Sons of the Forest is the sequel to the highly successful survival horror game, The Forest. Like in its predecessor, players crash onto a remote island, where they must quickly learn how to survive in nature and fight off the various cannibals and mutants that spawn in the forest.
While there are familiar faces, there are quite a few new enemies players will encounter during exploration. The AI system is significantly more advanced, with cannibals learning and changing based on players' behavior and actions toward them. While the island's other inhabitants are still highly hostile (except for the two companions, Kelvin and Virginia), the enemies are more intelligent and show signs of actual strategy. So, this guide outlines all the enemies and how to beat them in Sons of the Forest.
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Updated April, 2024, by Taylor Pittman: Sons of the Forest has left early access with its 1.0 update. Players can enter the survival horror game and experience new enemies and storylines as they try to uncover the island's secrets. The forest and caves are even more dangerous, with enemies having advanced attacks and grotesque abilities. So, this guide has been updated to include cannibals and mutants that were added in Sons of the Forest 1.0.
Cannibals
Cannibals are the main enemies that players encounter on the island. They typically reside in the forest and make their presence known almost as soon as players step away from the helicopter crash site. Each tribe has a complex dynamic with various kinds of cannibals that cause problems for players.
Many resemble humans, but due to their time on the island, they have taken on some wild animal-like traits. Cannibals are territorial and won't hesitate to attack when players stumble on their camps or within their hunting territories. There is also an ongoing war between the forest cannibals and the cave mutants. Despite this, players remain enemy number one in their eyes, so knowing how to fight them off is key to surviving in Sons of the Forest.
Muddy Cannibals
Muddy cannibals are animal-like enemies that cake themselves in dirt for camouflage. Players will likely see them before any other enemies, as they act as lookouts for nearby camps. They mainly follow and watch unless provoked, but they don't hesitate to launch an attack if threatened. They travel on all fours, are speedy, and like to hop from tree to tree. Unfortunately, they also tend to hide in bushes and leaves, so players will accidentally step on them.
Their appearance and agility can make them tricky to hit with melee weapons, but they lack high defenses and will go down quickly when hit. Ranged weapons like the Pistol will usually take them out with one shot. However, they will run and report back to a larger camp if attacked and not killed.
Common Cannibals
The second most common enemy is the standard cannibal. They are essentially foot soldiers and will sometimes carry melee weapons like bone clubs or be seen wearing armor. Unlike the muddy cannibals, they will try and instigate a fight when they see players. They work together to ambush or surround their targets.
They are fond of hand-to-hand combat, but players can avoid taking damage if they block while holding a melee weapon at the right time. Once they are free of any armor, a headshot or decapitation will take one out easily. The female versions don't like fighting unless they have to, and will be seen mourning or eating any fallen cannibals they know.
Painted Cannibals
Painted Cannibals are similar to common cannibals, but only appear at night. They typically attack in groups of four to five, and interrupt players whenever they sleep using a bed or tent. They are more aggressive than common cannibals. It is wise to set up traps and electric fences to add more protection at night, since it will be harder to see when they attack.
Brute Cannibals
Brute cannibals are usually high-ranking in the tribes, if not the leader. They are enormous and can bust through most built defenses with ease. They also tend to be armed with big clubs and wear gold or red masks, but a couple are seen with a bladed motor. When they first see players, they try intimidation tactics by pointing at them with their club or picking up a cannibal the player has slain.
Despite their size, they are swift and will charge players to attack. If one of their hits or kicks lands, it completely knocks players out onto the backs and deals lots of damage. Heavier artillery like the Shotgun is the best way to take them down. However, they might recover after the first hit, so be thorough when dealing with one. Players can also use explosives to take them down more efficiently if they have any.
Titan Cannibals
Titan cannibals are giant naked red men who usually travel with hunting parties. They are the most hostile, and will immediately charge at the player once they spot them. They attack by lunging, trying to crush their targets with their body. They are slightly less agile once close-up, so dodging is the best method.
Titan cannibals may be one of the largest, but they go down surprisingly fast when hit in the chest with the Pistol or the Shotgun. The Crossbow is another good weapon to use against them, and those arrows can be picked back up and re-used.
Blazing Cannibals
Blazing Cannibals, AKA Frank, are rare variants that start appearing around Day 10. They are tribe leaders and will set themselves on fire using a Molotov Cocktail before they attack.
Players should maintain distance while fighting Blazing Cannibals to avoid taking burn damage. Luckily, since they are leaders, there is only one of them per tribe. Blazing Cannibals do not appear in the rain or snow.
Frenzied Cannibals
Frenzied cannibals are some of the toughest and most aggressive variants that spawn on the island. They have high damage output, fast reflexes, and defensive abilities. Frenzied cannibals are usually equipped with full sets of Bone or Creepy Armor. Additionally, players cannot outrun them or knock them down. When parrying them, their attacks will still deal some damage.
The best way to handle Frenzied cannibals is to attack them from a distance using a powerful ranged weapon, like the Shotgun or Crossbow. Players who want to risk taking them hand-to-hand should use the Stun Baton for a chance to stun them temporarily.
Charging Cannibals
Charging cannibals are wild variants that players will recognize by the horns they wear on their heads. They run at players headfirst and ram into them, making them fall back. Tribes will sometimes have up to two Charging cannibals in their midst. Players should hit them before they make contact with them. Running behind traps can sometimes trick Charging cannibals into crossing them.
Cannibal Assassin
Cannibal Assassins are female cannibals with a unique moveset. She moves close and will attempt an aggressive multi-attack that is almost impossible to dodge. She also uses her legs to land epic kicks that throw players to the ground. The best way to combat Cannibal Assasssins is to parry constantly. If players can block her hits and put some space between them, they can easily take her down with a ranged weapon.
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Mutants
Mutants in Sons of the Forest are more powerful and grotesque than cannibals. Where they come from isn't explained, but multiple kinds of mutants with quirks and behaviors reside deep in almost all of the island's caves. Once players have survived enough days, they will spawn above ground, and they can sometimes be found tied up at cannibal camps. Mutants are particularly violent and will attack the cannibals and each other in some cases.
Players will need powerful weapons if they plan on exploring the cave systems. Since there isn't much light underground, the mutants have evolved to thrive in such an environment, and use tactics like echolocation or smell to locate intruders. They will attack without hesitation if they sense players, but they aren't indestructible.
Puffy Mutant
Puffy mutants are the most common in caves. They are blind and rely on their impeccable sense of hearing to pinpoint the player's location. They are often found in groups of two or three, wandering aimlessly. However, it's a different story once they go on the attack. They travel on all fours and are very quick on their feet.
They are the least durable of all the mutants, and players can take them out with a Crossbow or headshot from one of the firearms. However, there is a luminescent variant found in the hell caves that is much stronger than the common ones. It can withstand multiple shots from the Shotgun, so using an explosive seems the best way to handle it. Players will also run into a Spotty variation of the Puffy mutant. Spotty mutants have black polka dots on their skin. They are more aggressive and have higher health. Again, a powerful firearm is going to be the weapon for the job.
Fingers Mutant
Fingers mutants are found in most caves as well. This enemy gets its name from its odd look of tendrils or fingers that make up most of its torso and face. Even though it has no arms, it will run at players and swing its entire body, which deals a large amount of damage and knocks them down.
The Shotgun is the most reliable for defeating the Fingers mutant, as it can only handle about two shots before falling. If players don't have any ammo or explosives, then a Molotov is an excellent alternative for an easy takedown or a melee weapon like the Katana.
Twin Mutant
The Twin mutant appears to be two bodies fused at the pelvis, with six limbs in total. One half will typically be larger with masculine features, while the other is slightly smaller and feminine. It crawls low to the ground to sneak attack players, or it will launch itself using its many limbs for leverage.
Sometimes only one side will go down when hit, so players must ensure both halves have taken damage. It isn't as fast as some of the other mutants due to its scuttling maneuvers, but when it does attack, it will hit from both sides.
Mutant Babies
The mutant babies are among the few mutants seen in The Forest. They are small but deadly with how they throw their whole bodies at players. The babies appear in large groups and have a high-pitched, piercing shriek when they attack.
They are not very durable and can be taken down with one hit from the Modern Axe. However, they can be hard to target because of their size and jumpy movements. They don't have strong attacks, but their ambush tactics make it easy to get overwhelmed if not cautious.
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Caterpillar Mutant
Despite its peculiar design, the Caterpillar mutant is one of the most dangerous. It has a long torso with two heads and arms at each end, but its method of travel works well for this. It will throw its body in a circular, slinky-like format, allowing it to travel far and fast. It also tends to slither along the ground like a snake.
It is hostile toward everything it encounters, and can eat bullets with little effort. Players will need explosives or the Shotgun if they want to stand a chance against it. Unlike other mutants, evading it is unlikely because of its speed, so be ready for a fight when it spawns.
Sluggy Mutant
Sluggy mutants are surprisingly easy to handle despite their enormous stature. They are found in the caves, usually blocking the path wedged in cracks along the walls. Players will encounter one if they go after the Rope Gun and the Shovel.
They don't seem hostile, but will have to be blown up with a Grenade or a Time Bomb if players want to progress in the caves they spawn in.
Armsy and Legsy
Armsy is a post-game mutant that players will start seeing more often if they choose to stay on the island. It looks like a giant monstrosity of flesh and arms that moves with surprising speed for its size. Players can evade it somewhat easily because it thumps the ground before charging, and doesn't change course once it runs. Legsy is similar, but made of legs rather than arms, and uses jump attacks. Legsy hangs from the ceiling inside the caves, hoping to ambush players.
Explosives are a great way to take on Armsy and Legsy. Their size hinders them above ground, as they lose the camouflage the dark provides. Players can also set up traps to lure them in for major damage, like the bone grinder or spin trap. Either way, keep moving and keep your distance from their attacks to avoid going down.
Creepy Virginia
Creepy Virginia, named after the youngest Puffton, is another late-game mutant that starts appearing above ground. She looks like three women fused together back to back. She has several spider-like features, and scuttles towards players on six legs for her attacks. She also has a powerful jump attack and is very agile, so landing a hit is difficult. It is implied that Creepy Virgina is most likely responsible for the Mutant Babies around the island, because one of her bellies appears pregnant.
Players can take her out using the Crossbow or another ranged weapon. The Chainsaw or Katana will do powerful damage if players have the armor to stand their ground.
Demon Mutant
Demon mutants are a late-game variant that hangs out near the hell caves. They have long, extended limbs that curve into claw-like hands and feet and travel on all fours. When they attack, they throw their legs over their head or use their front arms in a fast swiping motion. They cause extensive damage when they make contact, but wearing the Gold Armor gives players some protection. The Cross is one of the few ways to hurt them, and it will burn them if presented. Players can usually hit them with three or more Cross strikes to kill them.
A giant version of the demon mutant appears as an end-game boss. It has vicious attacks and will crawl across the ceiling to fall and knock out the player. It takes damage from the Cross, but requires a much larger amount of strikes to even put a dent in its health.
Edward and Barbara Puffton Mutants
Edward and Barbara are the missing parents of the AI companion Virginia Puffton. They appear as a mid-game boss in the Food and Dining Hall underground bunker. They are similar to the puffy mutants, but can take much more damage and hit harder.
They don't coordinate their attacks with each other, but they do move very fast with harsh strikes and kicks. Players can take them down with the Shotgun or the Crossbow, but should be careful to avoid getting hit by one if they are focused on the other.
Jianyu Zhang
Jianyu Zhang is the final boss in the game's storyline. Players will know him as the man from the beginning after they crashed. He undergoes an extreme mutation that makes him a humongous monster. Its most worrisome ability is generating other mutants from its body, so players will fight several mutants during the fight. Jianyu Zhang also uses jump attacks with its huge body to damage and knock players down.
As with most large mutants, players stand the best chance of fighting it by using ranged weapons, explosives, and firearms.
Sons of the Forest
- Released
- February 22, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Endnight Games
- Multiplayer
- Online Co-Op
- Platform(s)
- PC
- Genre(s)
- Survival, Open-World, Survival Horror
