The Last of Us Part II Remastered arrived on PC on 3 April 2025, ported by Nixxes and Iron Galaxy from Naughty Dog's 2020 original. Alongside the visual work it carries three things the 2020 release never had: No Return, a roguelike survival mode with twelve playable characters, three unfinished Lost Levels shipped with developer commentary, and Guitar Free Play. The campaign is unchanged at 11 acts and 46 sub chapters, split between Ellie and Abby across the same three days in Seattle.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ellie | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Abby | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Tommy | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Lev | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Manny | A | Balanced | Best available |
For detailed meta rankings, see our The Last of Us Part II Remastered tier list.
A-Tier: Ellie
Ellie is a top-performing option in The Last of Us Part II Remastered.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Weapon | Semi-Auto Pistol | Ellie's default sidearm and the gun she is least likely to run dry on. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Crafting under pressure | Molotovs, shivs, health kits, explosive arrows and trap mines all draw on one shared pool of alcohol, rags, blades, binding and explosives, and crafting runs in real time without pausing. |
How to Play Ellie
Ellie focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this role works: Semi-Auto Pistol does the damage and Crafting under pressure keeps it running, which is why this sits at the top of the list. See our weapons guide for detailed weapons breakdowns.
Pros:
- Highest overall performance
- Straightforward gearing path
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Popular pick, resources may be contested
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Abby
Abby is a strong option in The Last of Us Part II Remastered.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Weapon | Bow | Ellie's silent option, and the only weapon whose ammunition is recoverable from bodies and walls after a kill. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Prone stealth and grass | Part II added going prone, dodging and sliding under vehicles, which turns tall grass into a genuine hiding layer instead of scenery. |
How to Play Abby
Abby focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this role works: Pair Bow with Prone stealth and grass and the build stops depending on a good start, so it holds up across most content. See our weapons guide for detailed weapons breakdowns.
Pros:
- Most versatile option
- Straightforward gearing path
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Lower peak damage than S-tier
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Tommy
Tommy is a strong option in The Last of Us Part II Remastered.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Weapon | Pump Shotgun | Ellie's close range answer, brutal against Clickers and Shamblers and completely wasted on anything past a few metres. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Listen Mode tracking | Holding Listen Mode outlines nearby enemies through walls after a brief focus. |
How to Play Tommy
Tommy focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this role works: Listen Mode tracking covers the gap Pump Shotgun leaves open, so the build stays usable even when a fight goes badly. See our weapons guide for detailed weapons breakdowns.
Pros:
- Best survivability
- Straightforward gearing path
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Slower clear speeds
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Lev
Lev is a specialized option in The Last of Us Part II Remastered.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Weapon | Hunting Pistol | Abby's high calibre scoped sidearm, hitting far harder than her Military Pistol while carrying very little ammunition. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Weapon and skill upgrades | Parts upgrade guns at workbenches and supplements buy skills, but each skill branch only opens once you find its training manual. |
How to Play Lev
Lev focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this role works: This one leans on Weapon and skill upgrades rather than raw numbers, and Hunting Pistol is what makes that trade pay off. See our weapons guide for detailed weapons breakdowns.
Pros:
- Strong in group/team content
- Straightforward gearing path
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- Weaker solo performance
- Requires deep game knowledge
A-Tier: Manny
Manny is a specialized option in The Last of Us Part II Remastered.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Weapon | Flamethrower | Picked up by Abby during The Descent on Seattle Day 2. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | No Return run structure | A run chains randomised encounters of four types, Assault, Hunted, Holdout and Capture, with optional gambits paying bonus currency, and finishes on a boss. |
How to Play Manny
Manny focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this role works: Flamethrower and No Return run structure pull in the same direction here, which separates this from the safer picks above. See our weapons guide for detailed weapons breakdowns.
Pros:
- Unique, rewarding playstyle
- Straightforward gearing path
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- High skill floor, punishing when misplayed
- Requires deep game knowledge
Build Progression Path
- Start with Abby: the most forgiving option for learning the game
- Transition to Ellie once you understand core mechanics and have access to Semi-Auto Pistol
- Keep a Tommy setup for content that keeps killing you
- Try Manny 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.
- Crafting draws on one shared pool, so a health kit and a Molotov compete for the same alcohol and rags. On Survivor and Grounded most players over craft health kits early and then have nothing to throw when a Bloater arrives.
- Skill branches open by finding training manuals, not by spending supplements. Ellie's Crafting, Stealth, Precision and Explosives and Abby's Covert Ops, Close Quarters, Firearms and Ordnance each need their manual first, so exploring directly widens your build.
- Don't spread upgrade resources across multiple builds until endgame
More The Last of Us Part II Remastered Guides
- The Last of Us Part II Remastered The Last of Us Part II Remastered Overview
- The Last of Us Part II Remastered Tier List
- The Last of Us Part II Remastered Walkthrough
- The Last of Us Part II Remastered Beginner's Guide
- The Last of Us Part II Remastered Tips & Tricks
- The Last of Us Part II Remastered Weapons Guide
- The Last of Us Part II Remastered Combat Guide
- The Last of Us Part II Remastered Boss Guide
- The Last of Us Part II Remastered Maps & Locations
- The Last of Us Part II Remastered Crafting Guide
- The Last of Us Part II Remastered Classes & Characters
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