
In the open-world survival horror game The Forest, red paint is a special item that can be worn by the player. It is found in open paint buckets in several locations on the Peninsula, often accompanied by a paintbrush. The paint is used to ward off cannibals, who will react to the player wearing the paint by following and staring at them, stepping back if the player tries to approach, or even kneeling and praying as if the player is a sacred being. The red paint does not affect mutants, who will still attack the player.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Game | The Forest |
| Game type | Open-world survival horror |
| Developer | Endnight Games |
| Platforms | Steam, PlayStation |
| Red paint effect | Render cannibals non-hostile |
| Red paint effect | Cause cannibals to bow and worship the player |
| Red paint effect | Make cannibals less likely to attack |
| Red paint effect | Make cannibals more likely to flee |
| Red paint effect | Render mutants unaffected |
| Red paint spawn locations | Cave 7 - Chasm Cave |
| Red paint spawn locations | Cave 2 - Hanging Cave |
| Red paint spawn locations | Sahara Laboratory |
| Red paint spawn locations | Longhouse overlooking the ocean |
| Red paint removal | Rain |
| Red paint removal | Swimming in water |
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What You'll Learn
- Red paint is a special item that can be worn by the player, like mud
- Red paint is found in 8 locations and can be applied once per game session
- Red paint instils fear in cannibals, making them passive or more likely to flee
- The paint does not work on mutants, who will still attack the player
- The red paint is connected to the Red Cannibal, a leader of the cannibals

Red paint is a special item that can be worn by the player, like mud
In the game The Forest, red paint is a special item that can be worn by the player, similar to how mud is worn in the game. It was added as a decoration in update v0.45, and made usable in update v0.49.
Red paint can be found in open paint buckets in several locations on the Peninsula, often accompanied by a paintbrush. Once picked up, the player will automatically be covered in red paint, as if they have put on a new piece of clothing. The paint can be found in or near places where cannibals reside, such as a longhouse overlooking the ocean. It can also be found in three different large cannibal camps.
The red paint induces a passive, non-hostile state in the cannibals, who will follow and stare at the player, step back if the player tries to approach them, or kneel and pray to the player as if they are a sacred being or a god. This fear effect only works on the more humanoid inhabitants, and does not work on mutants. The red paint can be used strategically when players want to raid a cannibal village or settlement without being attacked.
It is theorised that the Sahara company used fear-conditioning with their patients, who later became the cannibals, making them associate the colour red with pain, death, or something unpleasant. This was likely done to better control the cannibals as their numbers grew.
It is important to note that the effects of the red paint wear off if the player enters a body of water or if it is raining, and the cannibals will become hostile again if the player starts attacking them.
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Red paint is found in 8 locations and can be applied once per game session
In the game The Forest, red paint is a special item that can be worn by the player. It is found in eight locations and can be applied once per game session. The paint is contained in open buckets, often accompanied by a paintbrush. When the player interacts with the paint can, it is applied all over their body, similar to wearing a piece of clothing.
The red paint is particularly useful when players want to avoid or raid a cannibal village or settlement without being attacked. The cannibals, upon witnessing the player wearing the red paint, may act in a passive manner, although they can still become hostile if provoked. Their interactions with the player can include following and staring at them, stepping back if the player approaches, or even kneeling and praying as if the player is a sacred being.
The paint can be found in the following locations:
- In a longhouse overlooking the ocean
- Cave 7 - Chasm Cave, on a ledge on the way down to the bottom of the cave, as well as by the red man cave painting
- Cave 2 - Hanging Cave, in the same room as the modern axe
- Multiple cans can be found in the Sahara Laboratory, which supports the theory that the company used fear-conditioning with their patients, who later became the cannibals
It is important to note that the red paint will be removed if the player is exposed to rain or swims in any water source.
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Red paint instils fear in cannibals, making them passive or more likely to flee
In the game The Forest, red paint is a special item that can be worn by the player. It is found in open paint buckets, often accompanied by a paintbrush. When the player interacts with the paint can, they are coated in red paint, similar to how they would be covered in mud.
Red paint has a unique effect on cannibals in the game. When they see a player wearing red paint, cannibals may become passive and non-hostile. They may follow and stare at the player, step back if the player approaches them, or even kneel and pray as if the player is a sacred being or deity. This effect works on all cannibals in the area, and they may all kneel simultaneously. The red paint can also make cannibals more likely to flee if the player does end up fighting them.
The reason for this reaction is speculated to be fear-conditioning by the Sahara company, who used red walls and floors in their research lab. This would explain why the cannibals associate the colour red with pain, death, or something unpleasant, and why they treat those wearing red paint with reverence.
It is important to note that the effects of red paint do not work on mutants, such as mutant babies, cowmen, and virginias. Additionally, the red paint will be washed off if it rains or if the player enters a body of water.
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The paint does not work on mutants, who will still attack the player
In the open-world survival horror game The Forest, red paint is a special item that can be worn by the player. It is found in open paint buckets in several locations on the Peninsula, often accompanied by a paintbrush. When the player interacts with the paint can, they are coated in red paint, similar to how mud is applied.
The red paint is significant because it affects the behaviour of cannibals in the game. Upon witnessing a player wearing the red paint, cannibals may become passive and non-hostile, treating the player with reverence and even worshipping them as if they were a deity. Some cannibals will follow and stare at the player, while others will step back or kneel and pray when approached. This fear effect of red paint only works on the more humanoid inhabitants, and it is theorised that the colour red has been fear-conditioned into the cannibals, associating it with pain, death, or something unpleasant.
However, it is important to note that the effect of red paint does not extend to mutants. Mutants, such as mutant babies, cowmen, and virginias, will still attack the player regardless of whether they are covered in red paint or not. They do not carry the same religious association with the colour red as the island natives or cannibals. Players have shared their experiences, confirming that the red paint does not work on mutants, and they will continue to wreak havoc on the player's base.
While red paint can provide a temporary advantage in dealing with cannibals, it is not a foolproof solution, as some cannibals may still attack, and mutants remain unaffected. Players must also be cautious as the red paint washes off in rain or if the player enters a body of water.
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The red paint is connected to the Red Cannibal, a leader of the cannibals
In the open-world survival horror game, The Forest, red paint is a special item that can be worn by the player. It is found in open paint buckets in several locations on the Peninsula, often accompanied by a paintbrush. The paint is believed to have been placed by either the Red Man or someone similar, allowing players easy access while travelling.
Upon seeing the player covered in red paint, cannibals may act passively towards them. They may follow and stare at the player, step back if the player approaches, or even kneel and pray as if the player is a sacred being or deity. This fear effect only works on the more humanoid inhabitants, and mutants will attack the player regardless.
The colour red may have been fear-conditioned into the cannibals by the Sahara company, who used fear-conditioning with their patients, who later became the cannibals. This is evidenced by the bright red entry hallway of the Sahara Laboratory. Dr. Cross, who used to work at the lab, may have also used red paint to control the cannibals as their numbers grew.
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Frequently asked questions
Red paint is a special item that can be worn by the player. It has the effect of making cannibals passive and non-hostile. Some cannibals will avoid the player, some will approach but not attack, and others will kneel and bow to the player reverently.
Red paint can have an effect on all cannibals in the area, causing them all to kneel. However, the paint does not work on mutants.
Red paint will only spawn in 8 locations and can be applied once per game session. It can be found in or near places where cannibals reside, such as in a longhouse overlooking the ocean or in Cave 7 - Chasm Cave.











































