Looking to dominate the volcanic wastelands with the hottest weapon in 99 Nights in the Forest? I’ve spent countless hours perfecting the volcano ritual and testing every method to help you get your hands on the game-changing Infernal Crossbow. This fiery upgrade to the standard crossbow doesn’t just deal damage – it literally sets your enemies ablaze and cooks your dinner at the same time.

How to Get the Infernal Crossbow

Since the Volcanic Biome Update Part 2 dropped on June 20, 2026, the Infernal Crossbow has become the must-have ranged weapon for serious survivors. Whether you’re a solo player pushing for Day 99 or part of a team defending against massive cultist raids, this comprehensive guide will show you exactly how to obtain this powerful weapon and maximize its devastating potential.

Quick Overview
Weapon Type: Ranged (Rifle-type)
Release Date: June 20, 2026
Damage: High + Fire DoT
Special Effect: Burns enemies & auto-cooks meat
Ammo: Infinite
How to Get: Volcano ritual or Fire Bandit class

How To Get Infernal Crossbow in 99 Nights in the Forest?

The Infernal Crossbow stands out as one of the most powerful additions from the Volcanic Biome Update Part 2. Unlike the regular crossbow that simply deals damage, this upgraded variant lights enemies on fire, dealing continuous burn damage that can turn the tide in difficult encounters. But what makes it truly special is its ability to instantly cook any meat dropped by animals – say goodbye to campfire cooking forever!

Primary Method: The Volcano Ritual

The most common way to obtain the Infernal Crossbow is through the mysterious volcano ritual located deep within the Volcanic Biome. Here’s my proven step-by-step strategy that’s worked consistently:

Step 1: Prepare for the Volcanic Biome Before venturing into the volcanic wasteland, you’ll need proper preparation. I recommend reaching at least Day 20-30 with solid mid-tier equipment. The Rifle is ideal, but a Revolver or standard Crossbow will work. Stock up on bandages and cooked food – you’ll need them.

Step 2: Locate the Volcano The volcano spawns randomly within the Volcanic Biome, typically near the center. Look for the massive mountain with lava flows and dark smoke. The entrance is marked by ancient stone platforms and glowing ritual circles.

Step 3: Collect Cultist Bodies This is where things get intense. You’ll need to defeat cultists and collect their bodies in your sack. I’ve found that storing 16-24 cultist bodies gives you the best chance at rare rewards. Pro tip: Use a Large Sack or the Infernal Sack for maximum efficiency.

Step 4: Perform the Sacrifice Ritual Walk to the edge of the stone platform overlooking the lava. Throw the cultist bodies into the volcano one by one. Every eighth sacrifice triggers a reward spawn in the ritual circle behind you. Based on extensive testing and community reports, the Infernal Crossbow has approximately a 15-20% drop chance from these reward spawns.

Step 5: Rinse and Repeat If you don’t get the Infernal Crossbow on your first attempt, don’t give up! Continue collecting cultist bodies and performing sacrifices. Most players report getting the weapon within 3-5 ritual completions.

Alternative Method: Fire Bandit Class

Want instant access to the Infernal Crossbow? The Fire Bandit class, introduced in the same update, starts with this powerful weapon at Level 1. Here’s what you need to know:

  • Cost: 450 Diamonds
  • Starting Gear: Infernal Crossbow + Wildfire Potion
  • Level 2 Perk: 25% chance for other tools to inflict burn damage
  • Level 3 Perk: 10% chance for Wildfire Potion drops from chests

While 450 Diamonds is a significant investment, starting with the Infernal Crossbow gives you an immediate advantage that can help you survive longer and earn those Diamonds back through gameplay.

What Makes the Infernal Crossbow Special?

After extensive testing, I can confidently say the Infernal Crossbow is worth every effort to obtain. Here’s why it’s become my go-to ranged weapon:

Damage Output and Fire Effect

The Infernal Crossbow deals base damage comparable to the standard crossbow (approximately 40-50 per shot), but the real power comes from its fire damage over time (DoT). Enemies hit by the crossbow catch fire for 3-5 seconds, taking additional tick damage that can finish off wounded targets even if they escape your line of sight.

Instant Food Cooking

This feature alone makes the Infernal Crossbow invaluable for long survival runs. Any animal killed with this weapon drops cooked meat instead of raw:

  • Rabbits drop Cooked Morsels (instant 30 hunger restoration)
  • Wolves drop Cooked Steaks (50 hunger restoration)
  • Bears and Mammoths drop multiple Cooked Steaks

This eliminates the need to build campfires for cooking, saving precious time and resources during dangerous nights.

Infinite Ammunition

Like its standard counterpart, the Infernal Crossbow never runs out of ammo. This makes it perfect for extended exploration and cultist base raids where ammunition conservation is crucial.

Dual Wielding Potential

Here’s a secret many players don’t realize: the Infernal Crossbow doesn’t replace the standard crossbow in your inventory. This means you can carry both and switch between them for different situations. I often use the regular crossbow for long-range sniping and switch to the Infernal for close-combat situations where the fire effect shines.

How to Redeem Maximum Value from Your Infernal Crossbow in June 2026?

Now that you’ve obtained this powerful weapon, let’s talk strategy. Through hundreds of hours of gameplay, I’ve developed these optimal usage techniques:

Best Class Combinations

The Infernal Crossbow synergizes exceptionally well with certain classes:

  1. Assassin Class: The invisibility allows you to line up perfect headshots while the fire damage prevents enemies from healing
  2. Big Game Hunter: Increased damage to large animals combined with auto-cooking creates an endless food supply
  3. Pyromaniac: Stack fire damage bonuses for devastating DoT effects

Check out the complete 99 Nights in the Forest Tier List for more class synergies.

Combat Strategies

Against Cultists:

  • Aim for groups to maximize fire spread
  • The fire effect reveals invisible Ninja Cultists
  • Two body shots typically kill standard cultists

Against Animals:

  • One-shot rabbits and wolves for instant cooked food
  • Kite larger animals while fire damage ticks
  • Use terrain to maintain distance while burning

Against Special Enemies:

  • The Ram takes reduced fire damage – combine with melee weapons
  • Cultist King requires hit-and-run tactics with fire damage
  • Fire effect doesn’t work on the Deer or Owl (they’re immune)

Advanced Techniques

The Volcano Farming Loop: Once you have the Infernal Crossbow, you can create an efficient volcano farming loop:

  1. Use the crossbow to quickly eliminate cultists
  2. Their bodies auto-cook into resources
  3. Sacrifice extras at the volcano for more rewards
  4. Potentially get duplicate Infernal Crossbows to trade

Base Defense Setup: Position yourself on elevated structures with clear sightlines. The Infernal Crossbow’s fire effect creates natural area denial, forcing enemies to retreat or burn.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Hunting for the Infernal Crossbow

Through community feedback and personal experience, here are the top mistakes that waste time and resources:

Going to the Volcano Too Early

I see new players rushing to the volcano on Day 5-10 and getting overwhelmed. The Volcanic Biome has increased enemy spawns and environmental hazards. Wait until you have:

  • Minimum Level 2 Campfire
  • At least 100 HP
  • Decent armor (Tactical Vest or better)
  • Backup weapons

Not Bringing Enough Storage

The volcano ritual requires multiple cultist bodies. Bringing a small sack limits your sacrifice potential. Always use:

  • Large Sack (minimum)
  • Infernal Sack (ideal for auto-cooking)
  • Empty inventory slots for rewards

Ignoring the Fire Bandit Class Option

Many players grind for hours at the volcano when they could save 450 Diamonds and start with the weapon immediately. If you play regularly, earning Diamonds through badge challenges might be faster than RNG farming.

Wasting Shots on Immune Enemies

The Deer and Owl are completely immune to fire damage. Don’t waste your infinite ammo on psychological comfort – switch to melee weapons for these encounters.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Infernal Crossbow

Is the Infernal Crossbow better than the regular Crossbow?

Yes, the Infernal Crossbow is objectively superior in most situations. It deals the same base damage plus fire DoT, has infinite ammo, and provides the cooking utility. The only advantage of the regular crossbow is slightly faster projectile speed.

Can you get multiple Infernal Crossbows?

Absolutely! The volcano ritual can drop multiple Infernal Crossbows. Some players farm extras to trade with teammates or keep as backups. However, you can only equip one at a time.

Does the Infernal Crossbow work underwater?

Interestingly, the fire effect still applies to enemies in water, though the visual effect is dampened. This makes it excellent for the new Frog enemies in pond areas.

What’s the secret upgrade the developers mentioned?

As of June 2026, no player has discovered the secret Infernal Crossbow upgrade mentioned by the developers. The community suspects it might involve:

  • A specific sacrifice combination at the volcano
  • Hidden interaction with the Cultist King
  • Undiscovered crafting recipe
  • Future update content

I’ll update this guide immediately when the secret is revealed!

How many volcano sacrifices until guaranteed drop?

There’s no guaranteed drop system, but community data suggests:

  • Average drop: 3-5 ritual cycles (24-40 cultists)
  • Lucky players: First ritual cycle
  • Unlucky players: 10+ ritual cycles

RNG can be cruel, but persistence pays off!

Can the Infernal Crossbow burn through walls?

The fire effect doesn’t penetrate walls, but burning enemies who move behind cover continue taking damage. This creates interesting tactical opportunities during base raids.

Is there a cooldown on the fire effect?

No cooldown exists – every shot applies the burn effect, even to already burning enemies. This refreshes the duration but doesn’t stack damage.

What happens if you die with the Infernal Crossbow?

Like all weapons, you’ll drop it on death. However, if you started as the Fire Bandit class, you’ll respawn with a new one. Otherwise, you’ll need to retrieve it from your death location or obtain another.

Pro Tips from Elite Survivors

After interviewing top players and speedrunners, here are insider tips you won’t find elsewhere:

The Double Tap Technique: Fire two shots rapidly at tough enemies. While the burn doesn’t stack, the second shot’s base damage combined with ongoing fire often provides faster kills than waiting for full burn duration.

Volcanic Biome Chest Priority: Skip gray chests in the Volcanic Biome – focus on spiked infernal chests. These have a small chance to contain Infernal Crossbows outside the volcano ritual.

Sacrifice Timing: Perform volcano sacrifices during full moon nights. While unconfirmed, many players report better drop rates during this lunar phase.

The Cooking Economy: Set up a “meat market” near spawn. New players desperately need food, and your auto-cooked supplies can earn valuable trades.

Latest Updates and Community Discoveries

The 99 Nights in the Forest community remains incredibly active in uncovering new strategies:

June 2026 Meta Shift: With the Infernal Crossbow’s introduction, the meta has shifted from melee-heavy builds to hybrid range/melee setups. Top teams now run at least two Fire Bandits for consistent fire damage output.

Upcoming Changes: Developers hinted at potential buffs to fire damage in the next update, possibly making the Infernal Crossbow even more valuable. They’ve also teased that the secret upgrade might relate to the mysterious new content coming soon.

Your Path to Infernal Crossbow Mastery

The Infernal Crossbow isn’t just another weapon – it’s a game-changer that transforms how you approach survival in 99 Nights in the Forest. Whether you grind the volcano ritual or invest in the Fire Bandit class, obtaining this weapon should be your priority after establishing basic survival infrastructure.

Remember, the Volcanic Biome won’t be around forever. The developers rotate biomes regularly, so take advantage of the current availability to secure your Infernal Crossbow. With its combination of high damage, fire effects, infinite ammo, and cooking utility, this weapon will serve you well through all 99 nights and beyond.

Start your journey today: gather your courage, prepare your supplies, and venture into the volcanic wastes. The Infernal Crossbow awaits those brave enough to claim it. Will you master the flames and become a legendary survivor, or will you join the countless souls lost to the forest’s darkness?

Save this guide and reference it during your volcano runs – every tip and strategy here comes from real gameplay experience and community wisdom. The path to the Infernal Crossbow is dangerous, but with this knowledge, you’re ready to face the flames.

Happy hunting, survivors! May your aim be true and your enemies well-cooked.