To find the best items and progress the story, you’ll need to venture into the caves of Sons of the Forest. Just like in the predecessor, nasty mutants lurk here, but you’ll also gradually uncover what’s really going on with the island. You’ll find some of the strongest gear for your progression that makes everything much easier. In this guide, we 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
Don’t go into caves unprepared, especially if you have enemies enabled. Use our combat guide to get familiar with the basics ( (Sons of the Forest Combat Guide: Best Weapons, Tactics & Survival Tips) ). Beyond those tips, there are a few essential items 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 life raft in the bay on the west side 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 inside tight caves and useful for everyday survival.
- Bow and arrows: Craft a bow (1x rope, 2x sticks, 1x duct tape). Arrows: feathers + sticks + stones, or print them with the 3D printer. The best bow comes later — the crafted one is fine until then.
For light:
- Flashlight: Follow the GPS signal to a teammate hanging off a cliff. Cut him down and grab the flashlight. You’ll find batteries all over the world.
- Flares: Perfect for quickly boosting visibility. There are some right by the teammate next to the pistol on the raft.
- Torch: If you run out of battery power, a simple torch (stick + cloth) gives you steady light.
Survival and comfort items (recommended):
- Medicine and food (canned goods, MREs) for longer runs.
- Armor (e.g., bone or creepy armor) to reduce damage.
- Tarp and a stick to save before cave entrances.
- Bombs/Molotovs to clear blockades 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 geared up, you’re good to go. To progress quickly, tackle the caves in a sensible order, because many sections build on each other. Later caves require items from earlier ones. Here’s the recommended early-game route.
1. Find 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 some luck you even crashed nearby and are right there. If not: open your GPS and walk north to the beach.
Search the cave thoroughly. You’ll find ammo, flares, air tanks (for diving), and story clues. At a fork:
- Right: Stun Gun, a blueprint for a cross, and a rare artifact for the later story.
- Left: The path to the Rebreather. You’ll equip it automatically when you enter the water. Warning: A shark can spawn here — keep moving and swim out of the cave quickly.
2. Secure the Rope Gun (Zipline Gun) — forest cave near the crash site
With the Rebreather, head to a cave not far from the crash site in the forest. You’ll see a skull pile at the entrance — there’s a Stun Baton stuck in it. Grab it!
You’ll need to clear the entrance and break wooden boards. Along the way, collect watches, cloth, and canned food. Eventually you’ll reach three paths in a large open chamber:
- Right: Artifact (dive, fight, then scoop up the loot)
- Middle: A short section ending at a cross
- Left: Back toward 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 large gaps and reach new areas — a must-have for progression.
3. Get the Shovel (cave with Wetsuit & Pistol Light)
This cave requires the Rebreather and Rope Gun and lies not far from the previous one. Three impaled men stand at the entrance — the middle one carries a Slingshot.
The cave is fairly linear. Grab everything you find, including canisters (air tanks). Key loot:
- Wetsuit (improves swimming in cold water)
- Pistol Light (mount it on your pistol)
- Shovel at the end, overlooking a strange underground structure
On the way back: You’ll need 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 advance in Sons of the Forest and uncover the island’s secrets, you need the right items — and you’ll find them mainly in caves full of mutants and dangers. 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. That way you get stable performance, better odds against mutants, and faster progress as a team.
