Essential Tools & Utilities

Equip the right tools for survival in Sons of the Forest. Master axes, shovels, and other utilities to gather resources and navigate the island's challenging w.

Navigating the treacherous wilderness of Sons of the Forest requires more than just grit; it demands the right equipment. This section details the essential tools and utilities you'll need to survive, gather resources, explore hidden depths, and ultimately unravel the island's mysteries. Prioritizing the acquisition of these items will significantly ease your journey and unlock new areas and story progression.

• Stone Axe

  Your very first and most fundamental tool, the Stone Axe is a cornerstone of early-game survival. It's essential for basic resource gathering and defense.

  • Acquisition: This is one of the first items you'll craft.
  • Crafting Recipe: Combine 1x Stick and 1x Rock. You can find sticks scattered on the ground and rocks near rivers or rocky outcrops.
  • Utility:
    • Chops down small trees for logs.
    • Breaks open crates and suitcases for supplies.
    • Serves as a basic melee weapon against early threats.
  • Tip: While quickly outclassed, keep one handy as a backup or for quick, low-durability tasks.

• Modern Axe

  A significant upgrade from its stone counterpart, the Modern Axe drastically improves your efficiency in resource gathering and combat. Acquiring this early is highly recommended.

  • Acquisition: The Modern Axe is found relatively early in the game, often in an abandoned camp.
  • Location: Head to the western side of the island. Look for a small, abandoned camp marked with a green tent and some supplies. The axe is usually stuck in a corpse or a log within this camp. It's often found near the crash site or one of the first points of interest you might stumble upon while exploring west.
  • Utility:
    • Chops wood significantly faster than the Stone Axe, making base building much more efficient.
    • Deals considerably more damage in melee combat, making it a viable early-game weapon.
  • Tip: Prioritize getting this axe as soon as possible. Its improved chopping speed will save you countless hours.

• Shovel

  The Shovel is a critical tool for story progression and uncovering valuable resources. Without it, you cannot access several key areas and items.

  • Acquisition: The Shovel is located in one of the three Maintenance Bunkers on the island. However, accessing this bunker requires two other essential tools first: the Rebreather and the Rope Gun.
  • Location Walkthrough:
    1. Step 1: Obtain the Rebreather. (See Rebreather section below for details).
    2. Step 2: Obtain the Rope Gun. (See Rope Gun section below for details).
    3. Step 3: Locate the Shovel Cave Entrance. The cave entrance leading to the Maintenance Bunker containing the Shovel is on the western side of the island, often marked by a small camp and a few cannibals. It's identifiable by a narrow crevice you must squeeze through.
    4. Step 4: Navigate the Cave. This cave is dark and often flooded. You'll need the Rebreather for submerged sections and the Rope Gun to traverse a large chasm. Follow the cave path, dealing with any mutants or cannibals.
    5. Step 5: Enter the Maintenance Bunker. At the end of the cave system, you'll find a sealed door leading into a modern bunker.
    6. Step 6: Find the Shovel. Inside the bunker, explore the living quarters and utility rooms. The Shovel is typically found lying on a table or shelf in one of the rooms.
  • Utility:
    • Digs up buried caches, which often contain valuable supplies, weapons, and story items.
    • Uncovers hidden cave entrances and access points crucial for main story progression.
    • Essential for accessing other Maintenance Bunkers and advanced crafting recipes.
  • Common Pitfall: Do not attempt to find the Shovel without first acquiring the Rebreather and Rope Gun, as you will be unable to progress through the cave.

• Rebreather

  The Rebreather is indispensable for exploring the island's many flooded caves and submerged areas, unlocking new pathways and crucial items.

  • Acquisition: The Rebreather is found in a specific flooded cave system early in the game.
  • Location Walkthrough:
    1. Step 1: Locate the Rebreather Cave. This cave is situated on the northern part of the island, typically near a beach or coastal area. Look for a small, rocky entrance near the water.
    2. Step 2: Enter and Navigate. The cave is immediately flooded. You'll need to swim through submerged tunnels. Keep an eye on your breath meter.
    3. Step 3: Find the Rebreather. Follow the main path through the flooded sections. The Rebreather is usually found near a deceased diver or on a small dry ledge within the cave. There might be a few weak cannibals or mutants in the dry sections.
  • Utility:
    • Allows for extended underwater breathing, enabling exploration of deep water sections and flooded caves.
    • Crucial for accessing the cave that leads to the Shovel.
    • Unlocks hidden pathways and resource caches found underwater.
  • Strategy Tip: While navigating the Rebreather cave, conserve your stamina. If you run out of breath before finding the Rebreather, you will drown.

• Rope Gun

  The Rope Gun is a versatile traversal tool, allowing you to create ziplines for quick movement across gaps and down steep inclines, especially useful in the mountainous terrain.

  • Acquisition: The Rope Gun is found in a cave, and accessing it often requires the Rebreather.
  • Location Walkthrough:
    1. Step 1: Obtain the Rebreather. (If you haven't already, see the Rebreather section above).
    2. Step 2: Locate the Rope Gun Cave. This cave is found on the western side of the island, often marked by a cannibal camp outside its entrance. It's distinct from the Shovel cave.
    3. Step 3: Enter and Navigate. The cave system is complex and contains both dry and flooded sections. You will need the Rebreather for the underwater segments. Be prepared for encounters with cannibals and mutants.
    4. Step 4: Find the Rope Gun. Follow the cave's winding path. The Rope Gun is typically found mounted on a wall or lying on a crate in a dry section of the cave, often near a dead worker or soldier.
  • Utility:
    • Creates ziplines between two points, enabling rapid traversal across canyons, valleys, and steep slopes.
    • Essential for reaching certain high-altitude areas or bypassing dangerous ground-level threats.
    • Required to access the cave leading to the Shovel.
  • Tip: Always carry plenty of Rope in your inventory to utilize the Rope Gun effectively.

• Lighter

  A basic but invaluable utility, the Lighter provides light and a means to ignite objects, crucial for survival in the dark and for tactical advantages.

  • Acquisition: The Lighter is a starting item, automatically in your inventory from the beginning of the game.
  • Utility:
    • Provides illumination in dark caves, at night, or in dense forest areas.
    • Ignites campfires, torches, and other flammable objects.
    • Can be used to set enemies on fire, dealing damage over time and causing them to panic.
    • Clears brush and small vegetation, sometimes revealing hidden items or pathways.
  • Tip: Keep the Lighter on your quick-select bar for easy access. It has infinite uses and does not consume fuel.