There are a total of nine marked caves that appear on your GPS in Sons of the Forest. These subterranean areas are crucial for story progression, acquiring essential tools like the Rebreather and Shovel, and obtaining valuable weapons and armor.
Cave System Overview
Caves in Sons of the Forest are primary points of interest, offering exploration, loot, outfits, weapons, utility items, and lore snippets. They are integral to progressing the game’s story. Once a cave entrance is opened by destroying its covering planks, mutants begin to spawn on the surface nearby, with the highest quantities appearing near caves as days progress. After enemies are killed, at least two mutants naturally respawn in the area each day. Opening at least one cave also triggers creepy takeovers of cannibal villages.
The game features seven primary caves that are typically identified by letters A through G, along with the distinct Hell Cave. These caves range from early-game entry points that require no special equipment to complex, end-game dungeons demanding specific gear and preparation. Understanding which tools are necessary before entering a cave is critical to prevent frustrating dead ends and ensure the collection of essential items for progression.
Major Cave Breakdown: Locations and Loot
Each marked cave offers unique challenges and rewards. Below is a detailed breakdown of each known cave, including its location, notable items, and hostile inhabitants.
| Cave Name | Other Names | Location | Notable Loot | Hostiles | Required Tools |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cave A | Rebreather Cave | Northeastern shoreline, near beach | Rebreather, Stun Gun | Puffies, Fingers, Babies, Shark | None for entry |
| Cave B | Rope Gun Cave | Western forest slope, near initial crash site | Rope Gun, Cross, Artifact Piece C | Puffies, Babies, Fingers, Twins, Sluggy | None for entry |
| Cave C | Shovel Cave | Confluence of two rivers, beneath mountain slopes | Shovel, Flashlight Attachment, Wetsuit | Puffies, Babies, Fingers, Twins, Legsy, Sluggy | Rope Gun, Rebreather |
| Cave D | Ancient Armor Cave | Rocky wall near central lake | Ancient Armor pieces, Rifle | Puffies, Blue Puffies, Babies, Twins, Demons | Rebreather |
| Cave F | Pickaxe Cave | Northern cliffs | Pickaxe | Not specified | Rope Gun (likely) |
| Cave G | Artifact Cave | Not specified | Not specified | Not specified | Not specified |
| Hell Cave | Final Cave | Beneath Luxury Bunker | Golden Cube, story items | Demons, Giant Demon | Golden Armor (likely) |
Cave A (Rebreather Cave): This fork-like cave is found on the northeastern shoreline. One path leads to the Stun Gun, while the other contains the Rebreather and a water exit. Be wary of sharks in the water; throwing a severed limb can distract them. Initial entry requires no specific tools, making it an early-game objective.
Cave B (Rope Gun Cave): Located immediately uphill from a forest crash site on a western slope. This cave is crucial for obtaining the Rope Gun, which enables zipline traversal. It also contains a Cross and an Artifact Piece. A “Sluggy” creature may block deeper passages, which are effectively cleared with Molotovs.
Cave C (Shovel Cave): Situated at the confluence of two rivers, down from the mountain crash site. This cave requires both the Rope Gun to traverse stalagmite walls via a zipline and the Rebreather for its fully flooded sections. It yields the indispensable Shovel, a Flashlight Attachment, and a Wetsuit. This is a significantly more difficult cave, including a challenging Legsy ambush, and is one of the game’s longest and most dangerous.
Cave D (Ancient Armor Cave): The entrance is cut into the rock face next to the second largest lake by surface area. Inside, a flooded section requires the Rebreather for further access. The Rifle is located in an upper part of the cave accessible only from Grotto D, a large lake grotto on the other side of the island. This cave is known for providing pieces of the Ancient Armor.
Cave F (Pickaxe Cave): Added in Patch 12, this cave is a source for the Pickaxe. Its specific location is within the northern cliffs, and it likely requires the Rope Gun or other climbing gear for full exploration, though this is not explicitly stated.
Cave G (Artifact Cave): Details for this cave are less specified in the sources, but it is marked on the GPS.
Hell Cave: This end-game cave is accessed through the Luxury Bunker, specifically behind a bathtub within the Puffton quarters. It is unmarked on the map and features lava tunnels, encounters with multiple waves of mutants, and a Demon boss. It is the final cave leading to one of the game’s endings and contains the Golden Cube and other story items. It typically requires the Golden Armor or a specific story trigger.
Optimal Progression and Environmental Hazards
A reliable progression route through the caves is crucial for efficient item acquisition and story advancement. A common and recommended order is:
- Rope Gun Cave (Cave B): For zipline traversal.
- Rebreather Cave (Cave A): To swim underwater.
- Shovel Cave (Cave C): Its flooded sections require the Rebreather, and ziplines require the Rope Gun.
- Pickaxe Cave (Cave F): The Pickaxe is essential for breaking sealed walls in deeper caves and accessing buried graves.
This order ensures that you acquire necessary traversal tools before encountering passages you cannot cross. Building near cave entrances becomes very dangerous as days progress, as mutants spawn in the highest quantity there. Once caves are opened, creepy takeovers of cannibal villages also begin to occur. Inside caves, be prepared for various mutant types, including Puffies, Babies, Fingers, Twins, Legsies, Sluggies, and Demons. Some caves, like the Rebreather Cave, also feature environmental hazards such as sharks. Always bring flares for dark, flooded areas, and consider saving before entering particularly challenging caves like the Shovel Cave.
FAQ
How many caves are in Sons of the Forest? There are a total of nine marked caves that appear on the GPS, including seven primary caves (A-G) and the Hell Cave.
What is the best cave order in Sons of the Forest? A reliable progression is Rope Gun Cave first, then Rebreather Cave, followed by Shovel Cave, and finally the Pickaxe Cave. This sequence ensures you have the necessary tools for traversal (Rope Gun for ziplines, Rebreather for flooded sections) before encountering impassable obstacles.
Which cave has the shovel? The Shovel is located deep inside Cave C, known as the Shovel Cave. To access it, you will need the Rope Gun for ziplines and the Rebreather for its flooded sections.
Which cave has the rebreather and rope gun? The Rebreather is found in Cave A, the Rebreather Cave. The Rope Gun is located in Cave B, the Rope Gun Cave. Both are early, high-priority caves that unlock crucial traversal abilities.