Key Highlights:
- Learn how to build and lock doors to protect shelters from cannibal raids in Sons of the Forest.
- Use sticks for simple locks and reinforce entrances with extra logs for added protection.
- Build defensive wall gates for larger bases and keep cannibals from breaching your perimeter.
Locked doors are a small but vital mechanic in Sons of the Forest. Once cannibals start scouting your camp, they will test your walls and push at your weak points, often ignoring you in favour of smashing structures. Without locks and reinforcements, even a well-built cabin can be torn open quickly.
To get started, you need a shelter with a door. A tarp tent does not qualify, you’ll need at least a log cabin or custom build. Logs are your main resource, and while you can only carry two at a time, a zipline system or Kelvin’s gathering tasks speed things up.
If you have the chainsaw, that’s the most efficient way to cut trees, though axes will still get the job done.
Once your door is placed, equipping a stick is all it takes to add a lock. Look directly at the door until a small arrow icon appears, then right-click to slot the stick across. You’ll know it worked when the lock icon appears above the door.
Keep in mind that locks only work from the outside, so you may need to plan your movements carefully when heading out or retreating.
If you want more than a basic lock, you can reinforce doors. Place logs on both sides of the door frame, guided by the dotted placement arrow, then split a third log to use as a crossbar.
This creates a barrier cannibals will have to chew through before getting inside, buying you time to reset traps or prepare weapons. To leave, manually remove the crossbar and replace it when you return.
Another option introduced in recent updates is the defensive wall gate. If you build a straight wall segment about five logs wide, you can set logs across to create a large swinging gate. These can also be locked with a stick in the same way as a regular door.
They are especially useful for perimeter bases where you want controlled access for carts or allies.
The only catch is that AI companions like Kelvin may not path through them properly, so you may need to open and close gates manually. Together, locks, reinforcements, and gates give you layers of security.
No structure is permanent, but the extra seconds of safety often mean the difference between calmly dispatching a raid and watching cannibals dismantle hours of work.
For more strategies and base tips, check out our Ultimate Sons of the Forest Guide, which gathers every survival and progression article in one place.