Sons of the Forest: 8 pro tips for long-term survival

You’ve likely already survived a few days or weeks on the island in Sons of the Forest and uncovered some of its hidden caves, camps, and bunkers. That means you’re well prepared for the adventure and know the basics. But the game holds plenty of surprises, little tricks, and tips that don’t immediately jump out at you. From practical touches that make your building phases easier to varied combat techniques, there’s far more depth than first meets the eye. Here are eight tips to help you survive for the long haul!

Sons of the Forest: Ziplines for fast travel and log logistics

You’ll find the Rope Gun fairly early on while exploring one of the caves (Sons of the Forest caves: best order, locations & tips) . It’s indispensable—not just for delving deeper into caves, but also for expanding your base. The game doesn’t explain many of its functions, so new players rarely use it to its full potential.

The ability to glide along the lines also doubles as rapid transport. Set up as many connected lines across the island as you can to move quickly from A to B. If you fire the first anchor and then walk to your destination before firing again, you can stretch the line even further. There is a limit, but it’s fairly generous. Once both anchors are set, the line functions in both directions.

You can also use a zipline to transport logs! Place log storage at the end and the logs will automatically be collected there. If you’re felling lots of trees and want to skip the footwork, ziplines are your best friend.

Base building in winter: Safe lake base in Sons of the Forest

Thanks to the seasons, Sons of the Forest stays full of surprises. And while winter is harsh, it can bring some cool opportunities. For instance, many lakes on the island freeze over during cold spells, giving you a unique chance to build your base on the ice.

While cannibals can still attack in winter, a lake base offers optimal protection against raiders throughout the other three seasons. A fun little bonus: the locals will slip on the ice, making them easier to deal with.

Combat tactics: Fight effectively and survive longer

Fights can be tough even later on—despite the best weapons. Use everything the game offers and combine techniques tactically:

• Aim for limbs to stagger enemies.
• Combine melee and ranged effectively.
• Use shock effects to immobilise enemies.
• Arm Virginia with a pistol and a shotgun.
• Keep your distance whenever possible.
• Retrieve your arrows (or have Kelvin do it).

Pro tip: Blocking and dodging often cost fewer resources than healing—practise your timing!

Optimise survival settings: Day length, seasons & loot

If your first run was just a practice round, try different survival settings on your second or third. These include loot, food and item frequency, as well as day length and seasons. You can even set seasons to realistic—24 hours per day and 90 days per season. A quick look at the options is ideal if you want a tailored challenge.

3D printer recipes: Must-have items for your kit

You’ll find 3D printers in several bunkers that let you craft a range of useful recipes. Use them as early as possible to unlock valuable items. You’ll also find the required resin in those bunkers.

• Arrows: If you don’t fancy farming gull feathers, print arrows instead. 5 cost 50 resin.
• Flask: Essential for survival! Fill it at a river or collector. Costs 100 resin.
• Red Mask: Craft for 150 resin; makes some cannibals less aggressive.
• GPS mount: Component for GPS markers (75 resin). Tag teammates or your base on the map.
• Grappling Hooks: For 100 resin you get two hooks as ammo for the zipline. More in tip no. 1.
• Tech Mesh: Key component for Tech Armour (250 resin).
• Sled: Costs 1000 resin. Perfect for bombing downhill and for avoiding fall damage.

Understand the log limit: Manage performance and resources

To combat instability, the game limits logs in the overworld. If you’re planning a massive base, keep this in mind. Only 50 loose logs can be loaded at any time. Make sure you slot them into storage so you don’t hit the cap and lose resources. This is especially important when Kelvin is helping to fell trees.

Defend your base: Cleverly integrate spikes into your walls

As we mention in our base defence guide, spikes are among the best tools against attackers (Sons of the Forest: Defend your base – locations & traps) . With a small trick, you can hide them almost invisibly inside your walls.

You can’t ram sticks directly into the ground right next to a log wall, but if you place one a little further away first, the white outline will often show that a second stick can go right beside the wall. Then snap the stick so its tip pokes through the wall to the outside. Reinforce it with stones—and you’ve got a perfect defence!

Inventory management: Take more loot by emptying your pockets

Generally, Sons of the Forest gives you just enough loot to survive. From energy drinks and ramen to snacks—camps and bunkers have plenty. You’ll also find building parts in abundance, often more than you can carry.

We therefore recommend investing in shelves early and emptying your pockets regularly. That way, you can pick up more on your next excursions and manage your resources more efficiently.

Conclusion: Pro tips for long-term survival

Once you’ve got the hang of it, surviving on the island isn’t that hard—especially with the right quality-of-life tricks. For base building, ziplines, the 3D printer, and shelves are essential for getting the most out of your situation.

With one of our Sons of the Forest servers, you can even play together with friends! It’s even more fun, and everyone can focus on their own tasks.