Where to find the Sons of the Forest shovel

The Sons of the Forest shovel is hard to get. While the cave it's in is easy to find, there are two other pieces of kit needed to reach it and a range of monsters to fight or avoid as well. It's not an easy thing to obtain but I've done it and can show you how.

Finding  the shovel needs both the Sons of the Forest rope gun and the Sons of the Forest rebreather as well. Both of those are ordeals in of themselves to get, so if you haven't got either, get ready for a couple of challenging detours.

If you do have the rebreather and rope gun, then you're ready to retrieve the shovel. This isn't going to be easy and, unless you're very well supplied, prepare to reload saves a lot and sneak or run past monsters - there's a lot of them and without good armour, weapons and healing supplies you probably won't survive too many fights.

However, I've done it with nothing but a spear and a lot of patience so if you want to get the Sons of the Forest shovel, I can show you.

1. The Sons of the Forest shovel is in this cave

Head to this cave, near the snowy part of the map, to start getting the shovel. You'll know when you've found the cave because you'll find some bodies on stakes in the water, and some supplies scattered around.

Grab the slingshot off one of the bodies while you're here, and build a shelter to save your game. I'd recommend taking the time to build a wooden one here and keeping any tarps you have to build inside the cave to get a checkpoint along the way.

Take the zipline in the cave

Right inside the cave you'll see a light shining at a rope with some cloth hanging on it. This is why you need the rope gun. Grab the cloth and then use the rope gun to get further into the cave.

Grab the O2 canister for the rebreather

You'll land in a more open area, with some water, that's clear of enemies but does have an O2 canister by a light. Be sure to pick that up as you don't get many and you're about to need it. Once you've have it, dive in the water.

2. Enter the water and swim down to continue

Jump in the water and immediately swim down. You should see a channel heading straight down, follow it and you'll end up swimming back under where you were just standing.

You can drown monsters rather than fight them

When you come out of the water there will be a lot of basic enemies. Enough to cause real trouble if you're just poking them with a spear. However, if you keep goading them and then retreating into the water you can get a lot of them to drown. You won't be able to scavenge any creepy armor from them if you do this, but you'll avoid a lot of damage. You can also run straight past them as there's an exit they can't follow you through at the end.

There's another O2 canister you can get

You might not be able to drown them all so there could be a few to fight or avoid as you move on, but whatever you do keep an eye out for another O2 canister as you move though this section. As I said, they're rare so don't pass up the chance to get it. I actually managed to get this one by just grabbing as I ran past.

3. Take the slide down

Once you get past the monsters there's a one way slide at the end you'll go down, there's no danger here so just enjoy the ride as best you can. You'll land in a safe area with some supplies to scavenge. Keep moving forwards and you'll eventually pass through a narrow gap with a light ahead.

There's a few basic enemies here but they seem well spaced out. So if you fancy it, take the time to kill them and harvest the creepy armor they drop. Then head on until you see a light pointing the way forward.

4. Sneak, fight or run to deal with the enemies

You'll take a tunnel into another area with a light in the middle. This bit is tough as there's a finger enemy (big mouth on legs) and a couple of twins, so be ready. If you can, sneak as much as possible and be ready to run if you get caught. If you have to fight, retreat back to the entrance where the narrower space will stop you getting surrounded, and make molotovs a good option. 

However, the exit here leads to an underwater section so you'l do well if you just run straight through and lose the monsters when you take a dive.

Drown more enemies if you can

When you come out of the water there's another big group of enemies - mainly basics but one finger. You can lure them to the water and drown a few of them, and there's also a space to the right where some stalactites form a protective cage you can poke a spear through to damage them without any risk. Clear these enemies until you can safely move forward.

5. Find the Sons of the Forest shovel near the lights

Here's where things get dicey. It's now a more or less straight line to the Sons of the Forest shovel. But: it's a narrow path and there are some enemies to worry about - pretty much one of everything, with basics, a finger, a twin and some babies. Deal with them however you want and keep moving forward - when you can see some fluorescent strip lights you've found the shovel. Just look for the light shining on a body where you can retrieve it.