Trim Kits in 99 Nights in the Forest are craftable upgrades that enhance your axe and armor with golden visual enhancements and improved stats. The Axe Trim Kit requires 8 Meteor Shards and 3 Gold Shards, while the Armor Trim Kit needs 8 Meteor Shards and 5 Gold Shards—both crafted at the Meteor Anvil after the Meteor Shower event triggers around Day 5.
| Trim Kit Type | Required Materials | Where to Craft | Main Benefit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Axe Trim Kit | 8 Meteor Shards + 3 Gold Shards | Meteor Anvil | Increased damage + golden visual trim |
| Armor Trim Kit | 8 Meteor Shards + 5 Gold Shards | Meteor Anvil | Enhanced defense + golden visual trim |
The Meteor Shower Update transformed 99 Nights in the Forest's endgame progression, introducing one of the most sought-after crafting mechanics: Trim Kits. These powerful upgrades not only make your gear look absolutely stunning with golden accents, but they significantly boost your survival chances during those brutal late-game nights. Whether you're struggling to survive past Day 20 or you're a veteran player looking to optimize your loadout, mastering Trim Kit crafting is essential for dominating the forest.
Contents
Trim Kits are specialized upgrade items introduced during the game-changing Meteor Shower Update on September 27, 2025. Unlike standard craftable items that you make from scratch, Trim Kits enhance your existing equipment—transforming your regular axes and armor into premium, gold-trimmed powerhouses.
Here's what makes Trim Kits special:
Visual Transformation: Your equipment gets stunning golden accents that immediately distinguish veteran survivors from beginners. These golden trims aren't just cosmetic bragging rights—they signal to your team that you've conquered the Meteor Shower event and mastered advanced crafting.
Stat Improvements: Beyond aesthetics, Trim Kits provide tangible gameplay benefits. The Axe Trim Kit increases your weapon's damage output, making resource gathering faster and enemy encounters less dangerous. The Armor Trim Kit boosts your defensive capabilities, crucial for surviving encounters with Meteor Crabs, Cultists, and the relentless Deer monster.
Permanent Upgrades: Once applied, Trim Kits permanently modify your equipment for the duration of that run. There's no durability loss or time limit—your enhanced gear stays powerful until you swap it for something better.
| Item | Meteor Shards | Gold Shards | Total Materials | Crafting Location | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Axe Trim Kit | 8 | 3 | 11 shards total | Meteor Anvil | Increased axe damage + golden visual effect |
| Armor Trim Kit | 8 | 5 | 13 shards total | Meteor Anvil | Enhanced armor defense + golden visual effect |
Both recipes share Meteor Shards as their primary ingredient, but the Armor Trim Kit demands slightly more Gold Shards—reflecting its importance in survival situations. Plan your resource gathering accordingly based on which upgrade matters most for your current playthrough.
Before you can craft any Trim Kits, you need access to the Meteor Anvil—the upgraded version of the standard Tool Workshop anvil. This special crafting station only becomes available after triggering the Meteor Shower event, making it one of the game's most exclusive features.
The Meteor Shower event can occur anytime from Day 5 onward in your run. Based on community data from the official 99 Nights in the Forest Discord server, most players experience their first Meteor Shower between Days 5-7, though some have reported it occurring as late as Day 10.
Signs the event is starting:
After the Meteor Shower concludes, open your map and look for a red anvil icon—distinctly different from the standard white anvil icon marking the original Tool Workshop. This transformed building has a lava-like appearance with glowing orange elements, making it visually striking compared to the stone-brick original.
The Meteor Anvil typically spawns in the same location where you found the original Tool Workshop, but with a completely revamped aesthetic. The building retains its three-floor structure with climbable vines, but now features molten rock elements and an otherworldly glow.
Unlike the Cultists guarding the original anvil, the Meteor Anvil is protected by three Meteor Crabs—aggressive enemies introduced in the Meteor Shower Update. These creatures hit hard and have more health than standard Cultists, so come prepared.
Combat Tips for Meteor Crabs:
Just like the original anvil, the Meteor Anvil comes in three pieces scattered across the building's floors:
Drag each piece to the highlighted blueprint area on the first floor. Once all three sections are assembled, the Meteor Anvil activates, glowing with fiery energy and unlocking its exclusive crafting recipes.
Both crafting materials required for Trim Kits come from the same source: meteor crash sites. These temporary resource nodes appear across the map after every Meteor Shower event, marked by distinctive pink and red crystalline formations jutting from impact craters.
Crash sites spawn randomly throughout the forest, with higher concentrations in deeper, more dangerous areas. Check your map frequently—while crash sites don't show specific markers, you'll notice clusters of pink crystals that stand out against the normal forest terrain.
Best areas to check:
Based on testing shared on the 99 Nights in the Forest subreddit community, most players find 3-5 major crash sites per Meteor Shower event, with smaller fragment clusters scattered between them.
Mining meteor crash site crystals works exactly like chopping trees—equip any axe and swing away at the pink/red crystalline formations. Each crystal cluster drops both Meteor Shards and Gold Shards, though the drop rates differ significantly.
Drop Rate Information:
Pro tip: The quality of your axe doesn't affect drop rates, but better axes mine faster, allowing you to gather materials more efficiently before nightfall. A Good Axe or better is recommended for serious material farming.
To craft both Trim Kits (one for your axe, one for your armor), you need:
Realistically, expect to mine 20-30 crystal clusters to gather enough materials for both kits. This typically requires visiting 2-3 major crash sites during a single event. Budget at least one full day cycle for material gathering—don't rush it at night when the Deer and other threats become active.
Since meteor materials are relatively rare and crash sites don't respawn, strategic storage is crucial:
Immediate crafting approach: If you already have decent gear, prioritize the Armor Trim Kit first. Enhanced defense helps you survive long enough to farm more materials during future Meteor Shower events.
Bank for later: If you're still early in your run (Days 5-15), consider storing meteor materials in your sack or base storage. You might find better axes and armor worth upgrading later, making your Trim Kits more impactful.
Team coordination: Playing multiplayer? Divide material gathering roles—some players mine while others defend against Meteor Crabs or night threats. Share materials based on who needs upgrades most urgently.
Step 1: Gather Required Materials
Before heading to the Meteor Anvil, ensure you have:
Step 2: Travel to the Meteor Anvil
Navigate to the red anvil icon on your map. Travel during daylight if possible—the route may pass through dangerous territory with Cultists, wolves, or bears. Bring healing items and weapons for self-defense.
Step 3: Interact with the Anvil
Walk up to the assembled Meteor Anvil and press E to open the crafting interface. You'll see several new recipes introduced in the Meteor Shower Update:
Step 4: Select Your Recipe
Click on either the Axe Trim Kit or Armor Trim Kit recipe. The interface will show required materials and whether you have enough. If materials are available, the "Craft" button becomes active.
Important: Like the original Tool Workshop anvil, the Meteor Anvil only allows one item to craft at a time. Once you start crafting, you cannot select another recipe until the current item completes. However, unlike base crafting which takes time, Trim Kits craft instantly once you confirm.
Step 5: Submit Materials
Click "Craft" and your materials will be consumed, instantly creating the Trim Kit item in your inventory. The kit appears as a golden-glowing consumable item you can now apply to your equipment.
Here's where many new players get confused—Trim Kits don't automatically upgrade your gear. You need to manually apply them:
For Axe Trim Kit:
For Armor Trim Kit:
Critical Warning: Once you apply a Trim Kit, you cannot remove it or transfer it to different equipment. Choose wisely—don't waste a Trim Kit on starter gear you'll replace soon. Wait until you have endgame equipment like a Chainsaw, Tactical Shotgun, or Thorn Body armor before applying these precious upgrades.
Limited meteor materials force you to make strategic decisions. Here's my recommendation based on hundreds of hours surviving the forest:
Craft first if:
Why defense matters more: Dead players can't farm materials, rescue children, or defend the campfire. Enhanced armor keeps you alive during crucial moments—Cultist raids, boss encounters, and accidental Deer confrontations. The defensive boost from an Armor Trim Kit often means surviving with 1-2 HP instead of dying completely.
Craft first if:
Why offense has value: Faster resource gathering means more efficient runs. A gold-trimmed axe chops trees faster, mines meteor crystals quicker, and deals more damage to hostile creatures. However, this advantage is meaningless if you die frequently, making it a secondary priority for most players.
Here's my tested approach for maximum efficiency:
Days 5-15: Focus entirely on the Armor Trim Kit. Survival is everything during this crucial mid-game period when Cultist raids intensify and you're exploring dangerous areas for missing children.
Days 16-30: If you survived with decent armor and encountered another Meteor Shower, craft the Axe Trim Kit to optimize late-game resource gathering and combat efficiency.
Days 31+: At this point, you likely have multiple opportunities for meteor farming. Craft both kits if possible, or focus on the Obsidiron Chest Blueprint for consistent legendary loot drops.
The Meteor Shower isn't a one-time event—it can repeat multiple times during extended runs. According to data compiled on the 99 Nights in the Forest Wiki, players report Meteor Showers occurring every 15-25 days after the initial event.
Pro strategies:
Certain classes benefit more from Trim Kits:
Blacksmith Class: Craft discount doesn't apply to Meteor Anvil recipes (they're fixed costs), but faster material processing helps gather Meteor Shards more efficiently.
Brawler Class: The Armor Trim Kit synergizes perfectly with this melee-focused class. Enhanced defense + starting armor + close-quarters combat = survival beast.
Assassin Class: Axe Trim Kit complements this class's melee damage bonuses. Gold-trimmed weapons + assassin's critical hit chance = devastating DPS.
Support Class: Prioritize Armor Trim Kit to stay alive while healing teammates. Dead healers can't support anyone.
Mistake #1: Wasting kits on starter equipment
Don't apply Trim Kits to basic axes or common armor. Wait until you have at least Good Axe quality or Thorn Body armor before investing these rare materials.
Mistake #2: Solo farming at night
Meteor crash sites attract aggressive Meteor Crabs. Never farm materials alone at night—the combination of Crabs + Deer + Cultists is lethal. Stick to daytime gathering with teammate backup.
Mistake #3: Ignoring Gold Shard rarity
Gold Shards drop less frequently than Meteor Shards. Many players mine just enough crystals for Meteor Shards, then realize they're 2-3 Gold Shards short. Always gather extra to avoid return trips.
Mistake #4: Forgetting equipment swaps
If you trim a basic axe, then find a Chainsaw 10 days later, your trim is "wasted" on outdated equipment. Plan ahead—wait for top-tier finds before applying permanent upgrades.
Mistake #5: Not coordinating with teammates
In multiplayer, communicate before anyone crafts Trim Kits. Maybe your teammate has better gear worth upgrading, or multiple players could benefit from pooling materials for the Obsidiron Chest instead.
While Trim Kits are powerful, don't forget other Meteor Anvil recipes competing for the same materials:
Obsidiron Chest Blueprint (10 Meteor Shards + 10 Gold Shards + 10 Obsidiron Ingots): Craftable chest that spawns legendary loot when placed. Requires significant material investment but provides infinitely repeatable high-tier rewards. For detailed crafting instructions, check out this guide on how to get Obsidiron Ingots in 99 Nights in the Forest.
Infernal Helmet (varies): Upgraded version of Mammoth Helmet with better stats. Consider this if you lack head protection entirely.
Smart players prepare before Day 5 to maximize Meteor Shower efficiency:
Inventory Management:
Base Setup:
Team Coordination:
Efficient Farming Route:
Combat Approach:
When encountering Meteor Crabs at crash sites:
After the Meteor Shower ends:
✓ Count your materials - Inventory how many shards you collected
✓ Plan your crafts - Decide priority (Armor Kit vs Axe Kit vs Chest Blueprint)
✓ Upgrade your gear first - Find better equipment before applying Trim Kits
✓ Store excess materials - Save extras for future Meteor Showers
✓ Document crash sites - Remember productive locations for next event
Understanding exactly what you're getting visually helps justify the material investment:
Before Application:
After Application:
Affected Axes:
Before Application:
After Application:
Affected Armor Types:
The golden trim isn't just cosmetic ego—it communicates to other players that you've mastered endgame content and poses a psychological advantage in PVP-enabled servers or competitive scenarios.
No. Trim Kits permanently modify your equipment for that playthrough. Once applied, you cannot transfer the upgrade to different gear or undo the modification. This is why waiting for top-tier equipment is crucial.
The Axe Trim Kit specifically works on axe-type tools: Basic Axe, Good Axe, and Chainsaw. It does not work on other weapons like swords, spears, bows, or guns. The Armor Trim Kit only works on body armor slots, not helmets, boots, or other wearables.
The exact stat increases aren't disclosed in-game, but community testing suggests:
These numbers vary slightly based on your base equipment quality, but represent meaningful upgrades worth the material investment.
Technically no—the earliest possible Meteor Shower is Day 5. However, some players report seeing visual effects (shooting stars, meteor streaks) as early as Day 3, which are likely teaser elements building anticipation for the actual event.
Like all inventory items, Meteor Shards and Gold Shards drop where you die. Teammates can recover them, or you can retrieve them if you respawn and return to your death location before despawning (approximately 2-3 minutes). Always deposit valuable materials at your base storage to prevent permanent loss.
The Meteor Shower is a random event that occurs automatically after Day 5. You cannot manually trigger it through any actions, items, or rituals. It's purely RNG-based timing, though most players experience it between Days 5-7 of their run.
No. Trim Kits are exclusive recipes only available at the Meteor Anvil. You must complete the entire Meteor Shower event sequence (trigger event, find Meteor Anvil, defeat Meteor Crabs, assemble anvil) before accessing these recipes.
There's no hard cap. Players report experiencing Meteor Showers every 15-25 days during extended runs, meaning dedicated players attempting 99+ day completions might see 4-6 events total. Each event respawns new crash sites with fresh materials.
Per-playthrough only. Trim Kits and all Meteor Shower materials reset when you start a new run. They're not permanent account unlocks like badges or class purchases. Every new game requires re-farming materials.
This depends on your playstyle:
For most players, I recommend getting at least one Trim Kit (preferably Armor) first, then saving for the chest in subsequent Meteor Showers.
Stay connected with the 99 Nights in the Forest community for real-time strategies, update notifications, and teammate coordination:
Trim Kits represent the pinnacle of 99 Nights in the Forest's crafting progression—combining resource management, event participation, combat skill, and strategic planning into one rewarding system. The golden glow of trimmed equipment isn't just aesthetic satisfaction; it's a badge of honor proving you've conquered one of the game's most challenging endgame mechanics.
The key to Trim Kit success is patience and planning. Don't rush to craft the moment you have enough materials. Wait for top-tier equipment drops, coordinate with your team, and consider whether the Obsidiron Chest might serve your long-term goals better. Remember, meteor materials are rare but renewable—future Meteor Showers will provide additional farming opportunities if you make mistakes early.
Whether you're trimming your armor to survive brutal Cultist raids or enhancing your axe to become your team's resource gathering MVP, these upgrades transform good players into legendary survivors. The forest is dangerous, the nights are long, and the creatures are relentless—but with gold-trimmed gear and smart strategy, you're now equipped to not just survive, but dominate.
Bookmark this guide for quick reference during your next Meteor Shower event! The recipes and strategies here are current as of October 2025, but I'll keep updating as new mechanics and materials are added to the game.
Good luck out there, survivor. May your next Meteor Shower be bountiful, your Trim Kits perfectly applied, and your campfire never extinguish. The 99-day completion badge awaits those brave enough to master every system the forest throws at them!