Best Weapons In The Last Of Us

Highlights

• The Last of Us is a highly popular game known for its outstanding story, incredible graphics, and focus on stealth and strategy.
• Players must carefully choose their weapons, as the most powerful ones may not be the most accurate or easy to master.
• The game offers a variety of weapons, including a military sniper, switchblade, smoke bomb, shorty shotgun, revolver, El Diablo, nail bomb, assault rifle, pump shotgun, flamethrower, 9mm pistol, molotov cocktail, hatchet, bolt-action rifle, shiv, and bow.

Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us exploded in popularity at its 2013 release, and the hype hasn’t died down yet. Its sequel arrived Summer of 2020, and despite its mixed reviews, it broke records in sales. Set in a dystopian wasteland that was once the United States, The Last of Us not only has an outstanding story and incredible graphics, but its focus on stealth and strategy makes for intriguing gameplay.

The Last of Us has numerous options for weapons, items, and upgrades, but players must carefully decide which to use. Choosing the correct weapon does not always mean picking the most powerful one. The most high-powered piece of artillery could be far from the most accurate or easy to master. Keeping this in mind, here’s a selection of the best weapons that can be used to great effect against both humans and the Infected.

Updated on February 10, 2024, by Ritwik Mitra: The Last of Us has become one of the most notable franchises in gaming history, with the quality of both games coupled with the stellar HBO adaptation doing a great job of letting more people understand why this game is beloved by the masses. The first game’s arsenal is drip-fed to players masterfully, letting players enjoy a sense of progression without turning the title into an outright power fantasy. As long as players are comfortable with the weapons they use, the Infected and humans alike will be toast in no time flat.

16 Military Sniper

Only Used In One Section Of The Game

• Weapon Type: Long Gun
• Available Upgrades: None

The sniper is a powerful weapon, and it’s a shame that players can only use this weapon once in the game. Still, this set piece lets players flex their long-range shooting skills as they clear a path for Ellie, Sam, and Henry after avoiding and taking out the person using this weapon to shoot them down.

It’s a tense encounter that’s pretty engaging, with players having to make every shot count. It’s easy to see why players can’t use this sniper anywhere else in the game since any enemy would be toast with a single shot while Joel is a safe distance away.

15 Switchblade

Ellie’s Patented Melee Weapon

• Weapon Type: Melee
• Available Upgrades: None

Melee weapons have limited durability in the game, making them valuable close-range weapons that players should use sparingly while playing as Joel. However, when players are in control of Ellie, they will be happy to know that they have access to a powerful blade with unlimited uses.

Ellie is a ton of fun to control simply because of this blade and how easy it makes the process of taking out Infected and humans. This section doesn’t last for too long, but it is still a blast to experience in its own way, especially with Ellie’s trusty knife.

14 Smoke Bomb

Great For Distracting Enemies And Chaining Stealth Kills

• Weapon Type: Explosive
• Available Upgrades: Smoke: Chemistry, Smoke: Shaping

Many people may scoff at the smoke bomb’s helpfulness in the game, which is a pretty erroneous train of thought indeed. After all, stealth is a huge part of The Last of Us, and smoke bombs ensure that players can bamboozle their enemies to take them out silently without being caught.

These bombs can also help block an enemy’s line of sight during combat, allowing Joel to pick them off from a distance without worrying about being damaged out of cover. Given how advanced the enemy AI in the remake is, every little advantage can ensure that players get through these encounters unscathed, especially on the Grounded difficulty.

13 Shorty

A Shotgun Sidearm That Hits Like A Truck But Requires Frequent Reloads

• Weapon Type: Pistol
• Available Upgrades: Reload Speed, Fire Rate, Clip Capacity, Recoil, Spread

The idea of using a shotgun as a sidearm instead of a main weapon honestly sounds too good to be true, but that’s precisely what the Shorty is. This smaller version of a sawed-off shotgun is extremely brutal at close range and can pick off enemies with ease.

That being said, the ammo clip for this weapon is pretty small early on. Players need to make a ton of upgrades if they want to rely on this firearm even more in combat since the last thing they want to deal with is having to reload while a hungry zombie or a dangerous human is hunting them down.

12 Revolver

A Classic Weapon That Fires A Bit Too Slowly

• Weapon Type: Pistol
• Available Upgrades: Reload Speed, Fire Rate

A small firearm that can be pretty powerful when properly aimed, the Revolver necessitates that players aim accurately instead of shooting wildly. A single shot causes a ton of damage and can down many enemies in one hit.

That being said, this weapon can be pretty slow to fire, and a missed shot can cause many problems if an enemy is closing the distance on the player. Players need to be wary and switch out to an alternate weapon whenever they find themselves being cornered after a missed shot.

11 El Diablo

Hits Like A Truck But Is Limited By Its Capacity To Only Hold A Single Bullet Without Weapon Upgrades

• Weapon Type: Pistol
• Available Upgrades: Reload Speed, Fire Rate, Clip Capacity, Armor Piercing

A scoped pistol with extreme firepower, the El Diablo is the most powerful sidearm in the game by a country mile. It takes just a single shot to take out even the toughest enemies in the game, with Bloaters and other such monstrosities being the only enemies that can stand even after taking a hit from this incredibly powerful gun.

It also only has space to hold one bullet when acquired, making it quite ineffective unless players are shooting from a distance. Players need to upgrade this weapon quite a bit to make it viable in more combat situations.

10 Nail Bomb

The Game’s Version Of A Grenade That Hits For Substantial Damage

• Weapon Type: Explosive
• Available Upgrades: Bomb: Containment, Bomb: Shrapnel

The Nail Bomb is one of the best explosive weapons that players can craft in the game. Throwing this craftable weapon creates a huge blast that damages and incapacitates most enemies.

Given how simple it is to craft a Nail Bomb, it goes without saying that using this weapon in combat is pretty satisfying. Players can take their time picking out targets after their opponents are stunned by this damaging grenade.

9 Assault Rifle

An Automatic Weapon That’s Pretty Powerful But Should Only Be Used Once In A Blue Moon

• Weapon Type: Long Gun
• Available Upgrades: None

The rapid-fire Assault Rifle absolutely tears through ammunition, making it one of the most inefficient weapons in The Last of Us. However, the sheer damage and stopping power afforded by this weapon make it well worth the risk.

The Assault Rifle can decimate even the strongest enemies in the game with ease. So, it’s easy to see why this weapon is such a favorite for many despite the way it absolutely eats up precious ammunition.

8 Pump Shotgun

A High-Damage Weapon That Should Be Used Accurately To Avoid Trouble

• Weapon Type: Long Gun
• Available Upgrades: Reload Speed, Fire Rate, Clip Capacity, Recoil, Range

Shotguns are satisfying in any game, and The Last of Us is no exception to this rule. The Pump Shotgun makes for one of the best weapons in the game simply because of how impressive its stopping power is.

The Pump Shotgun hits like a truck, although its slow rate of fire and reload speed should be taken into account by players who start relying on this weapon. Regardless, fans of powerful short-range weapons will have a blast with this weapon quite literally.

7 Flamethrower

A Powerful Weapon, Perfect For Taking Out Groups Of Enemies

• Weapon Type: Long Gun
• Available Upgrades: Reload Speed, Range, Power

Speaking of short-range weapons with immense firepower, it’s impossible not to talk about the Flamethrower. In the most optimal situation, a single burst from this weapon will incinerate any opponents that might be troubling Joel and Ellie.

The opportunities to use this weapon are few and far between, so players should try and maximize the effectiveness of this weapon whenever possible. It might be cumbersome to use, but the massive damage power more than makes up for this minor deficiency.

6 9mm Pistol

A Reliable Handgun Players Can Whip Out In Any Combat Scenario

• Weapon Type: Pistol
• Available Upgrades: Reload Speed, Fire Rate, Clip Capacity

The 9MM Pistol is the “old faithful” when it comes to The Last Of Us. Compared to other weapons, it has plenty of ammo, and it isn’t difficult to aim, even for beginners. This pistol takes out Runners easily with a headshot. Armored enemies may take two or three tries.

The 9MM is upgradable at any workbench. There, players can use spare parts collected throughout the game to upgrade the reload speed, clip capacity, and fire rate.

5 Molotov Cocktail

Perfect For Burning Infected And Humans

• Weapon Type: Explosive
• Available Upgrades: Molotov: Construction, Molotov: Deployment

Perfect for attacking Clickers and Bloaters from a distance, the Molotov cocktail is a godsend when it comes to tough enemies, especially in groups. Once thrown, any Clickers in the area will run toward the sound, leading them directly into the flames.

If the fire fails to kill the Infected, players can quickly finish them off with a headshot. It’s vital to use Molotovs at a safe distance away from enemies, or the fire will burn the player.

4 Hatchet

Perfect For Executing Satisfying Melee Kills

• Weapon Type: Melee
• Available Upgrades: Melee: Knots, Melee: Techniques

There are many melee weapons available in The Last of Us, but the hatchet is one of the best. Hatchets are easy to find and easily upgraded with items picked up along the journey, such as scissors and tape.

Nearly equal in damage to the machete, the hatchet wins this contest purely due to its durability levels. Both weapons are capable of one-hit kills, but the hatchet just lasts longer.

3 Bolt-Action Rifle

A Long-Range Weapon, Perfect For Taking Potshots From Behind Cover

• Weapon Type: Long Gun
• Available Upgrades: Reload Speed, Clip Capacity, Scope, Armor Piercing, Power

First found at the Capitol Building, the bolt-action rifle is a lifesaver (literally) and has a heck of a kick to it. Powerful and accurate, the bolt-action rifle is excellent for taking out Clickers with a single shot, but it has a very small clip. Players will need to aim carefully when using this weapon.

This rifle may be upgraded at the workbench. Its upgrade options include increasing clip capacity, decreasing reload time, adding a scope, and improving power.

2 Shiv

Useful For Taking Out Clickers And Breaking Open Doors

• Weapon Type: Melee
• Available Upgrades: Shiv: Sharpening, Shiv: Reinforcement

The shiv is a tool with many functions. It opens doors and stealth kills Infected (particularly useful on Clickers). That being said, it does fall apart after a set number of uses, so players should be careful while relying on it.

Created with collected items, they are readily available, which makes up for them being one-use weapons. Weak when used in a fight, it is best to use them for stealth kills. They also fulfill the critical role of defending players from attacks by Clickers, which is invaluable for those looking to survive.

1 Bow

A Silent Long-Range Weapon Used By Ellie

• Weapon Type: Long Gun
• Available Upgrades: Reload Speed, Range, Draw Speed

Found first in Bill’s booby-trapped little town, Ellie’s bow is not incredibly accurate, but it’s silent and effective for one-shot-kills. It allows players to just crouch behind something and take out enemies without once being seen.

Another great thing about the bow is that, unlike bullets, players can retrieve arrows if they have time to get them from missed shots or fallen enemies. This is especially helpful since arrows are much more scarce than bullets.