Sons of the Forest Kelvin: How to heal Kelvin, can he die, and do you need to feed him?
Learn everything you need to know about Kelvin in Sons of the Forest
Want to know more about Kelvin in Sons of the Forest? Kelvin is king in Sons Of The Forest. An ally who survives the helicopter crash at the start of the game, Kelvin is your first companion in Sons of the Forest, and he's incredibly useful. While the crash leaves him in a shocked state which prevents him from speaking, Kelvin can follow, fish, fetch wood, and build small shelters to help you survive the cannibal-infested island.
In this guide, we'll break down everything you need to know about Kelvin in Sons of the Forest, including how to get Kelvin, whether you need to feed Kelvin, if he can fight and die, and a wealth of other important info that you'll need to know.
How to get Kelvin in Sons of the Forest
When you start a new game, you and Kelvin crash onto the island in a helicopter. When the cutscene ends and you gain control for the first time, have a look around the clearing to find Kelvin injured on the ground nearby.
To get Kelvin as a companion, simply find him on the ground and help him up. This will initiate another short cutscene in which you get Kelvin back on his feet. Once this ends, you can start giving Kelvin commands.
Has Kelvin received any updates since launch?
Sons of the Forest launched in early access, and two major patches have arrived since launch. These patches have addressed a range of issues surrounding Kelvin, and you can find the related patch notes below:
- Fixed Kelvin cutting down trees with player structures attached (Patch 01)
- Fixed Kelvin dropping radios destroying the radio (Patch 01)
- Kelvin catch fish order will end after a time (Patch 01)
- Fixed Kelvin being able to burn to death from fires (Patch 02)
The first patch addressed a common complaint about Kelvin: that he would frequently chop down trees used to build treehouses. This would send player bases crashing to the ground, and was an infuriating way to watch your progress disappear. This patch also balanced his food-gathering skills, ensuring that he no longer catches fish indefinitely.
Patch 02 included just one change for Kelvin, preventing him from burning to death when walking over fires. This means you can relax a little more when placing firepits around your base, as Kelvin won't stumble into them and torch himself to a crisp.
How to use Kelvin effectively in Sons of the Forest
When Kelvin is your companion, you can issue commands with a notepad by interacting with him.
Below, you'll find a full list of commands that you can give Kelvin in Sons of the Forest:
- Follow me
- Get [item] and [drop here, give to me, or follow me]
- Build [shelter or fire]
- Stay [here or hidden]
- Take a break
- Clear [5, 10, or 20 meters]
Of these commands, we'd recommend using Kelvin to build a shelter for your first night. You can always make a tent in Sons of the Forest, but ordering Kelvin to make a shelter frees you up to collect resources, craft weapons, and find important tools such as the Rebreather.
The "Clear" command is also excellent, as it makes Kelvin start clearing the land in a 5, 10, or 20 meter radius. This isn't a combat command to clear enemies. Instead, he'll start chopping trees, making it easier to build a base. This also lets you get plenty of logs, so that you can start building while Kelvin keeps chopping.
The "Get" commands allows you to order Kelvin to collect sticks, rocks, logs, or fish. Clearly, the best option here is fish. Food isn't always easy to come by in Sons of the Forest, but Kelvin is a fishing pro.
If you order Kelvin to get fish, he'll wander to the nearest water source, assume a crouched position, and just grab them straight out of the water. He'll keep doing so for a short while, or until you give him another command, which makes Kelvin an excellent source of food in Sons of the Forest.
Kelvin FAQ: Everything you need to know about Kelvin
There's so much to learn about Kelvin, and we thought it easiest to organise it all in a nice little FAQ. If you're wondering how to feed Kelvin, whether Kelvin can die, or much more, we have all the answers.
Do you need to feed Kelvin in Sons of the Forest?
No, you do not need to feed Kelvin in Sons of the Forest. You also don't need to get water for him. Kelvin may occasionally eat berries, drink water, or sleep, but you do not need to issue these as commands or give him your resources.
Can Kelvin fight in Sons of the Forest?
No, Kelvin cannot fight in Sons of the Forest. There is no way to give Kelvin a weapon, so he'll simply try to evade attacks during combat.
If you're wondering why Kelvin can't fight, it's because the crash made him deaf and put him in a bit of a daze. For this reason, we'd recommend keeping him away from dangerous situations.
While Kelvin cannot fight, he is able to warn you of incoming enemies if he sees them. He'll do so by running over to you and pointing in their direction, so consider using Kelvin as a lookout if you need someone watching your back. Just be ready to defend him when enemies do arrive.
Can you heal Kelvin in Sons of the Forest?
You can heal Kelvin in Sons of the Forest, but only when he drops to the ground. This will happen if he takes enough damage from either you or enemies.
To heal Kelvin, you must walk over to him and interact with him in his downed state. This will make you revive him from the ground, as you would a fellow player while playing Sons of the Forest multiplayer.
Can Kelvin die in Sons of the Forest?
Yes, Kelvin can die in Sons of the Forest. He can either be killed by cannibals or mutants, or by the player.
Fortunately, Kelvin is already quite good at staying safe. He won't follow you into caves, for example, which means you're on your own if you want to get the shovel or find the keycards in Sons of the Forest.
If Kelvin does succumb to the cannibal attacks, or if you decide to kill him yourself, then he won't respawn at all for the rest of your save. However, you can revive Kelvin (and Virginia, the other main companion) by tinkering with your save file.
Can you get rid of Kelvin?
If you'd rather get rid of Kelvin and work alone without killing him, that's also an option. Simply use the "Take a break" command to order Kelvin to rest. He'll go idle and stay roughly in the location where you leave him, but this allows you to run off and do your own thing without his help.
If you're looking for a more permanent solution to remove Kelvin from the island - or existence - then obviously just grab the nearest weapon. Be warned, though, that we'd strongly recommend keeping Kelvin alive, as he is incredibly useful for helping you survive in the early game.
If he's really annoying you, just leave him resting by a creek. You never know when you might need him back.
That wraps up our guide on Kelvin in Sons of the Forest. If you've delivered Kelvin a swift death and now need to fend for yourself, take a look at our guide on how to make a fire. When you're ready to explore further, you can learn how to find useful tools such as the Modern Axe, Stun Baton, Pistol, Shotgun, and more.