Mining |
|---|---|---|
| Lumberjack | 25 Gems | +20% resource gathering, faster axe swings |
| Tank | 50 Gems | High HP for fighting Meteor Crabs |
| Assassin | 100 Gems | Stealth to avoid enemies while mining |
| Cyborg | 600 Gems | Laser Cannon decimates crater guardians |
For budget-conscious players, the Lumberjack class offers the best value for meteor farming. Learn more about all classes in our 99 Nights Forest Codes guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
When can I start mining meteors?
Meteor Showers can appear any time from Day 5 onward, triggered by the global message “The sky is on fire” and the sky shifting to deep red. They can trigger at any point after Day 5, not just on Day 5 itself.
Are Black and Red meteors different?
No, the colors are purely cosmetic—both Black Ore and Red Crystal meteors drop identical resources including Meteor Shards, Raw Obsidiron Ore, and Gold Shards.
What’s the best way to farm Meteor Shards quickly?
Use a Chainsaw or Strong Axe, carry an Infernal or Giant Sack, and attempt meteor mining with friends to clear Meteor Crabs quickly and efficiently. Focus on craters with multiple nodes for maximum efficiency.
How often do Meteor Showers happen?
The event is random after Day 5, with no set schedule. Some players report showers every 5-10 days, while others experience longer gaps. Craters remain until mined, so you can still find them even if you missed the initial impact.
Can I mine meteors solo?
Yes, but it’s significantly more challenging. Bring extra healing items, clear enemies methodically, and consider using ranged weapons to safely eliminate Meteor Crabs before mining.
Where is the Meteor Anvil located?
The main crash site’s location appears on your map indicated by a distinctive red Anvil icon after the first Meteor Shower event. It spawns in a random location but remains in the same spot for your entire playthrough.
Related Survival Guides
Master every aspect of 99 Nights in the Forest with these comprehensive guides:
- Complete Crafting Recipes Guide – All 40+ recipes
- How to Summon the Cultist King – Boss fight strategies
- All Fish Locations & Fishing Guide – Master the fishing update
- Weather Machine & Level 5 Tools – End-game crafting
- Alien & Cyborg Class Guide – Advanced classes
- All Endings Explained – Complete endings guide
Conclusion
Mining meteors in 99 Nights in the Forest transforms from a confusing challenge into a rewarding gameplay loop once you understand the mechanics. With the right axe, sack, and patience, you can farm Meteor Shards, Gold Shards, and Obsidiron Ore to unlock the game’s strongest craftables.
Remember that success comes from preparation—upgrade your tools, coordinate with teammates, and always stay alert for that crimson sky. The Obsidiron Chest and exclusive Meteor Anvil blueprints await those brave enough to harvest these cosmic resources.
Keep this guide bookmarked for quick reference during your meteor farming sessions. The forest’s mysteries continue to evolve with each update, but mastering meteor mining ensures you’ll always have the resources needed to survive all 99 nights and beyond.
Ready to begin your meteor mining journey? Join a server, reach Day 5, and watch for that legendary message: “The sky is on fire!” Your path to end-game dominance starts with that first swing of your axe against a glowing meteor.