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How to get the Shovel in Sons of the ForestWhere to find the Shovel Cave, and how to get in and out in one piece
Where to find the Shovel Cave, and how to get in and out in one piece
Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Newnight
Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Newnight
Want to know how to get the Shovel in Sons Of The Forest?The Shovel is one of several absolutely essential early-game tools inSons Of The Forest. You need to get your hands on the Shovel before you can find and access other important items like theSons Of The Forest Keycards.
Using the Shovel, you can dig up buried objects, graves, and - most importantly - hidden bunker hatches containing lots of unique loot. And with Sons OfThe Forestnow out of early access and fully released, there are more hidden areas than ever where you can use your trusty Shovel.
In this guide, we’ll explain exactly how to get the Shovel in Sons Of The Forest. We’ll go over the Shovel’s location on the map, how to get through the cave where the Shovel can be found, and how to get out again.
On this page:
Sons Of The Forest Shovel location
Expand mapTo get the Shovel, you must first get the Rebreather and Rope Gun. All three locations are shown on this map.
Expand map
Before you can get the Shovel, you’ll need the following items:
TheRebreatheris found in a cave on the north coast of the island. Follow our guide onhow to get the Rebreather in Sons Of The Forestfor full details.
TheRope Gun, also known as the Zipline Gun, is located in a cave to the south-east of the Shovel cave. Consult our guide onhow to get the Rope Gun in Sons Of The Forestto learn more.
Finally, you’ll needexplosivesin order toexit the caveafter you obtain the Shovel. So make sure you have either a Grenade or a Time Bomb in your inventory before you delve into the Shovel cave.
How to get the Shovel in Sons Of The Forest
How to find the shovel - Sons Of The Forest GuideIn this video, I reveal the quickest path to the Shovel in Sons Of The Forest, and in the process I show how you can simply run past all the enemies in your way instead of fighting them if you wish.Watch on YouTube
How to find the shovel - Sons Of The Forest Guide
The Shovel cave contains a great many Cave Cannibals and Mutant Babies, as well as several Fingers and Twins (and one Sluggy, but you won’t have to fight it). So you should also make sure to bring along a powerful early weapon, such as theStun BatonorPistol.
How to get the Shovel:
Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Newnight
Once inside the cave, use the Rope Gun to ride the zipline above you. You’ll drop down onto the edge of a pool of water. Dive into the pool and follow the underwater tunnel with the help of your Rebreather until you resurface.
Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Newnight
Kill the group of Cave Cannibals waiting for you, and if needed, loot their bodies for Creepy Armor to protect you from further attacks. On the ground to the right is a Wetsuit which you can wear to avoid gaining the wet debuff while underwater.
Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Newnight
Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Newnight
Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Newnight
Continue down the path at the end of the cavern, past the corpses suspended in the ceiling, and then dive into the water at the end of the pathway. Once again, you’ll emerge and immediately be faced with a group of enemies. You can either kill them normally or bait them into lunging into the deep water towards you, where they’ll instantly drown.
Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Newnight
How to get out of the Shovel cave
Once you’ve found the Shovel, you must turn back and retrace your steps in order to leave the cave. Head back the way you came until you reach the crack in the wall that you squeezed through just after the water slide.
As you approach, part of the side of the cave wall burst open suddenly, and a large writhing Sluggy mutant will appear. Don’t be alarmed! It’s trapped in the gap and cannot move. To exit the cave, you need to kill the Sluggy and follow that new path up to the surface.
How to use the Shovel
You can’t use the Shovel anywhere you like in Sons Of The Forest. You can only use it at predetermined locations where there is something to dig up, such as a grave, or a bunker hatch.
Once you’re at a location that you think has something buried, simply equip your Shovel, look down, and you’ll see a marker on the ground showing where you can dig. Hold left-click to start digging. Be sure to move the marker around a bit so that you uncover everything in the area, because some things (like bunker hatches) require you to fully excavate them before they can be used.
Now that you have the Shovel, you are able to find some incredibly important items, such as theShotgun. Those wanting to explore caves further should also learnhow to get the keycards in Sons Of The Forest, which also requires the Shovel.
