One of the most vital parts of your character build in Sons of the Forest are the weapons you choose to wield. These can be the difference between surviving and dying on the mysterious island that you now call home. While you will be able to unlock different weapons by simply playing through the main story and exploring the island's many secrets, this is not the most efficient way of doing things.

　　Instead, you want to seek out strong, early-game weapons that can get you through the grind of the first several hours in Sons of the Forest. With a powerful weapon or two, you will be able to cut through mutants like butter and also improve your resource gathering as well. However, with a variety of weapons to choose from and different locations involved with all of them, you might not know which weapons to pick early on.

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　　Now Playing: Sons of the Forest Everything to Know

　　Luckily, that's where we can come in. This guide will offer players several early game weapons they can easily retrieve and where to find them in Sons of the Forest. We are mainly basing this list on weapons that don't require any additional tools, like the shovel or rebreather, to find.

　　

1. Modern Axe

We're starting off with one of the basics. The Modern Axe is a true upgrade from the Tactical Axe that's basically given to you for free at the start of the game. It has better damage and speed than the Tactical Axe, making for a terrific all-around melee weapon that is also capable of chopping down trees with speed. So you not only have a melee option for combat, but you also have a log and stick-gathering phenom on your hands.

　　

How to get the Modern Axe

To find the Modern Axe, you need to visit an abandoned campsite in the northwest corner of the map, just off of the snowy mountain range. You can see a screenshot of where to find the camp below. Once you get near the location, a purple marker will appear, telling you where you need to go. At the camp, you will be able to pick up the Modern Axe off a dead hiker's body.

　　The location of the Modern Axe's campsite location. | Image credit: MapGenie.io

2. Craftable Bow

Next up, we have a survival game mainstay. The basic bow and arrow might not be the best weapon you can use in Sons of the Forest, but it allows you to save some resources due to how little it takes to make. All you need are some sticks, rope, and duct tape, all of which are available from the very beginning of the game. Once you have the bow, you can craft some arrows using sticks, feathers, and stones. Again, these resources are easily found in the starting areas of Sons of the Forest.

　　The bow is primarily a hunting weapon but can pick off some mutants at close range. It's also useful for taking out enemies hiding in trees above you. Essentially, the Craftable Bow should be your first long-range weapon. It doesn't take much to make, and you're able to retrieve any shot arrows, meaning you shouldn't be running out of ammo quickly. As you progress through Sons of the Forest, we recommend upgrading the bow to either the Crossbow or the Compound Bow. Unfortunately, both weapons require you to obtain a shovel first, making them more of mid-game weapons.

　　

How to get the Craftable Bow

As we previously mentioned, the bow can be made from the start of the game using your inventory. All you need to do is combine sticks, rope, and duct tape to make the bow and then combine sticks, feathers, and stones to make a set of arrows. From there, simply equip both of the items in your inventory and you can start shooting.

　　

3. Pistol

Now, we're adding a little bit of firepower to your arsenal. The pistol is likely the first firearm that you will unlock in Sons of the Forest, and it's not too difficult to find. Given that it's a basic pistol, you won't be mowing over mutants with this gun. However, it presents a stronger option than the bow at longer ranges where your axe is no good. If you aim for the head of an enemy, though, you will be able to put them down quickly.

　　Where the pistol really shines is when you add some upgrades to it. Putting on a silencer, for example, drastically increases the pistol's versatility, adding an element of stealth to your gameplay.

　　

How to get the Pistol

The pistol is found on a lifeboat out in the middle of the ocean. There is a shark lurking nearby, so you will have to either swim around the shark or hope that it doesn't see you as you're swimming toward the boat. The boat is located on the northwest side of the island, so it requires a bit of a trek from the starting area.

　　The pistol is found in a boat off the coast of the island. | Image credit: MapGenie.io

4. Stun Gun

The Stun Gun is mainly on this list due to its use in the multiplayer servers of Sons of the Forest. While it does serve a functional purpose for players in solo games, multiplayer is where it really becomes useful. Any enemy hit with a shot from the Stun Gun collapses on the ground for a short time period. If you have a DPS player going around with an axe or shotgun, they can take full advantage of the enemies on the ground, as they're basically sitting ducks.

　　For solo players, the Stun Gun can be used to subdue an enemy while you heal or get into a better position to kill the enemy with a close-range weapon. However, the Stun Gun isn't too useful against multiple enemies, as it takes a few seconds to get off each shot.

　　

How to get the Stun Gun

We have a separate guide for finding the Stun Gun, as you'll do so when you're also looking for another key item: the rebreather.

　　

5. Shotgun

This is the only weapon on this list that requires the use of a shovel to acquire. However, once players acquire the shovel, we recommend they immediately go and retrieve the shotgun, as it can singlehandedly carry players through the combat in Sons of the Forest. Whether you're facing a horde of mutants or one strong enemy, the shotgun will be able to deal significant damage. Ammo for the shotgun will be difficult to come by, so make sure your shots count with this powerhouse of a firearm. We suggest you take out smaller and easier enemies using a melee weapon or a bow and saving any sticky situations for the shotgun. Think of it like a safety net for only your most dire combat needs.

　　

How to get the Shotgun

As aforementioned, you will need the shovel to reach the shotgun. Once you have the shovel, you can make your way to the location marked on the map screenshot below. There, you will find a dig site that contains a grave. Interact with the dig site to begin digging and you will eventually pull up the grave, which contains the shotgun inside.

　　The dig site that contains the shotgun is at this location. | Image credit: MapGenie.ioSome honorable mentions that are also worthy of this list are the Craftable Spear, Stun Baton, and Firefighter Axe. Any of those weapons, and especially the five we mentioned on this list, will serve you well at the start of Sons of the Forest.