The Vegetarian Badge requires you to complete the game without eating meat

The Vegetarian Badge in 99 Nights is a challenge run where you finish the entire campaign while eating only plant-based food items. Unlike some badges that track a specific stat, this one requires you to actively avoid meat throughout your playthrough — meaning no chicken, beef, fish, or any animal products, even when they restore more health than vegetables do.

The badge is straightforward in concept but demands attention during combat and exploration. You cannot pick up meat drops from defeated enemies, and you cannot purchase meat from vendors. The game will still let you do these things, but accepting meat will void your badge progress when ready.

Key Takeaways

  • You must refuse all meat items for the entire campaign, including drops from enemies and shop purchases, or the badge resets.
  • Vegetables and plant-based foods are available throughout the game but typically restore less health than meat equivalents.
  • The best strategy is to stock vegetables before difficult boss fights and use healing spells or potions to supplement lower food recovery.
  • You can restart individual chapters if you accidentally pick up meat, rather than restarting the whole game.

Where to find vegetarian food sources

Vegetables spawn in the same locations as meat but are less common. You will find them in kitchen areas, market stalls, and gardens scattered across each level. Carrots, potatoes, and leafy greens appear in farmhouse locations and village areas. Fruits like apples and berries grow in outdoor zones and can be picked from trees or bushes.

The most reliable source is the vendor in each hub area. Every chapter has at least one shop that stocks vegetables year-round. Prices are identical to meat items, so cost is not a factor — only availability. Stock up before entering boss arenas, since you cannot leave to resupply once a fight begins.

Managing health without meat bonuses

Meat typically restores 40 to 60 health points per item, while vegetables restore 20 to 35. This gap means you cannot rely on food alone during tough encounters. Instead, combine vegetable healing with spell-based recovery and defensive items.

Prioritize learning healing spells early. The Restore spell costs mana but heals 50 points and does not require food. Mana potions are cheaper than food and stack in your inventory without taking up weapon slots. Use vegetables for steady recovery between fights, and save spells for emergencies during boss battles. This approach actually makes you a more efficient player than relying on meat drops.

Chapters where vegetarian runs get difficult

Chapter 4 and Chapter 7 are the hardest points for a vegetarian run. Chapter 4 introduces enemies that drop only meat, with no vegetable alternatives in the area. You must enter this chapter with a full inventory of pre-stocked vegetables and rely heavily on healing spells.

Chapter 7's final boss regenerates health and deals high damage, making the health gap between vegetables and meat noticeable. The strategy here is to use defensive spells that reduce incoming damage rather than trying to out-heal the boss. Equip armor that boosts magic defense, and focus on dealing damage quickly rather than sustaining long fights.

Restarting chapters without losing progress

If you accidentally pick up meat, the badge does not fail the entire game — only that chapter. You can restart from the chapter select menu and keep all badges and progress from previous chapters. This is a major advantage: you can experiment with difficult sections without committing to a full restart.

The chapter restart also lets you retry boss fights with different strategies. If your vegetable stockpile runs out, exit to the menu, restart the chapter, and enter with a different loadout. This is not cheating — the game explicitly allows chapter restarts as a feature.

Inventory management and food slots

You have 12 inventory slots total. Food takes up one slot per item, regardless of type. A full vegetarian run means dedicating 6 to 8 slots to vegetables before entering a chapter, leaving only 4 to 6 slots for weapons and gear. Plan your loadout carefully: drop low-damage weapons and keep only your best gear.

Mana potions do not count as food, so they do not compete for food slots. Carry 3 to 4 mana potions instead of extra vegetables. This gives you healing flexibility without wasting inventory space. Before each chapter, check what enemies drop in that area — if they drop only meat, bring more vegetables. If mixed drops are available, bring fewer vegetables and more potions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the badge fail if I pick up meat by accident?

The badge fails for that chapter only, not the entire game. You can restart the chapter from the menu and keep all progress from previous chapters. This means you can retry without losing your whole run.

Can I use healing spells instead of food?

Yes, and this is actually the best strategy. Healing spells restore more health than vegetables and do not take inventory slots. Combine vegetables for steady recovery and spells for emergency healing during boss fights.

What if a vendor does not have vegetables in stock?

Every vendor stocks vegetables, but they may run out if you buy too many. Vendors restock when you move to a new area or complete a major objective. If you run out, use healing spells and defensive items until the next vendor restocks.

Do I need to avoid all animal products, like milk or eggs?

No. The badge only restricts meat — the flesh of animals. Dairy, eggs, and honey are allowed. This opens up more food options than a strict vegan run would.

Is the Vegetarian Badge worth the difficulty?

It unlocks a cosmetic outfit and counts toward the full badge collection. If you enjoy challenge runs, it is worth attempting. If you are playing casually, the standard run is less stressful.