Sons of the Forest Top 3 Axes
This article was written based off of a single-player run on Hard Mode. While my overall ranking of the axes remains unchanged by that, do take it into consideration when applying my opinion to your personal gameplay.
Sons of the Forest is eclectic in its gameplay, successfully combining base-building, combat, and exploration tropes into one package. Axes are unique in Sons of the Forest because they’re one of the few items that has both a use in combat and base-building. Since most of your base is going to be made of wood, knowing the fastest ways to chop it is so much more important than you might think at first glance.
Honorable Mention: The Modern Ax
I know it might sound awfully silly for me to write an article about the three best axes in a game with three axes and then not include one of those three obtainable axes; but there is a technicality that I simply cannot overlook. Before we get to what that is, I won’t cheat the modern ax out of the article outright.
It has great defensive capabilities so if you’re early in the game then it can be a helpful tool for blocking. It can pack a powerful punch against enemies and is great at removing limbs, but is simply too slow for serious offensive use in combat.
It is extremely easy to find, as it’s just sitting in a tent on the overworld. It’s a decent run from the drop point; but this island is huge so you’re going to have to get used to that. Go to the location on the below map and the ax is yours.
3. Tactical Axe
Admittedly, I never used the tactical axe after I got the modern axe; but there are a few things that set it apart making it a more important part of your repertoire than the modern axe.
It is extremely fast, meaning you’ll be able to get multiple hits in with the tactical axe before either of the other axes could get one. This advantage will quickly become unimportant as the enemies will have too much HP for the tactical axe to be worthy.
Its biggest advantage is that, from the very beginning, you spawn with it. Your first base will revolve around its use unless your first priority in the game is to get the modern axe (which I highly doubt when so much important stuff is closer to the drop point).
Despite its defense being quite a bit lower than either of the other two axes, I want to note that it still has decent defense. It’s a great weapon to keep equipped at the very beginning when you must face the cannibals without armor.
2. Firefighter’s Axe
The Firefighter Axe is the only axe that I think deserves any use in combat. The modern axe has better speed and the defensive difference in the tools are so small that its importance is outright negligible. I found that the increased damage from the firefighter axe was more beneficial in combat than speed because you're liable to only use it for one powerful hit aimed at your soon-to-be quartered enemy.
It’s my pick of choice of the three wieldable axes in terms of actually chopping lumber. While the tactical axe is technically faster, I found myself running out of stamina with it before managing to finish a tree; something that felt extremely tedious. If you have the mechanics of tree cutting down to a science, the firefighter axe can easily fell a thick trunk without consuming your stamina.
The firefighter axe’s biggest inconvenience comes with the fact that it is the only axe that actually takes some effort to obtain. To get it you must enter the bunker at the location of the below picture. However, you’re not going to be able to get it without the shovel; something that you won’t be able to obtain unless you’ve already obtained the rebreather and the zip-line gun.
I want to note here that possession of the chainsaw makes the worth of the three previous axes almost nil. It has major uses in battle and can cut down trees in a matter of seconds. I suggest getting the chainsaw before you go trying to collect enough logs to build your largest base by yourself.
However, we are not by ourselves are we…
I wanted to make it an honorable mention but it is simply not an axe.
1. Kelvin’s Axe
I can’t be more serious about this.
I bring up the importance of Kelvin’s Axe because it represents a vital mechanic to base building that sets Sons of the Forest apart from The Forest. I think I can speak for most players when I say that cutting down a hundred logs is simply not a great way to spend time.
Yes, the three axes do have their own offensive and defensive capabilities, but there is almost no scenario where using an axe is more beneficial than using a weapon. This means that the only true measure of their worth lies in what they were designed for: cutting trees.
Utilizing Kelvin to his maximum potential allows the player to concentrate on the design and functionality of a base. Something that can get muddled if the player is constantly stopping what he’s doing to cut logs.
Additionally, this means that if you are focusing on exploring or the storyline, so long as he has a place to store your logs, he will continue to do that no matter how far away you are. Spend the time to build two or three large log holders and never forget to tell Kelvin to collect logs before you wander off. You’ll come back to more lumber than you knew you needed.
