Exploring the depths of the island reveals that survival is only the beginning. Beyond the cannibal camps and the high-tech bunkers lies a mystery tied to a strange, golden device. This artifact, split into seven distinct pieces, represents the pinnacle of late-game utility in Sons of the Forest. Assembling it isn't just a completionist's goal; it transforms how you interact with the world, from fortifying your base to warping across the map.

Finding all these locations requires more than just a GPS. You need to be prepared for some of the most claustrophobic and dangerous environments on the island. This breakdown covers the exact spots where these pieces are hidden and how to actually use the thing once it’s whole.

Necessary gear before you start the hunt

You cannot simply walk into every cave and expect to find an artifact piece. The game gates these items behind specific environmental hazards. Before you set out to collect the first six pieces (the seventh is locked behind the ending), ensure your inventory includes the following:

  • The Rebreather: Essential for underwater segments in the Coastal and Ancient Armor caves.
  • The Rope Gun: Required for navigating Zipline Cave and several other vertical drops.
  • The Pickaxe: You'll need this to break through certain mineral deposits and gather Sola Fite.
  • Flashlight and Batteries: While a lighter works, the artifact caves are notoriously dark and filled with high-tier mutants like Fingers and Twins.
  • Sola Fite Ore: You’ll need a stack of this eventually to power the device, so start mining it as soon as you see those glowing gold veins.

Piece 1: The Coastal Cave (Northern Beach)

The first piece is usually the most accessible, located in the same cave where you find the Rebreather. Head to the northern shoreline where the waves hit the jagged rocks. Look for the boarded-up entrance near some abandoned oxygen tanks.

Once inside, navigate through the shallow water. Instead of just grabbing the Rebreather and leaving, keep pushing deeper. You will encounter a few basic mutants here, but nothing a crafted spear or a tactical axe can't handle. Look for a section where the cave walls begin to show faint golden markings. The artifact piece sits atop a distinct golden altar. When you pick it up, the animation of your character inspecting the strange metal confirms you’ve started the set.

Piece 2: The Zipline Cave (Western Forest)

Located on the western side of the map between several intersecting river branches, this cave is home to the Rope Gun. If you haven't cleared this yet, be prepared for a fight. The Zipline Cave is cramped and often features a "Sluggy" blocking a narrow passage which you’ll need to clear with an explosive.

After obtaining the Rope Gun, follow the path deeper and look for a rope descent that leads into a flooded chamber. Use your Rebreather to swim through a short submerged tunnel. On the other side, you will find a room adorned with hanging skeletons and golden crosses. The second artifact piece is embedded in the environment here. The presence of golden decorations is always a sign that a piece is nearby.

Piece 3 and 4: The Ancient Armor Cave (The Mega Cave)

This is the largest cave system on the island, running beneath the central mountain range. It has multiple entrances, but the most direct route to the artifact pieces is through the western entrance near the twin circular lakes.

This cave is a marathon, not a sprint. You will face significant mutant resistance.

  • Part 3: Navigate through the linear tunnels until you find the crashed spacecraft. This is a massive landmark you can't miss. Inside the craft, near the pilot's remains, you will find the Ancient Armor and the third artifact piece.
  • Part 4: Don't leave yet. From the spacecraft, look for a spiral stone staircase leading upward. Follow this path, using ropes to climb higher into the cavern. The path remains fairly linear but is heavily guarded. Eventually, you’ll reach a narrow stone walkway overlooking a golden pit. The fourth piece is set into a square golden frame on the floor.

Piece 5: The Pickaxe Cave (Golf Course Pond)

To find the fifth piece, head toward the golf course area on the eastern side of the island. There are two small ponds connected by a stream; the cave entrance is at the lower pond. You’ll need to use a rope to descend into the darkness.

This cave is rich in Sola Fite ore. Follow the path past the waterfalls and swim through the flooded sections. You will need to break through several wooden barricades. Keep an eye out for the golden glowing bars in the rock walls. The artifact piece is embedded in the ground, surrounded by a cluster of Sola Fite. This is also where you obtain the Pickaxe, which is vital for the next steps of your journey.

Piece 6: The Hidden Fisher’s Hut Cave (Northeast Coast)

Walk along the northeastern beach, east of the golf course. Look for a small, lonely fisherman’s hut containing two armchairs. This might look like a simple loot spot, but there is a hidden cellar entrance inside.

Break the floorboards and descend. This path leads into a cave system filled with golden crosses and skeletons arranged in ritualistic poses. It’s one of the creepier locations on the island. Follow the tunnels until you reach a final rope descent. At the bottom, a golden altar holds the sixth piece, surrounded by gilded skeletons that seem to be worshipping the object.

The Final Piece and the Choice

You cannot find the seventh artifact piece through normal exploration. It is tied to the game's climax. After the final boss fight and the arrival of the extraction helicopter, you are given a choice: get on the chopper and leave the island, or stay behind to finish what you started.

To complete the artifact, you must stay on the island.

Once the helicopter leaves, you will notice four brilliant blue beams of light shooting into the sky from a location on the eastern side of the island, not far from the Pickaxe cave. Follow these beams. They lead to a final cave entrance that was previously inaccessible. Inside, you will find a spiraling path leading down to a central pedestal where the final piece sits. Picking this up allows you to finally assemble the full artifact in your inventory.

Assembling and Powering the Artifact

Open your inventory and combine all seven pieces. They will click together to form a complex, golden orb-like device. However, holding it isn't enough; it requires fuel.

The artifact runs on Sola Fite Ore. When you equip the device, you will see red bars indicating its current charge. To reload it, you simply interact with it in your inventory using Sola Fite. One piece of ore provides a significant amount of charge, but if you plan on using its advanced functions frequently, you should set up a dedicated mining operation in the Pickaxe cave.

Mastering the Artifact’s Functions

The artifact isn't a weapon in the traditional sense, but it is a powerful tool for world manipulation. It has four distinct modes that you can cycle through while holding it and looking at the ground.

1. The Gilding Mode (Blue Beam)

When the artifact "opens" and emits a blue beam, you can point it at your structures. This process coats your wooden or stone walls in a layer of gold.

  • Benefit: Gilded structures aren't just for show. They have significantly higher durability against mutant and cannibal attacks.
  • Strategy: Don't waste Sola Fite gilding every single fence post. Focus on your gatehouses, the base of your towers, and your main defensive perimeter. It makes your home nearly indestructible during high-intensity raids.

2. The Teleportation Mode (Sphere Mode)

This is perhaps the most useful function for late-game exploration. To use it, you first need to find or craft the Teleporter Blueprint (often found in the bunkers or high-end caves).

  • Setup: Build the teleporter structure at your main base. Point the artifact at it in Blue Beam mode to "link" it.
  • Usage: Once linked, switch the artifact to its sphere mode. When you activate it anywhere on the map, you will instantly warp back to your teleporter.
  • Cost: Each teleport costs one Sola Fite ore. This works even from deep inside caves or bunkers, making it the ultimate escape tool when things go south.

3. The Attraction Shrine

By building the Attraction Shrine (blueprint required), you can use the artifact to activate a beacon that draws enemies to your location.

  • Why use this? It sounds counterintuitive to lure mutants to your door, but the shrine also triggers the generation of Sola Fite in the surrounding area.
  • Risk: You will be swamped by waves of high-tier enemies. This is for players who have built a kill box of traps and gilded walls and need to farm ore quickly.

4. The Repulsion Shrine

The opposite of the attraction shrine, this setup creates a safe zone around your base.

  • Activation: Requires 6 Sola Fite ore to start. Once activated with the artifact, it will consume one piece of ore every 3 minutes and 20 seconds.
  • Effect: For about 20 minutes, cannibals and mutants will actively avoid your base, giving you time to build, rest, or reorganize without the constant threat of a raid. It’s perfect for those long nights when you just want to focus on architecture.

Final Survival Tips for the Artifact Hunter

Searching for these pieces will take you into the most dangerous corners of the map. By the time you are looking for the fourth or fifth piece, the game’s difficulty will have scaled significantly. You can expect to see "CatDog" mutants and armored cannibals frequently.

Always carry a tent kit with you. Saving before entering an artifact cave is mandatory, as a single wrong turn in the Ancient Armor cave can lead to a long walk back from your last save point. Additionally, use the artifact's gilding feature to protect your bed and storage crates first. There is nothing worse than returning from a successful hunt to find your storage destroyed and your hard-earned loot scattered.

The artifact is the ultimate reward for those who choose to live on the island rather than escape it. It turns the player from a survivor into a master of the environment. While the journey to find all seven locations is grueling, the ability to teleport across the island and turn your wooden shack into a golden fortress makes it the most essential quest line in Sons of the Forest.