Holstering your weapon in Sons of the Forest allows you to safely carry your gear without constantly holding it, freeing your hands for other tasks like building, gathering, or interacting with the environment. This guide walks you through how to holster weapons in the game, what you need, common pitfalls, and useful tips to enhance your gameplay.
What You’ll Need
- A weapon equipped in your hands (melee or ranged)
- Basic familiarity with the game controls
- A character not currently engaged in combat or certain animations (like climbing or swimming)
Step-by-Step
- Equip your weapon: First, make sure the weapon you want to holster is selected and held in your character’s hands. You can do this via your inventory quick slots or by manually selecting it in the inventory screen.
- Identify the holster slot: Sons of the Forest automatically assigns some weapons to holster slots on your character’s body, such as the back or hip. The game supports holstering for weapons like bows, spears, axes, and firearms.
- Press the holster key/button: On PC, the default key to holster a weapon is Q. Pressing this key while holding a weapon will holster it to the appropriate slot on your character model. On consoles, the holster function is typically mapped to pressing the weapon select button or a dedicated holster button. Check your control settings if unsure.
- Confirm the weapon is holstered: After pressing the holster key, your character should visibly place the weapon on their back, hip, or side. Your hands will be free, and the weapon will no longer be actively held but easily accessible.
- Switching back to the weapon: To unholster, simply press the weapon select button or hotkey assigned to that weapon. The character will draw it back into their hands, ready for use.
- Holstering multiple weapons: You can holster more than one weapon if you have multiple equipped in quick slots. Cycle through weapons and press the holster key to stow each one. This is useful for carrying both melee and ranged weapons simultaneously.
- Special cases – two-handed weapons: Some large weapons like the chainsaw or bow may require an animation to holster. Wait for the animation to complete before moving or performing other actions.
Common Mistakes
- Trying to holster during combat: The game disables holstering while attacking, blocking, or being stunned. Attempting to holster in these states won’t work.
- Incorrect key/button presses: Some players confuse weapon switching with holstering. Holstering is a separate action; pressing the weapon select key just switches weapons without holstering.
- Holstering non-holsterable items: Not all items can be holstered. For example, healing items or traps can’t be holstered and must be stored in your inventory.
- Movement interrupting holster animation: Moving or jumping immediately after pressing holster can cancel the animation, leaving the weapon in hand.
Tips
- Practice during safe moments: Try holstering and unholstering weapons when you’re not in danger to get comfortable with the controls and animation timing.
- Use holstering to switch tactics: Holster your ranged weapon to use melee quickly or vice versa without cluttering your hands.
- Keep an eye on your weapon slots: Organize your quick slots so your most-used weapons are easy to access and holster.
- Combine with inventory management: Holstering frees your hands so you can build structures or interact with objects without dropping your weapon.
- Be patient with animations: Let the holster/unholster animations finish before moving to avoid glitches or animation canceling.
Troubleshooting
If your weapon does not holster as expected, try the following:
- Verify you’re not in combat or performing another action: Stop attacking, blocking, or climbing before trying to holster.
- Check control bindings: Open the control settings menu to confirm the holster key/button is assigned correctly and hasn’t been changed or disabled.
- Restart the game: Sometimes a temporary bug or glitch can prevent holstering. Restarting Sons of the Forest can resolve these issues.
- Update the game: Ensure you have the latest patch installed, as holstering bugs may have been fixed in updates.
- Try different weapons: If one weapon won’t holster, test others to determine if the problem is weapon-specific.
- Check for mods: If you use mods, some may interfere with holster functionality. Disable them to test.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I holster any weapon in Sons of the Forest?
- No, only certain weapons like bows, firearms, axes, and spears can be holstered. Consumables and traps cannot.
- What is the default key to holster a weapon on PC?
- The default key to holster a weapon is Q, but you can customize this in the control settings.
- Why won’t my weapon holster during combat?
- The game disables holstering while attacking or blocking to prevent exploits. Wait until combat ends before holstering.
- Does holstering take up inventory space?
- No, holstering simply places the weapon on your character’s body and does not affect inventory capacity.
- Can I holster multiple weapons at once?
- Yes, you can holster multiple weapons by cycling through them and pressing the holster key for each.
- Will holstering affect my stealth?
- Holstering can reduce noise from weapon swings but doesn’t directly impact stealth mechanics.
Mastering the holster mechanic in Sons of the Forest improves your efficiency and immersion, allowing you to switch between combat and survival tasks seamlessly. With practice, you’ll find it an essential part of your gameplay strategy.
Related
- How to Get Burnt BBQ Sauce Off a Pan Quickly and Easily
- How to Freeze Leeks: Easy Steps to Preserve Freshness
- How to Freeze Homemade Noodles for Freshness and Convenience
How to Holster Your Weapon in Sons of the Forest Easily