Antewise

Sons of the Forest Exploration Guide — Caves and Bunkers

Updated 20 Oct 2026 Source Synthesized from published Sons of the Forest guides and walkthroughs; rewritten in original wording on 20 October 2026 By

Map from safety

Explore after you have a base and a light source. A lost cave run is a dead one, so mark the path out.

Caves

Caves hold rare resources and danger. Go armed and watch for mutants in the deep, because they own that space.

Bunkers

Bunkers unlock blueprints and story. They are guarded, so clear the entrance first and have an exit planned.

Know the exit

Before any deep push, know how to get home. A planned retreat beats a desperate one when the light runs out.

Carry the right tools

The weapon database shows what blocks and what cuts. Take a light and a weapon before you enter.

Light is survival

Never enter the dark without a torch and a weapon. The caves and bunkers reward the prepared and kill the curious who forgot the way out.

What guards the dark

  • Fingers (type Mutants, class Humanoid mutants)
  • Enemies
  • Twins (type Mutants, class Creepy mutants)
  • Sluggy
  • Cannibals
  • Caterpillar
  • Shark (type Predator)
  • Demon
  • Edward Puffton
  • Barbara Puffton
  • Mutants
  • Puffies
  • Mutant Baby (type Mutants, class Creepy mutants)
  • Muddy Cannibals
  • Heavy Cannibals
  • Golden-Masked Cannibals
  • Fat Cannibals
  • Regular Cannibals

Pack the kit

A torch, a spear and a way out. That is the whole kit for the dark, and anything extra is a burden you drop.

Gear for the expedition

  • Crafted Spear (added Early Access release, block Weak)
  • Crossbow (added Early Access release)
  • Guitar (added Early Access release, block None)
  • Cross (added Early Access release)
  • Crafted Bow (added Early Access release)
  • Modern Axe (block Medium)
  • Machete (added Early Access release, block Weak)
  • Firefighter Axe (block Strong)
  • Chainsaw
  • Compound Bow (added Early Access release)
  • Katana (added Early Access release)
  • Molotov (added Early Access release)
  • Grenade (added Early Access release)
  • Crafted Club (added Early Access release, block Medium)

Frequently asked questions

What is worth exploring?

Caves hold resources, bunkers hold blueprints and story. Both are risky but rewarding.

How do I explore safely?

Light, weapon, and a marked way home. The dark kills the unprepared.

More Sons of the Forest guides

Sources

Figures and item data on this site are read from the game’s own reference wiki before publishing. Where a value could not be confirmed there, the page says so instead of filling the gap.