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

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