To find the best items and progress the story, you’ll need to brave the caves in Sons of the Forest. As in the predecessor, nasty mutants are especially common here, but you’ll also gradually learn what’s really going on with the island. You’ll pick up some of the strongest equipment for your progression, making many things much easier. In this guide, we’ll show you the best order to tackle the caves and which items you’ll get there – including practical tips.
Preparing for caves in Sons of the Forest: weapons, gear & light
You shouldn’t head into caves unprepared, especially if you’ve enabled enemies. Use our combat guide to get familiar with the basics ( (Sons of the Forest Combat Guide: Best Weapons, Tactics & Survival Tips) ). Beyond those tips, a few other items are essential that you won’t find in caves but on the surface. You should definitely grab these first!
For combat:
- Pistol: To better defend yourself against mutants, you’ll want a stronger weapon. The pistol is easy to get – it’s on a lifeboat in the bay on the west coast of the island. Watch out for sharks in the water.
- Modern Axe: Not far from the Flashlight you’ll find a former camp with a better axe. Strong in close quarters in tight caves and useful for everyday survival.
- Bow and arrows: Make a bow (1x rope, 2x sticks, 1x duct tape). Arrows: feathers + sticks + stones, or craft them in the 3D Printer. The best bow comes later – until then the crafted one will do.
For light:
- Flashlight: Follow the GPS signal to a team-mate hanging from a rock face. Cut him down and grab the light. You’ll find batteries all over the world.
- Flares: Perfect when you quickly need more visibility. There are some right by the team-mate next to the pistol on the lifeboat.
- Torch: If you run out of battery power, a simple Torch (stick + cloth) provides constant light.
Survival and comfort items (recommended):
- Medicine and food (cans, MREs) for longer trips.
- Armour (e.g. Bone or Creepy Armour) to reduce damage.
- Tarp and stick to save before cave entrances.
- Bombs/Molotovs to clear blockages or groups of mutants.
Tip: Always save before entering a cave and go in with full resources (health, stamina, batteries).
Cave order in Sons of the Forest: how to unlock key items
Once you’re well equipped, you can get started. To make quick progress, you should tackle the caves in a sensible order, as many sections build on each other. Later caves require items from earlier ones. Here’s the recommended early-game route.
1. Get the Rebreather (cave on the north beach)
Many caves are flooded – without the Rebreather you won’t get far. Head to the north of the island to the bay on the beach. With a bit of luck you crashed nearby and are already on site. Otherwise: open your GPS and walk north to the coast.
Search the cave thoroughly. You’ll find ammo, flares, air tanks (for diving) and story clues. At a junction:
- Right: Stun Gun, a blueprint for a Cross as well as a rare artefact for later in the story.
- Left: This path leads to the Rebreather. You’ll equip it automatically when you enter the water. Caution: A shark can spawn here – keep moving and swim out of the cave promptly.
2. Secure the Rope Gun/Zipline Gun (forest cave near the crash site)
With the Rebreather, head next to a cave not far from the forest crash site. In front of the entrance you’ll see a skull totem – there’s another electric weapon stuck in it. Take it!
You’ll need to clear the entrance and smash wooden boards. Along the way, pick up watches, cloth and canned food. Eventually you’ll reach three paths in a large open cave:
- Right: Artefact (dive, fight, then grab the loot)
- Middle: A short section ending at a Cross
- Left: Back towards the exit – this is where you’ll find the Rope Gun (also called Zipline Gun). Have a bomb ready to blow up a blocked passage.
With the Rope Gun you can cross wide chasms and reach new areas – a must-have item for progression.
3. Get the Shovel (cave with Wetsuit & Pistol Flashlight)
This cave requires the Rebreather and Rope Gun and isn’t far from the previous one. Three impaled men stand at the entrance – the middle one carries a Slingshot.
The cave is fairly linear. Take everything you find, including air tanks. Key loot:
- Wetsuit (better swimming in cold water)
- Additional Flashlight for the Pistol (mount the light to the barrel)
- Shovel at the end, overlooking a strange underground facility
For the way back: You’ll have to clear the exit again with explosives. Use bombs or C4 to remove blockades.
Conclusion: the right order gets you through the caves faster
To progress in Sons of the Forest and uncover the island’s secrets, you’ll need the right items – and you’ll mostly find them in caves full of mutants and hazards. With the correct order (Rebreather → Rope Gun → Shovel) you’ll secure crucial gear early and noticeably speed up your progress. Want to explore the caves together? Rent a Sons of the Forest server. You’ll enjoy stable performance, better odds against mutants and faster progress as a team.
