Naughty Dog rebuilt the 2013 original on the Part II engine, so Joel and Ellie's trip across a fungal-collapsed United States now runs on modern AI, lighting and animation. The package includes the Left Behind chapter and drops the original Factions multiplayer entirely. The PC port shipped in July 2023 through Iron Galaxy and took several patches before shader compilation and memory use settled down.
Picking the right build determines how your experience plays out. These builds are ranked by overall effectiveness, factoring in damage, survivability, gear requirements, and how well they scale into endgame. New to the game? Start with our beginner's guide first.
Quick Rankings
| Role | Tier | Playstyle | Core Gear |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full stealth strangler | S | Clear rooms one enemy at a time from the back, using thrown objects to reposition patrols. Retreat and reset if an enemy turns rather than committing to a fight. | Bow, shivs, bricks and bottles, upgraded holster |
| Shiv and bottle specialist | A | Save shivs for Clickers and shiv doors, stun humans with a thrown bottle and finish with melee, and leave firearms holstered until a room goes loud. | Shivs, bottles, bricks, shiv crafting manual |
| Molotov crowd control | A | Bait Infected into a corridor, throw one molotov into the chokepoint, and let fire clear a group that would otherwise cost a full magazine. | Molotovs, nail bombs, smoke bombs, bomb crafting manual |
| Long gun marksman | B | Find elevation, open the encounter with a headshot, and reposition after every two shots so enemies converge on the wrong spot. | Hunting Rifle with scope, Bow, El Diablo |
| Brawler with melee weapons | B | Rush human groups after a thrown brick opens the first enemy, and switch to the Shotgun the moment Infected join the fight. | Machete, pipe, 2x4, melee upgrade manuals |
For detailed meta rankings, see our The Last of Us Part I tier list.
S-Tier: Full stealth strangler
Choke everything from behind and never fire a shot until forced. It preserves ammunition for the encounters that cannot be stealthed, which is what makes Survivor and Grounded runs viable.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Weapon | 9mm Pistol | Joel's starting sidearm, cheap on ammo and accurate once the sway upgrade lands. |
| Core Gear | Bow, shivs, bricks and bottles, upgraded holster | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Listen Mode range, then crafting speed, then melee damage | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Listen Mode | Holding the listen button outlines enemies through walls within a limited radius, but only while you stay still or move at a crawl. |
How to Play Full stealth strangler
Clear rooms one enemy at a time from the back, using thrown objects to reposition patrols. Retreat and reset if an enemy turns rather than committing to a fight.
Choke everything from behind and never fire a shot until forced. It preserves ammunition for the encounters that cannot be stealthed, which is what makes Survivor and Grounded runs viable.
Why this role works: 9mm Pistol does the damage and Listen Mode keeps it running, which is why this sits at the top of the list. Core gear like Bow, shivs, bricks and bottles, upgraded holster pushes it further. See our weapons guide for detailed weapons breakdowns.
Pros:
- Highest overall performance
- Clear stat priority (Listen Mode range, then crafting speed, then melee damage) makes gearing straightforward
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Popular pick, resources may be contested
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Shiv and bottle specialist
Built around shiv efficiency and free thrown objects. The Shiv Master upgrade gives each shiv extra uses, turning Clicker-heavy areas from resource sinks into free kills.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Weapon | Hunting Rifle | Bolt action rifle that one-shots Runners and Stalkers at range and staggers Clickers. |
| Core Gear | Shivs, bottles, bricks, shiv crafting manual | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Shiv Master first, then crafting speed, then health | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Workbench weapon upgrades | Workbenches spend Parts on holster speed, reload speed, magazine size, fire rate, damage and scope stability per weapon. |
How to Play Shiv and bottle specialist
Save shivs for Clickers and shiv doors, stun humans with a thrown bottle and finish with melee, and leave firearms holstered until a room goes loud.
Built around shiv efficiency and free thrown objects. The Shiv Master upgrade gives each shiv extra uses, turning Clicker-heavy areas from resource sinks into free kills.
Why this role works: Pair Hunting Rifle with Workbench weapon upgrades and the build stops depending on a good start, so it holds up across most content. Core gear like Shivs, bottles, bricks, shiv crafting manual pushes it further. See our weapons guide for detailed weapons breakdowns.
Pros:
- Most versatile option
- Clear stat priority (Shiv Master first, then crafting speed, then health) makes gearing straightforward
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Lower peak damage than S-tier
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Molotov crowd control
Fire solves the encounters stealth cannot: Bloaters, packed Runner groups and the Pittsburgh hotel basement. Alcohol and rags are the limiting resource, so this build spends almost nothing on health kits.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Weapon | Pump Shotgun | The one gun that reliably kills a Clicker with a single close shot and knocks a Bloater back. |
| Core Gear | Molotovs, nail bombs, smoke bombs, bomb crafting manual | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Crafting speed, then health, then Listen Mode range | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Crafting from scavenged parts | Alcohol, rags, blades, binding, sugar and explosives combine into shivs, molotovs, nail bombs, smoke bombs and health kits, and every item is crafted in real time with no pause. |
How to Play Molotov crowd control
Bait Infected into a corridor, throw one molotov into the chokepoint, and let fire clear a group that would otherwise cost a full magazine.
Fire solves the encounters stealth cannot: Bloaters, packed Runner groups and the Pittsburgh hotel basement. Alcohol and rags are the limiting resource, so this build spends almost nothing on health kits.
Why this role works: Crafting from scavenged parts covers the gap Pump Shotgun leaves open, so the build stays usable even when a fight goes badly. Core gear like Molotovs, nail bombs, smoke bombs, bomb crafting manual pushes it further. See our weapons guide for detailed weapons breakdowns.
Pros:
- Best survivability
- Clear stat priority (Crafting speed, then health, then Listen Mode range) makes gearing straightforward
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Slower clear speeds
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
B-Tier: Long gun marksman
Hunting Rifle and Bow with the scope and sway upgrades, killing from outside detection range. Strong across Pittsburgh and the Winter chapters, weak in enclosed Infected areas.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Weapon | Bow | Silent, and arrows can be pulled back out of corpses and walls, so it costs nothing while your aim holds. |
| Core Gear | Hunting Rifle with scope, Bow, El Diablo | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Weapon sway reduction, then Listen Mode range, then healing speed | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Supplement skill upgrades | Pills and supplement bottles buy permanent upgrades to health, crafting speed, Listen Mode range, weapon sway, healing speed and melee damage. |
How to Play Long gun marksman
Find elevation, open the encounter with a headshot, and reposition after every two shots so enemies converge on the wrong spot.
Hunting Rifle and Bow with the scope and sway upgrades, killing from outside detection range. Strong across Pittsburgh and the Winter chapters, weak in enclosed Infected areas.
Why this role works: This one leans on Supplement skill upgrades rather than raw numbers, and Bow is what makes that trade pay off. Core gear like Hunting Rifle with scope, Bow, El Diablo pushes it further. See our weapons guide for detailed weapons breakdowns.
Pros:
- Strong in group/team content
- Clear stat priority (Weapon sway reduction, then Listen Mode range, then healing speed) makes gearing straightforward
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- Weaker solo performance
- Requires deep game knowledge
B-Tier: Brawler with melee weapons
Machetes, pipes and bats with the binding upgrade, taking human enemies apart at close range. It burns melee weapons quickly and does nothing to a Clicker without a shiv attached.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Weapon | Molotov Cocktail | Thrown fire that kills Clickers on contact and burns groups packed into a corridor. |
| Core Gear | Machete, pipe, 2x4, melee upgrade manuals | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Melee damage, then health, then healing speed | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Infected enemy types | Runners still see you, Stalkers hide and flank, Clickers are blind but kill on contact unless you hold a shiv, and Bloaters throw spore sacs and soak an entire magazine. |
How to Play Brawler with melee weapons
Rush human groups after a thrown brick opens the first enemy, and switch to the Shotgun the moment Infected join the fight.
Machetes, pipes and bats with the binding upgrade, taking human enemies apart at close range. It burns melee weapons quickly and does nothing to a Clicker without a shiv attached.
Why this role works: Molotov Cocktail and Infected enemy types pull in the same direction here, which separates this from the safer picks above. Core gear like Machete, pipe, 2x4, melee upgrade manuals pushes it further. See our weapons guide for detailed weapons breakdowns.
Pros:
- Unique, rewarding playstyle
- Clear stat priority (Melee damage, then health, then healing speed) makes gearing straightforward
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- High skill floor, punishing when misplayed
- Requires deep game knowledge
Build Progression Path
- Start with Shiv and bottle specialist: the most forgiving option for learning the game
- Transition to Full stealth strangler once you understand core mechanics and have access to 9mm Pistol
- Keep a Molotov crowd control setup for content that keeps killing you
- Try Brawler with melee weapons for a fresh experience once you've mastered the basics
Follow our walkthrough for the optimal progression path through each area.
Gearing Tips
- Invest in your primary weapon first, since it gives the biggest power spike. See our weapons guide for rankings.
- Parts do not respawn and a single playthrough never funds every upgrade. Pour them into the Hunting Rifle scope and the Shotgun clip first, because those two weapons carry the Fall and Winter encounters where ammunition pressure is worst.
- Melee weapons shatter after a few swings unless a workbench binding upgrade is applied. Carry one blunt weapon for stunning humans and reserve shivs strictly for Clickers and locked shiv doors.
- Don't spread upgrade resources across multiple builds until endgame
More The Last of Us Part I Guides
- The Last of Us Part I The Last of Us Part I Overview
- The Last of Us Part I Tier List
- The Last of Us Part I Walkthrough
- The Last of Us Part I Beginner's Guide
- The Last of Us Part I Tips & Tricks
- The Last of Us Part I Weapons Guide
- The Last of Us Part I Combat Guide
- The Last of Us Part I Boss Guide
- The Last of Us Part I Maps & Locations
- The Last of Us Part I Crafting Guide
- The Last of Us Part I Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy The Last of Us Part I, check out these related guides:
- Helldivers 2 Builds: action game with similar mechanics
- Black Myth: Wukong Builds: action game with similar mechanics
- Monster Hunter Wilds Builds: action game with similar mechanics
