How to Regain Virginia’s Trust in Sons of the Forest: A Comprehensive Guide

Regaining Virginia’s trust in Sons of the Forest is a delicate process, but it is essential if you want to benefit from her combat prowess and companionship. Her trust isn’t something you can buy or command; it’s earned through consistent, non-threatening behavior. The key to winning her over is understanding her fears and reacting appropriately. Essentially, to regain Virginia’s trust, you must consistently demonstrate that you are not a threat. This involves holstering your weapons, maintaining a calm demeanor, and refraining from approaching her aggressively. Let’s explore this process in more detail.

Understanding Virginia’s Behavior

Virginia, the three-legged, three-armed mutant, isn’t just another enemy in Sons of the Forest. She’s a complex character with her own quirks and fears. Initially, she’s likely to be skittish and easily spooked by players. Her reaction to you is directly tied to her perception of danger. If she feels threatened, she’ll run. Understanding this is crucial to regaining her trust. She will, however, attempt to befriend you.

Key Factors Influencing Virginia’s Trust:

• Weapon Presence: Holding a weapon is the quickest way to send Virginia running. She perceives weapons as an immediate threat. Always holster your weapon by pressing “G” when she is near.
• Aggressive Approach: Rapid, direct approaches will frighten her. Instead, remain still and let her initiate contact.
• Past Interactions: Negative interactions, such as accidentally hitting her, will make her wary and mistrustful.
• Relationship Level: A hidden relationship level dictates how trusting Virginia is of you. This level improves over time with positive interactions.
• Proximity: Getting too close, too quickly will alarm her and potentially make her flee.

Steps to Regain Virginia’s Trust

Regaining Virginia’s trust requires patience, consistency, and a gentle approach. Here’s a detailed breakdown of how to do it:

1. Holster Your Weapons

The most fundamental step is to always holster your weapons when Virginia is nearby. By pressing the “G” key, you immediately signal that you’re not a threat. This is a non-negotiable step – failing to do so will almost certainly lead to her fleeing. It doesn’t matter if you are surrounded by cannibals, she will not approach you if you are wielding a weapon, even if it is the basic axe.

2. Stay Calm and Still

Avoid sudden movements. When you spot Virginia, stop moving and simply observe. Don’t chase after her or try to approach her directly. Instead, allow her to come to you at her own pace. The aim is to create a non-threatening environment where she feels safe.

3. Mind Your Business

Act like she’s not there. Go about your normal routine. Continue tasks like gathering resources or building structures as if she weren’t present. She will become intrigued by your normalcy and become more comfortable around you.

4. Provide a Safe Environment

Build a safe and well-lit base. Light any fires around your base. Virginia tends to gravitate towards lit areas, as they likely feel safer for her. Additionally, a secure base will help her view you as a protector, further solidifying trust.

5. The Waiting Game

This is where patience comes in. She might come and go a few times without engaging. Don’t be disheartened; just maintain your approach. Eventually, she’ll start spending more time around you.

6. Observe Her Dances

As she becomes more comfortable, Virginia will start showcasing her unique dance routine. This is a clear sign that she’s beginning to trust you. Enjoy the show – it’s a positive sign and a bit unsettling!

7. Protect Her

Protect Virginia from danger when necessary. If she gets attacked by enemies, intervene and revive her, if she goes down. This demonstrates that you are not a threat, but a protector. She will remember this.

8. Be Patient and Consistent

Rebuilding trust is not instantaneous. It requires ongoing effort and a consistent approach. You may experience setbacks, but consistent application of these guidelines will result in a positive result.

The Benefits of Earning Virginia’s Trust

Earning Virginia’s trust pays off in various ways:

• Combat Support: Virginia becomes a formidable companion in combat. She can wield both a Pistol and a Shotgun simultaneously, making her invaluable during battles.
• Exploration Aid: She will explore alongside you and even bring you gifts.
• Unique Companion: Having Virginia as an ally adds a unique layer to your gameplay, making the forest feel less lonely.
• Emotional Connection: Her unusual character development will have you emotionally invested in her and her well-being.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can Virginia die permanently in Sons of the Forest?

Yes, if Virginia is downed and not revived, she will die permanently. Unless you use the file editing trick described below, she won’t respawn in that game save.

2. How do I revive Virginia after she dies?

You can revive Virginia (and Kelvin) by editing your save files on PC. You’ll need to navigate to the game’s save directory and modify the GameStateSaveData.json and SaveData.json files to alter their status from dead to alive. Be sure to back up your save files first.

3. Why does Virginia run away from me?

Virginia will run away if she perceives you as a threat. This is usually due to holding a weapon, approaching too quickly, or having a low relationship level with you.

4. What happens if I accidentally hit Virginia?

Hitting Virginia will decrease your relationship level with her. It can lead to mistrust and make it more difficult to gain her trust. Avoid hurting her at all costs.

5. How do I make Virginia a companion?

Virginia becomes a companion by establishing trust with her through the methods outlined above. As she grows to trust you, she will start sticking around and aiding you in battles.

6. Is Virginia useful in combat?

Yes, Virginia is a formidable combat ally. She can wield a Pistol and Shotgun simultaneously, making her incredibly powerful in fights.

7. How do I get Virginia to follow me?

Once you have her trust, she will naturally follow you. Just continue your regular tasks and she will stick nearby.

8. Does Virginia need to eat or drink?

No, Virginia does not require food or water from you, nor do you need to provide for her. However, she may consume items on her own, like berries and water.

9. Can Virginia be given weapons?

Virginia does not take weapons from you in the way Kelvin does. She will, however, equip weapons for herself upon gaining trust with you. She will use both the pistol and shotgun.

10. Is it possible to tame Virginia?

You cannot technically “tame” Virginia. You earn her trust by demonstrating you aren’t a threat.

11. How do I stop Virginia from running away when I equip a weapon?

You will be required to put your weapon away whenever she is near you if you wish to improve or maintain her trust. Equipping a weapon while she is close by will scare her and she will run off.

12. Can I command Virginia to do things like I can Kelvin?

No, you cannot issue specific commands to Virginia like you can with Kelvin. She acts independently, assisting when she sees fit.

13. What happens if I have a bad ending with Virginia?

In a “bad” ending, you might leave the island without her, which results in you losing a valuable ally and a tragic resolution. The specific interactions with Virginia in relation to the ending are tied more closely with the decision to leave the island than your interactions with her.

14. What does it mean when Virginia starts dancing?

Virginia’s dance is a sign of her comfort level with you. When she dances, it means she is beginning to trust you. She will often be more active in combat and exploration if she is happy.

15. Can Virginia help with base building?

No, Virginia is primarily a combat ally and will not assist with base building tasks in the same way that Kelvin will.