---
title: "Sons Of The Forest: Survival Guide"
game: "Sons Of The Forest"
game_url: "https://qna.gg/games/sons-of-the-forest"
author: "Qloud"
author_url: "https://qna.gg/players/Qloud"
topics: ["Builds", "Weapons", "Maps", "Endings"]
summary: "How to survive Site 2: first-day priorities, Kelvin and Virginia, base building, the cave items that unlock the map, seasons, threats, and how to reach the ending. Researched September 2026 — current as of the January…"
url: "https://qna.gg/g/sons-of-the-forest-survival-guide-953966cc"
published: "2026-09-27T16:20:04.948Z"
updated: "2026-09-27T16:20:04.948Z"
source: "QnA.GG"
---

# Sons Of The Forest: Survival Guide

How to survive Site 2: first-day priorities, Kelvin and Virginia, base building, the cave items that unlock the map, seasons, threats, and how to reach the ending.

*Researched September 2026 — current as of the January 15, 2025 raft patch (rafts and drawn defensive walls) plus the October 2025 Unity security update. Live games change; check the linked sources if something differs.*

> **Status:** Sons of the Forest left early access with v1.0 in February 2024. Endnight's last content patch (January 15, 2025, with hotfixes on January 20 and 21) added buildable rafts, a mooring post, KnightV and hang glider holders, a procedural defensive wall tool, ranged weapon improvements, and Steam Game Recording support. The only update since is a small October 2025 Unity security fix. Treat the game as feature-complete.

## Quick Start

1. **Open the emergency pack after the crash.** It has your starting gear. Grab everything from the helicopter wreck area.
2. **Save with a tarp shelter.** A tarp plus a stick makes a tent you can save and sleep in. Save often.
3. **Kelvin is your worker.** Use the notepad to order him to fetch logs, sticks, and rocks, build, and clear areas. He does not fight.
4. **Your GPS marks the key caves.** The GPS shows locator signals. Those caves hold the items that unlock the map: **Rope Gun, Shovel, Rebreather**.
5. **Get the Shovel and Rope Gun first.** They open bunkers and caves; nothing big happens without them.
6. **Befriend Virginia patiently.** Don't wave weapons at her. Once she trusts you she carries and fires weapons (without using your ammo).
7. **Build near water with a view.** Lakes and rivers give water and fish; high ground helps you spot cannibal patrols.
8. **Crouch in bushes to hide.** Cannibals scout before they attack; stealth avoids fights early.
9. **Winter is real.** Snow arrives and temperatures drop; build fires, get warm clothing, and stock food before it hits.

## Core Systems

### Survival stats

| Stat | Refill with | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| **Hunger** | Cooked meat, fish, berries, MREs, canned food | Raw meat and some berries are risky. |
| **Thirst** | Rivers, lakes, rain collectors, soda | Pot/flask to carry water. |
| **Rest** | Sleeping in a shelter | Also passes time and saves. |
| **Health** | Food, medicine, healing plants | Bandages and medicine heal injuries. |
| **Stamina** | Rest, food | Running, fighting, swimming. |
| **Temperature** | Fire, warm clothing | Cold drains health in winter or wet conditions. |

### Kelvin (companion)

Kelvin is a soldier who survives the crash but is deaf. You command him through a notepad.

| Command | Use |
|---|---|
| **Follow Me** | Brings him along |
| **Get logs / sticks / rocks / stones / berries / fish** | Resource runs while you build |
| **Build** (fire, shelter, finish structure) | Completes placed blueprints |
| **Maintain base** | Repairs and sharpens walls |
| **Clear area** (5 / 10 / 20 m) | Cleans up debris around your base |
| **Take a break / Stay** | Park him somewhere safe |

- He won't fight, but he'll point out nearby enemies.
- He eats and drinks on his own and rests after you sleep.
- He can be knocked down; revive him quickly. Be careful with melee swings near him.

### Virginia (companion)

Virginia is a three-armed mutant who can be befriended. She's skittish at first.

- **Befriend her:** approach calmly, don't threaten her, don't fight near her, and keep interacting. Gifts appear as she warms up.
- **Once friendly:** give her a gun (pistol, shotgun). She can wield two ranged weapons at once and doesn't use your ammo. She'll also forage, bring gifts, and lead you to camps and loot.
- **Don't kill her.** It's permanent for that save.
- Achievements: **Chivalry Is Not Dead** for maxing her sentiment, and **Keep Your Friends Close** if both companions survive.

## Building and Base Tips

- **Prefab buildings** come from the survival book (log cabins, lookout towers, traps, storage, rain collectors).
- **Custom building** snaps logs into walls, floors, stairs, and roofs. You can cut logs into planks and halves.
- **Defensive walls:** since the January 2025 patch you can draw a procedural wall layout instead of placing each log. Sharpen them (or let Kelvin maintain) to hurt attackers.
- **Storage:** log holders, stick holders, stone holders, and item racks keep materials handy.
- **Rafts and mooring (January 2025 patch):** three raft types plus a mooring post let you build floating platforms and travel lakes and coasts.
- **Holders for vehicles:** KnightV and hang glider holders keep your transport at base.
- **Traps:** fly swatters, spring traps, and the like at base choke points thin out raids.
- **Location:** good base spots are near water, away from cannibal villages, and with good sight lines. The beach and lakes near the crash are common first bases.

## The Cave Items That Unlock the Map

Your GPS shows marked locations. The key progression items:

| Cave | Key items |
|---|---|
| **Cave A (Rebreather Cave)** | **Rebreather** (underwater breathing), **Stun Gun** |
| **Cave B (Rope Gun Cave)** | **Rope Gun** (fire ziplines), Cross, Artifact Piece C |
| **Cave C (Shovel Cave)** | **Shovel** (dig up hatches, buried items), Slingshot, Wetsuit, Flashlight Attachment |
| **Cave D (Ancient Armor Cave)** | **Ancient Armor**, Rifle |
| **Cave F (Pickaxe Cave)** | **Pickaxe** |
| **Hell Cave** | Reached through the Luxury Bunker (unmarked on the GPS); packed with demons and a Giant Demon boss you must beat to progress to the ending |

Recommended order: **Rope Gun → Shovel → Rebreather**, then the keycard bunkers. The rope gun lets you cross gaps inside caves; the shovel opens buried hatches; the rebreather lets you swim flooded sections.

## Bunkers and Keycards

Bunkers are the backbone of the story. Key progression items include **Maintenance**, **VIP**, and **Guest** keycards, which unlock deeper bunkers. The **Luxury Bunker** leads into late-game areas, including the Hell Cave, and the final story areas hold endgame gear. Bring healing and ammo: bunkers are packed with mutants.

## Weapons

| Type | Examples |
|---|---|
| **Melee** | Crafted Club, Machete, Modern Axe, Firefighter Axe, Katana, Putter, Stun Baton |
| **Ranged** | Pistol, Revolver, Shotgun, Rifle, Crossbow, Compound Bow, crafted bows |
| **Explosives** | Grenades, Molotovs, Sticky Bombs |
| **Attachments** | Flashlight, Laser Sight, Silencer and more |

- Parry and stamina matter in melee. Don't swing until you're out of stamina.
- Grenades, Sticky Bombs, and Molotovs are effective against most enemies, especially mutant groups.

## Threats

| Threat | Notes |
|---|---|
| **Cannibals** | Scout, then attack in groups. Some are painted/elite. Watch for them retreating to call more. |
| **Mutants** | Found mostly in caves and bunkers; some wander outside later. Includes large, tough types. Use explosives and shotguns. |
| **Wildlife** | Deer, rabbits, fish for food; sharks in the ocean along the coast. |
| **Cold and winter** | Snow and freezing lakes. Warm clothing and fires. |
| **Starvation/dehydration** | Keep a stock of preserved food and water. |

## Seasons

The game cycles through seasons. Winter brings snow, freezing lakes, and scarcer food; plants return in spring. Plan food storage and warm clothing ahead.

## Difficulty

| Setting | What it means |
|---|---|
| **Peaceful** | No enemies; survival and building only |
| **Normal** | Standard |
| **Hard** | Tougher enemies and survival pressure |
| **Hard Survival** | Harsher survival mechanics |
| **Custom** | Tune individual settings (enemy aggression, regeneration, and so on) |

## Common Mistakes to Avoid

- **Not saving.** Build a tarp tent early and save often.
- **Hitting Kelvin.** Watch your swings.
- **Scaring Virginia off with weapons.** Put them away around her until she trusts you.
- **Skipping the Rope Gun and Shovel.** The map and story don't open without them.
- **Building next to a cannibal village.** Scout first.
- **Ignoring winter prep.** Stock food and warm gear before snow falls.
- **Wasting ammo on cannibals early.** Save guns and explosives for caves and bunkers.
- **Going into caves without light or healing.** Bring a flashlight or torch plus meds.

## Advanced Tips

- **Use Kelvin for logistics.** Chain log, stick, and rock orders while you build; he speeds up bases dramatically.
- **Equip Virginia with a shotgun.** She fires without using your ammo.
- **Procedural walls.** The January 2025 wall drawing tool makes a perimeter far faster than placing logs: draw the line and let Kelvin finish the walls.
- **Rafts for travel.** Build a raft and mooring post to get around lakes and the coast.
- **Hang glider and KnightV.** Fast travel across the island.
- **Explosives in bunkers.** Sticky bombs and grenades handle mutant groups safely.
- **Co-op:** up to eight players with dedicated server support. Split roles: one builds, one hunts, one explores.

## FAQ

**Is Sons of the Forest still being updated?**
Not with new content. The January 2025 raft patch was the last content patch, and the only update since is an October 2025 Unity security fix.

**How do I get the Rope Gun?**
It's in Cave B. Follow the GPS marker.

**How do I befriend Virginia?**
Be calm, don't threaten her, don't fight near her, and keep interacting with her.

**Can Kelvin die?**
He can be knocked down; revive him. Be careful with melee and fire around him.

**Where's the Shovel?**
Cave C.

**How many players for co-op?**
Up to eight, with dedicated server support.

**Is there an ending?**
Yes. After the bunkers and keycards you reach the final areas and the ending choice.

## Sources

- [Sons of the Forest Wiki (wiki.gg) main page](https://sonsoftheforest.wiki.gg/wiki/Sons_of_the_Forest_Wiki)
- [Sons of the Forest Wiki: Caves](https://sonsoftheforest.wiki.gg/wiki/Caves)
- [Sons of the Forest Wiki: Kelvin](https://sonsoftheforest.wiki.gg/wiki/Kelvin)
- [Sons of the Forest Wiki: Virginia](https://sonsoftheforest.wiki.gg/wiki/Virginia)
- [Sons of the Forest Wiki: Weapons](https://sonsoftheforest.wiki.gg/wiki/Weapons)
- [Sons of the Forest Steam news feed (January 2025 raft patch, hotfixes, Unity update)](https://api.steampowered.com/ISteamNews/GetNewsForApp/v2/?appid=1326470&count=8&feeds=steam_community_announcements)