Out of all the utility items in Sons of the Forest, the mask is the most overlooked. It’s a seemingly basic object that affects no stat and adds no unique ability. But a mask—whether red or golden—can be a life-saving tool when facing savage Cannibals. Having it on is like wearing a ghillie suit; it blinds the enemy. The question, however, is how players should benefit from it. Here’s what to do with masks in Sons of the Forest.
What to Do with Masks in Sons of the Forest
The mask is a utility item for camouflaging. Wear it near Cannibals to blendin. As long as the mask is equipped, enemies do not become hostile and remain passive. Do not use masks on Cannibals who’re already aggressive. The item only works for calm flesh-eaters.
To wear the mask, hold the right click (RT on the controller) and release the button to take it off. And press G (or B on the Xbox controller) to put it away or drop it.
The Difference Between Red and Golden Masks
The difference between the red and golden masks in Sons of the Forest is subtle. The red mask petrifies weak Cannibals, but the golden one scares stronger enemies away. While little is known about mask colors, they seem to signify the wearer’s rank, with gold being a sign of superiority.
Red masks are comparable to red pain in the Forest, the predecessor to Sons of the Forest. It confuses some enemies, holding them back from attacking the player. But the major difference is, unlike the paint, the red mask doesn’t affect already hostile Cannibals.
The golden disguise is a new addition that might be a Golden Armor component. It keeps the most aggressive man-eaters away. But unlike the red counterpart, there’s no way to craft it.
How to Get Red Masks
To get red masks, collect resin and print one with a 3D Printer. Each red mask is printed in 15 seconds and consumes 150 ml of resin. (Find 3D Printers in the underground maintenance hatches and cave bunkers)
Unused printers come with 850 ml of resin, meaning they can print up to 5 red masks each. But if they’ve run out of the material, gather extra resin by searching abandoned camps and bunkers.
Where to Find the Golden Mask
Find the golden mask in the cave bunker near the southeastern lake. Once in the bunker, go down to Level 5 and enter the autopsy room to the Maintenance Door’s left. The mask lies on the dead body in this room.
Sons of the Forest is available now for PC.