- 14 weapons
- Best-weapon tiers
- Exact locations
Sons of the Forest weapons
Every weapon on the island, ranked by strength and mapped to its exact spot — the best melee and ranged picks, and where to grab each one.
Best weapons — tier list
Ranked by overall combat value. S is best-in-slot; C is situational or early-game only.
All melee weapons
All ranged weapons
Scout every weapon's exact spot on the interactive island map, see the full pickup order in the cave-order walkthrough, or check the key-item locations.
Sons of the Forest weapons FAQ
What is the best weapon in Sons of the Forest?
The katana is the best melee weapon — fast, high damage and it staggers mutants — while the rifle and shotgun are the best ranged options (the rifle for long range, the shotgun for close-up burst damage). Grab the katana and shotgun and you're set for the whole game.
What is the best melee weapon in Sons of the Forest?
The katana. It has the best speed-to-damage of any melee weapon and staggers enemies, so it out-performs the axes and machete once you find it (it's hidden in a bunker). The chainsaw and modern axe are strong runners-up.
What is the best ranged weapon in Sons of the Forest?
The rifle for long range and the shotgun for close quarters. The compound bow and crossbow are excellent quiet alternatives with retrievable ammo, and the pistol/revolver are reliable sidearms.
How many weapons are in Sons of the Forest?
There are 14 findable weapons on the island — melee (katana, chainsaw, axes, machete) and ranged (rifle, shotgun, crossbow, bow, pistols) — plus craftable and upgradeable weapons like the crafted spear. Use our map to jump straight to each one.
Where is the katana in Sons of the Forest?
The katana is inside a bunker on the island. Open the map link on the katana card above (or its item guide) to jump to its exact location and teleport there.
What is the best early-game weapon?
Early on, the machete, compact pistol and slingshot are the easiest to get. Prioritise reaching the shotgun and katana as soon as you can — they carry you through the mid and late game.