Red Mask Sons Of The Forest Location And How To Use It

Surviving the cannibal-infested island in Sons of the Forest requires utilizing every defensive tool at your disposal to avoid unnecessary combat. Among the most unique utility items available is the Red Mask, a printable piece of equipment that allows you to trick certain local threats. Understanding how to acquire this protective tool and knowing its severe operational limits can significantly increase your lifespan during exploration.
Locating the Necessary 3D Printers
To obtain the Red Mask, survivors must locate one of the hidden underground bunkers scattered across the island that house a functional 3D Printer. The easiest machine to reach is situated within a cave system on the western portion of the map, identifiable by a pulsing green point of interest near an overgrown golf cart. Exploring this cavern allows you to access the printer room safely without needing advanced tools to break through the entrance.
Alternatively, two other printer locations exist but require players to possess the Shovel before they can be accessed. One of these buried bunkers sits on the right side of a river between the northern beach and the snowy mountains, while the other rests in the southwestern region. Digging up the dirt piles at these specific coordinates reveals hidden hatches that lead directly to the underground crafting rooms.
Crafting the Red Mask with Printing Resin
Once you successfully stand before a 3D Printer, you will need to spend 150ml of Printing Resin to manufacture the item. This essential chemical resource can frequently be found scattered across the nearby bunker shelves or inside random supply crates on the surface. Approaching the connected laptop allows you to cycle through the available blueprints until the digital mask schematic appears on the screen.
Interacting with the laptop initiates a brief fifteen-second printing process that physically forms the utility tool in the collection tray. After the machine finishes its mechanical cycle, you can pick up the freshly made item to place it permanently into your inventory. Keeping extra resin stored in your primary backpack ensures that you can always replace or craft other high-tech gear when visiting these bunkers later.
How to Use the Disguise Effectively
To utilize the protective properties of the Red Mask, you must first equip it from the upper left portion of your inventory mat. Simply holding the item in your hand does nothing, meaning you must actively hold down the secondary action button to bring it up to your face. This defensive posture mimics the appearance of larger island entities to placate nearby threats.
The absolute golden rule of this item is that you must raise the mask before any cannibals spot your true identity. If an enemy catches sight of your face for even a single millisecond without the disguise, the trick fails completely and they will attack. Furthermore, you cannot perform aggressive actions, pick up scattered resources, or wield weapons while maintaining this defensive facial coverage.
Understanding the Limitations of the Disguise
While the item works wonderfully for slipping past low-tier patrols or quietly looting peaceful villages, it is far from a perfect defensive solution. If you have a violent history of slaying tribe members on the island, local groups will remain hostile regardless of your facial wear. Standing too close to large groups for extended periods will also raise suspicions and trigger sudden combat encounters.
Most importantly, elite enemies and underground mutants completely ignore the psychological effects of the basic crimson design. High-tier threats wearing golden face protection will immediately recognize your disguise and initiate an aggressive assault upon contact. For absolute protection against those advanced tribesmen, players must eventually seek out the authentic Golden Mask hidden deep within the southeastern morgue bunker.