You're standing on a beach. It’s freezing. The wind is howling, and all you’ve got is a tactical axe and a sense of impending dread. If you’ve played more than twenty minutes of Sons of the Forest, you know that "finding stuff" is basically the entire job description, but the Sons of the Forest rebreather cave is usually the first real wake-up call for new players. It’s dark. It’s cramped. Honestly, it’s a total nightmare if you go in unprepared.
Most people rush here because they want the shovel. You can’t get the shovel without the rebreather. You can’t get the rebreather without facing a literal wall of mutated flesh. It’s a whole thing. But let’s be real—the cave isn't just a loot drop location; it's the game's way of telling you that the surface world was the "easy" part.
Locating the Cave Without Losing Your Mind
Finding the entrance is actually the easiest part of this whole ordeal, provided you don't get sidetracked by a pack of hungry cannibals on the way. Head to the northern coastline. Look for the spot where the sea meets the sand near a small creek. You’ll see some yellow oxygen tanks scattered around. That’s your sign.
The entrance is boarded up. Smashing through those planks feels like a mistake the moment you hear the clicking sounds from inside. Take a breath. Check your GPS. If you’re at the very top of the map, looking out at the ocean, you’re in the right place. Just don't expect a warm welcome.
What You Need Before Stepping Inside
Don’t go in with just a lighter. Seriously. You’ll regret it the second the first fingerling lunges at you from the shadows.
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You need light. The flashlight is better, but flares are your best friend here. Toss a flare, see the room, kill the things, move on. It’s a simple rhythm. Also, make sure you’ve actually eaten something. Stamina management in the Sons of the Forest rebreather cave is the difference between a clean getaway and becoming a snack for a mutant.
Essential Gear Check:
- A decent melee weapon (the crafted spear is okay for reach, but the tactical axe is more reliable for close-quarters panic).
- At least two or three flares.
- A couple of small stones (trust me on this for the Sluggy).
- Meds. Obviously.
The Infamous "Sluggy" Situation
About halfway through, you’re going to hit a literal wall. It’s a giant, pulsating mass of flesh stuck in a narrow gap. This is a "Sluggy." You can’t melee it. You can’t reason with it. It just sits there, looking gross and blocking your progress.
A lot of players get stuck here thinking they need a high-level explosive. You don't. Look around the immediate area. There are usually two C4 bricks or a couple of grenades lying near a corpse specifically for this reason. You shove the explosive onto the mutant, back up, and watch the meat-confetti fly. If you accidentally used your explosives on a random cannibal earlier? Well, you're going back to base to craft some Time Bombs.
Navigating the Dark Depths
The cave branches. It’s designed to make you feel lost.
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After you blow up the Sluggy, keep right. Or left. Honestly, the cave loops a bit, but the path to the rebreather specifically requires you to follow the water. You’ll pass some hanging corpses—standard decor for this island—and eventually, the cave opens up into a larger chamber with a deep pool of water.
This is where the atmosphere shifts. The music gets weirder. The shadows seem to move. You’ll encounter "Fingerlings" and "Twins" here. My advice? Don't fight everything. Sometimes, a full sprint is the most tactical move you can make. Run past the distractions until you see the glow of a work light near the water's edge.
Grabbing the Rebreather and Making an Exit
The rebreather is sitting right there on a rock near the water. It looks like a high-tech diving mask. Grab it. The moment you pick it up, your character will equip it.
But here’s the kicker: the game doesn't want you to walk back out the way you came. There’s a shark in the water.
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Yes, a cave shark. It’s as ridiculous and terrifying as it sounds. You have to dive into the water to escape. Use your newly acquired rebreather to swim through the underwater tunnel. Keep an eye on the shark—it’s fast, but if you time your swim right, you can bypass it entirely. Or, if you’re feeling brave/stupid, you can try to stab it. I recommend just swimming for your life.
Why This Cave Matters for the Mid-Game
The Sons of the Forest rebreather cave isn't just about breathing underwater. It’s the first step in a long chain of progression. Without this gear, the Shovel Cave remains inaccessible. Without the shovel, you aren't getting into the maintenance hatches. Without the hatches, you aren't finding the keycards.
It’s the ultimate "gatekeeper" quest. Enduring the jump scares and the cramped tunnels is a rite of passage. Once you’re back out on the beach, lungs full of fresh air and a rebreather in your pack, the rest of the island starts to feel a little more conquerable.
Immediate Next Steps for Players:
- Save immediately. Use a tent or go back to a nearby save point. You do not want to do that swim twice because a random cannibal caught you off guard on the beach.
- Check the air canisters. You probably picked up a few inside the cave. Make sure they’re in your inventory; the rebreather is useless without them once the initial charge runs out.
- Head toward the Zip-line Cave. Now that you have the rebreather, the Zip-line gun (Rope Gun) is usually the next logical step to ensure you have everything needed for the Shovel Cave trek.
- Refock on explosives. If you used your only C4 on the Sluggy, go find more. You’ll need them for the next few underground excursions.
The island is brutal, but the cave is manageable if you keep your head down and your light on. Good luck. You’re going to need it.