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

While melee weapons are great against many basic cannibals and mutants, you will likely want heavier firepower for the bigger bosses. Thankfully, the island is dotted with weapons that pack a serious punch. With ranged weapons 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, check out our previous post (Sons of the Forest: All melee weapons – locations, maps & crafting tips) . Now let’s look at every location and crafting recipe for ranged combat so you can gear up properly!

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

Ranged weapons are ideal for tackling larger mutants because you can keep your distance and avoid their attacks more safely. Many late-game firearms also deal significantly more damage, which helps you progress through the story. However, almost all of these weapons require ammo. Sometimes you can craft it; often you must find it. This balances their power and encourages you to use ranged weapons primarily in truly important situations.

1. Stun Gun: It doesn’t deal direct damage, but it’s very useful in many situations. It fires a tethered taser charge and can paralyze enemies at range (usually for about 5 seconds). This is extremely handy against larger groups! You can find it fairly early if you dare enter the northern cave with the rebreather (Sons of the Forest Caves: Best Order, Locations & Tips) . It’s on a hanging corpse. The Stun Gun requires specific stun ammo.

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

3. Pistol: You probably 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, swimming out to the life raft, and taking it from your deceased colleague. Watch out for sharks! Ammo is scarce but more common than for many late-game firearms. Save it for emergencies or give it to Virginia — she handles it excellently and (apparently) uses no ammo.

4. Compound Bow: While you can craft a simple bow, sooner or later you should look for an upgraded one. You’ll find it only with the shovel, by digging out one of the maintenance bunkers in the southwest of the island. It deals more damage and aims much more precisely. Arrows can be crafted, 3D printed, or found in the world. 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 medium to short distances. Save its ammo (the same as the pistol) for tough mutants. You can find the revolver later in another maintenance bunker on the golf course in the northeast of the island.

6. Rifle: For true long-range combat, the classic rifle is essential. It deals significantly more damage than most melee weapons and lets you eliminate enemies from afar. It’s very hard to find: look for the entrance on the west side of the large lake at the bottom right of the map and fight your way through the massive cave system. You’ll need at least the rebreather. Ammo is rare and extremely valuable.

7. Crossbow: Essentially a superior Compound Bow — very precise and with high damage (comparable to the rifle). You’ll find it in the supply bunker in the northwest of the island, for which you need a keycard. It doesn’t work with regular arrows; you need bolts, which you can sometimes recover from downed enemies.

8. Shotgun: By far the best standard weapon at close to short range — high 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 finish the first three caves and obtain the shovel. The shotgun is buried with one of your colleagues whose purple marker appears on your GPS in the northwest of the island. As with the pistol, you can give the shotgun to Virginia.

Technically, the Cross also counts as a ranged weapon because it can burn demons. It’s only partially 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 weapons in Sons of the Forest

There are two especially useful early-game crafting recipes for ranged combat that you should use to survive. The spear overlaps with melee and is a strong all-round weapon for your first hours.

1. Spear: Crafted from 2x sticks, 1x duct tape, and a knife. Suitable for stabbing and throwing and can be reused afterward. Perfect for your first fights against cannibals and for hunting.

2. Crafted Bow (Improvised 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 silent ranged weapon — ideal in caves to eliminate mutants from a distance.

Conclusion: Use ranged weapons efficiently

The farther you progress, the more important ranged weapons become. Due to scarce ammo, use them sparingly and save them for dire situations. Hunt down every weapon 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 also play through the story more calmly and more safely.