Your path from apprentice to leader starts with your mentor and the yellow main-quest markers. This Warrior Cats: Clans of the Forest walkthrough follows RiverClan’s story through The Rising Tide, with early quest help for ThunderClan and ShadowClan.
In RiverClan, the warrior ceremony requires Level 4, while the deputy ceremony requires Level 11. You need Level 15 for Strength of the Stars, when you receive your nine lives. You must also complete the required quests before each promotion. RiverClan story spoilers follow.
Jump to a Section:
How the Main Story Works
In RiverClan, the main story progresses through randomized assignments between fixed story quests. Your next promotion also depends on your level and completed objectives.
- Warrior ceremony: Complete Troubled Waters and two randomized quests. Reach Level 4 to progress The Proving Grounds.
- Deputy ceremony: Complete two more randomized quests to unlock Staying Sharp. You need Level 11 to continue.
- Nine lives: Complete two more randomized quests to unlock The Gathering Storm, where you become RiverClan’s leader. Strength of the Stars then requires Level 15 before you receive your nine lives.
- Final quest: Complete two more randomized quests to unlock The Rising Tide.
Cats with a yellow mark give main quests, and purple marks mean side quests.
Many NPC names change between playthroughs, so this guide refers to key cats by their roles. Cloudtail and Brightheart appear by name in ThunderClan.
Randomized quests are shared between Clans. Locations and rewards may differ, so check your own quest log.
All Clans in Warrior Cats: Clans of the Forest
| Clan | Prophecy | Story hook |
|---|---|---|
| ThunderClan | When walking the path of fire, only the strongest flame can rise above. | Navigate a Clan’s shifting trust. |
| RiverClan | When the river’s flow turns foul, you must seek beyond its bounds. | Your territory is under siege from Twolegs and your own kind. |
| ShadowClan | The poison of the past will rise to choke the future. | Bond with allies, but the cat you trust most may be your greatest enemy. |
| WindClan | — | An unexpected death shatters the peace of the Moors. |
SkyClan is not a playable option.
Create Your Cat
Six sliders shape your cat: size (graceful to powerful), fur length (efficient to resilient), tail (swift to steady), ears (subtle to perceptive), eyes (sensitive to reserved) and muzzle (gentle to tenacious). They change your look, and they also decide your two personality traits.
- Brave: more strength and instinct, plus a bonus on brave answers.
- Patient: a higher chance of extra prey when you hunt.
- Wise: more resilience and strength, plus a bonus on wise answers.
- Energetic: sprinting and climbing use less stamina.
You cannot type a name. You pick from a long, unsorted list. Colors are limited too. There is no black, but blue, pink and green are there. The Feral Edition adds extra patterns marked with a star.
Tutorial: Your First Hour
- Follow your mentor. Hold Shift to sprint, press Space to jump, and mind your stamina.
- Press Q for StarClan guidance. It reveals items and your quest path. Your first pickup is a marigold petal.
- Check the icon above an enemy before you attack. It shows how strong that enemy is compared with your cat.
- Hold Ctrl to crouch. If you sneak up on prey, you get a sneak attack.
- Fight the rogue. The menu gives you Attack, Rest, Herbs and Flee. Finish him with Rock Throw.
- Craft your first den decoration. Shepherd’s wool fleece needs a dry leaf, a bird’s nest and an oak gall.
RiverClan Walkthrough (Beyond the Boundaries)
The tables below list possible randomized assignments at each rank. Follow the order and objectives shown in your quest log.
Apprentice Quests
| Quest | Task | Reward | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpening your Claws | Defend your borders from one forest rat | 1 horsetail | Willow-Weep |
| Making your Mark | Interact with three scent marks | 1 lambs ear leaf | Murmurring Ripples |
| Meal Service | Track and hunt 1 forest rat | 1 horsetail stalk | Willow-Weep |
| Special Delivery | Deliver supplies to your Clanmate | 1 lambs ear leaf or horsetail stalk | Murmurring Ripples / The Stone-Span |
| Feathering the Nests | Track and collect supplies | 1 lambs ear leaf | The Stone-Span |
Troubled Waters
Your first fixed quest. You track and collect 1 fish at Murmurring Ripples for a marigold petal, and you fight a badger named Brutal Brock. It unlocks your warrior ceremony.
The Proving Grounds
You need Level 4. Your mentor tells you to push past your limits and return when the moon is high. At the ceremony you pick a suffix: -storm, -wing, -whisker, -feather, -leaf, -song, -tail, -pool, -dash, -breeze, -heart, -frost, -branch, -shade, -patch, -foot, -fur, -claw, -face, -fang, -pelt or -shine.
Rest in your den until the vigil, then speak to your former mentor the next morning. Your new name unlocks Skirmish Mode, and an apprentice joins your battle party.
Talk to your leader afterward. He plans to hunt secretly in other territories and refuses to ask for help. You can argue, but he says no either way.
Warrior Quests
| Quest | Task | Reward | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Great Provider | Track and hunt 4 prey | 1 heather coronet | Shimmer-Stream / Horseplace |
| Perimeter Patrol | Patrol the territory | 1 ragweed flower | Gloom-Step Heights |
| Guardian of the Clan | Defend the borders from one enemy | 1 ragweed flower | Shimmer-Stream |
| Reinforcing the Border | Mark the territory with 3 scent markers | 1 goldenrod wrap | Horseplace |
| Critical Supplies | Deliver supplies to your Clanmate | 1 goldenrod wrap | Horseplace |
You can speak with the two rogues again during your warrior quests. Rogue 1 shows up in Willow-Weep and warns you that Rogue Leader wants your territory. In Perimeter Patrol, Rogue 1 offers to trade information. Rogue 2 is a former Clan cat in Moss-Grip Delta, scarred by Rogue Leader. Rogue 1 returns in the Gulping Mouth during Reinforcing the Border.
Talk to both whenever you can. Your answers change your bonds and can change the story. Speak to your leader before you finish Reinforcing the Border too. He admits he may have misread the prophecy and asks what you would do. You can say kill Rogue Leader, wait for a mistake, or ask for help.
Staying Sharp
You need Level 11. Your leader demotes the old deputy and picks you, then sends you to lead a patrol. “I will lead thoughtfully” earns praise, and a cocky answer earns a scolding. Rest for the night, then talk to your leader. You get 1 ragwort flower.
Deputy Quests
| Quest | Task | Reward | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Brave and the Bold | Defeat any threats and rescue one Clanmate | 2 ragwort flowers | Horseplace |
| The Watch | Patrol the territory | Little leaves body accessory | Gloom-Step Heights |
The Gathering Storm
Travel to The Island. Squirrelstar and Ivypool of ThunderClan want answers about the prey thefts, then Rogue Leader attacks the Gathering. After you beat him, Rogue 1 tells you Rogue 2 killed your leader. Rogue 2 tells it differently. You become leader of RiverClan.
Strength of the Stars
You need Level 15. Your medicine cat sends you to the Moonpool, where nine ancestors give you your lives. After you return to camp, you call off the secret hunts in the other Clans’ territories.
Leader Quests
| Quest | Task | Reward | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| A Living Legend | Find the blazing star | 1 comfrey poultice | Whispering Copses (WindClan territory) |
| Wandering Paws | Rescue the missing kit | Rowan band accessory | Follow the active quest marker |
Track Wandering Paws in your quest log and follow its marker. Defeat the enemies near the missing kit, then return to the queen.
The Rising Tide
Find Rogue 1 and Rogue 2 at Shimmer-Stream for a broom poultice. Your earlier choices affect whether the two rogues fight beside you or side with Rogue Leader. You and your Clanmates kill him, and StarClan honors your integrity. The story ends with your cat visiting ThunderClan to tell your former mentor’s kits about their father.
ThunderClan Walkthrough (Early Quests)
An elderly leader meets a StarClan ancestor, and you become an apprentice soon after. Cloudtail and Brightheart live in camp and hand out quests.
ThunderClan’s opening assignment can vary. Your early quests include Sharpening your Claws, Meal Service, Feathering the Nests, Special Delivery and Making your Mark. Follow the yellow quest marker and check your current objective. Tail Attack becomes available during the early quests.
An early story quest sends you after a hungry ShadowClan warrior inside ThunderClan territory. During the encounter, a choice lets you dodge out of range and let him tire himself, or absorb the blow.
After the encounter, speak to your mentor and complete the rank promotion objective in your quest log. Once you earn your warrior name, return to your den. Speak to your former mentor the next morning to continue and access Skirmish Mode. Your warrior assignments include Critical Supplies and Perimeter Patrol. You may also receive Reinforcing the Border.
An apprentice who came from RiverClan keeps asking you for advice. Their name can vary between playthroughs, so look for their speech bubble.
ShadowClan: Early Quests
In ShadowClan, Meal Service can send you to hunt a rabbit. Your mentor later asks you to catch a bird near the marshy border. Follow the quest marker and return to your mentor once you have the prey. Tail Attack also becomes available early in ShadowClan’s story.
Combat Guide
Combat is turn-based, and your agility decides who goes first. Every move leaves you in a stance, and the symbol next to the move name shows which one.
| Stance | Beats |
|---|---|
| Offensive | Trick |
| Trick | Defensive |
| Defensive | Offensive |
Open the Info menu before your first real fight. The enemy’s stance shows on screen.
| State | Effect |
|---|---|
| Furious | You lose control of move choice |
| Blinded | Much lower chance to land attacks |
| Stressed | You use double stamina |
| Exhausted | You move 50% slower |
Sneaky trades reliability for higher damage. Reckless deals 50% more damage, but you also take 50% more damage.
You will use Taunting Strike, Tackle, Rock Throw, Quick Claw, Tail Attack, Poisonous Claw and Sand Throw early on. The trainer cat has a library of 75 moves. Once one cat learns a move, it is unlocked for every cat you create. Brightheart can give you a challenge to pounce on three different enemies.
Rest skips a turn to recover stamina. Herbs heal you but also use your turn. If you faint, you end up at camp and walk back out.
Some victories give you a choice between sparing your opponent and delivering the final blow. Spare the opponent for 20% extra XP, or finish off prey for double fresh kill.
Fresh-Kill Pile
Your Clan eats 1 point of food every 90 seconds. Below 50 points, your cat suffers stat penalties. A well-stocked pile grants agility and prowess bonuses. Each piece of prey is worth about 2 points. You deposit them one at a time, and each deposit resets the timer.
Herbs, Crafting and Bartering
The medicine cat swaps materials for items. There is no money. Items you can make are highlighted, and the rest are grayed out until you have the materials. Marigold petal is a medium health recovery herb.
Den decorations have crafting timers, and some take 48 hours. You can visit a friend’s den to help speed up their crafting.
If you’re looking for moss in ThunderClan, check the sides of rocks in Granite-Grip Glade.
Exploring the Territory
- Outposts: rest, save, and fast travel once you activate them. They also respawn enemies.
- Sunning spots: They let your cat rest and recover health. Interact with them when you find one.
- Dandelions, poppyseeds and cotton: hit them while sprinting and they refill stamina.
- Exploration Sage: shows side quest items on your map.
Not every rock or tree is jumpable, and invisible walls exist. Stick to the paths and follow flower trails.
Side Quests and Bonds
Side quests are repeatable with randomized criteria. One timed challenge asks you to reach a marked destination before time runs out. Follow StarClan’s guidance and keep an eye on your stamina.
Dialogue options have bold, colored keywords. Pick the one that matches your trait for a bond bonus. Your bonds show in the pause menu.
Skirmish Mode opens after you earn your warrior name. You build a team of three cats and challenge another warrior. You lose Honor Points if you are defeated.
