Tired of running out of fuel and ammo during your forest survival nights? The new Present Machine in 99 Nights in the Forest changes everything. This craftable item generates free presents automatically while you focus on exploring and collecting kids. The short answer: yes, the Present Machine is extremely good and essential for any serious speedrunner or survival player. This 99 Nights in the Forest guide covers crafting requirements, optimal setup, and pro strategies to maximize your loot.
Quick Overview: Present Machine at a Glance
- Crafting Cost: 1 coal gem, 15 wood, 20 bolts, and Crafting Bench Level 4
- Generation Rate: One present every 7-8 minutes automatically
- Best Combo: Pair with Elf Scanner to maximize elf-specific present collection
- Top Loot: Fuel, ammo, cakes, plus rare weapons like ray guns, tridents, and obsidian hammers
- Use Case: Perfect for speedrunning 99 nights with minimal manual farming stress
What Is the Present Machine in 99 Nights in the Forest?
The Present Machine is a craftable item that passively produces presents without any manual input. Once you place this machine in your base, it runs on its own and gives you unlimited rewards over time. Each present can contain valuable resources that help with survival and resource management.
How This Craftable Item Works
The machine produces one present every 7-8 minutes. You don’t need to feed it fuel or press any buttons. It runs continuously day and night. The presents drop on the ground near the machine, so you need to collect them regularly. This automatic resource generation makes forest survival much easier because you can focus on other tasks while your base creates free items.
Why Players Call It “OP”
OP stands for “overpowered.” Players call it the OP Present Machine because it removes most resource grinding from the game. Instead of spending time manually farming wood and bolts, you get free supplies while exploring or defending your base. For speedrunners, this passive income shaves hours off a complete 99-night run.
Crafting the Present Machine: Requirements and Resources
Before you can use this game-changing tool, you need to gather specific materials and upgrade your crafting station.
Step 1: Gather 15 Wood and 20 Bolts
Wood comes from chopping trees around your base. You can find bolts by searching abandoned structures and toolboxes. Focus on clearing nearby buildings early to stockpile these common materials. Most players can gather 15 wood and 20 bolts within the first two nights.
Step 2: Find a Coal Gem
The coal gem is the rarest component. You can find coal gems in deep caves or by defeating elite enemies that spawn after night 20. Bring strong weapons and plenty of healing items when you hunt for coal gems. Some players report finding them in supply crates near the frozen lake area.
Step 3: Upgrade to Crafting Bench Level 4
You need Crafting Bench Level 4 to unlock the Present Machine recipe. Upgrade your bench by investing wood and bolts at the crafting menu. Each level costs more resources, so save up early. Level 4 also unlocks other advanced tools like the Elf Scanner and Giant Beds.
Total Time Investment Breakdown
Most players can craft the Present Machine by night 15-20 if they prioritize resource gathering. The entire process takes about 2-3 hours of gameplay, depending on your luck finding the coal gem.
How to Set Up Your Present Machine for Maximum Efficiency
Proper setup makes the difference between good and amazing results. Follow these steps to get the most from your machine.
Strategic Base Placement
Place your Present Machine in the center of your base where you can easily reach it. Don’t hide it in a corner. You will collect presents frequently, so put it near your storage chests. Keep the area clear of decorations that might block present drops.
Activating the Elf Scanner
The Elf Scanner highlights elf locations on your map. This tool makes collecting elf-specific presents much simpler. Craft the scanner at your level 4 bench, then equip it and press the activate button. Elves glow bright green, making them impossible to miss.
Organizing With Giant Beds and Design Beds
Use Giant Beds and Design Beds like Gingerbread beds to keep elves and kids organized near your Present Machine. When elves sleep close by, they interact with the machine more often. This setup increases your chances of getting rare elf-specific loot. Arrange beds in a circle around the machine for best results.
Present Machine Loot: What You Actually Get
The machine produces a variety of items that help with survival and resource management. Here’s what you can expect.
Common Items: Fuel, Ammo, and Cakes
Most presents contain basic supplies. Fuel keeps your generators running. Ammo keeps your weapons loaded. Cakes restore health when eaten. These common drops save you hours of manual crafting and searching.
Rare Weapons: Ray Guns, Tridents, and Obsidian Hammers
About 15% of presents contain rare weapons. Ray guns shoot energy beams with unlimited ammo. Tridents are powerful melee weapons that freeze enemies. Obsidian hammers break obstacles in one hit. These rare weapons make night defense much easier.
Loot Table Overview
TableCopy
| Item Type | Drop Rate | Use Case |
| Fuel | 30% | Power generators |
| Ammo | 25% | Reload weapons |
| Cakes | 20% | Heal injuries |
| Ray Guns | 10% | Long-range combat |
| Tridents | 3% | Close combat + freeze |
| Obsidian Hammers | 2% | Break obstacles |
| Mystery Items | 10% | Various bonuses |
Speedrunning 99 Nights With the Present Machine
Speedrunners love this machine because it removes the boring grinding phase. Here’s how to use it for record-breaking runs.
Early Game Priorities
Focus on getting the coal gem fast. Rush to night 20 and defeat the elite enemy that drops it. Don’t waste time building fancy bases early. Just gather wood and bolts efficiently. Craft the Present Machine by night 15 if possible.
AFK Resource Generation Strategy
Once your Present Machine runs, you can leave your base for long periods. Go explore far areas while presents pile up. Return every 30 minutes to collect your loot. This AFK strategy lets you speedrun 99 nights in under 4 hours instead of the usual 8-10 hours.
Balancing Exploration and Base Defense
The machine works during combat, so don’t worry about leaving it unguarded. Focus on clearing high-value zones for extra resources while your base generates free supplies. This dual-income strategy maximizes your overall progress.
Common Mistakes Players Make With the Present Machine
Even great tools fail if you use them wrong. Avoid these errors.
Forgetting the Elf Scanner
Without the Elf Scanner, you miss elf-specific presents that contain the best loot. Always craft both items together. The scanner costs minimal resources but doubles your rare weapon drop rate.
Poor Base Layout Decisions
Don’t place your Present Machine near walls or in tight spaces. Presents need room to spawn. If the area is blocked, presents disappear. Leave at least three empty blocks on all sides.
Not Upgrading Crafting Bench First
Many players gather all materials but forget they need Crafting Bench Level 4. Check your bench level before you start hunting for the coal gem. Upgrade early to avoid wasted time.
Advanced Survival and Resource Management Tips
Take your forest survival to the next level with these expert strategies.
Using Multiple Present Machines
You can craft more than one Present Machine. Each machine works independently, giving you double or triple the loot. Place them in different base zones to spread out present drops. Most speedrunners use two machines by night 40.
Gingerbread Beds and Elf Organization
Gingerbread beds aren’t just decorative. Elves prefer these Design Beds over regular ones. When elves sleep in Gingerbread beds near your Present Machine, they produce special presents with boosted loot. Build at least three Gingerbread beds within five blocks of your machine.
Late-Game Optimization
By night 70, you should have three Present Machines running. Use Giant Beds to house more elves and kids efficiently. This setup creates a self-sustaining base where you rarely need to manually gather resources. Focus purely on surviving the increasingly difficult night waves.
Is the Present Machine Worth Crafting?
This question has a clear answer for most play styles.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Completely passive resource generation
- Saves hours of manual farming
- Essential for competitive speedrunning
- Provides rare weapons automatically
- Works while you explore
Cons:
- Requires rare coal gem
- Needs Crafting Bench Level 4 investment
- Takes 15-20 nights to obtain
- Presents need manual collection
Comparison to Manual Farming
Manual farming produces resources faster in short bursts but requires constant attention. The Present Machine wins for long-term survival and resource management because it generates free items while you handle other tasks. For speedrunners, it’s not even close. The machine cuts total run time in half.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to craft the Present Machine?
Most players craft it by night 15-20. The process takes 2-3 hours of gameplay. Gathering wood and bolts is quick, but finding the coal gem can take time. Rush elite enemies after night 20 for the best gem drop rates.
Can you have more than one Present Machine in your base?
Yes, you can place multiple machines. Each one works independently and produces its own presents. Most advanced players build two or three by late game. Space them apart to prevent loot overlap and maximize collection efficiency.
Does the Present Machine work while you’re exploring far from base?
The machine runs continuously regardless of your location. Presents spawn even when you’re on the opposite side of the map. This feature makes it perfect for AFK resource generation during long exploration trips.
What’s the best location to place the Present Machine?
Place it in the center of your base on flat ground. Keep at least three empty blocks on all sides so presents have room to spawn. Position it near storage chests for quick loot sorting. Avoid placing it near walls, water, or cliff edges.
How does the Elf Scanner improve Present Machine efficiency?
The Elf Scanner highlights elf locations on your map. Elves interact with the Present Machine and produce special elf-specific presents. These special presents have higher rare weapon drop rates. Without the scanner, you miss valuable elf interactions.
What are the chances of getting rare weapons from presents?
Rare weapons appear in roughly 15% of presents. Ray guns drop about 10% of the time. Tridents and obsidian hammers are rarer, at 3% and 2% respectively. Using the Elf Scanner and Gingerbread beds can increase these rates by up to 25%.
Conclusion
The Present Machine in 99 Nights in the Forest is a game-changing craftable item that every serious player should prioritize. It transforms survival and resource management from constant grinding into a passive background process. For speedrunners, it’s absolutely essential and cuts run times dramatically. Gather your coal gem, upgrade to Crafting Bench Level 4, and build this OP tool by night 20. Pair it with the Elf Scanner, organize your base with Giant Beds and Design Beds, and watch as ray guns, tridents, and unlimited supplies roll in automatically. Your forest survival journey just became much easier.
Ready to speedrun 99 nights? Share your Present Machine setups and rare weapon drops in the comments below. For more indie survival game guides, check out our crafting tutorials and speedrunning tips.
