Navigating the dangerous island in Sons of the Forest requires players to gather specialized equipment to progress through the storyline. Among the various gear available, the shovel is one of the most critical utility items needed to unearth keycards, underground bunkers, and hidden secrets. Securing this tool takes careful planning because it is hidden deep within a treacherous cave system guarded by aggressive mutants.
Prerequisites Needed Before Searching for the Shovel
Before attempting to retrieve the shovel, players must first collect two essential exploration tools from other locations. You must obtain the Rebreather to navigate flooded underwater caverns, as well as the Rope Gun to traverse wide chasms using ziplines. Entering the shovel cave without these two items will prevent you from reaching the inner chambers where the shovel rests.
Preparing your inventory with sufficient supplies is equally crucial before embarking on this journey. Stock up on cooked meat, fresh water, medication, and plenty of crafting materials to make explosive charges or torches. Bringing along a strong weapon, such as a shotgun or upgraded spear, will help you deal with the dense clusters of mutants lurking inside.
Locating the Shovel Cave Entrance
The cave containing the shovel is situated near the center of the map, close to the base of the snowy mountain range. You can easily identify the entrance by three impaled bodies standing outside in the water near a river intersection. Approaching these markers signals that you have reached the correct location to begin your underground expedition.
Once inside, use your wooden planks or barricades if you need to establish a temporary save point near the entrance. Use your flashlight or lighter to maintain visibility as you step into the darkness. Proceed carefully down the main tunnel until you reach the drop-off leading into the deeper cavern sections.
Navigating through the Mutants and Underground Rivers
Inside the cave, you will need to attach your Rope Gun to a zipline to cross a massive gap above a deep pit. After sliding across, submerge into the flooded tunnel using your Rebreather to swim through the submerged passage. Exiting the water puts you directly in hostile territory populated by dangerous mutant variants.
Fight your way through the winding corridors while searching for loot containers filled with extra ammunition and resources. You will eventually reach a large cavern with a steep natural water slide that carries you deeper into the system. Continue following the linear path forward through the rocky chambers until you encounter another flooded segment.
Claiming the Shovel and Escaping Safely
After diving through the final underwater section, you will emerge into a illuminated cavern path lined with construction equipment. At the end of this illuminated corridor, you will spot a dead worker lying near a pile of dirt. The shovel is located directly beside the worker's body, ready to be added to your inventory.
Once you grab the shovel, a powerful mutant will burst through a nearby wall to block your immediate exit route. Use explosive charges or concentrated gunfire to defeat the creature, or quickly slip past it to find the exit path. Following the newly opened passage will lead you safely back to the island's surface.
