Key Highlights:
- The Compound Bow is located in Maintenance Site B on the southwest side of the island.
- Requires the Rebreather, Rope Gun, and Shovel to access.
- Found beside a corpse in a flooded bathroom, near the Pistol Suppressor and 3D Printer.
The Compound Bow is one of the most rewarding mid-game weapons in Sons of the Forest. It’s powerful, quiet, and ideal for stealth players who prefer precision over brute force.
Being faster and more forgiving than the crossbow while maintaining the same lethal impact.
I personally rely on it when I need to keep noise low, especially around camps or caves where loud gunfire brings unwanted attention.
To reach it, players must first collect three key items: the Rebreather, Rope Gun, and Shovel. These are all located in caves across the northwest of the island, and they’re guarded by mutants, so come prepared.
The Rebreather allows for underwater breathing, the Rope Gun lets you use ziplines, and both are required to get through the Shovel’s cave between their two locations. Bring food, torches or flashlights, and at least one ranged weapon or explosives to deal with tight cave ambushes.
With the Shovel acquired, the next destination is Maintenance Site B, a digsite on the southwest side of the island, marked by a green GPS beacon.
Look for broken golf carts, surveying gear, and a patch of loose soil – this is where you’ll dig. If it’s snowing, a white shovel icon helps pinpoint the spot. Clear the area first, as cannibals frequently patrol nearby. Once safe, unearth the hatch and descend into the Maintenance B tunnel.
The entrance opens into a flooded hallway leading to a living area. Inside, you’ll find a Pistol Suppressor on a desk next to a 3D Printer, both worth grabbing. Continue through the next doorway into the bathroom, where the Compound Bow lies beside a dead worker in the bath tub. Collect nearby arrows and loot before heading out.
The Compound Bow handles differently from the crafted version. It requires two hands to use, but that’s a fair trade-off for its higher damage and stability.
Charge each shot for maximum accuracy, and aim for headshots when possible, even armoured cannibals go down fast when hit precisely.
It supports Stone, 3D Printed, and Carbon Fiber Arrows, each offering unique advantages: stone for basic use, printed for balance, and carbon for maximum power and range. Bolts can be retrieved after firing, which makes resource management simple.
The bow’s one drawback is that it can’t be upgraded, but its raw power and reliability make it a permanent part of my loadout. If you want a silent weapon with excellent range and control, the Compound Bow is second only to firearms for pure versatility. Use it to clear camps quietly or pick off patrols without alerting the rest, it’s a perfect hybrid of precision and stealth.
You can find this and every other major weapon detailed in our Ultimate Sons of the Forest Guide.