| Cost | 70 Diamonds |
| Starter Tools | 1 Old Taming flute |
| Level 1 Perks | + Your taming whistle levels faster+ You can have 3 tamed animals regardless of the flute level |
| Level 2 Perks | + Feeding tamed animals will restore more of their health |
| Level 3 Perks | + You require 1 less step to tame an animal |
| Level 2 Requirements | Tame animals: 0/30 |
| Level 3 Requirements | Tame animals: 0/60 |
A skilled animal handler with deep knowledge of the forest’s wildlife, the Zookeeper excels at taming, managing, and commanding pets during combat. Focused entirely on summoning and animal synergy, this class provides one of the smoothest and fastest taming experiences in the entire game.
The Zookeeper is a Taming / Summoner class in 99 Nights in the Forest, designed for players who enjoy pet-based combat and wildlife control. With natural boosts to Taming Flute experience and the ability to tame up to three pets, the Zookeeper allows players to build a reliable animal squad early on.
At higher levels, the class becomes even more powerful, giving pets stronger healing from food and allowing players to skip one taming step, drastically speeding up taming for high-tier animals like Bears, Polar Bears, and Mammoths.
The Zookeeper is ideal for solo players who want extra protection, as well as teams that benefit from distraction and enemy crowd control.
Acquisition & Cost
The Zookeeper can be purchased from the main menu for 70 Diamonds.
Attribute Table
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost | 70 Diamonds |
| Type | Taming / Summoner |
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Playstyle | Pet-focused combat & taming efficiency |
This class requires a bit of strategy but rewards players with extremely powerful animal companions.
Perks and Leveling Progression
The Zookeeper levels up exclusively by taming animals, making it perfect for players who want to consistently build and manage pets throughout the run.
Starter & Level 1 Perks (Initial Unlock)
Starter Tool: Old Taming Flute
The class begins with an Old Taming Flute, allowing immediate access to taming mechanics.
Level 1 Perks
- Your taming whistle levels up faster, making it easier to reach Good and Strong Taming Flutes.
- You can tame up to 3 animals, even with a low-level flute.
These perks alone make the Zookeeper extremely smooth to use from the start, letting players quickly assemble a reliable animal squad.
Level 2 Requirements
| Requirement | Needed |
|---|---|
| Tame Animals | 30 |
Level 2 Perks
Perk: Enhanced Healing for Pets
At Level 2:
- Food restores significantly more health when fed to tamed animals.
This greatly improves pet survivability, especially during extended combat encounters and boss fights.
Level 3 Requirements (Max Level)
| Requirement | Needed |
|---|---|
| Tame Animals | 60 |
Level 3 Perks
Perk: Skip 1 Taming Step
At max level, the Zookeeper gains its strongest perk:
- Every taming attempt automatically skips one stage, dramatically reducing effort and time.
This perk is especially valuable when taming high-tier animals that normally require rare foods or long taming cycles.
Strategic Analysis & Gameplay
The Zookeeper excels in:
- Taming loops
- Summoner-style combat
- High safety playthroughs
- Crowd control with pet aggression
- Supporting teams by distracting enemies
Your pets will tank, chase, and finish enemies for you, making the class extremely safe and effective.
However, the class requires understanding of taming behavior and positioning, since pets only attack enemies marked by player aggression.
Tips & Tricks
- Zookeeper’s perks make it the fastest taming class in the game — rush animals early.
- Taming two Wolves yields a Good Flute; taming two Alpha Wolves gives a Strong Flute.
- The Upgrade Station’s pond almost always gives Salmon, perfect for Alpha Wolf taming.
- Use high-ammo weapons (Snowball, Revolver, Crossbow, Kunai) to mark enemies safely.
- Stand between enemies and your pets to redirect agro and ensure pets land hits.
- Pets can block bullets — be mindful of positioning.
- Whistle does not teleport pets in Cultist Stronghold floor 2 — Zookeeper is weak there.
- For fast leveling: join a run → tame wild Bunnies using natural Carrots → reset.
- Strong animals like Bears and Mammoths become much easier to tame with the Level 3 perk.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Much smoother taming process
- Faster flute leveling
- Three animals from the start
- Pets handle most combat for you
- Excellent for defensive or safe playstyles
- Great against surprise ambushes
Cons
- Somewhat difficult for beginners to master
- Pets target only one enemy at a time
- Switching targets can break pet focus
- Whistle mechanics can be awkward
- No non-taming abilities
- Outclassed in raw power by Beastmaster
Trivia
- Added in the Taming Update.
- Received buffs in the 2x Gem Weekend + Classes MK III Update, improving flute leveling and taming mechanics.