Sons Of The Forest: Quick Tips & Tricks Survival Guide

Chapter 1: The First 24 Hours – Your Guide to Surviving Sons Of The Forest

Your first day on the island is a frantic race against the setting sun. The actions you take in these initial hours will set the stage for your entire journey. Success here means a stable foothold; failure means becoming another ghost in the trees. This chapter will guide you through the critical first steps to ensure you see the dawn.

Crash Site Triage: Your First Actions

1. Loot Everything at the Crash Site. Before you take a single step into the oppressive woods, your first priority is to scavenge. The area around your downed helicopter is littered with suitcases and large plastic crates. Open every single one. These containers are a treasure trove of essential starting supplies: food, energy drinks, life-saving medicine, cloth, and the universally useful duct tape. This initial burst of resources is critical for your survival in Sons Of The Forest.
2. Open Your Emergency Pack. As you come to, you will automatically pick up an emergency pack. Press the inventory key (‘I’ on PC) to open your crafting mat, hover over the pack, and unpack your foundational toolkit. Inside, you will find your GPS tracker (your map), a lighter (your first source of light and fire), and a tactical axe. These three items are your lifeline.
3. Understand Your Spawn Location. The island in Sons Of The Forest is vast, and you can crash-land in one of several locations: a dense forest, high on a snowy mountain, or on a remote beach. Each presents unique challenges and advantages. Many survivors find the forest spawn to be the most forgiving for a first playthrough, as it places you centrally, near abundant fresh water, wildlife, and several key points of interest.
4. Restart for a Better Spawn. Do not feel locked into your first landing. If you find yourself in a harsh, resource-scarce location like the snowy mountain and feel overwhelmed, simply exit to the main menu and start a new game. The game will randomly select a new spawn point, potentially giving you a much more manageable start.

Mastering Your Basic Needs

5. Master Your HUD. Your immediate survival is dictated by the meters on the bottom right of your screen. Keep a close eye on your health (red bar), stamina (blue bar), and the icons for hunger and thirst. Letting any of these deplete will lead to a swift end.
6. Manage Your Vitality. The blue bar represents your stamina, but its maximum level is determined by your overall vitality. If you are cold, wet, hungry, or exhausted, your vitality will drop, and a portion of your stamina bar will be blocked off. To perform at your peak, you must stay warm, dry, well-fed, and rested.
7. Drink Fresh Water Safely. Thirst is a constant threat. To drink, ensure your hands are empty, then look down at a freshwater source like a river or stream and interact. Remember, you cannot drink saltwater from the ocean.
8. Find Food Immediately. Your initial hunger can be staved off with the snacks found at the crash site. After that, you will need to find a sustainable food source. Berries are plentiful, but be cautious of poisonous varieties. Hunting small animals like rabbits and squirrels for meat is a more reliable option. Always cook meat over a fire to maximize its benefits and avoid illness. If you find canned food, you will need a can opener to access it.

Your First Night: Shelter and Saving

9. Build a Shelter to Save. In the unforgiving world of Sons Of The Forest, progress is only saved when you sleep or rest in a shelter. This makes constructing a place to save your game the single most important task of your first day. Without a shelter, a single mistake could erase hours of hard work.
10. Use Tarps for Quick Saves. The fastest and most resource-efficient shelter is a simple Tarp Tent. You can often find a tarp in a crate at the crash site. To build the tent, place the tarp on a flat piece of ground. Then, equip a stick and look at the tarp; a ghostly outline will appear, allowing you to prop it up and create a save point.
11. Save Frequently. Death can come quickly and unexpectedly. Get into the habit of building shelters and saving your game often, especially after making significant progress, gathering valuable resources, or before attempting something risky like exploring a new area.
12. Exploit the “Grace Period”. The island’s cannibalistic inhabitants are terrifying, but they are not immediately hostile. During your first day or two, you will notice them observing you from a distance, testing your defenses, but rarely launching an all-out attack. This is a deliberate game mechanic—a “grace period” designed to give you a window to prepare. Do not mistake their caution for cowardice. Avoid attacking them on sight. Use this precious, peaceful time to gather resources, craft your first tools and armor, and build a basic, defensible shelter. Your restraint will be rewarded with more time to prepare before the true onslaught begins around day four.

Chapter 2: You Are Not Alone – A Companion Guide for Sons Of The Forest

Surviving the island solo is a monumental task. Thankfully, you do not have to. Two unique AI companions can join your struggle, each offering powerful and distinct advantages. Learning to work with Kelvin and Virginia is not just helpful; it is a force multiplier that can transform your entire experience in Sons Of The Forest.

Kelvin, The Loyal Assistant

13. Recruit Kelvin Immediately. Your first companion is just a few feet away from the crash site. You will find Kelvin, a fellow soldier, writhing on the ground. Interact with him to help him to his feet. The crash has left him deaf and mute, but he is ready and willing to help.
14. Use Kelvin for Resource Gathering. You communicate with Kelvin using your notepad. Approach him and interact to bring up a list of commands. His greatest strength is his ability to automate resource collection. You can order him to gather sticks, rocks, logs, and even fish, freeing you up to explore, build, or fortify.
15. Let Kelvin Build for You. Kelvin can also assist with construction. Command him to build a basic fire or shelter. More importantly, if you place a blueprint for a larger structure, you can order him to “Finish Structure,” and he will automatically gather the necessary resources and add them to the blueprint.
16. Use Kelvin to Clear Land. One of his most powerful commands is “Clear Area.” You can instruct him to clear all trees and foliage in a 5, 10, or 20-meter radius, which is incredibly useful for creating a large, flat space for your main base.
17. Command Kelvin to Maintain Your Base. Once your base is established, you can give Kelvin the “Maintain Base” command. He will then patrol the area and automatically repair any structures that have been damaged by enemy attacks.
18. Keep Kelvin Safe. Kelvin is a pacifist. He cannot wield weapons and will flee from combat. While he is adept at dodging, he can be downed by enemies. If he is downed too many times without being revived, he will die permanently. To protect him, you can order him to “Stay Hidden” during an attack or, more wisely, leave him at your base when you venture into dangerous territory. He will not follow you into caves.
19. Kelvin is Self-Sufficient. You do not need to worry about Kelvin’s survival needs. He will automatically find food and water for himself and rest when he is tired. Your only job is to protect him from the island’s more aggressive inhabitants.

Virginia, The Elusive Ally

20. Befriend Virginia Patiently. Sometime during your first few days, you will encounter Virginia, a mysterious woman with three arms and three legs. She is skittish and will run if you approach her too aggressively. The key to befriending her is patience.
21. Holster Your Weapons Around Her. When you see Virginia, immediately holster your weapon by pressing the ‘G’ key. This signals that you are not a threat. Do not chase her. Simply go about your business, and let her observe you from a distance.
22. Build Trust by Accepting Her Gifts. As she grows more comfortable, Virginia will begin to approach you, sometimes performing a dance. Eventually, she will start bringing you gifts, such as berries, seeds, or even small animals. Always accept her offerings to build her trust.
23. Equip Virginia with Weapons. Once her trust is earned, you can interact with her directly. This allows you to give her items. Most importantly, you can equip her with a pistol and a shotgun. Thanks to her extra arms, she can wield both firearms simultaneously.
24. Virginia Has Infinite Ammo. Once armed, Virginia becomes a walking turret. She has an unlimited supply of ammunition for any weapon you give her, making her an incredibly powerful asset for defending your base.
25. Use Virginia for Base Defense. Virginia is an exceptional combatant and will automatically engage any cannibals or mutants that threaten you or your base. Her presence can single-handedly turn the tide of a major raid.
26. Let Virginia Guide You. Pay attention to Virginia’s gestures. She will often point out the direction of nearby enemies, acting as an early warning system. Occasionally, she will even beckon you to follow her, leading you to points of interest or hidden resources on the island.
27. Give Virginia a GPS Tracker. You will find additional GPS locators on the island. Give one to Virginia. This will place a permanent marker for her on your map, allowing you to know her location at all times.

The Companion Synergy Loop

28. Master the Companion Synergy Loop. Kelvin and Virginia are not just individual helpers; their abilities are designed to work in perfect harmony, creating a powerful cycle of development and defense. Kelvin excels at rapidly building structures and gathering the resources needed for a base. This very act of construction—building campfires, shelters, and gardens—is what attracts the curious Virginia to your location. As your building activities increase, so does the attention from hostile cannibals. This is where the loop closes. Virginia, now armed and anchored to the base that Kelvin built, becomes its ultimate defender. Her formidable combat skills protect your settlement from the increased threats that construction attracts, creating a secure environment where you can safely direct Kelvin to expand and fortify even further. This is the master strategy for companions in Sons Of The Forest: use Kelvin’s labor to attract and arm Virginia, then leverage Virginia’s firepower to protect Kelvin’s ongoing work.

Chapter 3: Mastering the Craft in Sons Of The Forest

Raw survival is one thing; thriving is another. To truly conquer the island, you must become a master craftsman, turning the forest’s simple resources into the tools, weapons, and armor of a seasoned survivor. The crafting system in Sons Of The Forest is intuitive yet deep, rewarding experimentation and diligent resource collection.

Your Workshop: The Crafting Mat and 3D Printer

29. Use the Crafting Mat Effectively. Your inventory, opened with the ‘I’ key, doubles as your crafting mat. To create an item, right-click on the necessary components in your inventory to place them on the mat. When you have a valid combination of items, the gear icon in the center will light up, allowing you to combine them.
30. Spot New Recipes with the Red Exclamation Mark. As you discover new resources, you will unlock new crafting recipes. When you have the necessary ingredients for a newly unlocked recipe, a red exclamation mark will appear over the gear icon on your crafting mat. Hovering over it will show you exactly what you can create.
31. Experiment with Crafting Easily. The system is designed to make experimentation painless. When you place an item on the crafting mat, any other items in your inventory that cannot be combined with it will be grayed out. This allows you to quickly see potential combinations without guesswork.
32. Batch-Craft Items to Save Time. For items you need in large quantities, like arrows, you can craft them in batches. Place a full stack of all the required materials onto the crafting mat (e.g., multiple sticks, small rocks, and feathers). Then, you can simply click the gear icon repeatedly to craft one after another until you run out of materials or your inventory is full.
33. Unlock Recipes by Collecting New Items. The primary way to learn new crafting recipes is simply by picking up a new type of resource for the first time. This system encourages you to be a packrat. Collect everything you see, from plants and rocks to skulls and circuit boards. You should also eat every type of berry and plant at least once to learn its properties.
34. Find and Use the 3D Printer. Scattered across the island in hidden bunkers are high-tech 3D Printers. These advanced crafting stations, often marked by green pulsing icons on your GPS, allow you to create items that are impossible to make by hand. They require Printer Resin, which can be found in supply crates around the island.
35. Print a Water Flask Early. One of the most important items you can create with the 3D printer is the Water Flask. This allows you to carry a supply of fresh water with you, which is invaluable during long expeditions away from rivers and streams.
36. Print a Sled for Mobility. The 3D printer can also produce a sled. This item is not just for fun; it provides a rapid way to travel downhill, especially in the snowy mountains. It can also be used to transport logs more efficiently than carrying them by hand.

Table: Essential Early-Game Crafting Recipes

For a new survivor, the sheer number of potential items can be daunting. Focus your initial resource-gathering efforts on these critical recipes. They provide the foundational gear you need for defense, offense, healing, and exploration in Sons Of The Forest.

Item	Ingredients	Primary Use
Torch	1x Stick, 1x Cloth	Essential light source for caves and night.
Crafted Spear	2x Sticks, 1x Duct Tape, Utility Knife	Melee weapon with good reach, can be thrown.
Crafted Bow	2x Sticks, 1x Rope, 1x Duct Tape	Your first ranged weapon.
Stone Arrows	2x Sticks, 4x Small Rocks, 2x Feathers	Ammunition for the Crafted Bow.
Health Mix	1x Aloe Vera, 1x Yarrow	Basic healing item to conserve Meds.
Bone Armor	4x Bones, 1x Rope, 1x Duct Tape	Decent early-game protection.
Molotov	1x Vodka Bottle, 1x Cloth	Area-of-effect fire weapon, stuns some enemies.

37. Craft a Torch. Your lighter provides minimal illumination. A torch is non-negotiable for exploring the pitch-black caves or navigating the forest at night.
38. Craft a Spear. The crafted spear is an excellent early-game weapon. Its long reach allows you to poke at enemies from a safer distance than your axe, and it can also be thrown for a ranged attack.
39. Craft a Bow and Arrows. A bow is your first true ranged weapon and a game-changer for both hunting and combat. Practice your aim; a well-placed headshot can take down a cannibal before they even reach you.
40. Craft Health Mixes. Meds are rare and should be saved for emergencies. You can craft basic Health Mixes using common plants like Aloe Vera and Yarrow. Keep a steady supply to heal minor injuries after skirmishes.
41. Craft Bone Armor. After your first encounters with cannibals, do not let their bodies go to waste. Burn them on a campfire to produce bones, which can be crafted into Bone Armor. This provides a significant defensive upgrade over being unarmored.
42. Craft Molotovs. Vodka bottles and cloth combine to create Molotov cocktails. These are fantastic for crowd control, setting a group of enemies on fire, and stunning certain types of cannibals who are otherwise difficult to fight in melee.

Chapter 4: Building Your Sanctuary – Sons Of The Forest Base Building 101

Your base is more than just a place to sleep and save. It is your fortress, your workshop, and your sanctuary in a world that wants you dead. Establishing a well-planned and defensible base is the cornerstone of long-term survival in Sons Of The Forest.

Location, Location, Location

43. Build Near Water, Trees, and Stone. The ideal base location has easy access to the three primary building resources. A nearby river or lake provides drinking water and fish. A dense forest offers an endless supply of logs and sticks. And a source of stone is crucial for reinforcing fires and building more durable structures.
44. Use Natural Defenses. Scour the map for locations that offer natural protection. A cliff at your back, a narrow peninsula, or a small island in a lake can dramatically reduce the number of directions from which enemies can attack, making your base much easier to defend.
45. Avoid Cannibal Patrol Paths. As you explore, you will begin to notice well-trodden paths that cannibals use to patrol the island. You will also spot their gruesome camps, marked by totem poles and huts. Avoid building your base directly on or near these high-traffic areas to minimize uninvited guests.
46. Build on Flat, High Ground. While not essential, building on a relatively flat piece of land will make construction much easier. If that flat land is also elevated, it provides a superb tactical advantage, giving you a clear vantage point to spot approaching threats from a distance.

The Two Modes of Construction

47. Switch Between Building Modes. Sons Of The Forest offers two distinct building systems. You can toggle between them by pressing the ‘X’ key while your survival handbook is open.
48. Use Blueprint Mode for Speed. The first is a “Blueprint” or “Classic” mode. Here, you select a pre-designed structure from your handbook—like a log cabin, a trap, or a storage holder—and place a transparent “ghost” version of it in the world. You or Kelvin then simply add the required materials to bring it to life. This mode is perfect for quickly building functional, essential structures.
49. Use Free Build Mode for Creativity. The second mode is a “Free Build” system that offers complete creative control. Instead of using blueprints, you place individual logs, sticks, and stones to construct custom designs. Your handbook provides diagrams for various techniques, like splitting logs into planks, creating custom walls, and cutting out windows and doors. This mode is for when you want to build your dream fortress from the ground up.

Your First Essential Structures

50. Build Storage Holders First. Before you even lay the foundation for a cabin, build storage holders. Construct holders for logs, sticks, rocks, and bones. This not only keeps your base tidy but also gives you a clear and organized stockpile of materials.
51. Put Kelvin to Work Filling Holders. Once your storage holders are built, they provide the perfect, unambiguous task for Kelvin. Simply command him to “Fill Holder,” and he will tirelessly gather the appropriate resource until the storage is full. This is the most efficient way to use him in the early game.
52. Build a Drying Rack for Long-Term Food. Meat and fish will spoil over time. To create a lasting food supply, build a Drying Rack. You can hang fresh meat and fish on it, and over a few days, they will cure. Cured food never spoils and provides an excellent boost to health and fullness, making it essential for surviving the harsh winter.
53. Build a Water Collector. Find a turtle on the beach and harvest its shell. You can then combine the shell with sticks to create a Water Collector. This structure will passively collect rainwater, giving you a convenient source of fresh water right at your base.

The Hidden Mechanic of Building

54. Understand the Strength-through-Construction Mechanic. In Sons Of The Forest, building is not just a passive activity; it is a core part of your character’s progression. The game includes a hidden mechanic that rewards you for your hard work. Every time you fell a tree, carry a log, or place a stone, you gain a small amount of experience towards your Strength stat. As your Strength level increases, so does your maximum health and your melee damage. However, this power comes at a cost. The island’s hostile ecosystem reacts to your growing strength and influence. A higher Strength level also increases the spawn rate and difficulty of enemies. This creates a fascinating risk-reward system. Building a massive fortress will make you physically stronger, but it will also turn the island into a more dangerous place. The optimal strategy is to build what is necessary for survival and defense first, accepting the moderate increase in difficulty, before embarking on colossal projects that will draw the island’s full, undivided attention.

Chapter 5: Defending Your Turf – Advanced Fortifications in Sons Of The Forest

A simple cabin will not protect you for long. As the days pass, the cannibals will grow bolder, and more monstrous creatures will emerge from the caves. To survive, your sanctuary must become a fortress. This chapter details the methods for creating a truly defensible base capable of repelling even the most determined assaults.

Walls and Traps: Your First Line of Defense

55. Build a Perimeter Wall. The foundation of any good defense is a solid wall. Use the free-build system to place vertical logs in a continuous line around the entire perimeter of your base. This simple barrier will deter casual wanderers and force attackers into a direct assault.
56. Sharpen Your Walls into Spikes. A log wall is good; a spiked wall is better. Once your vertical log wall is in place, equip your axe and aim at the top of each log. You will be given a prompt to chop it into a sharp point. These spiked fortifications will inflict heavy damage on any enemy that tries to climb over them and are one of the most effective early-game defenses.
57. Upgrade to Stone Walls. For a truly permanent and resilient fortress, you will eventually want to upgrade your log walls to stone. Stone walls are far more durable and can withstand attacks from even the largest mutants. They are resource-intensive, so save this project for a well-established base with a good nearby source of stone.
58. Use the Fly Swatter Trap. Traps are your best friend for automating your defense. The most powerful of these is the “Fly Swatter” trap (also known as the “Hokey Pokey” trap). This simple but deadly contraption uses a swinging, spiked mace to obliterate almost any enemy in a single hit. They are cheap to build, requiring only sticks, rocks, and rope. Place them liberally outside your walls, especially near any entrances or choke points.
59. Use the Bone Maker Trap. Another excellent defensive tool is the Bone Maker trap. As its name suggests, it not only kills enemies but also conveniently provides you with a supply of bones, which are essential for crafting Bone Armor.
60. Build Traps Inside Caves. Your traps are not just for base defense. When preparing to clear out a dangerous cave, you can build traps inside. Find a narrow corridor, place a Fly Swatter trap, and then lure the cave’s inhabitants into it. You can reset the trap and repeat the process, allowing you to clear out entire sections of a cave without risking a direct fight.

Advanced Defensive Architecture

61. Build a Raised Base or Treehouse. Ground-level bases are vulnerable. For maximum security, build your primary living quarters on a raised platform, in a treehouse, or as a second story to your main structure. This elevated position provides a safe haven from which you can rain down arrows, spears, and explosives on the enemies below.
62. Funnel Enemies into Choke Points. Do not give your enemies multiple avenues of attack. Design your base’s defenses to funnel them into a single, heavily trapped entrance. This creates a “kill zone” where your traps and ranged attacks will be most effective. A clever design might involve a winding path lined with spike walls and Fly Swatter traps leading to your main gate.
63. Use Effigies to Scare Cannibals. After defeating cannibals, you can use their dismembered body parts to construct gruesome effigies. While they will not stop a determined attack, these terrifying displays can intimidate and scare away weaker cannibal scouts, reducing the number of casual encounters around your base.

The Ultimate Defense: The Water Fortress

64. Build an Impenetrable Water Fortress. The AI in Sons Of The Forest has one critical, exploitable weakness: enemies cannot swim. This allows for the construction of a virtually unraidable base. By building your base on a small island in the middle of a lake or on a large pier extending far out into the ocean, you can create a fortress that is completely immune to ground-based attacks. You only need to defend the single point of entry from the land.
65. Build on Frozen Lakes for a Floating Base. An even more advanced technique involves building on a large lake during the winter. When the water freezes solid, you can construct your base directly on the ice. When spring arrives and the ice thaws, your base will remain, now floating magically and completely inaccessible in the middle of the lake. The only time it becomes vulnerable is the next winter when the lake freezes again. Ocean bases do not have this seasonal vulnerability. For players who want to focus on building without the constant threat of attack, the water fortress is the ultimate defensive strategy.

Chapter 6: The Art of Combat in Sons Of The Forest

Sooner or later, you will have to fight. Whether you are defending your home, exploring a cave, or simply caught out in the open, mastering the art of combat is essential for survival. This requires more than just a sharp axe; it demands tactical thinking, knowledge of your enemy, and mastery of your arsenal.

Table: Enemy Weaknesses and Tactics

Combat in Sons Of The Forest can be chaotic. Success often comes down to quickly identifying your foe and exploiting its unique weakness. This table is your tactical quick-reference guide.

Enemy Type	Key Weakness / Behavior	Recommended Tactic
Basic Cannibals	Low health, easily staggered.	Stun-lock with any melee weapon.
Face-Painted Cannibals	Can block attacks, but vulnerable to fire.	Use a torch or Molotov to ignite them, then attack while they are stunned.
Red Fat Cannibals	Not easily staggered, uses a belly-flop attack.	Bait the belly-flop, then use heavy attacks while they are on the ground.
Tall Cannibals (Chieftains)	High health, powerful attacks that knock you down.	Keep your distance and use ranged weapons (bow, spear).
Fingers (Split Mutants)	Knees are extremely weak.	Aim for the legs/knees to stun them repeatedly.
Twins	Fast, relentless attacks, no cooldown.	Do NOT engage in melee. Use ranged weapons or explosives.

Combat Fundamentals

66. Prioritize Ranged Combat. Melee combat is risky and often results in taking damage. Whenever possible, engage enemies from a distance. Your crafted bow and spear are your best friends. Use them to thin out a group of enemies before they can close the distance.
67. Aim for the Legs. This is one of the most important combat tips in Sons Of The Forest. Most bipedal enemies, including almost all types of cannibals, can be staggered or maimed by a solid hit to the legs. This will often knock them to the ground, giving you a crucial, safe opportunity to finish them off with heavy attacks.
68. Block and Parry Attacks. Most melee weapons can be used to block incoming attacks, significantly reducing the damage you take. If you time your block perfectly, just as an enemy’s attack is about to land, you will perform a parry. This will briefly stun your attacker, leaving them wide open for a devastating counter-attack.
69. Always Wear Armor. Armor is your second health bar. Damage from enemy attacks is always applied to your armor first. Even a basic set of Leaf Armor is better than nothing. As soon as you can, upgrade to Bone Armor and then to the even more protective Creepy Armor, which you can skin from defeated mutants.
70. Pause to Heal in Single-Player. If a fight is going poorly and you are low on health, you can open your inventory. In single-player mode, this will pause the game. You can then safely use meds or eat food to restore your health to full before closing the inventory and rejoining the fray.

Stealth and Evasion

71. Use Leaf Armor for Stealth. While it offers minimal protection, a full set of Leaf Armor dramatically improves your stealth capabilities. When crouching in bushes while wearing it, you can often go completely unnoticed by enemy patrols, allowing you to either sneak past them or line up a perfect, silent headshot with your bow. It is also excellent for hunting skittish animals like deer.
72. Crouch in Bushes to Hide. Even without Leaf Armor, the dense foliage of the forest is your ally. If you spot a patrol in the distance, crouching in a large bush will often be enough to let them pass by without spotting you.
73. Know When to Run Away. Not every fight is a fight you have to win. If you are low on resources, outnumbered, or facing a powerful new type of mutant, do not be afraid to retreat. Most enemies on the surface can be outrun. It is always better to escape and live to fight another day.
74. Defeat Basic Cannibals with Stun-Locks. The most common cannibals have low health and are easily staggered. A rapid series of attacks from your axe or club can often stun-lock them, preventing them from ever fighting back.
75. Burn Face-Painted Cannibals. The more advanced, face-painted cannibals are dangerous because they can block your melee attacks. However, they have a critical weakness: fire. A single hit from a torch or a Molotov will set them ablaze, causing them to panic and leaving them vulnerable to your attacks.
76. Bait and Punish Red Fat Cannibals. These large, red-painted cannibals are tough to stagger. Do not try to trade blows with them. Instead, keep your distance and bait out their signature belly-flop attack. As soon as they hit the ground, rush in and unleash a series of heavy attacks while they struggle to get back up.
77. Use Range Against Tall Cannibals. The tall, chieftain-like cannibals are the most dangerous of their kind. Their attacks are powerful enough to knock you down, and they have a lot of health. Melee combat is extremely risky. The safest strategy is to keep your distance and whittle them down with your bow or thrown spears.
78. Target the Knees of Fingers. The terrifying “Fingers” mutant, also known as the Split Mutant, looks intimidating, but it has a comical weakness: its knees. A single arrow or spear to its legs will cause it to collapse in a heap, stunned for several seconds. You can repeat this indefinitely, making it one of the easiest mutants to defeat safely.
79. Never Melee the Twins. The “Twins” mutant is a fused, spider-like monstrosity. It is incredibly fast, attacks relentlessly, and has almost no cooldown between its combos. Do not, under any circumstances, attempt to fight it in melee. Your only safe option is to backpedal while firing your ranged weapons or to use powerful explosives.

Chapter 7: Exploring the Island – A Sons Of The Forest Expedition Guide

The island is a vast and dangerous place, filled with hidden secrets, valuable resources, and untold horrors. To uncover its mysteries, you must become a master explorer, capable of navigating its treacherous terrain and delving into its darkest depths safely and efficiently.

Navigation and Preparation

80. Zoom Your GPS Map. Your GPS, accessed with the ‘M’ key, is your most important navigational tool. Many players do not realize that you can zoom in and out using the middle mouse button. Zooming out gives you a better sense of the island’s overall layout, while zooming in is crucial for pinpointing the exact location of a cave entrance or navigating complex terrain.
81. Follow the GPS Icons. Your map starts with several key icons already marked. Green pulsing icons denote points of interest, which often contain valuable loot or 3D printers. White icons mark the entrances to caves. Purple icons show the locations of GPS locators from your fallen team members, which usually have essential gear nearby.
82. Create Custom Map Markers. You can create your own permanent markers on the GPS map. First, find a stick and place it vertically in the ground without snapping it. Then, equip a GPS locator and place it on top of the stick. This is an invaluable technique for marking resource-rich areas, potential base locations, or cave entrances you plan to return to later.
83. Explore Surface Markers First. When you are just starting out, prioritize exploring the green and purple markers on your map. These surface locations often contain powerful weapons and tools that are completely unguarded, allowing you to gear up significantly without having to fight.
84. Use Rivers to Navigate. The island is crisscrossed by a network of rivers and streams. These are excellent natural landmarks. Following a river downstream will always lead you to the coast, while following it upstream will guide you towards the central mountain. They often pass by important locations and cannibal camps.
85. Prepare Before Entering Caves. The caves of Sons Of The Forest are its dungeons. They are dark, confusing, and filled with the island’s most dangerous creatures. Do not enter a cave unprepared. Before you venture underground, make sure you have a full set of armor, your best weapons, a reliable light source, and a plentiful supply of food and healing items.
86. Bring a Portable Save into Caves. Always carry a tarp and a stick with you on any caving expedition. This allows you to construct a temporary Tarp Tent inside the cave. Find a safe corner, build your tent, and save your game. This is crucial for preserving your progress before tackling a particularly dangerous section of a cave.
87. Use Flares for Hands-Free Light. While a torch or flashlight is essential, they occupy one of your hands, preventing you from using two-handed weapons like the bow. Flares are the solution. You can throw a flare onto the ground to illuminate a large area, leaving your hands free to fight.
88. Place Permanent Torches in Caves. A little-known trick is that any torch you place on a wall inside a cave will remain there—and remain lit—permanently. On your first trip through a new cave system, place torches along your path. This will not only help you find your way back out but will also create a well-lit and much safer environment for any future trips into that cave.

The Island’s Darkest Secret

89. Understand that Opening Caves Increases Surface Difficulty. The island of Sons Of The Forest is not a static world; it reacts to your actions. One of its most important hidden mechanics is the link between progression and difficulty. Many of the major cave systems are initially sealed with wooden planks. When you break these barriers to enter, you are not just opening a path for yourself; you are unleashing the horrors within.
90. Fortify Your Base BEFORE Major Exploration. After you open a major cave, you will begin to encounter more powerful and numerous types of mutants roaming the surface world. This means there is an optimal grand strategy for any playthrough: fortify before you explore. Before you begin the main quest of searching for key items like the shovel, you should first focus on building a strong, well-defended base with automated trap systems. Rushing for the best gear without a secure home to return to is a recipe for disaster. You will find yourself trapped between the horrors of the caves and an overrun, indefensible base. Build your fortress first, then, and only then, should you dare to unlock the island’s darkest secrets.

Chapter 8: The Survivor’s Edge – Pro Tips for Sons Of The Forest Veterans

You have survived. You have built a home. You have faced the horrors of the forest and emerged victorious. Now, it is time to transcend survival and achieve true mastery. This final chapter is a collection of advanced tips, hidden mechanics, and clever tricks that will elevate your gameplay and solidify your status as the apex predator of the island.

Advanced Building and Logistics

91. Use Ziplines to Transport Logs and Rocks. The Rope Gun is not just for traversal. You can attach logs and rocks to a zipline, sending them flying across the map. This revolutionizes resource gathering, allowing you to build bases in remote, difficult-to-reach locations by shipping in materials from a distant forest. This even works uphill.
92. Create Improvised Zipline Anchors with Spears. If you need to create a zipline but there is no tree in the perfect spot, you can create your own anchor point. Plant a stick in the ground where you are standing. Then, aim at your destination and throw a crafted spear so it sticks upright in the ground. You can now attach a zipline between the stick and the spear.
93. Build Floating Structures by Removing Supports. With careful and precise construction, it is possible to create structures that appear to float in mid-air. This involves building a platform with temporary supports and then carefully removing the supports in the correct order. Be warned, this technique can be buggy and may result in unremovable glitched logs.
94. Exploit Log Duplication with Blueprints. For those who want to build massive structures without spending days chopping down the entire forest, there is a log duplication exploit. By placing the blueprint for the small log cabin and then repeatedly pressing the dismantle key (‘C’) while looking at one of the corners from a specific angle, you can pull an infinite number of logs from the ghost blueprint.
95. Duplicate Items in Multiplayer. In a multiplayer game, a guest player can give all their valuable items to the host player. The guest then leaves the game without saving. When they rejoin, their inventory will be restored to its previous state, but the host will still have all the items they were given, effectively duplicating them.

Hidden Mechanics and Obscure Tricks

96. Get More Armor with Multiplayer Skinning. When a mutant is killed in a multiplayer game, if all players skin the corpse at the exact same time, each player will receive a piece of Creepy Armor. This allows you to multiply your armor yield from a single kill.
97. Keep Your GPS Steady While Running. Running while holding the GPS tracker will cause the map to wobble, making it difficult to read. To stabilize it, simply equip another one-handed item, like your axe or a rock, in your other hand.
98. Cancel a Grenade Throw. After you pull the pin on a grenade, you are not committed to throwing it. If you change your mind, simply press the holster key (‘G’), and your character will safely put the live grenade back into your inventory.
99. Look Down to Change Arrow Types. To switch between different types of arrows for your bow (e.g., from stone to 3D printed), you must be looking down at the ground. The option to switch will not appear otherwise.
100. Despawn Loose Logs by Reloading. If your base becomes cluttered with loose, unused logs and planks, you can easily clean them up. Just save your game and reload. All loose building materials that are not in a storage holder will be despawned.
101. Get Multiple Guns for Virginia by Reloading. After you have armed Virginia with a pistol and a shotgun, you can acquire another set for yourself. Simply go back to the original locations where these weapons are found on the island. They will respawn each time you load your save file.
102. Access the Admin Console with ‘cheatstick’. On PC, you can access a powerful developer console. While in-game, simply type the word cheatstick on your keyboard. Nothing will appear on screen, but once you have typed it, pressing the F1 key will open the admin console. This allows you to use commands for god mode, spawning items, teleporting, and much more.
103. Throw Logs and Stones at Small Animals. You do not need a bow to hunt rabbits and squirrels. You can kill them by throwing small stones or even logs at them.
104. Nod at Your Companions. If you look at Kelvin or Virginia and nod your character’s head, they will nod back.
105. Place Radios as Structures. Radios can be kicked around and easily broken. To secure one, you can “place” it from your inventory like a structure, which will fix it in place.
106. Dig for Extra Bones and Coins. When you dig with the shovel, you have a chance to find not just resources, but also extra bones or old coins.
107. Use Tarps as Building Materials. Tarps are not just for tents. They can also be used in free-building to create walls, floors, or ramps.
108. Build Ramps for Your Sled. You can use the 3D-printed sled to create fun and surprisingly effective slides by building long ramps.
109. Don’t Let Cannibals Escape a Fight. If you engage a group of cannibals, try not to let any of them escape. A survivor who flees the battle may return later with a much larger and more aggressive war party.
110. You Can Be Captured Once Per Day. If you are defeated on the surface, you will not immediately die. The first time you are downed each day, you will be captured and wake up in a cannibal camp. You can then escape and retrieve your gear. If you are downed a second time in the same day, it is game over.
111. Use a Hang Glider to Reach the Pistol Raft. The raft containing the pistol is a long swim from shore, guarded by a shark. A much safer way to reach it is to find one of the hang gliders on the island and fly out to it.
112. Create Decorative Lamp Posts with Skull Lamps. You can create atmospheric lighting for your base pathways by placing skull lamps on top of vertical sticks.
113. Build Narrow Boardwalks with Firewood Pieces. You can create detailed and cost-effective boardwalks or pathways using firewood pieces, which are simply quarter-split logs.
114. Burn Bodies to Get Bones. The primary and most reliable way to get bones for Bone Armor is to throw cannibal bodies onto a campfire and let them burn.
115. Use a Torch to Warm Up. If you are cold and wet, you do not need to build a full campfire to warm up. Simply equipping and holding a lit torch will raise your temperature.
116. Lure Enemies with Small Rocks. You can throw a small rock to create a sound that will distract enemies who have not yet spotted you. This is useful for setting up an ambush or sneaking past a patrol.
117. Enemies Leave Tracks in the Snow. During winter, enemies will leave tracks in the snow. This makes it much easier to hunt them down if they try to flee a fight.
118. Use the Golf Putter to Play Golf. If you find the golf putter and some golf balls, you can actually play a round of golf.
119. Use the Slingshot for Hunting. The slingshot is a quiet and effective tool for hunting small game without wasting more valuable arrows.
120. Reinforce Fires with Stones. You can make your campfires last longer and look more permanent by adding a ring of stones around them.
121. Kill Grouped Fish with a Single Cleaving Swing. If you see a group of fish in shallow water, a single swing from a wide-arcing weapon like the Modern Axe or Katana can kill all of them at once.

Conclusion: From Surviving to Thriving in Sons Of The Forest

You are no longer the disoriented victim who crawled from the wreckage. The forest that once seemed like an endless, terrifying maze is now your domain. Its resources are your tools, its dangers are your challenges, and its secrets are your objectives. You have learned to respect the island’s grace period, to harness the synergistic power of your companions, and to fortify your home before daring to awaken the horrors that sleep beneath the earth.

You understand that building is not just for shelter, but a way to forge your very strength, a delicate balance against the rising hostility of the world around you. You know the weaknesses of every creature that stalks the night, and you have built a fortress that even they fear to approach. The island of Sons Of The Forest is still a place of profound danger, but it is no longer your prison. It is your kingdom. Take this knowledge, survivor. Go forth and conquer.

Disclaimer: This is an unofficial fan work, all trademarks and copyrights for Sons Of The Forest belong to the developer Endnight Games Ltd.

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