The Week 3 Christmas update in 99 Nights in the Forest brings Fake Santa, a holiday boss blocking the North Pole biome. Many players get stuck on the pre-fight objectives rather than the actual battle. This guide shows you exactly how to unlock Fake Santa, defeat him quickly, and claim your Peppermint Pelter weapon before the event ends.
Reading this guide takes 4 minutes. By the end, you will know the three steps to unlock the fight, the best class to use, and whether the rewards are worth your time.
Quick Overview: Fake Santa Boss at a Glance
- Boss Name: Fake Santa (also called Evil Santa)
- Location: North Pole biome in 99 Nights in the Forest
- Unlock Requirement: Secure the Christmas biome first (cannot damage boss until completed)
- Key Items Needed: Ladder, Shovel, 12 Christmas Light Balls
- Best Class: Cyborg Class for ranged damage and high survivability
- Main Reward: Peppermint Pelter (curved peppermint projectile weapon)
- Event Duration: Week 3 Christmas update (limited-time holiday boss)
- Difficulty Rating: Medium (pre-fight setup is harder than the actual battle)
Who Is Fake Santa in 99 Nights in the Forest?
Fake Santa is the seasonal boss added during the Christmas update in 99 Nights in the Forest. He appears after elves finish building Santa’s Workshop in the North Pole biome. Unlike normal bosses you can attack right away, Fake Santa protects himself with automated turrets and environmental barriers.
The game forces you to complete quest-style requirements before you can even damage him. He is not actually Santa, but an evil imposter trying to take over the Christmas biome. Once you secure the area, the fight itself is straightforward.
How Do You Unlock Fake Santa in 99 Nights in the Forest?
You cannot fight Fake Santa until you complete three mandatory steps. This is not optional, and many players get stuck because they try to attack him too early.
Step 1: Expand the Campfire in the Christmas Biome
First, you need to expand your campfire multiple times using logs and fuel drops from enemies. The Christmas biome will not fully unlock if your fire level is too low. Keep adding logs until the area opens completely.
Quick Tip: Kill cultists and loot containers to get fuel drops faster. The bigger your fire, the more of the North Pole biome becomes accessible.
Step 2: Collect and Attach Christmas Light Balls
This step takes the longest. You need to collect 12 Christmas Light Balls from specific enemies in the Christmas area. After collecting them, attach each one to trees in the biome.
Important: Some trees will not activate until you expand the fire further. If a tree does not light up, upgrade your campfire first.
Step 3: Buy the Ladder and Shovel
During the Fake Santa area, you will hit snow barriers and elevated defenses. You need two tools:
- Ladder: Lets you climb over elevated barriers
- Shovel: Removes snow barriers blocking your path
Both tools cost coins. Defeat cultists and loot containers to earn enough currency before attempting the boss fight.
What Is the Best Class to Beat Fake Santa?
Fake Santa is not very tanky, so you do not need extreme burst damage. However, the automated turrets deal more damage than the boss himself. For this reason, pick a class with good armor and sustained damage.
Recommended Class: Cyborg Class
Why it works: High survivability plus ranged laser damage lets you destroy turrets from safety. You can break line of sight using ladders and terrain while picking off threats.
Any class with strong armor and decent ranged attacks will work. Melee classes struggle because the turrets auto-aim and punish you for getting too close.
How Do You Defeat Fake Santa Easily?
Once you complete the three unlock steps, the actual boss fight is simple. Here is what to expect and how to win.
Fake Santa Boss Mechanics
- Summons automated turrets that auto-aim at you
- Moves around frequently but deals low direct damage
- Most danger comes from standing in turret fire for too long
- No complex phase changes or special attacks
Winning Strategy
- Destroy turrets first – They are the real threat. Take them out before focusing on Fake Santa.
- Use ladders for cover – Climb up and down to break line of sight with turrets.
- Keep moving – Do not stand still. Fake Santa moves around, and turret fire tracks you.
- Attack from range – Stay back and use ranged weapons to stay safe.
With decent gear, Fake Santa goes down quickly. The fight is more about avoiding turret damage than dodging the boss himself.
What Rewards Do You Get from Fake Santa?
After defeating Fake Santa, you unlock presents and a unique holiday weapon.
Main Reward: Peppermint Pelter
This weapon fires curved peppermint projectiles. It has decent damage for a non-class weapon but a very slow reload time. While fun to use, it is better for novelty than high-level combat.
Additional Rewards
- Revolver ammo for your weapons
- Gift drops from the present machine in Santa’s Workshop
- Access to the fully secured Christmas biome
Are the rewards worth it? The Peppermint Pelter is more of a collector’s item than a meta weapon. However, completing the fight unlocks the entire North Pole biome for exploration and future quests.
Is Fake Santa a Hard Boss in 99 Nights in the Forest?
Honestly, no. The pre-fight objectives are harder than the boss himself. Once you prepare correctly—upgrade the fire, collect all Christmas Light Balls, and buy the tools—Fake Santa does not pose much threat.
This holiday boss focuses on:
- Exploration of the Christmas biome
- Resource management (collecting items and currency)
- Completing biome objectives rather than combat skill
If you want to finish the Christmas update efficiently, focus on the setup first. After that, Fake Santa is just another enemy between you and free loot.
Common Mistakes Players Make Against Fake Santa
Mistake 1: Trying to Attack Too Early
Many players shoot Fake Santa before completing the biome setup and wonder why he takes no damage. You must secure the Christmas biome first. This is not a bug—it is by design.
Mistake 2: Forgetting to Buy Tools
You cannot bypass snow barriers or elevated defenses without the Ladder and Shovel. Save up coins before heading to the North Pole biome.
Mistake 3: Ignoring the Campfire Upgrades
If you cannot find enough Christmas Light Balls or trees will not activate, your fire is too small. Upgrade it until the entire biome unlocks.
Mistake 4: Using Melee Classes
The turrets auto-aim and shred melee players. Use a ranged class like Cyborg to stay safe while destroying threats.
Pro Tips for Beating Fake Santa Faster
Tip 1: Farm cultists near the campfire – They drop both fuel for the fire and coins for your tools. Kill two birds with one stone.
Tip 2: Mark trees on your map – After you attach a Christmas Light Ball, mark the tree so you do not waste time checking the same one twice.
Tip 3: Bring a friend – While soloable, having one player draw turret fire while the other destroys them makes the fight trivial.
Tip 4: Save your best ammo – Fake Santa himself has low health. Use basic ammo on turrets and save your rare rounds for faster bosses.
Frequently Asked Questions
What level should I be to fight Fake Santa in 99 Nights in the Forest?
Fake Santa does not have a strict level requirement. However, you should have enough health and armor to survive turret fire for 10-15 seconds. Most players succeed around level 20-25. Focus on upgrading your gear rather than your level.
Can I defeat Fake Santa solo, or do I need a team?
You can defeat Fake Santa solo. The fight is designed for single players, and all objectives can be completed alone. However, bringing one teammate makes destroying turrets easier and reduces the risk of dying.
What happens if I die during the Fake Santa fight?
If you die, you respawn at your campfire. The good news is that any progress you made—like destroying turrets or attaching Light Balls—stays completed. You can run back and continue the fight without starting over.
How long is the Christmas event available in 99 Nights in the Forest?
The Week 3 Christmas update is a limited-time holiday event. Based on past seasonal updates, it typically runs for 2-3 weeks during December. Check the official game announcements for the exact end date.
Is the Peppermint Pelter good for endgame content?
No, the Peppermint Pelter is a novelty weapon. It is fun to use and looks cool, but the slow reload time makes it worse than most class weapons. Collect it for fun, not for serious combat.
Where do I find the Christmas Light Balls?
Christmas Light Balls drop from holiday-themed enemies in the North Pole biome. Look for enemies wearing Santa hats or wrapped in Christmas lights. They have a 30-40% drop rate, so you may need to kill 30-40 enemies to get all 12.
Can I fight Fake Santa again after defeating him?
Currently, Fake Santa is a one-time boss per save file. After you defeat him and claim the Peppermint Pelter, he does not respawn. However, you can replay the entire event on a new save file or in a private server.
Conclusion
Fake Santa in 99 Nights in the Forest is a fun holiday boss that tests your preparation more than your combat skills. The key is completing the three unlock steps: expand the campfire, collect 12 Christmas Light Balls, and buy the Ladder and Shovel. Use the Cyborg Class to safely destroy turrets, then take down the boss for your Peppermint Pelter reward.
