Sons of the Forest BEST Weapons: Ranged & Melee
Wield the best weapons to overpower these Mutants and Cannibals!
Sons Of The Forest has a big catalog of weapons to choose from, and that includes both ranged and melee weapons in the game. However, there are only a few weapons in both categories that get the title of the best weapons. Obtaining some of these weapons can get a bit tricky, but we will guide you through the process.
The Best Sons of the Forest Weapons are divided into Melee and Ranged categories.
Best Melee Weapons:
- Modern Axe: Effective against enemies and for tree-cutting.
- Chainsaw: Ideal for handling groups of enemies.
- Katana: Fast for slicing mutants at close range.
- Machete: Similar to the katana with added knockback.
- Stun Baton: Paralyzes enemies.
- Crafted Club and Spear: Great early-game options.
Best Ranged Weapons:
- Compound Bow: Potentially one-shots most enemies.
- Crossbow: Faster but deals less damage than the compound bow.
- Pistol: Larger magazine; revolver deals more damage per shot.
- Shotgun: Best for dealing with groups of enemies.
- Crafted Bow: Early-game ranged weapon choice.
In order to obtain some of these best weapons, you’ll need to get your hands on the Shovel and Keycards in the game.
Sons of the Forest Best Weapons And Comparison
As we have already mentioned before, the game features two different types of weapons, including ranged and melee. Additionally, some of these weapons can be crafted, while others are located in the various bunkers and caves scattered around the world of the game.
Our picks for the best weapons in Sons of the Forest, compared to each other in the table below:
| Weapons | Best For | Speed | Damage | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Modern Axe | Best Damaging Melee Weapon. | Medium | Godly | - |
| Chainsaw | Best Melee Weapon For Crowd Control. | High | Medium | Medium |
| Katana | Best Fast Melee Weapon For Close Range Combat. | High | Medium | Short |
| Machete | Best Agile Melee Weapon With Crowd Control Capabilities. | - | - | - |
| Stun Baton | Best Melee Weapon For Paralyzing Enemies. | - | - | - |
| Crafted Club | Best Early Game Melee Weapon. | - | - | - |
| Crafted Spear | Best Long Range Melee Weapon. | - | - | - |
| Compound Bow | Best Ranged Weapon For High Damage And Long Range. | Low-Medium | High | High |
| Crossbow | Best Versatile Ranged Weapon. | Low | Medium-High | Medium-High |
| Pistol | Best Fast Ranged Weapon. | Fast | Low-Medium | medium |
| Revolver | Best Powerful Long Ranged Weapon. | High | Medium-High | Medium-High |
| Shotgun | Best Potent Ranged Weapon For Close Range. | Slow-Medium | High-Medium | Short |
| Crafted Bow | Best Early Long Range Weapon. | Medium-High | Medium | Low-Medium |
Best Melee Weapons
Melee weapons are used for close-range combat in the game, where you get face-to-face with the enemies, such as the cannibals, and smash them to their death. The following are the best melee weapons in the game;
- Modern Axe
- Chainsaw
- Katana
- Machete
- Stun Baton
- Crafted Club
- Crafted Spear
Modern Axe
- Why I Chose This: The unparalleled strength and utility this weapon provides make it an essential tool for survival.
The Modern Axe is the strongest version of the axe that you can find in the game, and it doubles down as an extremely powerful melee weapon as well. Not only will this axe deal massive damage to Cannibals, but it is also more useful for cutting down the trees in the game.
However, the only negative thing about the weapon is that it is a bit slow to swing, but it hits hard when you do land a strike with the weapon. As for how to obtain the modern axe, you’ll have to go visit an Abandoned Camp, which has been marked on the map shown in the image above. Once you arrive at that camp, you will find the modern axe placed on a dead body which you can pick up.
- Strongest axe version.
- Extremely powerful.
- Slow to swing.
Chainsaw
| Speed | Damage |
| Medium | Godly |
- Why I Chose This: The ideal choice for efficiently dispatching groups of enemies.
The Chainsaw is an extremely powerful melee weapon to take down groups of enemies in the game. You can basically just slash away at a group of cannibals or mutants once you fire up that Chainsaw in Sons Of The Forest.
In order to obtain the weapon, you’ll have to make your way to the location marked on the map. There you will find the entrance to a cave, and inside the cave will be an entire hidden facility. Make your way to the theatre room inside the cave, and there you will find the chainsaw placed on a dead body in Sons Of The Forest.
- Highly powerful.
- High damage.
- Medium speed.
Katana
| Speed | Damage | Range |
| High | Medium | Medium |
- Why I Chose This: The high speed and agility it provides results in the swift elimination of enemies.
The Katana is a fast and swift weapon to slash down your enemies in the game. You will be able to cut off the limbs of your opponents very easily using the katana. It is basically a fast melee weapon that you can use at close range. The damage might not be on par with something like the modern axe, but it is the speed that matters.
You will have more room to dodge whilst dealing damage to cannibals in the game while using the Katana. When you arrive at the location shown in the image above, you will find an entrance to a cave. Inside the cave, the Katana will be present in one of the rooms where you will be able to pick it up.
- High speed.
- Effective close-range combat.
- Limited damage.
Machete
| Speed | Damage | Range |
| High | Medium | Short |
- Why I Chose This: The knockback effect and high speed it provides on top of the ability to interrupt enemy attacks.
The Machete is almost similar to the katana except that it deals more knockback to enemies in the game. Basically, you’ll be able to stop the attacks of your enemies and force them back while you deal damage to them. It is also another swift weapon that you can use at close range.
It is additionally very easy to obtain the Machete in Sons Of The Forest. Just make your way to the beach marked in the image above, and the weapon will be present on one of the deflated boats in the area.
- High speed.
- Good damage output.
- Short range.
Stun Baton
- Why I Chose This: The unique crowd control capabilities it provides with immobilizing enemies.
The Stun Baton is an underrated weapon in the game, as most players generally overlook its actual potential since it doesn’t directly deal any damage. This weapon shines the most in multiplayer or CO-OP. Basically, the stun baton can paralyze an enemy for a certain amount of time.
While the enemy is paralyzed, you can deal massive damage by attacking their heads aka by performing headshots. In multiplayer, one player can use the stun baton to paralyze an enemy while the other swiftly aims for the head with their ranged weapon.
The stun baton is also another easy-to-obtain weapon in the game, and all you need to do is go to the location marked on the map. You will arrive at the waterfall, and in the middle of a small piece of land near the waterfall, you will find a pile of skulls. The stun baton will be present in that pile of skulls.
- Paralyzing enemy capabilities.
- Easy to obtain.
- Massive damage.
- Limited usefulness.
Crafted Club
- Why I Chose This: The effectiveness this weapon provides in the early stages of the game.
The reason we put the Club on our list of best weapons is that it is a great weapon in your early game, as you can easily craft it using sticks, skulls, and rope in Sons Of The Forest. All of these items can be easily obtained in the game, so you can craft the club early on. Additionally, the club is another heavy hitter in the game; however, it is slow as well. But it deals massive damage to enemies if you use it strategically.
- Easily craftable.
- Significant damage.
- Slow attack speed.
Crafted Spear
- Why I Chose This: The longer range it provides as compared to other melee weapons allows for minimizing risk during combat scenarios.
The Spear is another great choice for an early-game melee weapon in the game. It is additionally easy to craft as all you need to make it is sticks, a knife, and duct tape. The spear has a longer range than any other melee weapon on our list, so it actually allows you to stay at a distance from enemies. However, it does deal less damage compared to other melee weapons as well.
- Long range.
- Easily craftable.
- Low damage.
Best Ranged Weapons
Ranged weapons include guns and bows that you will utilize to take out your enemies from a distance. However, some of the guns will require you to get close and personal, but not as much as the melee weapons. The following are the best-ranged weapons in the game;
- Compound Bow
- Crossbow
- Pistol
- Revolver
- Shotgun
- Crafted Bow
You should note that most of the long-range weapons in the game are guns, and the ammunition for guns is quite limited. However, you can make the best use of guns by giving them to Virginia, a companion in Sons Of The Forest who will defend your base using these guns. The trick here is that Virginia doesn’t run out of ammo for these weapons and acts as the best defense for your base when she is equipped with guns in the game.
Compound Bow
| Speed | Damage | Range |
| Low-Medium | High | High |
- Why I Chose This: The capability to deliver one-hit kills with headshots and the massive damage it can deal with.
The Compound Bow is not only the best bow but also an amazing ranged weapon in the game. Its headshot damage is so good that you’ll end up killing most enemies in a single hit if you’re good at landing headshots in Sons Of The Forest. The damage output of this weapon at the range is just outstanding, and you can pick up the arrows from enemies that you kill, so you’ll always have enough ammo.
In order to obtain the weapon, make sure that you have the Shovel with you in the game. With the shovel in your inventory, go to the location marked on the map, and there you will come across an area where the game will allow you to dig. Use the shovel, and you will uncover a bunker entrance. The compound bow will be present inside the bathroom of the bunker in Sons Of The Forest.
- High damage output.
- Excellent range.
- Limited speed of firing.
Crossbow
| Speed | Damage | Range |
| Low | Medium-High | Medium-High |
- Why I Chose This: The effectiveness and versatility it provides in different combat scenarios.
The Crossbow is faster to use than the compound bow and can shoot multiple bolts at once as well. It is also a really good long-range weapon that you can use in the game. The crossbow itself is located in a lab, and the entrance to the lab is connected to a cave.
The entrance to the cave is marked on the map in the image above, and once you enter the lab, you’ll need another important item to proceed. You will need a Maintenance Keycard here in order to unlock the door and the lab. Inside the lab, you will find the crossbow on the ground between dead bodies.
- Quicker follow-up shots.
- Shooting multiple bolts capability.
- Low speed.
Pistol
| Speed | Damage | Range | Max. Stack |
| Fast | Low-Medium | Medium | 12 |
- Why I Chose This: The ease of acquisition and the bonus damage it provides on headshots.
The Pistol is the first long-range gun on our list of the best long-range weapons. Guns have limited ammo, so always use them when absolutely necessary. However, the pistol deals decent damage at medium to long range, and you can deal bonus damage if you land a headshot.
You can also obtain the pistol quite easily. It is located in the ocean, as marked in the image above. In that area, you will find a raft where you’ll get some supplies in addition to the Pistol itself. Additionally, you can upgrade the pistol with attachments found in Sons Of The Forest as well.
- Quick aiming and firing.
- Bonus damage with headshots.
- Limited ammo capacity.
Revolver
| Speed | Damage | Range | Max. Stack |
| High | Medium-High | Medium-High | 6 |
- Why I Chose This: The high speed and the great range it provides make it quite an effective weapon in different combat scenarios.
The Revolver deals massive damage even at range which makes it better than the pistol in that regard. However, the magazine size of the revolver is less than other guns in the game, which is why it is not always a good choice to use the revolver when you are surrounded by enemies. You can quickly kill a cannibal from afar using the revolver before entering combat, though.
You will need the Shovel in order to get your hands on the revolver additionally. Once you get the Shovel, go dig up the land at the location marked on the map, and a bunker entrance will reveal itself. You will find the revolver in the very first room of the bunker, and it will be placed near a dead body in the game.
- High speed.
- Easy to obtain.
- Deals significant damage.
- Limited magazine size.
Shotgun
| Speed | Damage | Range | Max. Stack |
| Slow-Medium | High-Medium | Short | 1 |
- Why I Chose This: The high damage output it provides on top of the effectiveness it provides in close-range combat.
The Shotgun doesn’t necessarily have a long range compared to other guns on our list, but it still gives you more room against enemies when compared to melee weapons. Additionally, the firepower of the shotgun is enough to deal with multiple enemies at once, and it is useful to clear out groups of cannibals or mutants.
The easiest way to obtain the shotgun involves the use of the Shovel in Sons Of The Forest. Go to the location marked on the map and start digging. You will dig up a grave, and inside the coffin, the shotgun will be waiting for you.
- Good damage output.
- Quick aiming and firing.
- Limited range and speed.
Crafted Bow
| Speed | Damage | Range |
| Medium-High | Medium | Low-Medium |
- Why I Chose This: The easy accessibility factor with the usefulness it provides in long-range combat.
The final weapon on our list of best-ranged weapons is the Bow that you can craft in the game. It is not much, but it is a great choice for a ranged weapon during your early game in Sons Of The Forest. You can easily craft the bow using sticks, rope, and duct tape, and the bow will carry you for the entirety of your early-game long-range combat.
- Relatively quick firing and aiming.
- Good damage.
- Limited range.
This concludes our guide on the Best Weapons in Sons Of The Forest. We have entailed not only the best-ranged weapons but also the best melee weapons in the game additionally. The locations of all of these weapons have also been explained in complete detail. We have also clarified the best weapons in the early game as well as the late game. We hope that the guide was helpful in getting overpowered. Let us know what you think about Sons Of The Forest in the comments below!
NEXT:
- Sons Of The Forest: How To Find And Upgrade Flashlight
- Sons Of The Forest: How To Get Rebreather
- Sons Of The Forest Tips And Tricks
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