You’re staring at a mound of dirt or a grave site, and your character is just standing there with empty hands. It’s frustrating. Honestly, the most annoying part of early-game progression is realizing that you can’t just craft a tool out of sticks and stones like in other survival sims. If you want to get shovel Sons of the Forest players have to endure, you've got to put in the legwork. It isn't just lying on a beach. It’s buried deep in a cave system that will absolutely wreck you if you aren't prepared.
Most people think they can just run straight to the shovel icon on a map or find it in a random crate. Nope. Endnight Games decided to gate-keep this specific tool behind two other major pieces of equipment. You're basically on a three-part scavenger hunt across the island before you can even think about digging up those bunkers or GPS trackers.
The gear you actually need first
Before you even dream of touching that shovel, you need the Rebreather and the Rope Gun. If you head to the shovel cave without these, you'll hit a literal wall. Or a pool of water you can't swim through. It's a waste of time.
First, grab the Rebreather. It’s located in a cave on the north coast, near where the waves hit the shore. It's infested with mutants, but it’s a linear path. Once you have that, you need the Rope Gun (often called the Zipline Gun). That one is tucked away in a cave to the west, near the mountain base. This cave is a nightmare. It’s long, dark, and filled with those "Twins" mutants that look like something out of a fever dream. You need the Rope Gun because the shovel is located across a massive gap that only a zipline can cross.
Locating the Cave Entrance
Once you have the Rebreather and the Rope Gun, head toward the center of the map. Look for a spot where three streams meet near the base of the snowy mountain. You’ll know you’re in the right place because there are three corpses propped up on stakes right outside the cave entrance. It’s subtle, right?
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Getting inside is the easy part. You’ll need to break some wooden barricades and squeeze through.
Navigating the depths
The moment you enter, use the Rope Gun to zip across the first cavern. If you fall, you’re basically starting over or fighting a dozen blind mutants in the dark. After the zipline, you'll hit a pool of water. This is where the Rebreather kicks in. Dive down. The underwater tunnel is fairly long, so don't panic. Just keep swimming until you reach the other side.
When you surface, the atmosphere shifts. The cave opens up, and you’ll see some of the best lighting effects the game has to offer—and some of the worst enemies. You’re looking for a specific path that leads deeper into the limestone tunnels.
Dealing with the "Sluggy" and the mutants
There’s a section where a massive, fleshy mutant—the community calls it "Sluggy"—is blocking a crawlspace. Don't waste your ammo. Usually, there are C4 bricks or grenades lying nearby on crates. Toss one at the beast, watch it pop, and move through the gap.
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Keep an eye out for the flashlight attachment while you’re down here. It’s on a body in one of the larger rooms. You’re going to need it because the deeper you go, the darker it gets. The shovel is at the very end of this gauntlet. You’ll walk through a series of narrow corridors filled with "Fingers" mutants. These guys are tanky. Aim for the legs to trip them up, then finish them with an axe or spear.
The final stretch to get shovel Sons of the Forest style
Eventually, you’ll reach a massive, flooded chamber with a light at the far end. There’s a lone construction worker sitting on the edge of a ledge. That’s your guy. He’s dead, obviously. The shovel is sitting right next to him.
Pick it up.
But don't get too comfortable. The game loves to spawn a bunch of enemies the moment you pick up a key item. A "John 2.0" (the catdog-looking thing) or a swarm of mutants will likely block your exit. Instead of going back the way you came, look for a new opening that leads to a different exit. This usually involves another underwater swim or a narrow crevice that pops you out further down the mountain.
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Why the shovel is a total game changer
You might wonder if all that trauma was worth it. It is. The shovel unlocks about 40% of the game’s remaining content. Without it, you can’t access the maintenance hatches. Those hatches lead to the best loot in the game: the Firefighter Axe, the Laser Sight, and the high-end shotguns.
More importantly, it’s how you progress the story. Several key bunkers are buried under mounds of dirt that are marked on your GPS with green pulses. You can also dig up graves to find unique items, though it feels a bit wrong to do it to your former coworkers.
Common mistakes and gear checks
- Don't go in with just a spear. The shovel cave is a combat heavy zone. Bring at least a pistol with two clips or a lot of Molotovs.
- Check your air. If your Rebreather runs out of oxygen mid-swim, you’re dead. There are usually air tanks at the cave entrance. Grab them.
- The "Sluggy" skip. Sometimes the game glitches and the C4 doesn't spawn. If that happens, you’ll have to use your own explosives or lead mutants away to clear the path.
- Flashlight batteries. Nothing is worse than your light dying while three "Fingers" are charging you. Bring extra batteries or the solar charger if you’ve found it.
Actionable next steps for your playthrough
Once you have the tool in your inventory, don't just wander aimlessly. Your first move should be heading to the nearest green circle on your GPS that isn't a cave. This is likely a maintenance hatch. Digging it out takes about 30 seconds of clicking, but the rewards inside—usually food, medicine, and a clean bed—are essential for mid-game survival.
If you’re playing on a higher difficulty, your next stop should be the grave site near the beach to get the Shotgun. You’ll need the shovel to dig up the coffin. It's the most powerful weapon for clearing out the later, more aggressive cannibal camps. Keep the shovel on your hotkey bar; you'll be using it more than you think for both loot and base building foundations.