To find the Shovel in Sons of the Forest, you must first acquire the Zipline Rope Gun and the Rebreather. The Shovel is located deep within a specific cave system on the west side of the map, just before the snowy mountains, and is crucial for accessing buried bunkers and other valuable items.
Obtaining the Shovel
The Shovel is a vital progression item in Sons of the Forest, enabling access to numerous buried locations and essential gear. Before embarking on the journey to retrieve it, two prerequisite items are mandatory: the Zipline Rope Gun and the Rebreather. Without these, progress through the Shovel Cave will be impossible due to vertical traversal and extensive underwater sections.
The Shovel Cave is situated on the west side of the island, positioned just before the snowy mountainous region. As you approach the cave entrance, you will notice three deceased workers impaled on spikes outside. Interact with the worker in the middle to collect a Slingshot. After acquiring the Slingshot, you must break down the wooden boards obstructing the cave’s entrance to gain access.
Navigating the Shovel Cave
The Shovel Cave is a dangerous environment filled with cannibals and mutants. It is highly recommended to prepare with adequate medical supplies, food, drinks for energy, a reliable weapon, and armor before entering. Upon first entering, you will encounter a sheer drop leading to a small body of water containing skeletons. Descend into this pit to gather resources, including an Air Tank. Climb back out and look upwards to spot a rope stretching across the cave with cloth hanging from it. Collect the cloth, then use your Zipline Rope Gun to traverse to the next section.
Upon landing, proceed to the right to collect additional resources such as Tape, Energy Drinks, and Meds. Then, enter the water on the left and immediately dive down to locate an underwater tunnel. Continue swimming through this tunnel as far as possible; it will lead you to the subsequent cave section. Be cautious upon emerging, as several mutants will likely attack. Follow the path, collecting items like a Wetsuit, another Air Tank, and 9mm Ammo found near rocks on the right. You will encounter more cannibals before reaching a slope that you will automatically slide down into the next room.
After sliding into the water, turn right and head towards the illuminated area, which is rich with resource-filled cases. Collect what you can, then continue along the path until you reach a room with worker bodies illuminated by a small light. This area also contains mutants that can be either engaged or avoided. Collect any available resources and proceed towards a second light at the back of the room, through tunnels leading deeper. You will arrive in a larger room featuring a light at the back and a glowing red laptop positioned between two bodies in the center. Interact with the laptop to add “Maintenance Bunker A” to your map. Next, examine the body beside the laptop to obtain the Flashlight Attachment.
Continue deeper into the cave, following the light. In the next illuminated section, you will find a case with supplies. At the end of this room, turn left into a path where you can collect Dollar Notes. Proceed straight, diving into a smaller body of water. Swim directly across to emerge on the other side, where more mutants await. Follow this path, and as the tunnel widens, turn right towards a distant light. This final room is hazardous; you can choose to run directly to the light to minimize combat. The Shovel is found by this light, held by a deceased worker. After collecting the Shovel, backtrack through the cave system. Eventually, a large mutant will break through a previously traversed tunnel. Using an explosive on this mutant can clear the path, which is then filled with mutant babies, leading to a different exit point from where you entered the cave system.
Using the Shovel
The Shovel is primarily a digging tool used to excavate specific areas of the ground, revealing hidden objects and access points. It is an advanced item with an Item ID of 485. Diggable locations are typically associated with buried structures, graves, or other points of interest. Using the Shovel removes layers of soil until the buried item or entrance becomes accessible.
The Shovel is instrumental for game progression, unlocking several critical locations and items across the island.
| Dig Site Type | Key Items/Locations Unlocked