Sons of the Forest Ranged Weapons: Locations, Maps & Crafting Tips

While melee weapons work well against many of the basic locals and mutants, you’ll likely need heavier firepower for the bigger bosses. Fortunately, there are plenty of suitable weapons scattered around the island that pack a punch. With ranged and firearms, you’ll be well prepared for the rest of your adventure in Sons of the Forest. If you want to learn more about melee, we recommend our previous post (Sons of the Forest: All melee weapons – locations, maps & crafting tips) . Now let’s look at all locations and crafting recipes for ranged combat so you’re fully equipped!

All ranged weapons in Sons of the Forest: locations, maps & tips

Ranged weapons are ideal for tackling larger mutants, letting you keep your distance and avoid incoming attacks. Many late-game firearms also deal noticeably more damage, which helps with progressing the story. However, almost all of these weapons require ammunition. You can sometimes craft it yourself, but often you’ll have to find it. This balances their usefulness and means you should prioritise ranged combat for truly critical situations.

1. Stun Gun: The Stun Gun doesn’t deal direct damage, but it can be extremely useful. It fires a tether with an electric shocker and can paralyse enemies at range (typically for about 5 seconds). This is especially handy against larger groups! You can find it quite early if you brave the northern cave with the rebreather (Sons of the Forest caves: best order, locations & tips) . It’s on a hanging body. The gun requires special Stun Gun ammo.

2. Slingshot: A slingshot might not look impressive at first, but it’s very helpful in the early game. You’ll find it just outside the cave with the three impaled men, where you’ll later discover the shovel. Its ammo is small stones you can pick up almost anywhere. Damage is low, but it’s great for hunting animals.

3. Pistol: You likely won’t get far without the classic pistol. It’s one of the most important weapons – not just for you, but also for Virginia, your future companion. You can grab it right at the start by heading to the west side of the island and looting the lifeboat from your fallen colleague. Watch out for sharks! Ammo is scarce, but more common than for many later firearms. Save it for emergencies or give it to Virginia – she handles it brilliantly and apparently uses no ammo.

4. Compound Bow: While you can craft a simple bow, you should eventually seek out an improved one. You’ll only find it with the shovel, by digging up one of the maintenance bunkers in the south-west of the island. It deals more damage and is far more accurate. Arrows can be crafted, 3D-printed, or found. The bow is indispensable because it’s silent and precise.

5. Revolver: More stopping power than the pistol, with slightly less range – that’s the revolver. It’s extremely strong at short to mid-range. Save its ammo (the same as the pistol) for tough mutants. You’ll find the revolver later in another maintenance bunker on the golf course in the north-east of the island.

6. Rifle: For true long-range engagements, the classic rifle is essential. It deals significantly more damage than most melee weapons and lets you take out enemies at great distances. However, it’s hard to find: look for the entrance on the west side of the large lake at the bottom right of the map and fight through the huge cave system. You’ll need at least the rebreather. Ammo is rare and extremely valuable.

7. Crossbow: The crossbow is essentially a better compound bow: very accurate and with high damage (comparable to the rifle). You’ll find it in the supply bunker in the north-west of the island, for which you’ll need a Keycard. It doesn’t use regular arrows; you’ll need bolts, some of which you can retrieve from downed enemies.

8. Shotgun: The shotgun is by far the best standard weapon at close to short range – huge stopping power, limited range, and a bit slow. Once mutants or cannibals get too close, it’s unbeatable. It’s relatively easy to find after you’ve cleared the first three caves and found the shovel. The shotgun is buried with one of your colleagues, whose purple marker appears on your GPS in the north-west of the island. Like the pistol, you can give the shotgun to Virginia.

Technically the Cross also counts as a ranged weapon, as it can burn demons. It’s only marginally effective against regular cannibals or mutants. You’ll find it in the same cave as the Rope Gun – equip it as soon as you encounter demons.

Crafting recipes for ranged combat in Sons of the Forest

There are two particularly useful crafting recipes for ranged combat that you should rely on early to survive. The spear overlaps with melee and is a strong all-rounder for your first hours.

1. Spear: Carved from 2x sticks, 1x duct tape, and a knife. Suitable for thrusting and throwing, and can be retrieved afterwards. Perfect for your first fights against cannibals and for hunting.

2. Crafted Bow (Makeshift Bow): Use 2x sticks, 1x duct tape, and 1x rope to make a simple bow. Stone arrows are also easy to craft and should be your first quiet ranged weapon – ideal in caves to take out mutants from a distance.

Conclusion: use ranged weapons efficiently

The further you progress, the more important ranged weapons become. Due to scarce ammo, use them sparingly and reserve them for tight spots. Find all weapons together with friends – ideally by renting your own Sons of the Forest server from us. That way you’ll not only be better prepared for stronger mutants, but you’ll also play through the story more calmly and safely later on.