After an extensive early access period, the Sons of the Forest 1.0 update brought players a terrifying horror experience. Players once again find themselves stranded on an island with cannibals and mutants. They must survive against nature and relentless enemy attacks while searching for a way to escape the island. Survival is a massive part of the gameplay, but there will be plenty of moments where players are forced to engage in combat.
The longer players are in the forest, the more hostile the mutants and cannibals become. Ammo and explosives are the most effective ways to defend against them, but they are a scarce resource. Players can use various weapons, such as a guitar and golf club, to name a couple, to fight enemies hand-to-hand. They can boost melee damage output and chopping speed by increasing their Strength stat. Strength is affected by several things, so here are the best ways to improve it in Sons of the Forest.
Sons of the Forest: Can Kelvin Die?
This guide covers whether Kelvin can die and how to heal him in Sons of the Forest.
How to Increase Strength in Sons of the Forest
Sons of the Forest players have eight stats that affect their attributes and skills. Hunger, Thirst, Rest, and Stamina are health-focused stats, which players must maintain to survive. Strength and Stealth are skill-based stats that increase over time. Players can track Strength gain by watching the flexing arm symbol on their health dial. Whenever the red bars fill, they reveal their current Strength level.
Strength Stat In Sons Of The Forest
Strength tops out at level 50, affects overall health, and boosts melee damage and chopping speed by 1%. Over time, Strength will increase as players complete physical actions such as:
- Swinging a spear
- Chopping down trees
- Running
- Climbing
- Combat
For example, players will reach Strength level 2 by swinging an axe 100 times in Sons of the Forest. Another good way to get Strength is to pick up logs. Carrying them has no effect, but repeatedly dropping the logs and picking them back up is a quick way to increase Strength. By level 50, players will have double the amount of health and deal up to 50% more melee damage.
Players can also temporarily boost their Strength by eating cooked meals. Cooked meals are made using a Cooking Pot, raw ingredients, and a small fire. Eating something like Boiled Meat, a simple recipe made from water and cuts of meat, refills Hunger, Thirst, and Health. Additionally, a yellow Strength bar appears for a temporary amount of time, representing a Strength bonus that boosts chopping speed.
