Sons of the Forest's 1.0 update brought a polished storyline, new enemies, and more locations to explore to the survival horror game. One addition is a mysterious item known as the Artifact. Players will come across Artifact Pieces hidden in caves and underground bunkers. They will need seven pieces of the Artifact to craft it.
Some of the Artifact pieces are inside dangerous caves filled with violent mutants, so players must be prepared if they go after them. The Artifact has several unique features that can be discovered and used post-game. Players can use this guide to find all the Artifact Pieces and learn how to craft and use it in Sons of the Forest.
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All Artifact Piece Locations in Sons of the Forest
Artifact Piece 1: Rebreather Cave
The Rebreather cave is on a beach on the island's northwest side. It is next to one of the spawn locations, so players can grab it early in their playthrough. The cave is nestled in some rocks next to the shoreline. Players can use their axe to break the boards at the cave entrance.
Once inside, go deeper into the cave. Down the path, there will be lights and hanging skulls. Go past the skulls and follow the tunnel; there will be another light and a small waterfall leading to a water pool. Be wary of the Puffy Mutants inside the cave past this point. On the other side of the water, there's a hallway with a light at the end, illuminating a path to the right.
The path is a straight shot, and players will see hanging crosses along the way. There's a body on the left, just before the cave opens up to a small room with hanging skeletons and some loot inside wooden crates. Continue further into the cave; you will see crosses propped against rocks. Eventually, you will come across another boarded-up doorway.
Use the axe to break the wooden planks again. Directly on the other side is a rope that leads straight down. Slide down it and grab the loot inside the crates at the bottom. Then, follow the path; there will be a tunnel on the left with several hanging crosses. Players will have to crouch to pass through the tunnel.
On the other side is a small room with another blocked entrance. In the room, lying on the ground beside a skeleton, players can also pick up a trap blueprint.
After breaking the planks, go through the entrance. The first Artifact Piece is inside a room with several golden accents and pillars.
Artifact Piece 2: Rope Gun Cave
Players will find the second Artifact Piece inside the Rope Gun cave in the forest. After squeezing past the entrance, follow the path until there is a drop-off. There are several Puffy Mutants down below. Move to the lower level, and on the right, there's a small gap with a rope leading down.
Take the rope down and jump into the water at the bottom. Swim underneath a small gap on the right and resurface. Hanging crosses and planks are leading downwards into more water. Swim through the small cave to continue.
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You will see a small room with bone crosses hanging from the ceiling when they resurface. There is also a blocked entrance with a light behind it, and some kind of force shaking the wooden planks slightly.
Break the wooden planks to the next area and pick up the Artifact Piece from the golden altar.
Artifact Pieces 3 & 4: Ancient Armor Cave
The Ancient Armor cave is near the mountain on the island's southwest side. It is one of the game's largest caves, so preparing for it is recommended. Players will need the Rebreather, a ranged weapon or firearm to take care of the mutants, and plenty of supplies. The cave entrance is on a lake, and dead cultists are sitting outside. Knock down the wooden planks blocking the entrance.
Use the Rebreather to swim through the water. Puffy Mutants are waiting on the other side of the water tunnel, but the player can run past them to a downward slope. The slope leads to another pool of water, so players will need the Rebreather again. In the next area, proceed with caution along the path with wooden planks on the left side of the cave. You'll eventually reach an open room. Look for a red tunnel to the right. Venture down the red tunnel, crouching down and moving forward. Be prepared to fight off the Demon mutants. Unlike other mutants, the most effective way to fight against them is by using the Cross. ​​​​​​​
Players must descend further into the cave, breaking through entrances, climbing down ropes, and swimming through tunnels. Eventually, they will come across an electrified room with a spaceship and several bodies. The Artifact Piece is inside the spacecraft. Players can also pick up the Ancient Armor here.
To find the next Artifact Piece, start traveling upwards in the cave. Players will encounter several ropes leading them towards the exit and the next piece. The final rope ends with a downward slope that drops players into water.
More Demon Mutants are waiting once players get back on land. After clearing them out, continue through the cave and find another boarded entrance. The final Artifact Piece is in the next room.
Artifact Piece 5: Pickaxe Cave
The fifth Artifact Piece is on the island's northeast side inside the Pickaxe Cave. The entrance is a rope inside a hole in some rocks. After descending the rope, continue moving until reaching a waterfall that leads to another waterfall, which drops into a dark water pool. Jump into the water, and the Rebreather will automatically activate as players swim deeper into the caves.
Swim through the underwater cave, passing skeletons and squeezing through small, cramped pathways. Eventually, players will resurface into a small room. Proceed into the cave, where, to the left, planks obstruct a door, and to the right, there's a drop-off.
Break down the planks using an axe, and go deeper into the cave until you see a rope leading into a hole. Take the rope downwards and follow the cave tunnel even further downward.
Players will have to crouch once they reach a certain point. At the end of the tunnel, there's another rope to descend. The Artifact Piece is in the room at the bottom of the rope.
Artifact Piece 6: Cave G
The second-to-last Artifact Piece is inside a fishing hut cave on the island's northeast side. Break the entrance to the fishing hut and find the planks on the ground. Break those as well, and go down the steps. Once underground, players must destroy yet another set of planks at the entrance. Go down the rope inside and follow the cave path to another blocked entrance.
Go through the entrance and take the steep path down. Players must go through one more blocked entrance at the end of the hallway. Use the rope in the following area to go further down, and the Artifact Piece will be glowing, surrounded by golden skeletons.
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Artifact Piece 7: Post Game
The final Artifact Piece can only be found after players finish the main storyline. You must decide to stay on the island after the final boss fight to get the Artifact Piece.
When the last cutscene ends, players will see a light shooting across the sky from the middle of the forest. Follow the light to the source, and there will be a cave with a beam of light emitting from it and a rope leading into the entrance.
Follow the winding path inside the cave, breaking down planks along the way. The Artifact Piece is at the bottom, and once it is picked up, all the chaos stops.
How to Craft and Use the Artifact in Sons of the Forest
Players can craft the Artifact in their inventory with all seven pieces. Place the pieces in the craft zone and click the gear to craft it. The Artifact Piece has several uses, but requires Solafite Ore to function. Solafite Ore can be mined using the Pickaxe.
The Artifact is an interesting piece of technology. Players can use it to teleport using teleportation stations, change things into gold to make them more durable, and repel and attract enemies.
