Sons of the Forest: Kelvin & Virginia Guide – Commands, Trust, Combat, and Base Tips

Unlike in the predecessor The Forest, even in single-player you’re no longer alone in Sons of the Forest. Two helpful companions stand by your side—one right from the start and another later in the game. They make the island feel far more alive, and you’ll also learn more about it. Kelvin and Virginia are essential to your gameplay, and you should actively use them to build your bases or defend yourself against mutants and cannibals. Today we’ll take a closer look at how to do that and what options you have with both of them.

Kelvin in Sons of the Forest: Tasks, commands, and tips

Kelvin is another passenger from the helicopter who survives the crash. He goes down at the same site as you, but he’s clearly worse off. Due to the explosion and the fall, he suffered a severe head injury and is now deaf and mute. After a brief breather, though, he’s ready to help and do his best!

At the core, Kelvin is your extra pair of hands for everything related to your base and survival. He’s quite flexible and adapts to the commands you give him.

• Take item: You can give Kelvin various things, primarily outfits.
• Follow me: With this command, Kelvin follows you closely—ideal for exploration or when moving to a new base.
• Gather: Kelvin can gather berries, fish, sticks, rocks, small stones, arrows, and logs. He can then fill storage with them.
• Build: He can build small things like a campfire or a shelter. He can also finish blueprints or clear areas.
• Stay: Kelvin remains at a spot of your choice.
• Take a break: Kelvin goes off to do his own thing for a bit.
• Maintain base: Kelvin helps keep structures in good shape and repairs them.
• Clear area: Kelvin fells trees and clears the forest in a radius of 5, 10, or 20 meters around his current position—perfect for resources and building space.

Tip for the start: Send Kelvin to catch fish. He’ll hang them up to dry right away—giving you a reliable food source early on.

Do I need to take care of Kelvin? Food and needs

Thankfully, you don’t need to actively take care of Kelvin—he looks after himself. You’ll see him drinking from a river or picking berries. Keep in mind: he can also help himself to your supplies, such as meat from the drying rack.

Can Kelvin fight? Combat behavior and protection tips

Even if Kelvin may look a bit military at first glance, he cannot fight due to his injury. However, he will warn you about nearby enemies by pointing at them. Keep Kelvin out of dangerous situations and focus on defense yourself.

Can I lose Kelvin? GPS tracking and avoiding death

You can always see Kelvin’s location on your GPS device. He’s marked with a blue K and usually keeps up well in the field. Sometimes he gets stuck—just follow his signal. He won’t follow you into caves.

Important: Kelvin can die. First, he goes down and you can revive him. If he takes too much damage, he dies permanently. Prioritize safety and keep him out of danger zones.

Virginia in Sons of the Forest: Building trust and abilities

Unlike Kelvin, Virginia won’t be your friend right away—you first have to earn her trust. In the first few days, she’ll approach your area and watch you from a distance. Do not attack her, even if her many arms and legs seem strange at first.

Earning Virginia’s trust: Tips and steps

To turn Virginia into a loyal companion, you must remain calm and show that you’re not a threat.

• Put your weapon away with G to appear non-threatening.
• Move slowly and calmly toward her, but don’t chase her.
• Watch her dance.
• Let her sit by the campfire.
• Revive her if she has been attacked.

Over time, Virginia will visit more often and even bring you gifts—such as berries, plants, or small animals. Then you’re on the right track!

Once she trusts you, you can give her items. Especially important: give her one of your GPS devices. Kelvin wears his from the start (blue dot on his chest). You can find more devices on other soldiers around the island (marked in purple). This lets you see Virginia’s position on your map as well.

Can Virginia fight? Weapons, ammo, and defense

Unlike Kelvin, Virginia is excellent for defense. Once she trusts you enough, you can give her weapons.

• Thanks to her extra arms, she can wield a pistol and a shotgun at the same time.
• Virginia doesn’t consume ammo from your inventory.
• She’s ideal for securing your base against cannibals and mutants.

Tip: Equip Virginia with firearms as early as possible and position her near your most important structures. A GPS tracker on her makes it easy to find her again.

Conclusion: Making the most of Kelvin and Virginia

Kelvin and Virginia are two of the best additions to Sons of the Forest—and both massively enhance your experience. Kelvin supports you with gathering, building, and maintenance of your base, while Virginia—once she trusts you—shines with strong combat abilities. Whether solo or with friends, this duo makes Sons of the Forest far safer, more efficient, and more fun.

Even when you rent a Sons of the Forest multiplayer server from us, these two characters are available alongside your friends. Together—whether with friends or the in-game companions—Sons of the Forest becomes even more enjoyable!