The Forest is a gripping survival horror game where the player embodies a man who’s desperate to find his son after succumbing to a deadly plane crash. However, his trek through the wilderness lands him right in the middle of a civilization of cannibals who are desperate to eat.
Surviving in The Forest is particularly challenging and extremely tense, especially when players know they have a weak weapon at their side should they need it. However, when the right weapon is chosen, many players can walk with pride and confidence knowing they should succeed in almost any battle thrown their way. For this game, the right weapon is vital.
Updated on September 15, 2024, by Nathan Halsey: While The Forest has since received its sequel, Sons of the Forest, this guide stands for those who want to experience the original. While players who only have time for one survival game can pick up the sequel and play without much issue, the game does build upon the story set in the first game and is worth a play for those who want to understand everything going on. Many of the events in the previous game set up the second, and the environmental design in the game’s final act provides key information into what exactly is happening in “the forest” that is mentioned.
10 Weak Spear
Cheapest to Craft
- Speed: 7
- Damage: 3
- Block: 0
While it may be called the Weak Spear, this melee weapon does not live up to its less-than-fortunate name. It’s a fantastically versatile weapon that can be used as a tool or a melee or ranged attack depending on what is needed at that point.
When attacking, the weak spear does some decent damage that should carry the player through most of the game, especially when the player has the upper hand. It’s also pretty easy to craft and is a fantastic starting point for anyone needing a simple yet effective weapon at their side. Given that the Weak Spear only requires a couple of sticks to make, it can be in the player’s hands within minutes of starting a new game even on The Forest’s most difficult settings. Against the game’s dangerous mutants, however, the players will find themselves wishing for something sturdier.
9 Dynamite
For Crowd Control and Boss Damage
- Detonation Time: 3 Seconds
Dynamite is a bit of a one-trick pony, but is unbelievably useful and should always be readily available when going into a battle. It may only be one use per stick, but this projectile does some incredible directional damage once the player has perfected throwing such an object, which isn’t as easy as many think. Essentially, it’s the same as the bombs, but without the headache of creation. It’s the best of both worlds and is one of the easiest weapons to use and find, making it something everyone has to have by their side.
The Forest is renowned for the quality of its enemy AI, and players should note that enemies have a habit of stepping just out of the range of this explosive. Whether that’s the result of good scripting or bad is an open question, but the end result is often frustration for players still getting the hang of Dynamite.
8 Flare Gun
For Passive Damage Over Time
- Detonation Time: Instant
- Ammo: Flares
Whether the player needs to wipe out some cannibals, mutants, or even the final boss, the Flare Gun is the weapon to do it. It’s basically like shooting a burning bullet of fire at the enemy which seems to do some huge damage and keeps burning them for a while, so it doesn’t just hit once and be done. Essentially, this is a great weapon to use, and fire damage is one many should focus on when battling tougher enemies.
While the Flare Gun doesn’t have the spread of Molotovs, it’s still preferable to lighting individual Incendiary Arrows in the middle of a hectic fight. That, combined with its ease of use, makes the Flare Gun a top contender.
7 Katana
For When Blocking Isn’t Viable
- Speed: 7 1/4
- Damage: 5 1/4
- Block: 0
Interestingly, despite the ramifications of wielding a Katana, this weapon is relatively disappointing based on damage. It’s just not as strong as other weapons, but what it doesn’t have in damage it excels at with speed. This is one of the quickest weapons in the game, and more hits means more opportunities to do damage. There’s also the versatility of this weapon that sets it above many. While players might not be able to throw it, they can do wider attacks, hitting more enemies at once which is particularly useful for crowds.
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Early in The Forest, the player will only face isolated cannibals and small groups, but the more they play and develop their camp, the more of the island’s murderous residents will come to confront them. The increase in enemy numbers is one reason that the Katana is one of the best late-game weapons since its wide arc makes dealing with them far easier.
6 Crafted Club
Best Stun-Locker
- Speed: 2
- Damage: 7
- Block: 9
It’s worth noting from the offset that clubs are one of the slowest categories of weapons in this survival game. However, what they lack in speed, they make up for in power and the highest block stat of the melee options.
It’s fortunate that the Crafted Club has such a good block because its short range means the player will be up close and personal with enemies. That isn’t a big deal against one or two cannibals, but mutants and larger cannibal groups can still be a significant threat.
This weapon is devastating when playing in a group, as a single hit is typically enough to knock an enemy off their feet, something that’s easier to capitalize on in a group since another swing may take a moment with this weapon.
5 Modern Axe
Best Single Hit Damage
- Speed: 5
- Damage: 7
- Block: 9
The Modern Axe is arguably the best axe in this horror game. It’s a great tool and an even better weapon that has decent speed, great damage, and an okay block to keep players safe in melee combat. The only real issue is how challenging it is to get hold of it. Players cannot craft this item; instead, they need to head into the Hanging Cave to grab it. Once they have, this tool will do enough damage to make anyone feel a little safer in those disturbing woods.
Since the Modern Axe lacks a great block, the player is incentivized to play battles aggressively, cutting a swathe through enemies before they get the chance to land many blows of their own. Assuming the player is comfortable with such tactics, the Modern Axe is a fantastic weapon.
4 Modern Bow
Great At Range
- Ammo: Arrows, Bone Arrows, Poison Arrows, Modern Arrows, Fire Arrows
Bows are a challenging weapon to master; however, when it comes to damage and uses, the Modern Bow easily outshines the rest. It’s powerful, quick, and extremely accurate which is something many get frustrated about with the other bows. To add to such power, the player is also then able to craft multiple types of arrows including poison and fire. Add fire to stealth attacks like these, and players will have the upper hand in almost any battle they choose to enter.
With sticks and a few feathers, the player can easily replace spent ammunition, keeping the Modern Bow well-stocked. A player with this weapon, a full quiver, and a good vantage point can make quick work of almost any enemy in the game.
3 Molotov Cocktail
Area of Effect Damage
- Detonation Time: On Impact
It’s well known that fire is a great way to do damage in The Forest. It’s an extremely powerful element that can easily be manipulated to serve the player in any fight. This is one of the main reasons that the Molotov Cocktail is a fantastic weapon to wield. What’s more, the player doesn’t have to hit the enemy to do damage. Even if the Molotov lands in front of them or to the side, simply convince them to step into the fire, and they take damage. Or, hit the enemy and then watch them take damage again by moving into it.
However, the Molotov Cocktail can do more harm than good if the player is careless or is caught fighting a group of enemies in the tight confines of the caves. Given that this is a situational and strategic weakness rather than one intrinsic to it, however, the Molotov Cocktail is still well worth the trouble.
2 Upgraded Spear
Great Sustained DPS
- Speed: 8 1/2
- Damage: 6
- Block: 0
While perhaps controversial and ultimately up to opinion, the spears are the best weapons in the game. They’re versatile, quick, and easy to craft while still holding up on damage and stealth. However, it does let itself down a little with the lack of crowd control. Nevertheless, the Upgraded Spear has a relatively decent attack but has one of the highest speeds in the game making it a great weapon if the player has more than one. It’s cheap to craft, easy to master, and well worth having.
Though the player is in a bit of a jam if they’re forced to confront large groups with the Upgraded Spear, this weapon’s excellent speed and throwing potential means the player will be able to end many battles before the cannibals know what hit them.
1 Incendiary Spear
Best Sustained DPS
- Speed: 8 1/2
- Damage: 6
- Block: 0
Take all the perks of having a spear and add fire, that’s the Incendiary Spear. It’s all the great things players get from wielding a spear with some great explosives on the end of it. The player also doesn’t lose out on the spear making it relatively easy to keep making these devices. Essentially, this weapon combines all the best aspects. It’s quick, the player can easily craft multiples, and it does a great amount of damage. With a set of Incendiary Spears, the player should be able to get through the game in a breeze.
Even crowds and tough mutants go down quickly in the face of this weapon, making it an easy choice for the number one spot. The power of this weapon is even more evident in multiplayer, where a group of similarly armed players can obliterate anything in their path.
