The Last of Us Part 2: The Ultimate Guide

The Last Of Us Part 2 Wallpaper
The Last Of Us Part 2 Wallpaper (Image credit: PlayStation)

The original launch of The Last of Us was a refreshing departure for Naughty Dog. As much as we love Nathan Drake, seeing Uncharted's level of polish, deep storytelling, and rich character development in an entirely different world is richly satisfying. With The Last of Us Part 2 out now, you might be wondering how to defeat certain enemies or where to find training manuals to unlock new skill trees. We've got you covered.

In our review, we said that The Last of Us Part 2 is "an outstanding achievement in storytelling with believable, flawed characters, but some of the narrative decisions are sure to be divisive."

Where to find every training manual in The Last of Us Part 2

The Last Of Us Part Ii Training Manual Last Round Closeup

Source: Android Central (Image credit: Source: Android Central)

Training manuals unlock skill trees in The Last of Us Part 2, and are a vital part of the gameplay experience. Without them, you're missing out on crucial upgrades. These range from longer lasting shivs, explosive ammo, listening mode range, and more. Both Ellie and Abby start out with one skill tree unlocked already, and each can find four training manuals located throughout Seattle.

How to unlock every safe in The Last of Us Part 2

The Last Of Us Part Ii Abby Apartment Training Manual Safe

Source: Android Central (Image credit: Source: Android Central)

The Last of Us Part 2 is full of safes that you'll find around the map. These safes can only be opened with 6-digit combinations that you'll need to search for, which can usually be found within the proximity of the safe itself, though not always the same room or building. These combinations can be written on pieces of paper, found on calendars, or even taken from phone numbers you may come across.

List of every infected and their weaknesses in The Last of Us Part 2

The Last Of Us Part Ii Clicker Model

Source: Android Central (Image credit: Source: Android Central)

The Cordyceps virus in The Last of Us Part 2 has mutated to a point where we see new types of infected in addition to those we saw in the first game. Each usually have their own strengths and weaknesses, and you'll need to exploit these in order to take them out easily. Ammo is scarce in this game and your melee weapons are prone to break. If you don't want to be overpowered and outnumbered, you'll need to be smart.

How to easily kill a Shambler in The Last of Us Part 2

The Last Of Us Part 2 Shambler Monster

Source: Sony (Image credit: Source: Sony)

One of the disgusting new enemies covered with putrid pustules is the Shambler. It's every bit as terrifying as it looks, and this is not an enemy you want to get close to. The Shambler can emit a large cloud of spores and explode upon death. Try to use long range weapons and bombs on this one.

How to avoid killing dogs in The Last of Us Part 2 because you're not a monster

The Last Of Us Part Ii Enemy Dog

Source: Android Central (Image credit: Source: Android Central)

The Last of Us Part 2 made news when it came to light that we were able to kill dogs in it. But that's not something anyone wants to do — we hope — so we have a guide on how to avoid doing that. Unfortunately, there is one scripted cutscene where Ellie forced to kill a dog, but for the most part you can avoid the enemy dogs during gameplay by throwing bricks or bottles in the opposite direction and distracting them.

How to avoid those pesky Stalkers in The Last of Us Part 2

The Last Of Us Part Ii Stalker Image

Source: Android Central (Image credit: Source: Android Central)

Nothing's more annoying than an enemy you can't see coming, as is the case with Stalkers. While in listening mode, you can usually see a highlighted outline of any enemies within a certain distance, even if they're behind cover. Stalkers, however, do not show up in listening mode. Instead, you'll need to employ a few tricks if you don't want to get jumped by these pesky infected.

Where to find Nathan Drake's ring from Uncharted in The Last of Us Part 2

The Last Of Us Part Ii Nathan Drake Ring Easter Egg

Source: Android Central (Image credit: Source: Android Central)

One of Naughty Dog's most iconic series is Uncharted, and few lead characters are as beloved as Nathan Drake. It's understandable then that Naughty Dog threw in a handful of Uncharted Easter eggs within The Last of Us Part 2. One in particular nabs you an achievement if you find it. Nathan Drake's ring an be found in Westlake Bank upon entering Seattle. Sic parvis magna.

The best weapons to upgrade in The Last of Us Part 2

The Last Of Us Part Ii Rifle Upgrade Scope

Source: Android Central (Image credit: Source: Android Central)

The Last of Us Part 2 isn't some action/adventure game with dozens of weapons at your disposal. You have a handful that you'll come across, and limited ammo to go with them. You'll need to pick and choose your weapon upgrades carefully with the amount of scrap material you find. Some are definitely better than others, as you'll quickly come to find out.

Where to find the shotgun in The Last of Us Part 2

The Last Of Us Part Ii Shotgun Seattle Bank

Source: Android Central (Image credit: Source: Android Central)

Enemies will sometimes drop shotguns once they are killed, but you can get one earlier in the game before you encounter any WLF. Once Seattle opens up a bit, you can make your way to Westlake Bank and grab a shotgun in its vault. You'll just need to kill a few infected first. Sure is convenient that some would-be robbers tried to break into the bank on Outbreak Day.

Where to find the flamethrower in The Last of Us Part 2

The Last Of Us Part Ii Flamethrower In Action

Source: Android Central (Image credit: Source: Android Central)

Abby is able to use a few weapons that Ellie doesn't have at her disposal, once of which is the flamethrower. This can be found in the second half of the game after Abby and Lev fall into a hotel pool. Trust me, you'll definitely want to find this weapon. It comes in handy when facing off against multiple enemies at once, and by this point you still haven't encountered the most fearsome infected in the game.

Where to find the map of Seattle in The Last of Us Part 2

The Last Of Us Part Ii Seattle Bank Location

Source: Android Central (Image credit: Source: Android Central)

Okay, this one is pretty easy. The map of Seattle pops up in multiple locations because Naughty Dog wanted to be sure players didn't somehow miss out on it. From our understanding, the earliest you can find it is in a building on the road to Seattle. Should you miss this opportunity, you can find it in other drawers along your journey.

How to adjust difficulty settings in The Last of Us Part 2

The Last Of Us Part Ii Custom Difficulty

Source: Android Central (Image credit: Source: Android Central)

The Last of Us Part 2 has a lot of settings for players to mess around with, including those for difficulty. You can fine-tune just about every aspect to make the game as enjoyable as possible, whether you need to adjust enemy awareness or auto-aim capabilities. It's easily Naughty Dog's most accessible game to date, and certainly one of the most on the market.

Accessing New Game+ in The Last of Us Part 2

The Last Of Us Part Ii New Game Plus

Source: Android Central (Image credit: Source: Android Central)

Like many games, The Last of Us Part 2 does have New Game+. If you want to access it, you'll need to beat the game first. After that you're free to play through it again with all of the skills you have unlocked and weapons you've upgraded.

Jennifer Locke
Games Editor - PlayStation, Android, VR

Jennifer Locke has been playing video games nearly her entire life. You can find her posting pictures of her dog and obsessing over PlayStation and Xbox, Star Wars, and other geeky things.