You're running through the trees, starving, probably being chased by a guy with three arms, and you're thinking about rocks. It sounds boring. But in the sequel to Endnight’s massive hit, the Sons of the Forest pickaxe is basically your golden ticket to the endgame. Without it, you aren't just missing out on a tool; you're missing out on Solafite, the weird, glowing ore that turns your gear from "okay" to "terrifyingly powerful."
Getting it isn't easy. It’s tucked away in a corner of the map that most players walk right past during their first ten hours.
The Brutal Hunt for the Sons of the Forest Pickaxe
Most people assume the pickaxe is just another tool you craft. It isn't. You can't just slap a stick and a stone together and call it a day. You have to go deep.
The pickaxe is located in a specific cave system on the northeast side of the island. It’s the same cave where you find the Mother lode of Solafite, but if you don't know the layout, you'll get lost in the dark or eaten by a mutant before you even see a glimmer of metal. Look for the cave entrance near the base of the mountain, right where the grass starts to get thin and the rocks get jagged. You'll know you're in the right spot when you see the small stream nearby.
Once you’re inside, things get cramped. It’s wet. It’s loud. You’ll need a flashlight or a bunch of flares because the ambient lighting in this cave is non-existent. You have to swim. Yeah, bring your Rebreather. If you haven't grabbed the Rebreather from the coastal cave yet, turn around. You're wasting your time.
After a short underwater segment, you'll emerge into a chamber where the Sons of the Forest pickaxe is just... sitting there. It’s lodged in a pile of Solafite ore. It feels a bit like pulling Excalibur from the stone, except instead of becoming King of England, you just get the ability to smash rocks more efficiently.
What Does the Pickaxe Actually Do?
It breaks things. Obviously. But specifically, it mines Solafite.
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Solafite is that golden-tinted ore you’ve seen poking out of cave walls. Before you have the pickaxe, those deposits are just scenery. With the tool in hand, you can harvest them. Honestly, the pickaxe sucks as a weapon. Don't try to fight a Brute with it unless you want a very quick trip back to your last save point. The swing speed is sluggish. The range is pathetic. Use your katana or the shotgun for the heavy lifting; keep the pickaxe for the geology.
Mining Solafite is the primary reason you’re doing this. You take that ore back to your base and shove it into the Ore Plater. This is where the magic happens. You can coat your weapons—like the fire axe or the machete—in gold. It doesn't just look cool. It boosts the stats. It makes the gear more durable and increases the damage output.
Navigating the Cave Like a Pro
I’ve seen a lot of players get turned around in the pickaxe cave. It’s easy to do. The geometry is confusing.
- Enter the cave and stick to the right wall initially.
- When you hit the water, dive deep. The tunnel is linear but long.
- Watch your oxygen. Even with the Rebreather, it’s easy to panic if you lose your orientation.
- Look for the light. Endnight loves using subtle environmental lighting to guide you.
- Once you grab the pickaxe, don't just leave. There are Solafite veins right there. Harvest them immediately so you don't have to make a second trip.
The cave isn't just a loot drop; it's a resource hub. You'll find crates with rope, wire, and occasionally some meds. Grab everything. Survival in this game is about being a packrat.
Why You Can't Skip the Solafite Grind
Some players think they can beat the game with just the modern axe and some well-placed traps. You can. But you're making it harder on yourself. The endgame enemies—the ones that start showing up after day 40 or 50—are tanks. They soak up damage like sponges.
Upgrading your gear with the Sons of the Forest pickaxe and the subsequent Solafite plating is the difference between a five-minute boss fight and a thirty-second execution. It changes the math of the game.
Common Mistakes and Misconceptions
People keep asking if there’s a "modern" version of the pickaxe. There isn't. This isn't like the axes where you go from tactical to fire axe. The one you find in the cave is the only one in the game. If you lose it (which shouldn't happen unless your save file glitches), you're in trouble.
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Another weird thing? People try to use it to break down wooden structures. It works, but it’s slower than the axe. It’s a specialized tool. Think of it like a key rather than a hammer. It unlocks the "gold" tier of your inventory.
Also, don't confuse the pickaxe cave with the Shovel cave. They are in completely different spots. The Shovel is toward the center-west of the island, while the pickaxe is firmly in the northeast. I've spent hours running to the wrong hole in the ground because I didn't check my GPS properly. Don't be me.
The Ore Plater Connection
You found the pickaxe. Great. Now what?
You need the Ore Plater blueprint. It’s usually found in one of the later bunkers. Once you build it (it takes a fair amount of structural resources), you drop your weapon in the middle, pile on the Solafite, and wait for the lightning. It’s very "Frankenstein." The process attracts enemies. Be ready. They hear the hum of the machine and come running from across the woods.
If you're playing multiplayer, only one person needs the pickaxe to mine for the whole group. But honestly, everyone should grab it. It’s a rite of passage. Plus, it makes the mining go way faster when you have three people hacking at a vein instead of one.
Survival Tips for the Deep Caves
Caving in Sons of the Forest is a horror game inside a survival game. The pickaxe cave is relatively mid-tier in terms of difficulty, but it can still end your run if you're careless.
- Bring a Torch: Not a flashlight, a crafted torch. It provides a warm glow that fills the room better than the narrow beam of the plastic flashlight.
- Bone Armor is King: Don't go in wearing just a hoodie. The mutants in the pickaxe cave hit hard.
- Save Outside: There’s usually a spot to put down a tarp tent near the entrance. Use it. Dying at the bottom of a cave and having to trek back from the beach is a soul-crushing experience.
- Check the Ceiling: Some of the "fingers" mutants like to hang out in the shadows above you.
The Sons of the Forest pickaxe is more than a tool. It represents the shift from being the hunted to being the hunter. When you start plating your gear in Solafite, the island starts to feel a lot smaller. You aren't just surviving anymore; you're dominating.
Final Practical Steps
To wrap this up and get you moving, here is your immediate to-do list for acquiring and utilizing the pickaxe effectively:
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- Pin the Location: Open your map and look at the far northeast. Look for the cluster of cave icons near the mountain's edge. That's your destination.
- Check Your Gear: Ensure you have the Rebreather and at least two full air tanks. If you’re low on batteries for your flashlight, craft some bone armor or bring extra flares.
- Clear Your Inventory: Solafite is heavy and takes up space. Make sure you aren't carrying unnecessary junk so you can bring back a full haul of ore on your first trip.
- Set Up a Forward Base: Don't run all the way back to the beach. Build a small outpost with a drying rack and a fire near the cave exit so you can recover before the long trek home.
- Start the Plating: Once you have the ore, prioritize your most-used melee weapon. The Fire Axe is usually the best candidate for the first Solafite upgrade due to its high base damage.
Get to that cave, grab the pick, and start mining. The golden armor and weapons aren't going to make themselves.