How to Get the Strong Axe Fast in 99 Nights in the Forest

If you've been playing 99 Nights in the Forest for a bit, you already know how much time you spend chopping trees, fighting off creatures, and opening chests. Because of that, one tool becomes super important very quickly: the Strong Axe. A lot of players search for it because it feels like the “big upgrade” that makes the game smoother. And honestly? It kinda is.

This guide breaks down everything players usually want to know — what the Strong Axe does, how to get it, and whether it's worth rushing early.

What Is the Strong Axe?

The Strong Axe is the third upgrade in the axe line (Old → Good → Strong). 
It looks like a long firefighter-style axe with a red handle and a metal head.

Even though there are later tools like the Chainsaw or specialized weapons, the Strong Axe remains one of the most useful items across the whole game. Think of it as your main “work tool” — the thing you use hundreds of times every run.

What Does the Strong Axe Do?

The Strong Axe has two main uses:

1. Tree Chopping

• 1 hit to chop a normal tree (yes, one hit — it's super fast)
• 35 hits to chop a big tree
• 33 hits if upgraded with an Axe Trim Kit

2. Combat / Breaking Objects

• It deals normal axe melee damage, enough for early-game creatures
• Breaks ice around Ice Chests in 3 hits

It's not a “real weapon” compared to spears or guns, but it absolutely works in early game when you don't have much else.

How Much Better Is It Compared to Old and Good Axes?

Here's the simple version:

In everyday play, this upgrade feels massive. You'll notice the difference immediately, especially when you start building bases or farming logs for crafting.

How to Get the Strong Axe

You can get the Strong Axe in three ways:

1. Pelt Trader (Fourth Trade)

This is the most reliable method. 
You just need to gather enough pelts, trade up, and eventually unlock the fourth trade.

Great for players who don't want to rely on luck.

2. Gold Chests

Strong Axe can appear in Gold Chests, though not guaranteed.

3. Legendary Chests

Better odds than Gold Chests, but still luck-based.

If you like looting and exploring, you might get lucky early. Otherwise, just go with the trader.

If you're trying to speed things up even more, some players choose to buy 99 Nights in the Forest gems from U4GM so they can unlock trades and upgrades earlier without waiting on drops. It’s not required, but it definitely smooths out the grind if you’re short on time.

Is the Strong Axe Craftable?

No. 
You can't craft it — only trade or find it in chests.

When Should You Aim for the Strong Axe?

Best Timing: Early-Mid Game

You don't need it immediately, but getting it as soon as possible after you stabilize food and shelter is a good idea.

Why? 
Because a 1-hit chop saves you hours of total time over a full playthrough.

Should You Delay Other Upgrades to Rush It?

A small delay is fine, but don't skip:

• armor
• basic weapons
• healing items

You still need to survive long enough to enjoy that new axe.

Strong Axe Combat Performance

This is where many players get confused.

Is it strong in combat?

It's fine, but not optimal.

Good for:

• breaking weak enemies early game
• emergency self-defense
• breaking ice objects

Not great for:

• mid-game monsters
• ranged fights
• large mobs
• boss encounters

Once you get spears, guns, or proper weapons, switch to those.

Strong Axe vs Other Tools

Here's the simple breakdown:

Strong Axe

• Best balance between chopping speed and usability
• Solid early combat
• Cheap to get through trading
• Can be upgraded with Axe Trim Kit

Chainsaw

• Faster for big trees
• Hold the button for continuous chopping
• Weak in combat (short range, low damage)
• Uses a different upgrade system

Ice Axe

• Good utility weapon
• Can slow enemies, giving you time to escape
• Not ideal for farming wood
• Also uses a special upgrade system

Spears / Guns

• Much better for combat
• Not useful for chopping
• Often worth prioritizing once your base is stable

Conclusion: 
The Strong Axe is the best overall axe for most of the game, even though it's not the “final” tool.

Where to Find It (Locations & Spawns)

The Strong Axe appears in:

• Gold Chests (rare)
• Legendary Chests (more likely)
• Pelt Trader's 4th trade (guaranteed method)

It doesn't have a fixed world spawn, so you'll need luck or trading.

Best places to loot:

• Deep forest zones
• Chest-heavy areas
• High-risk exploration paths
• Event areas (when available)

Tips to Get the Strong Axe Faster

Here's what helps most:

1. Farm Pelts Early

Hunt animals → sell pelts → reach the 4th trade → guaranteed Strong Axe.

2. Search Gold and Legendary Chests

If you're already exploring, open everything. You might get lucky.

3. Team Strategy

If you play co-op:

• One player collects pelts
• One player explores
• One player gathers saplings/logs

If any teammate gets a Strong Axe, the whole team benefits from faster resource gathering.

Common Mistakes Players Make

❌ Thinking the Strong Axe is the best weapon

It's not. Use it early, but switch to real weapons later.

❌ Wasting hours looking for random chests

If you're unlucky, you'll find nothing. Just use the trader.

❌ Ignoring Axe Trim Kits

A quick upgrade reduces big tree hits from 35 → 33, which adds up over time.

Does It Have Upgrade Paths or Variants?

Yes — the Axe Trim Kit works on the Strong Axe.

It does not evolve into Chainsaw or Ice Axe. 
Those two follow a different system.

Multiplayer Usefulness

In co-op, the Strong Axe is amazing.

• It speeds up base building
• Helps gather tons of logs
• Lets one player “carry” resource production
• Not everyone needs one, but it's very helpful if at least one teammate has it

If multiple players have one, big tree farming becomes extremely fast.

Summary

The Strong Axe is one of the most important mid-game tools in 99 Nights in the Forest. 
It gives a huge jump in chopping speed, works fine for early combat, and helps teams gather resources way faster. 
You can get it from the Pelt Trader's fourth trade or from Gold/Legendary chests if you're lucky. 
While it's not the best late-game weapon, it remains the most consistent and reliable axe for most of your run.

If you want one upgrade that makes your daily gameplay smoother, the Strong Axe is it.