Just like in the first game, The Forest, you’ll encounter all kinds of strange enemies in Sons of the Forest. They’ll try to attack you in your base or lie in wait inside caves. Not only are there many more variations now, but also tougher enemies that you can only defeat with tactical gameplay. Especially if you plan to explore every cave and bunker, it’s crucial to know how to fend these monsters off. We’ll go over every possible foe, where you’ll encounter them, and the best ways to deal with each one.
In this guide, you’ll learn locations, weaknesses, and the best weapons for every enemy type.
Cannibals in Sons of the Forest: Locations, Behavior & Counters
The enemies you’ll likely run into most often are the island’s cannibals, who will discover and harass you after a few days. As in The Forest, the island wasn’t uninhabited—an indigenous tribe lives here … and you’re the intruder!
These natives are human, so they’re easy to distinguish from other monsters on the island. They have a classic tribal look, wear tattered clothing, and paint themselves white. Their attacks are fairly primitive, usually with sticks or makeshift clubs.
Cannibals can attack you in your base, out on the island, or in their camps scattered around the map. Some of them can climb trees, so watch out! The more you kill, the more aggressive future attacks become.
- Women: You’ll likely meet female cannibals first. They won’t attack—just watch you. You can scare them off with your axe or simply leave them alone.
- Men: Male cannibals are more aggressive and will engage on sight. Use a bow to pick them off before they close the distance.
Beyond the regular tribespeople, special variants occasionally appear with different weapons. Some carry a spear, throw Molotov cocktails, or go hyper-aggressive with a knife. Your best bet is to engage from range or use the stun baton to disable them.
- Heavy Cannibal (Titan): Think sumo wrestler—surprisingly agile despite the size, often using leap attacks. Punish them with the modern axe when they’re downed.
- Mud Cannibals: These hide under leaves or in mud. They scuttle on all fours, are very fast, and can even climb trees! They’re fragile, though—a few axe swings usually do the job.
- Large Cannibals / Leaders: Be careful around these big tribesmen. They’re slower but hit much harder. Some wear a gold mask, marking them as leaders. The best tactic is a headshot with a bow, then rush with the modern axe while they’re on the ground.
Tips against cannibals:
- Fire arrows and Molotovs cause panic and DoT damage.
- Masks (later in the game) can briefly pacify some cannibals.
- Build defenses (fences, spikes) and traps to secure camps and your base.
Animals and Sharks: Dangers in Water and Caves
The fauna can also be dangerous in Sons of the Forest. While most animals—like deer or moose—avoid you, water poses a real threat. You’ll mainly encounter sharks there, and once they’re on you, you can die in an instant.
Hostile sea creatures show up in caves with diving sections or in open coastal waters. Use your pistol to kill them from a distance so you can swim safely. Rebreather gear and flares/torches help you keep your bearings in dark sections.
Mutants in Sons of the Forest: Types, Weaknesses & Best Weapons
Now for the nastiest and strongest enemies in Sons of the Forest, primarily found in caves and bunkers. As you progress the story (especially after the ending), more of them will appear on the surface and even attack your base.
We’re talking about mutants, which you may recognize from The Forest—bizarre creatures that were likely once human, now just masses of flesh. They come in many variants with different attack patterns. Many can’t see, but they hear extremely well.
- Mutant Baby: You’ll probably run into these first, as they’re common in caves. They’re small and leap at you. Swat them down with melee or use a big explosion to clear several at once.
- Puffy: Also common, especially in bunkers. They’re blind, but not to be underestimated. Bow and arrows are effective, and a katana works well thanks to its speed. Blue or spotted Puffys are tougher—shotgun helps here.
- Fingers: A mutated Puffy with an open chest/face. Its legs are more vulnerable—use your bow to cripple them and drop it, then finish with the modern axe.
- Twins: Two fused mutants that can move along cave ceilings. Use ranged attacks or heavy plunging attacks from above. Parries often interrupt their combos.
- Sluggy: One of the few monsters that won’t actively attack. It blocks cave entrances and can be killed with explosives (e.g., time bombs).
- Caterpillar: Also known as “Worm” or “John 2.0.” Agile and fast, making it hard to hit. Best approach: Stun Gun, then katana to capitalize quickly.
More mutants appear later as you advance or finish the story. They’re usually found on the surface and can attack your base. If you played the first game, you might recognize some of them!
- Legsy: Attacks with its legs and is surprisingly fast. We recommend ranged attacks—fire arrows are a great option!
- Armsy: Where there’s Legsy, there’s Armsy. This classic from the first game appears post-story. Your best weapons are explosives or the shotgun.
- Creepy Virginia: Another returning mutant from The Forest. With many legs, she moves like a spider—fast and flexible. The compound bow is your best bet; melee is much riskier.
- Holey: A massive lump of flesh that dishes out heavy attacks. It rams you and uses body slams to wreck bases. Bait an attack, then hit with your axe while it’s down. Explosives are always strong here.
- Demons: Thin, nimble mutants reminiscent of skinwalkers. Annoying and dangerous, but you can repel and even burn them with a cross!
Combat Prep: Armor, Weapons, Traps & Tactics
- Armor: Wear armor whenever possible. Bone and Creepy armor improve survivability; Tech Armor is strongest but costly.
- Weapon choice: Shotgun for close-range bruisers, pistol/bow for safe distance, katana and modern axe for fast melee hits, Stun Gun for control.
- Utilities: Molotovs, time bombs, explosive arrows, and flares/torches make cave fights easier. Bring meds and energy bars.
- Traps & base building: Secure your base with fences, spikes, and traps. Keep entrances clear and use terrain to your advantage (choke points, high ground).
- Combat tactics: Aim for headshots with bows/firearms, kite instead of face-tanking, parry/block with melee weapons, and avoid noise to keep blind mutants from homing in.
Conclusion: Beat Every Enemy and Survive Longer
As in The Forest, Sons of the Forest throws plenty of enemies at you, making survival on the island more challenging. While tribespeople usually attack you in your base or out on the island, you’ll need to watch for grotesque mutants in caves and bunkers. The longer you play, the more aggressive and relentless the island’s foes become.
Team up with friends on one of our Sons of the Forest servers, and boost your chances of victory. You can support each other in combat and survive longer together!
