Sons of the Forest: Kelvin & Virginia Guide – Commands, Trust, Combat, and Base Tips

Unlike in its predecessor The Forest, you’re no longer alone in Sons of the Forest, even in single-player. You have two helpful companions at your side—one right from the start and another later in the game. The island immediately feels more alive, and you’ll also learn more about it along the way. Kelvin and Virginia are essential to your gameplay, and you should actively use them to build your bases or fend off mutants and locals. Today, we’ll take a closer look at how to do that and what options you have with both of them.

Kelvin in Sons of the Forest: Tasks, commands, and tips

Kelvin is another passenger from the helicopter who survives the crash. He goes down with you in the same area, but he’s in much worse shape. Because of the explosion and the fall, he suffered a serious head injury and is now deaf and mute. After a brief breather, though, he’s ready to help and give it his all!

At the core, Kelvin is your extra pair of hands for everything related to your base and survival. He’s quite flexible and adapts to the commands you give him.

• Take item: You can give Kelvin various things, primarily outfits.
• Follow me: With this command, Kelvin follows you closely—ideal for exploring or when moving to a new base.
• Collect: Kelvin can collect these materials and foods: berries, fish, sticks, stones, pebbles, arrows, or logs. He can then fill storage with them.
• Build: He can construct small things like a campfire or a shelter. He can also finish blueprints or clear areas.
• Stay: Kelvin remains at a spot of your choosing.
• Take a break: Kelvin briefly goes about his own activities.
• Maintain base: Kelvin helps keep structures in working order and repairs them.
• Clear area: Kelvin clears the forest in a radius of 5, 10, or 20 meters around his current position—perfect for resources and building space.

Tip for the start: Send Kelvin to catch fish. He’ll hang them up to dry right away—giving you a reliable early food source.

Do I need to take care of Kelvin? Food and needs

Thankfully, you don’t need to actively care for Kelvin—he looks after himself. You’ll see him, for example, drinking from a river or picking berries. Keep in mind, though: he can also help himself to your supplies, such as meat from the drying rack.

Can Kelvin fight? Combat behavior and protection tips

Even though Kelvin may look military at first glance, due to his injury he cannot fight. However, he will warn you about nearby enemies by pointing at them. Keep Kelvin out of dangerous situations and focus on defense yourself.

Can I lose Kelvin? GPS tracking and avoiding death

You can always see where Kelvin is on your GPS device. He’s marked with a blue K and usually keeps up well in the field. Sometimes he gets stuck—just follow his signal. He won’t follow you into caves.

Important: Kelvin can die. First, he’ll go down, and you can revive him. If he takes too much damage, he’s gone for good. So keep him safe and out of danger zones.

Virginia in Sons of the Forest: Building trust and abilities

Unlike Kelvin, Virginia isn’t your ally from the start—you first need to earn her trust. In the first few days, she’ll come near you and watch from a distance. Do not attack her, even if her many arms and legs seem strange at first.

Earning Virginia’s trust: Tips and steps

To make Virginia a loyal companion, you need to stay calm and signal that you’re not a threat.

• Put away your weapon with G to appear trustworthy.
• Move slowly and calmly toward her, but don’t pursue her.
• Watch her dance.
• Let her sit by the campfire.
• Revive her if she gets attacked.

Eventually, Virginia will show up more often and even bring gifts—like berries, plants, or small animals. Then you’re on the right track!

Once she trusts you, you can give her items. Especially important: Give her one of your GPS devices. Kelvin wears his from the beginning (blue dot on his chest). You can find more devices on other soldiers around the island (purple markers). That way you’ll see Virginia’s position on your map as well.

Can Virginia fight? Weapons, ammo, and defense

Unlike Kelvin, Virginia is excellent for defense. With enough trust, you can give her weapons.

• Thanks to her additional arms, she can wield a pistol and a shotgun at the same time.
• She doesn’t consume ammunition from your inventory.
• She’s ideal for securing your base against cannibals and mutants.

Tip: Equip Virginia with firearms as early as possible and position her near your most important structures. A GPS tracker on her helps you find her quickly.

Conclusion: Using Kelvin and Virginia optimally

Kelvin and Virginia are two of the best additions in Sons of the Forest—and both massively improve your experience. Kelvin supports you with gathering, building, and maintenance of your base, while Virginia—once she trusts you—shines with strong combat abilities. Whether solo or with friends, this duo makes Sons of the Forest significantly safer, more efficient, and more fun.

And if you rent a multiplayer server for Sons of the Forest from us, these two characters will be there alongside your friends. Together—whether with friends or the in-game companions—Sons of the Forest is even more fun!