You’re stumbling through the brush. It’s pitch black. Suddenly, a cannibal screams about three inches from your ear, and you realize the tiny lighter you’ve been flicking is basically useless. If you've played more than twenty minutes of Sons of the Forest, you know the struggle.
The lighting in this game is punishing. Endnight Games clearly wanted us to feel the claustrophobia of the woods, but honestly, it’s mostly just frustrating until you find the proper gear. You need the flashlight. It’s not just a "nice to have" item; it is the literal line between seeing a mutant coming and becoming its dinner.
Getting the flashlight is one of the first things you should do after your helicopter eats dirt. It’s way better than the torch, which requires constant relighting and burns through your cloth, and it blows the tactical light out of the water in terms of pure beam distance. But it isn't just sitting in a crate at the crash site. You have to go find a dead guy hanging from a cliff.
Where the Flashlight in Sons of the Forest Is Actually Hiding
Forget the complex cave systems for a second. Unlike the shovel or the rebreather, the flashlight in Sons of the Forest is actually above ground. It’s located at one of the purple "GPS Locators" marked on your map. Specifically, you’re looking for the one closest to the snowy mountain range, usually situated near a steep rocky cliffside.
When you get close, your GPS will start beeping like crazy. It’s annoying. Follow the sound to the top of the cliff. Look down, and you’ll see a body dangling from a rope. That’s your guy. He didn't make it, but he has the loot you need.
You can’t just reach out and grab it. You have to cut him down. Use your tactical axe or a knife to whack the rock where the rope is tied. The body falls. Now you have to hike or slide down to the bottom of the cliff to scavenge the remains.
- Pro Tip: Don't just jump off the cliff to save time. Fall damage in this game is no joke, and unless you’ve got a lot of health meds, you’re just going to end up looking like the guy you’re trying to loot.
Why You Can't Just Use the Lighter Forever
The lighter is a trap. Sure, it has infinite fuel, which is great for the early game, but the light radius is pathetic. It’s basically a glow-worm. In the deep caves where the "fingers" mutants roam, the lighter doesn't give you enough warning to pull out your bow or spear.
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The flashlight offers a focused, long-range beam. It lets you see eyes reflecting in the dark from forty feet away. It changes the game from a horror simulator where you're helpless to a tactical survival game where you actually have a fighting chance.
However, the flashlight has a massive downside: batteries. Unlike the lighter, this thing drinks power.
The Battery Problem and How to Solve It
You’re going to run out of juice. It’s inevitable. You’ll be halfway through a cave, the light will flicker, and then—blackness.
Batteries are scattered everywhere, but they don't respawn as fast as they did in the first game. You’ll find them in skin pouches, yellow plastic crates, and abandoned campsites. My advice? Don't leave the flashlight on while you're just wandering the forest at night if you can help it. Save it for the caves. Or, better yet, find the Flashlight Attachment for your pistol or shotgun.
Wait, isn't that the same thing?
No. The standalone flashlight is a held item. The attachment goes on your gun. They use the same battery pool, though, so you have to be careful. If you’re using the flashlight, you can’t hold a two-handed weapon like the spear effectively while keeping the light pointed at the enemy. This is why most players eventually transition to using the Tactical Chainsaw or a weapon with a mounted light, but for the first ten hours? The hand-held flashlight is your best friend.
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Common Mistakes People Make Hunting This Item
I’ve seen people spend hours circling the bottom of the cliff trying to throw rocks at the rope. It doesn't work. You have to be at the top.
Also, watch out for the local neighbors. The area around that GPS locator is often a patrol route for cannibals. They seem to know that players are attracted to the beeping. If you hear a low growl or that weird clicking sound they make, stop moving. Look around. They like to hide in the tall grass near the base of that specific cliff.
Another weird thing? The GPS locator itself. Once you loot the body, make sure you actually pick up the purple tracker. You can use it later to mark important spots on your map or give it to Virginia so you can track her movements when she wanders off to find you blueberries.
Using the Flashlight to Survive Caves
Caves in Sons of the Forest are terrifying. They are damp, loud, and filled with things that want to turn you into a suit of creepy armor.
When you’re inside, the flashlight is your primary tool for navigation. You’ll notice that some surfaces reflect the light differently—this is often a hint from the developers. If you see a glimmer on a wall, it’s probably ore or a path forward.
If you're low on batteries, toggle the light. Turn it on to scan the room, then turn it off and move a few steps in the dark. It’s nerve-wracking, but it saves your power for when a mutant actually lunges at you.
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The Evolution of Light in the Game
Eventually, you might find the Night Vision Goggles. They’re cool, honestly, but they turn everything a weird grainy green and make it hard to see depth. Most veteran players I know actually stick with the flashlight or the lantern because the color accuracy is better. You want to know if that red blur is a berry or a mutant's head.
The flashlight also works underwater, sort of. It’s not a diving light, but if you’re swimming through a flooded cavern, it provides just enough visibility to keep you from hitting a wall. Just don't expect it to light up the whole lake.
Technical Stuff: Keybinds and Quality of Life
If you’re on PC, get used to the "L" key. It’s the default for your light source.
One thing that bugs people is how the character holds it. It takes up a significant portion of the right side of your screen. There isn't really a way to "offset" it in the settings, so you just have to get used to the slightly obscured field of view.
If your flashlight isn't working even though you have batteries, check your inventory. You might need to manually "combine" or just ensure the batteries are being pulled correctly. Usually, the game handles this automatically, but early access bugs sometimes linger in the code.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Session
If you’re currently sitting in a temporary shelter waiting for morning because you’re too scared to move in the dark, here is your plan:
- Open your GPS Map: Look for the purple icon closest to the mountain. It’s usually south-ish of the beach spawn.
- Pack some food: It’s a bit of a hike. Grab some dried meat or a couple of energy bars.
- Get to the high ground: Approach the cliff from the top, not the bottom.
- Cut the rope: Look for the rock with the rope wrapped around it and whack it.
- Loot everything: Take the flashlight, the GPS locator, and check the crates nearby for extra batteries.
- Conserve power: Only use the beam when you're looking for something specific or fighting. Use the lighter for basic walking if you have to.
The forest is a lot less intimidating when you can actually see the thing that's about to kill you. Grab the light, stop squinting at your monitor, and start exploring those caves. Just keep an eye on that battery icon. Nothing is worse than the light dying right as you hear a "sluggy" sliding across the floor toward you.
Once you have it, your next goal should be the pistol rail. Combining the two makes the mid-game much more manageable. But for now? Just focus on that hanging body and getting your light.