The Upgrade interface.
Skill Upgrades are a feature in The Last of Us campaign and The Last of Us Part II, as well as the No Return rogue-like mode in The Last of Us Part II Remastered.
Overview[]
There are distinct areas of skill upgradability including maximum health, listen mode distance, crafting speed, healing speed, weapon sway, and shiv mastery.
Each skill has a limit on the number of times it can upgraded. For instance, crafting speed and healing speed may be upgraded three times each, but maximum health and weapon sway may only be upgraded two times. These upgrades use supplements found or earned around the game world.
In The Last of Us[]
Joel's skills[]
| Survival Upgrade | Cost per Level (Supplements) | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum Health | Level 1: 50
Level 2: 100 |
Maximizes the amount of health Joel has and, if found while injured, heals him completely. |
| Listen Mode Distance | Level 1: 20
Level 2: 30 Level 3: 50 |
Increases the radius of Listen mode(Unavailable on Survivor and Grounded difficulty) |
| Crafting Speed | Level 1: 25
Level 2: 30 Level 3: 50 |
Reduces crafting time |
| Healing Speed | Level 1: 30
Level 2: 40 Level 3: 50 |
Allows the player to use health kits faster |
| Weapon Sway | Level 1: 50
Level 2: 100 |
Reduce the sway of weapons |
| Shiv Master | Level 1: 75
Level 2: 100 |
Allows Joel to use a shiv when grabbed by a clicker by pressing Triangle. Second upgrade allows shivs not to break if they have full durability when used to defend yourself against a clicker. (Given for free on easy mode) |
In The Last of Us Part II[]
In Part II, there are two distinct skills trees: one for Ellie and one for Abby Anderson.
Ellie's tree[]
Survival[]
| Survival Upgrade | Cost | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Listen Mode Movement Speed I | 30 | Move faster in listen mode. Hold R1 to sense enemies through walls +50% Movement Speed |
| Faster Health Kits | 30 | Increase the speed of using a health kit. +100% Speed |
| Increased Health | 60 | Increase maximum health. +25% Health |
| Listen Mode Speed II | 40 | Move much faster in listen mode. Hold R1 to sense enemies through walls +100% Movement Speed |
| Endure | 60 | Otherwise lethal damage will instead leave you at low health, giving you an opportunity to escape. |
Crafting[]
| Crafting Upgrade | Cost | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Craft Melee Upgrades | 20 | Craft an upgrade for your melee weapon, restoring it to full durability and greatly increasing its damage. |
| Faster Crafting | 40 | Craft all items twice as fast. +100% Crafting Speed |
| Craft Smoke Bombs | 30 | Stun bombs become smoke bombs, adding a smokescreen which blocks enemy line of sight. |
| Craft Improved Health Kits | 40 | Craft more effective health kits. +50% Healing |
| Craft more Smoke Bombs | 40 | Increases your efficiency at crafting smoke bombs, producing more from the same resources Craft Amount: 1 > 2 Inventory Capacity: 3 > 4 |
Stealth[]
| Stealth Upgrade | Cost | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Craft Silencers | 20 | Craft silencers that attach to the barrel of your pistol to make the next three shots completely silent.
Press (Triangle) while aiming to toggle the silencer on and off. |
| Listen Mode Clarity | 40 | Enemies seen in Listen Mode chow up in sharper clarity. Hold R1 to sense enemies through walls. |
| Faster Prone Movement | 50 | Crawl faster along the ground while prone. Hold (Circle) to go prone +50% Movement Speed |
| Improved Silencers | 40 | Improve the durability of crafted silencers from three shots to five. Durability: 3 > 5 |
| Faster Stealth Kills | 60 | Stealth Kills are faster and keep a lower profile +100% Speed |
Explosives[]
| Explosives Upgrade | Cost | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Craft Explosive Arrows | 20 | Craft arrows with explosive tips that deal massive damage in a blast radius. |
| Improved Trap Mines | 20 | Craft more effective trap mines that are deadly at greater range +50% Blast Range |
| Improved Molotovs | 40 | Increase the effectiveness of your molotovs, spreading fire in a wider radius. +50% Flame Radius |
| Craft more Trap Mines | 50 | Increase your efficiency at crafting trap mines, producing more from the same resources. Craft Amount: 1 > 2 Inventory Capacity 3 > 4 |
| Craft more Explosive Arrows | 40 | Increase your efficiency at crafting Explosive Arrows, producing more from the same resources. Craft Amount: 1 > 2 Inventory Capacity 3 > 4 |
Precision[]
| Precision Upgrade | Cost | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Aim Stability Increase | 30 | Improve aiming stability and accuracy while moving.
+100% Stability |
| Faster Aim Movement | 30 | Move faster while aiming.
+50% Movement Spped |
| Listen Mode Range | 40 | Detect enemies at greater distance in listen mode. Hold (R1) to sense nearby enemies through walls.
+50% Range |
| Hold Breath | 40 | Press (L3) while aiming to hold your breath, steadying your aim. |
| Craft more Arrows | 40 | Increase your efficiency at crafting arrows, producing more from the same resources. Craft Amount: 2 > 3 |
Abby's tree[]
Field Tactics[]
| Field Tactics Upgrade | Cost | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Increased Health | 30 | Increase maximum health +25% Health |
| Listen Mode Clarity | 40 | Enemies seen in listen mode show up in sharper clarity. Hold (R1) to sense nearby enemies through walls. |
| Hold Breath | 30 | Press (L3) while aiming to hold your breath, steadying your aim. |
| Listen Mode Range | 40 | Detect enemies at greater distance in listen mode. Hold (R1) to sense nearby enemies through walls. +50% Range |
| Increased Health | 50 | Increase maximum health +25% Health |
Covert Ops[]
| Covert Ops Upgrade | Cost | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Craft Shivs | 20 | Craft 2 shivs which allow for instant stealth kills against enemies. They can also be used to break free when grabbed by a clicker. |
| Listen Mode Movement I | 40 | Move faster in listen mode. Hold (R1) to sense nearby enemies through walls. +50% Movement Speed |
| Grabbed Enemy Movement Speed | 50 | Move faster while holding a hostage, allowing you to quickly reposition while shielding yourself or attempting a stealth kill. +50% Hostage Movement Speed |
| Faster Prone Movement | 40 | Move faster while prone. Hold (Circle) to go prone. +50% Movement Speed |
| Craft More Shivs | 50 | Increase your efficiency at crafting shivs, producing more from the same resources. Craft Amount: 2 > 3 Inventory Capacity: 4 > 6 |
Firearms[]
| Precision Upgrade | Cost | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Craft Incendiary Shells | 20 | Craft 2 incendiary shotgun shells which fire in a wide cone, dealing heavy damage and lighting enemies on fire. Press (Triangle) while aiming to change which ammo is loaded. |
| Crafting Hunting Pistol Ammo | 20 | Create 2 standard bullets for your Hunting Pistol which deal heavy damage with high accuracy. |
| Faster Aim Movement | 40 | Move faster while aiming. +50% Movement Speed |
| Craft more Hunting Pistol Ammo | 50 | Increase your efficiency at crafting Hunting Pistol Ammo, producing more from the same resources. Craft Amount: 2 > 3 |
| Craft more Incendiary Shells | 50 | Increase your efficiency at crafting Incendiary Shell, producing more from the same resources. Press (Triangle) while aiming to change which ammo is loaded. Craft Amount: 2 > 3 Inventory Capacity: 4 > 6 |
Close Quarters[]
| Precision Upgrade | Cost | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Momentum | 40 | After killing an enemy with a STRIKE, for a short time your next melee attack will also be a STRIKE. STRIKES are high-damage melee moves against stunned or surprised enemies. |
| Craft Improved Health Kits | 50 | Craft improved health kits +50% Healing |
| Aim Stability Increase | 20 | Improve aiming stability and accuracy while moving. +100% Stability +100% Accuracy |
| Faster Health Kits | 50 | Increase the speed of using a health kit. +100% Speed |
| Momentum Duration | 50 | Momentum lasts longer. +70% Duration |
Ordiance[]
| Precision Upgrade | Cost | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Faster Crafting | 20 | Craft all items twice as quickly. +100% Crafting Speed |
| Improved Melee Weapons Upgrades | 40 | Craft more durable upgraded melee weapons +1 Durability |
| Improved Pipe Bombs | 30 | Craft more effective pipe bombs that are dealy in a larger area. +50% Flame Radius |
| Improved Silencers | 40 | Increase the durability of crafted silencers. Durability: 3 > 5 |
| Craft more Pipe Bombs | 40 | Increase your efficiency at crafting Pipe Bombs, producing more from the same resources. Press (Triangle) while aiming to change which ammo is loaded. Craft Amount: 2 > 3 Inventory Capacity: 4 > 6 |
In No Return[]
Every playable character in No Return starts off with one skill upgrade and can unlock two more after successfully completing the second and fourth encounters, respectively. Ellie is unique in that, in addition to Perseverance, she will randomly start off with a second skill upgrade and can unlock a total of four.
Ally[]
Ally is Yara's starting skill upgrade and is only available to her.
| Ally Upgrade | Cost | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Ally Lethality | 40 | Lev fights more aggressively and kills more often. |
| Listen Mode Clarity | 40 | Enemies seen in listen mode show up in sharper clarity. Hold (R1) to sense nearby enemies through walls. |
| Ally Lethality+ | 40 | Lev fights more aggressively and kills more often. |
Archery[]
Archery is Lev's starting skill upgrade and is only available to him.
| Archery Upgrade | Cost | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Craft more Arrows | 40 | Increase your efficiency at crafting arrows, producing more from the same resources. Craft Amount: 2 > 3 |
| Craft Explosive Arrows | 20 | Craft arrows with explosive tips that deal massive damage in a blast radius. |
| Craft more Explosive Arrows | 40 | Increase your efficiency at crafting explosive arrows, producing more from the same resources. Craft Amount: 1 > 2 Inventory Capacity: 3 > 4 |
Brawler[]
Brawler is Abby's starting skill upgrade and is only available to her.
| Brawler Upgrade | Cost | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Heal on Melee Hit | 40 | Your melee attacks restore a small amount of health. |
| Momentum | 40 | After killing an enemy with a STRIKE, for a short time your next melee attack will also be a STRIKE. STRIKES are high-damage melee moves against stunned or surprised enemies. |
| Momentum Duration | 50 | Momentum lasts longer. +70% Duration |
Close Quarters[]
| Close Quarters Upgrade | Cost | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Craft Melee Upgrades | 20 | Craft an upgrade for your melee weapon, restoring it to full durability and greatly increasing its damage. |
| Improved Melee Weapon Upgrades | 40 | Craft more durable upgraded melee weapons +1 Durability |
| Increased Health | 50 | Increase maximum health. +25% Health |
Covert Ops[]
| Covert Ops Upgrade | Cost | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Faster Prone Movement | 50 | Move faster while prone. Hold (Circle) to go prone. +50% Movement Speed |
| Grabbed Enemy Movement Speed | 50 | Move faster while holding a hostage, allowing you to quickly reposition while shielding yourself or attempting a stealth kill. +50% Hostage Movement Speed |
| Faster Stealth Kills | 60 | Stealth Kills are faster and keep a lower profile. +100% Speed |
Double-Craft[]
Double-Craft is Dina's starting skill upgrade and is only available to her.
| Double-Craft Upgrade | Cost | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Craft Smoke Bombs | 30 | Stun bombs become smoke bombs, adding a smokescreen which blocks enemy line of sight. |
| Craft more Smoke Bombs | 50 | Increases your efficiency at crafting smoke bombs, producing more from the same resources. Craft Amount: 1 > 2 Inventory Capacity: 3 > 4 |
| Improved Trap Mines | 20 | Craft more effective trap mines that are deadly at greater range. +50% Blast Range |
| Craft more Trap Mines | 50 | Increase your efficiency at crafting trap mines, producing more from the same resources. Craft Amount: 1 > 2 Inventory Capacity: 3 > 4 |
Evasive[]
Evasive is a skill upgrade only available to Dina, Ellie, Lev, Mel and Yara.
| Evasive Upgrade | Cost | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Craft Smoke Bombs | 30 | Stun bombs become smoke bombs, adding a smokescreen which blocks enemy line of sight. |
| Craft more Arrows | 40 | Increase your efficiency at crafting arrows, producing more from the same resources. Craft Amount: 2 > 3 |
| Craft more Smoke Bombs | 50 | Increases your efficiency at crafting smoke bombs, producing more from the same resources. Craft Amount: 1 > 2 Inventory Capacity: 3 > 4 |
Field Tactics[]
| Field Tactics Upgrade | Cost | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Listen Mode Range | 40 | Detect enemies at greater distance in listen mode. Hold (R1) to sense nearby enemies through walls.
+50% Range |
| Faster Crafting | 40 | Craft all items twice as quickly. +100% Crafting Speed |
| Improved Health Kits | 40 | Craft more effective health kits. +50% Healing |
Firearms[]
Firearms is a skill upgrade only available to Abby, Jesse, Joel, Manny and Tommy.
| Firearms Upgrade | Cost | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Craft Incendiary Shells | 20 | Craft 2 incendiary shotgun shells which fire in a wide cone, dealing heavy damage and lighting enemies on fire. Press (Triangle) while aiming to change which ammo is loaded. |
| Craft more Incendiary Shells | 50 | Increase your efficiency at crafting Incendiary Shell, producing more from the same resources. Press (Triangle) while aiming to change which ammo is loaded. Craft Amount: 2 > 3 Inventory Capacity: 4 > 6 |
| Improved Trap Mines | 20 | Craft more effective trap mines that are deadly at greater range. +50% Blast Range |
Guerilla[]
Guerilla is Jesse's starting skill upgrade and is only available to him.
| Guerilla Upgrade | Cost | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Improved Silencers | 40 | Improve the durability of crafted silencers from three shots to five. Durability: 3 > 5 |
| Improved Pipe Bombs | 30 | Craft more effective pipe bombs that are dealy in a larger area. +50% Flame Radius |
| Craft more Pipe Bombs | 40 | Increase your efficiency at crafting Pipe Bombs, producing more from the same resources. Press (Triangle) while aiming to change which ammo is loaded. Craft Amount: 2 > 3 Inventory Capacity: 4 > 6 |
Healing[]
Healing is Mel's starting skill upgrade and is only available to her.
| Healing Upgrade | Cost | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Double Health Kits | 50 | Increases your efficiency at crafting health kits, producing more from the same resources. Craft Amount: 1 > 2 Inventory Capacity: 3 > 4 |
| Health Kit Recycling | 30 | Recover 0.25 alcohol  and rag  after using a health kit.Health kits can be used at full health to activate Mel's speed boost. |
| Increased Health | 50 | Increase maximum health. +25% Health |
Marksman[]
Marksman is Tommy's starting skill upgrade and is only available to him.
| Marksman Upgrade | Cost | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Aim Stability Increase | 20 | Improve aiming stability and accuracy while moving. +100% Stability +100% Accuracy |
| Hold Breath | 40 | Press (L3) while aiming to hold your breath, steadying your aim. |
| Faster Aim Movement | 30 | Move faster while aiming. +50% Movement Spped |
Munitions[]
Marksman is Manny's starting skill upgrade and is only available to him.
| Munitions Upgrade | Cost | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Crafting Hunting Pistol Ammo | 20 | Create 2 standard bullets for your Hunting Pistol which deal heavy damage with high accuracy. |
| Craft more Hunting Pistol Ammo | 50 | Increase your efficiency at crafting Hunting Pistol Ammo, producing more from the same resources. Craft Amount: 2 > 3 |
| Craft Incendiary Shells | 20 | Craft 2 incendiary shotgun shells which fire in a wide cone, dealing heavy damage and lighting enemies on fire. Press (Triangle) while aiming to change which ammo is loaded. |
| Craft more Incendiary Shells | 50 | Increase your efficiency at crafting Incendiary Shell, producing more from the same resources. Press (Triangle) while aiming to change which ammo is loaded. Craft Amount: 2 > 3 Inventory Capacity: 4 > 6 |
Perseverance[]
Perseverance is always one of Ellie's starting skill upgrades and is only available to her.
| Perseverance Upgrade | Cost | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Improved Molotovs | 40 | Increase the effectiveness of your molotovs, spreading fire in a wider radius. +50% Flame Radius |
| Improved Health Kits | 40 | Craft improved health kits. +50% Healing |
| Endure | 60 | Otherwise lethal damage will instead leave you at low health, giving you an opportunity to escape. |
Precision[]
Precision is a skill upgrade available to everybody except Tommy, as this skill upgrade is identical to Marksman.
| Marksman Upgrade | Cost | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Aim Stability Increase | 20 | Improve aiming stability and accuracy while moving. +100% Stability +100% Accuracy |
| Hold Breath | 40 | Press (L3) while aiming to hold your breath, steadying your aim. |
| Faster Aim Movement | 30 | Move faster while aiming. +50% Movement Spped |
Shiv[]
Shiv is Joel's starting skill upgrades and is only available to him.
| Shiv Upgrade | Cost | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Faster Stealth Kills | 60 | Stealth Kills are faster and keep a lower profile. +100% Speed |
| Craft more Shivs | 50 | Increase your efficiency at crafting shivs, producing more from the same resources. Craft Amount: 2 > 3 Inventory Capacity: 4 > 6 |
| Grabbed Enemy Movement Speed | 50 | Move faster while holding a hostage, allowing you to quickly reposition while shielding yourself or attempting a stealth kill. +50% Hostage Movement Speed |
Stealth[]
| Stealth Upgrade | Cost | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Craft Silencers | 20 | Craft silencers that attach to the barrel of your pistol to make the next three shots completely silent. Press (Triangle) while aiming to toggle the silencer on and off. Durability: 3 |
| Listen Mode Movement | 40 | Move faster in listen mode. Hold (R1) to sense nearby enemies through walls. +100% Movement Speed |
| Improved Silencers | 40 | Improve the durability of crafted silencers from three shots to five. Durability: 3 > 5 |
Survival[]
| Survival Upgrade | Cost | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Faster Crafting | 40 | Craft all items twice as quickly. +100% Crafting Speed |
| Faster Health Kits | 30 | Increase the speed of using a health kit. +100% Speed |
| Improved Health Kits | 40 | Craft more effective health kits. +50% Healing |
Unstoppable[]
| Unstoppable Upgrade | Cost | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Momentum | 40 | After killing an enemy with a STRIKE, for a short time your next melee attack will also be a STRIKE. STRIKES are high-damage melee moves against stunned or surprised enemies. |
| Momentum Duration | 50 | Momentum lasts longer. +70% Duration |
| Increased Health | 50 | Increase maximum health. +25% Health |
Vigilance[]
Vigilance is available to everybody but will not be available on Grounded difficulty.
| Vigilance Upgrade | Cost | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Listen Mode Movement | 30 | Move faster in listen mode. Hold (R1) to sense nearby enemies through walls. +50% Movement Speed |
| Listen Mode Clarity | 40 | Enemies seen in listen mode show up in sharper clarity. Hold (R1) to sense nearby enemies through walls. |
| Listen Mode Range | 40 | Detect enemies at greater distance in listen mode. Hold (R1) to sense nearby enemies through walls. +50% Range |