Sons Of The Forestthrows players into the deep end. Crash landing on a remote island crawling with cannibals and mutants,players must scavenge what they need to survivefrom their surroundings. Not only must they contend with their violent neighbors, but also endure the elements, provide food and water, and explore the island to find a way to escape.
Along the way, players will stumble across some unique items and equipment. These should not be missed, as acquiring them can help players out, especially in the early game. Here are the best items to get, and where to find them, inSons Of The Forest.
Updated on July 24, 2025, by Taylor Pittman:Sons of the Forest 1.0 update brought the game to its most polished form yet. Players can enjoy added gameplay, new NPCs, and special items. Locating items is important to progress in the storyline, and weapons are needed to fight the many cannibals and mutants that plague the island. There are certain things players should prioritize to get the most out of their playthrough and protect themselves. This list has been updated to include moreimportant items players should get in Sons of the Forest first.
13Modern Axe
A Melee Weapon
A direct upgrade to the tactical axe that players start with,the Modern Axeis a larger and overall better version. It chops down trees much faster and is an ideal weapon to wield when just starting out, as it can take down enemies in only a couple of hits, often dismembering or decapitating them.
It can be found at an abandoned camp just northwest of one of the purple GPS Locators on the map, relatively close to the mountain spawn point. Players should verify to pick this axe up for a fantastic early-game weapon and tool.
12Winter Jacket
An Article of Clothing
Winter is coming, and there aren’t any dragons to keep players nice and toasty. Instead, they’ll need to keep themselves warm, and one of the best ways to do this is byacquiring the Winter Jacket. This piece of clothing keeps players insulated in cold weather and prevents a loss of stamina from the cold.
Players can find the Winter Jacket at an abandoned tent on the Golf Course located on the far north side of the island. They should aim to pick this item up before winter sets in to avoid getting caught out.
11GPS Locator
A Tracking Device
When the game begins, players will see three purple markers on the map. These are GPS Locators, and going to each individual marker and picking up a locator will add them to the player’s inventory. Players can then use them as GPS trackers similar to the one Kelvin starts out with.
Leaving them at a particular spot will mark it on the map, helping players find their way back should they want to. This is ideal for scouting out base locations or marking areas to return to. Alternatively,give a locator to Virginiaand players will never lose track of her whereabouts.
10Pistol
A Firearm
Guns are a rare but valuable commodity inSons Of The Forestand can turn the tide of encounters with cannibals. The easiest one for players to get their hands onis the pistol, which can be picked up in the lifeboat where one of the GPS Locators is found.
This is a powerful weapon to gain access to early on, and while it doesn’t deal quite as much damage as some other options, it can be a blessing when ambushed by cannibals or defending the home base.
9Foldable Hang Glider
An Aerial Navigation Item
The map inSons of the Forestis huge, and sometimes, traveling from one side to the other can take up to one in-game day. Players can make traveling easier by finding a hang glider and using it to fly.Hang gliders are found on mountaintopsand cliff edges throughout the forest.
Players will know they are close to one when its symbol appears on the GPS. To use a hang glider, equip it, approach a high place, and jump to activate it automatically. Since it is foldable, players can keep it in their inventory when they no longer want to use it.
8Red Mask
A Wearable Mask
If combat isn’t the player’s thing, this strange Red Mask can provide a viable alternative. It is acquired by discovering a 3D printer, which can be found in several locations across the map, then selecting the mask, adding 150ml of printer resin, and printing it out.
It allows players to blend in with the cannibals, and as long as the player wears it, they will stay peaceful and will not attack. Sometimes they will even kneel at the player’s feet and pray. Either way, it allows the player to sneak through an entire camp of hostiles if they need to, which avoids a dangerous and potentially fatal fight if on low health.
7Stun Gun
A Ranged Stun Weapon
A non-lethal ranged option, the Stun Gun can be used to taze enemies and avoid killing them. This is especially useful as cannibals respond to the player’s actions – if they see their tribe members (especially females) killedthey will retaliate and become increasingly aggressive.
The Stun Gun grants an alternate way to dispatch enemies without skyrocketing enemy aggression. It can be found in a cave right next to the beach spawn point, meaning it’s highly convenient and easy to acquire if starting out there.
6Rebreather
A Piece of Equipment For Scuba Diving
Located in the same cave system as the Stun Gun,the Rebreatheris found far deeper into the grotto. The journey is worth it, though, as the Rebreather is an essential piece of kit that allows the player to breathe underwater and grants access to previously inaccessible areas.
Once again, if starting at the beach spawn point, there’s no reason why players shouldn’t go get it straight away. There are plenty of other useful resources and tools, including the Stun Gun, that can be collected inside.
5Pickaxe
A Tool For Mining
Playerswill need the pickaxeif they want to collect Solafite, a natural resource on the island that can be used to upgrade weapons and armor. The pickaxe is on the island’s northeast side, deep inside a Solafite cave.
The cave contains some dangerous mutants, so verify to pack plenty of health consumables and weapons. Players will also need to pick up the Rebreather before they can find the pickaxe. Once they find the pickaxe they can mine all the Solafite in the cave.
4Rope Gun
A Zipline Projectile
Another key piece of equipment, the Rope Gun allows players to use ziplines to cross gaps in cave systems that would otherwise be too far to jump. It also grants the ability for players to create their own individual ziplines, which can be a fun and speedy way to traverse parts of the map.
The Rope Gun is found by exploring a cave entrance right next to the forest spawn point. However, it might not be the best idea to head in right away, as thearea is filled with creepiesand can prove a challenge for lightly armed players. It might be best to return later to pick up this crucial piece of equipment.
