Summary
The new release ofSons Of The Foresthas players returning to a cannibal-infested island in a bid to survive and thrive. One key change from its predecessor is the protagonist and the overall plot. Rather than being a civilian passenger in a plane crash, the player will embrace the role of a high-tech rescue operative, meaning more tricks, tools, and weapons are available. Including firearms is also a welcome change, along with companions and aseries of other technical improvements. A series of new melee weapons have also been added to the game, along with the return of a few fan favorites from the first game. The forest can be thick and difficult to navigate, so with each weapon, a short guide on where and how to find them is included.
While it is largely down to each player and their preferences which weapon they prefer, there are certainly some weapons that have considerable advantages over others, and sometimes they are not altogether as difficult to acquire as they might seem. Players cancollect and crafta range of weapons and store them all in a single inventory, so there is no need to worry about having to ditch one weapon in favor of another one.
Updated June 21, 2025 by Andrew McLarney:With the release of the 1.0 update, Sons of the Forest has officially left Early Access, with several new features, weapons, traps, and events now introduced to the game. New weapons have been added, as well as existing entries being re-ordered and amended in accordance with the game as it evolves.
25Utility Knife
A Basic Starting Weapon Better Suited To Crafting
The Utility Knife is a basic close-range weapon that the player will have available from the very start of the game. The knife will be used automatically for crafting, but it can also be equipped and used as a weapon if necessary.
While it can certainly harm enemies, it will take a fair few stabs and slashes to take down even the weakest of cannibals, so it is best suited to hunting slow, small-game creatures if no axes or arrows are available.
24Crafted Spear
Though Easy To Craft, This Weapon Is Best Used For Hunting
Crafting is one of the core features for players to familiarize themselves with inSons of the Forest.A good way to do this is through the crafting of basic weapons. The spear is a useful tool that can either be thrust or thrown at any desired target.
The ingredients are relatively common and should be easy to find in abandoned camps or cave entrances. Unfortunately, the weapon is relatively weak without upgrades. It is best used for hunting fish and deer, rather than standing up to cannibal tribes.
23Crafted Club
A Brute Force Blunt Weapon For When Things Get Tribal
Much like the Crafted Spear, the Crafted Club is a relatively primitive weapon. Without upgrades, it will be less effective than even the basic axe. While the damage output may be slightly higher, it comes at the cost of a very slow swing speed.
Fortunately, this can be improved with the addition of Solafite, a unique resource found throughout the island, particularly in caves.Applying the upgradewill give a damage boost to the club, making it significantly more powerful.
22Crafted Bow
A Versatile Ranged Weapon, Though A Basic One
The Crafted Bow is easily one of the best early-game tools players can craft. It will enable them to both hunt and fight from a distance, all while remaining relatively stealthy. It will also have near-limitless ammunition in the form of sticks and stones.
While it may not be as powerful as some of the other bows and ranged weapons in the game, the Crafted Bow is bound to be useful for players in the early stages of a game. It can always be a good backup, considering that firearms ammunition is not easy to come by.
21Axe
The Basic Starting Tool For All Players
This small axe is provided in the emergency pack that the player will automatically pick up during the game’sopening crash cutscene(s). This versatile weapon can be used to hack down trees, ropes, and enemies alike.
It is very light and fast to use, which allows the player to deliver many hits in a short space of time without having to worry about long wind-ups. The downside is a weak block that will not do much to stop larger cannibal attacks.
20Cattle Prod/Stun Baton
Can Temporarily Slow Enemies and Reduce Cannibal Aggression
The cattle prod is a stun weapon that can be used to pacify enemies at close range. Depending on the relationship the player wants with the cannibal tribes, stunning enemies can be better than butchering them in front of their friends, making the cattle prod a useful tool in anySons of the Forestplayer’s inventory.
The cattle prod/stun baton can be found in a pile of skulls near a cave by the lake that is connected to the sea. Players can follow the rivers from the sea to locate it, and will not need a shovel to retrieve it, as with some others.
19Machete
A Fast, Effective Blade Ideal For Dicing Up Enemies
The machete is a brutal weapon and can be used for crafting or combat alike. A swift-cutting arc makes this weapon one of the best choices inSons of the Forest. The machete can be found in a small ruined camp on a beach in the southern bay, opposite the cave entrance and sea helicopter crash site.
This should be relatively easy to find for players who crash-land nearby. For others who may have had alternate beginnings, it’s best to look for the small estuary in the south of the island to locate the cave entrance.
18Katana
Perfect For Dismembering Enemies Quickly
As the best weapon fromThe Forest, the katana is difficult to access. The katana is a very fast blade that will cut through most cannibals with ease, and cause massive damage. Be prepared to fight if searching for this one, as it is located deep inside a well-defended location hidden in a cave on the northern side of the island, just above the lake.
Though acquiring this weapon may prove difficult, it is worth the effort since it is one of the best melee weapons in the game. In addition, underground bunkers often house a variety of other useful tools and items, so it’s worth taking the time to look for them.
17Chainsaw
For When Maximum Carnage Is Required
The chainsaw is located in the same underground facility as the katana, only this time it is in a sort of theater room. This room is located to the right, toward the exit of the swimming pool. This highly effective weapon can dismember enemies of all sizes and createa gory mess. It is also an efficient tree-cutter, which will be essential when building a large base.
The chainsaw requires batteries to operate, and these will need to be topped up over time. It can also be an extremely efficient tool for cutting down trees, but we know that’s not what most players will use it for.
16Guitar
An Inferior Wooden Weapon With A Dual Purpose
The guitar is more of a novelty item than a first-choice weapon, but it still provides great entertainment when being used to batter lower-level enemies around. It can also be usedto play instrumental covers of the game’s soundtrack, so it is worth retrieving for that alone.
The guitar can be found in the Entertainment Bunker along with the Modern Axe and Electric Chainsaw. It should go without saying both these alternatives are preferable to the guitar when it comes to combating mutants.
