Last Of Us Part 1 BEST Weapons [Top 14]

Our Last of Us Part 1 Best Weapons guide breaks down top-tier guns and throwable weapons you should us.

The Last of Us Part I features a number of various weapons that may be employed equally in combat against infected NPCs and humans. Because of this, our Last of Us Part 1 Best Weapons guide includes a list of top-tier firearms that you should have in your arsenal.

Key Takeaways
  • There are a variety of weaponry in The Last of Us Part I that are very useful.
  • When it comes to stealth and offense, the bow is the strongest weapon that is found in Bill’s town. It is a simple but incredibly deadly weapon and works well for one-shot kills.
  • 9MM pistol should be the main weapon of choice found at The Quarantine Zone. It has a plentiful supply of ammo and is simple to aim. This weapon’s headshots are very effective in stopping runners.
  • A hunting rifle is a powerful weapon that may save your life. Its accuracy makes it perfect for taking down Clickers with a single shot and discovered at The Outskirts.
  • The El Diablo is a one-shot revolver found at Tommy’s Dam that may transform you into a merciless killing machine because of its enormous damage with max ammo of 9 bullets.
  • The Pump Shotgun is one of the best weapons in the game thanks to its tremendously potent stopping power, and it works pretty well at close quarters. It is obtained from Bill’s town.
  • The Shiv as a weapon enables you to approach infected people secretly and kill them, mainly effective against Clickers, and carries out the crucial task of shielding players from attacks. It is discovered at the craftable.
  • A one-hit kill is possible with the hatchet. This means that, with the exception of bloaters, striking an opponent with the hatchet will always result in an instant kill. It offers the fourth-highest level of game durability.
  • The Molotov cocktail is perfect for usage at a distance to combat challenging enemies like Clickers and Bloaters. When used against the elusive Bloaters, this weapon is extremely powerful. It is found at craftable.
  • A nail Bomb is known as an explosive device by Bill. It might be dropped or hurled in the air. The nail bombs’ damage is sufficient to destroy all the enemies because of their large radius.
  • Revolver is the most popular and frequently used weapon throughout the game. It deals with a lot of damage all around, and its accuracy is significant to your movements.
  • After being upgraded to have a longer range, less recoil, a larger clip size, more spread, and a quicker reload time, shorty has the potential to become a favorite. It is obtained in the suburbs.
  • Flamethrower may quickly eliminate a bloater and is highly potent against infected with max ammo of 200 fuels. It battles from a little distance and is found at The University.
  • Even the most dangerous enemies in the game can be destroyed by the Assault Rifle due to its immense potency. This weapon has such a strong stopping ability and can deal such heavy damage.
  • A smoke Bomb is an explosive weapon. If they are caught inside the immediate explosion radius, they appear to become immovable. It is obtained at the Firefly Lab.

Here is a brief look at how the best Last of Us Part 1 Weapons compete against each other statistically:

WeaponTypeFire RateReload TimeDamageMax AmmoClip CapacityWeapon Upgrades
Smoke BombExplosiveN/AN/AN/AN/AN/ASmoke: Chemistry, Smoke: Shaping
Assault RifleLong Gun8.04.03.090 Bullets30 BulletNone
FlamethrowerLong Gun9.03.02.0300 Fuel100 FuelReload speed(2), Range(1), Power(1)
ShortyPistol4.03.06.06 Shells2 ShellsReload speed(2), Fire rate(3), Clip capacity(4), Recoil(2), Spread(4)
RevolverPistol4.03.05.018 Bullets6 BulletsReload speed(3), Fire rate(3)
Nail BombExplosiveN/AN/AN/AN/AN/ABomb: Containment, Bomb: Shrapnel
Molotov CocktailExplosiveN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AMolotov: Contruction, Molotov: Deployment
HatchetMeleeN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AMelee: Knot, Melee: Techniques
ShivBladeN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AShiv: Sharpening, Shiv: Reinforcement
Pump ShotgunLong GunN/AN/AN/A14 Shells4 ShellsReload speed, Fire rate, Clip capacity, Recoil, Range
El DiabloPistol4.03.06.07 Bullets1 BulletReload speed(2), Fire rate(3), Clip capacity(2), Armor Piercing(2)
Hunting RifleLong Gun2.02.08.07 Bullets1 BulletReload speed(2), Clip capacity(2), Scope(2), Armor Piercing(2), Power(1)
9MM PistolPistol7.06.02.020 Bullets6 BulletsReload speed(3), Fire rate(3), Clip capacity(4)
BowLong Gun3.04.06.09 Arrows1 ArrowReload time(1), Range(3), Draw speed(3)

Also, watch our video and learn about the overall ranking of all weapons in the game.

Smoke Bomb

Name Weapon typeWeapon upgrade(s)
Smoke bombExplosiveVia crafting

  • Smoke: Chemistry
  • Smoke: Shaping

It would seem that the smoke bomb was constructed using either a loin cloth or a brown paper bag that was filled with sugar and explosives. It is completely harmless and will not cause any harm. Instead, human foes that are inside the blast’s radius will be shocked if they are in this area. Additionally, it may be used in two distinct ways to facilitate a person’s successful evasion of hostile forces.

First, the smoke bomb may be used to conceal one’s location from human foes, making it easier to flee dangerous situations. Second, if there are Infected inside the radius of an explosion caused by a smoke bomb, it will prohibit clickers from using their echolocation abilities.

The smoke bomb may be upgraded with the use of training manuals. This can not only make the smoke linger for a longer period of time, but it can also extend the blast radius of the smoke bomb.

The infected are attracted to the smoke that is produced by the explosion, and even though they are incapable of listening or comprehending the player, they are still able to detect other sounds such as gunfire and other disturbances. In addition, it seems as if they become immobile if they are trapped inside the direct explosion radius.

Assault Rifle

LocationClip capacityMaximum ammoWeapon upgrade(s)
The Firefly Lab
  • 30 bullets (The Last of Us)
  • 20 bullets (Factions MP)
  • 90 bullets (The Last of Us)
  • 50 bullets (Factions MP)
None

As a result of its rapid-fire mode, the Assault Rifle is one of the least effective weapons in the game due to the quick consumption of ammo it causes. The fact that this weapon can do so much damage and has such a powerful stopping ability, however, makes taking the risk well worth it.

The Assault Rifle is so powerful that it can easily demolish even the most dangerous foes in the game. In light of the foregoing, it is not hard to comprehend why a lot of people like using this weapon, in spite of the fact that it devours ammunition at an alarming rate.

While confronted by the military on his way out of Boston, Joel is unable to get one, but near the end of the game, he has the opportunity to do so. It is the only fully automatic weapon that can be obtained in single player and is dropped by most Fireflies.

The player has the capacity to carry up to 90 bullets in total, each of which may take up to 30 rounds. When playing on a level higher than hard, ammunition becomes more difficult to collect; the player can only obtain 9-15 rounds every pickup, but on lesser difficulties, they may receive 30 rounds per pickup.

The assault weapon is capable of firing in a fully automatic mode. On the other hand, doing so significantly bolsters its ability to propagate. Therefore, semi-automatic or burst fire is preferable since it is more accurate and saves ammo. Burst firing is also more efficient.

Flamethrower

Flamethrower Last of us Part 1 weapon
LocationClip capacityMaximum ammoWeapon upgrade(s)
The University100 fuel200 fuel
  • Reload Speed (2)
  • Range (1)
  • Power (1)

The fact that the trigger is built out of a bicycle brake lever reveals that the Flamethrower was crafted in an unprofessional manner. The fuel comes from a little red propane tank that is attached to the base of the structure.

The flamethrower struggles from a restricted range. By increasing its efficacy and spreading it farther, increasing its range puts more space between the user and their targets, which lowers the chance that they will be injured or attacked.

Joel discovers one on a loading bay at the University of Eastern Colorado, which leads him to believe that a freshman was the one who made and used it. In the event that players are unable to discover it here, there is another one that may be found next to a group of runners on the ground level of a neighboring building.

It is quite powerful against infected, and it can swiftly get rid of a bloater. However, unlike the Molotov cocktail, it does not cause damage from splashing. It just takes one strike to kill human foes, and even a little exposure to the flame is enough to burn them completely, making them unable to fight back before they pass out from the heat.

Because there are so few chances to utilize this weapon, players should make every effort to make it as successful as they can whenever they have the chance. The fact that it is difficult to operate is not nearly as significant as the enormous harm it does, which more than makes up for whatever inconvenience that may be caused by its usage.

Shorty

Shorty Last of us Part 1 best weapon upgrades
LocationClip capacityMaximum ammoWeapon upgrade(s)
The Suburbs
  • 2 shells (base)
  • 6 shells (upgraded)
  • 6 shells(base)
  • 10 shells (upgraded)
  • Reload Speed (2)
  • Fire Rate (3)
  • Clip Capacity (4)
  • Recoil (2)
  • Spread (4)

Even while the Shorty doesn’t seem to be particularly good at first usage (because of the fact that it only has a clip size of 2), it has the potential to become a favorite after being improved to have increased range, decreased recoil, bigger clip size, greater spread, and quicker reload time.

After triggering off the first noise trap, the Shorty may be discovered in the sewers during the chapter titled “The Suburbs” on a bench that is located to the left of the entrance. After Joel is cut off from the rest of the gang, another one of them may be discovered on an infected person.

It has a magazine capacity of just two rounds by default; however, this may be increased all the way up to six rounds with various upgrades. The rounds that are used for the Shotgun are not compatible with the Shorty.

During the final confrontation that takes place in The Suburbs between Joel and Ellie, several of the hunters may be seen wielding this weapon as they assault Henry, Sam, and Ellie via the scope of Joel’s sniper rifle. This is the only known instance in which Hunters make use of this weapon. Throughout the remainder of the game, it may be seen being carried by a variety of adversaries, including bandits, cannibals, and Fireflies, amongst others.

Revolver

Revolver Last of us Part 1 weapon
LocationClip capacityMaximum ammoWeapon upgrade(s)
The Outskirts6 bullets18 bullets
  • Reload Speed (3)
  • Fire Rate (3)

The revolver is one of Joel’s most common and often utilized weapons during the course of the game. It makes its debut in the “Prologue” section of the game. On the other hand, you won’t be able to use the gun until you make it to the Outskirts. It is somewhat more difficult to operate than the pistol, but it does much more damage overall. However, it has a smaller capacity for ammunition.

While you are moving about, the revolver will have a significant influence on its accuracy. Keeping stationary, on the other hand, enables you to take precise shots from a respectable distance away. On the Grounded difficulty setting, the revolver has a high chance of killing people without armor in a single shot.

Nail Bomb

Nail Bomb Last of us throwable weapon
LocationWeapon upgrade(s)
CraftableVia crafting:

  • Bomb: Containment
  • Bomb: Shrapnel

It goes without saying that wielding a Nail Bomb in battle is quite gratifying, considering how easy it is to create this weapon in the first place. After this destructive grenade has knocked out its opponents, players have the opportunity to take their time selecting targets for their attacks. Nail Bomb is easily Last of Us Part 1 Best Weapons under the throwables category.

The player is entrusted with the possession of an explosive device known as the nail bomb by Bill. Blades and explosives are used in the process of making it. Because it can function either as a full-fledged grenade or as a fairly rudimentary landmine, it is very useful in almost any circumstance. Because of its large radius, it may easily be employed to eliminate a large number of adversaries.

They may be thrown in the air or set down. When they are thrown, the bombs emit a noise, which might draw infected adversaries as well as human foes closer to them. The bomb will go off as soon as any hostile forces get inside its blast radius.

The damage dealt by nail bombs is sufficient to eliminate all of the adversaries in the game with a single explosion, with the exception of bloaters. The nail bomb’s area of impact may be expanded with the use of manuals that can be obtained later on in the game. 

Molotov Cocktail

use Molotov combat tips Last of Us Part 1
LocationWeapon upgrade(s)
CraftableVia crafting

  • Molotov: Construction
  • Molotov: Deployment

The Molotov cocktail is a lifesaver when it comes to challenging adversaries, particularly when they are grouped together. It is ideal for use from a distance to tackle difficult foes such as Clickers and Bloaters. Any Clickers that are in the vicinity at the time of the toss will immediately race toward the sound and then right into the fire.

A Molotov is a kind of weapon that may be created by combining an Alcohol bottle with a Rag. Because it is a weapon that uses fire, the Molotov is excellent at turning adversaries, whether they are infected or not, into jerky. Even if you are unsuccessful, the infected will still look for the disruption because of the noise.

This weapon is very effective when used against the difficult-to-kill Bloaters. Bloaters are made vulnerable to other weapons since their thick fungal armor is burned away by these weapons, and when used as a thrown weapon, they do not give away one’s location.

In addition to this, adversaries that are screaming will attract other infected to their location. Molotov cocktails are effective area denial weapons because any opponent that comes into touch with the pool of fire left behind by the explosion of the Molotov cocktail will catch fire and be destroyed instantaneously.

Hatchet

Weapon typeWeapon upgrade(s)
Melee weaponVia crafting:

  • Melee: Knots
  • Melee: Techniques

Hatchet is one of the greatest melee weapons that can be used in The Last of Us Part 1. It is not difficult to get a hatchet, and it is possible to improve it with other materials, such as scissors or tape, that may be found along the way.

Even though the machete and the hatchet deal about the same amount of damage, the hatchet triumphs in this competition because of its superior durability, although each weapon is capable of killing an opponent with a single blow, the hatchet is far more durable.

Hatchet is the last, edged weapon that may be discovered immediately before leaving the abandoned town of Ish in the sewers. It is also the second rarest melee armament in our list of The Last of Us Part 1 Best Weapons to obtain, after the machete, so you should only use it occasionally. 

The hatchet is a one-hit kill weapon. This means that irrespective of the circumstances, hitting an adversary with the hatchet will result in an immediate kill, with the exception of bloaters. It has the fourth-highest durability in the game, behind only the baseball bat, Ellie’s switchblade, and the pipe.

It also has the second-highest durability of any bladed weapon. On the other hand, it is also able to be altered to withstand up to eight blows before cracking. This implies that it will be the most powerful weapon in the game since it is a one-shot kill, and you may use it eight times.

Shiv

LocationWeapon upgrade(s)
CraftableVia crafting:

  • Sharpening
  • Reinforcement

The Shiv is a weapon that serves a variety of purposes. It allows you to sneak up on infected and murder them, particularly powerful against Clickers. Having said that, it does become useless after a certain amount of use, so exercise extreme caution if you plan on depending on it.

Because they are made from gathered objects, they are easily accessible, which helps to make up for the fact that they are weapons with just one use. As they are not very effective in combat, it is recommended that you use them for assassination attempts instead.

They also perform the essential duty of protecting players from assaults by Clickers, which is so vital in and of itself that the Shiv immediately shoots to the very top of the list of The Last of Us Part 1 best weapons.

The Shiv is one of the first objects that players have the opportunity to acquire in the game. There are three shivs that may be completely crafted that can be discovered in the environment while exploring Boston. Even though Joel Miller is unable to wield a shiv during normal combat, he is able to momentarily grasp one if it is the last item selected from the crafting menu.

When first constructed, a shiv using scissors is only good for one use before it snaps. By amassing a collection of instruction manuals, one may increase the number of functions that a shiv has. Shivs may be used to dispose of foes in a stealthy manner more quickly than by strangling them, or they can be used to open doors referred to as “shiv doors.”

Pump Shotgun

Pump Shotgun Last of us Part 1 best weapon upgrades
LocationClip capacityMaximum ammoWeapon upgrade(s)
Bill’s Town
  • 4 shells (base)
  • 8 shells (fully upgraded)
  • 14 shells (base)
  • 18 shells (fully upgraded)
  • Reload speed
  • Fire rate
  • Clip capacity
  • Recoil
  • Range

In general, shotguns provide a sense of accomplishment when used in video games, and “The Last of Us Part 1” is not an exception to this norm. Because of its insanely powerful stopping ability, the Pump Shotgun is easily one of the finest weapons in the game, making it one of the strongest overall weapons as well.

The Shotgun is a pump-action shotgun of the basic kind, and it may be obtained from Bill in the Safehouse. It’s a regular pump-action shotgun, so it’s noisy, it’s fun to shoot, and it’s really effective at close quarters. It is quite effective in halting foes in their tracks if they attempt to rush, with the obvious exception of Bloaters.

The magazine has an initial capacity of four shells; however, this may be increased to a maximum of eight by using a workshop to make the necessary modifications. There are other modifications available for the reload speed, firing rate, recoil, and range of the weapon.

The barrel and receiver of the Shotgun are built of a metal substance, while the stock and forend of the Shotgun are crafted out of hardwood furniture. If Joel is holding his Shotgun when he moves in for a melee attack against an adversary, the stock may be utilized to strike the adversary; however, he only gives it one swing before switching back to using his fists.

El Diablo

El Diablo Last of us Part 1 weapon
LocationClip capacityMaximum ammoWeapon upgrade(s)
Tommy’s Dam
  • 1 bullet (base)
  • 3 bullets (upgraded)
  • 7 bullets (base)
  • 9 bullets (upgraded)
  • Reload Speed (2)
  • Fire Rate (3)
  • Clip Capacity (2)
  • Armor Piercing (2)

The El Diablo is a one-shot revolver that, owing to its tremendous damage, may turn you into a lethal killing machine for all hostile human NPCs and Runners. However, you had best not miss it since it takes an excruciatingly long time to reload this weapon, rendering it very useless in most circumstances, similar to how the Hunting Rifle operates.

However, if you have even a moderate amount of aim, this weapon has the potential to save your life. The weapon has the potential to kill adversaries with a single hit. However, this does vary depending on the level of difficulty and the kind of foe.

After the events that take place with Henry and Sam, the El Diablo is first discovered on the dead body that can be located next to the first abandoned automobile soon before arriving at the Hydroelectric Power Plant.

In the event that the player did not get it at the time, it is still possible to do so inside the shack that is located outside the entrance to the facility itself (just next to the map of the power plant), as well as once more in Tommy and Maria’s quarantine zone next to the workbench.

There is, however, a note of caution that you should be aware of. El Diablo is required to reload his weapon after each and every shot. This can be enhanced with subsequent upgrades, but even without a bigger clip capacity, the pistol deals more damage in a single shot than the majority of the weapons in the game easily. This is because the pistol has a higher damage per clip than the other weapons.

Hunting Rifle

Hunting Rifle Last of us Part 1 weapon
LocationClip capacityMaximum ammoWeapon upgrade(s)
The Outskirts
  • 1 bullet (base)
  • 3 bullets (upgraded)
  • 7 bullets (base)
  • 9 bullets (upgraded)
  • Reload Speed (2)
  • Clip Capacity (2)
  • Scope (2)
  • Armor Piercing (2)
  • Power (1)

The hunting rifle may save your life quite literally, and it packs one heck of a punch when you find it for the first time in the Capitol Building. The hunting rifle is both powerful and precise, making it ideal for eliminating Clickers with only one shot; nevertheless, the magazine capacity of the weapon is somewhat limited. Take caution in your aiming.

However, since it is a bolt action rifle, it takes a very long time to load, despite the fact that it is a highly powerful and accurate weapon. When it was first discovered, there was just one bullet inside, and there was no magazine. On the other hand, this is something that can be improved upon.

This is without a doubt the greatest and most powerful ranged weapon available, and when coupled with sight, rounds that can penetrate armor, and a clip that holds three shots, it may make chopping off heads a messy and entertaining form of amusement.

You can improve the performance of this gun at the workshop. Increasing the clip capacity, reducing the amount of time required to reload, adding a sight, and enhancing the power are all possible upgrades for it.

9MM Pistol

9mm Pistol Last of us Part 1 weapon
LocationClip capacityMaximum ammoWeapon upgrade(s)
The Quarantine Zone
  • 6 bullets (base)
  • 14 bullets (upgraded)
  • 20 bullets (base)
  • 28 bullets (upgraded)
  • Reload Speed (3)
  • Fire Rate (3)
  • Clip Capacity (4)

The player starts off the game with a 9mm Pistol as their initial weapon acquisition. It has the highest degree of dependability, and within the regular difficulty level, ammunition is not hard to come by. As is customary, headshots are the most effective method, although two to three body shots are well enough to kill the majority of humans and infected runners until later in the game, when humans will be equipped with body armor.

When it comes to The Last of Us Part 1, the 9MM Pistol should be your primary weapon of choice. When compared to other types of guns, it has an abundant supply of ammunition and is easy to aim, even for novice shooters. Headshots from this weapon are quite effective against Runners. It can take two or three attempts to defeat an armored foe.

Any workshop may be used to upgrade a 9mm pistol. Players may improve their reload speed, clip capacity, and firing rate at this location by using spare components that they have acquired throughout the game.

Bow

Bow Last of us Part 1 weapon
LocationClip capacityMaximum ammoWeapon upgrade(s)
Bill’s Town1 arrow9 arrows
  • Reload Speed (1)
  • Range (3)
  • Draw Speed (3)

The bow is a by far the best weapon in The Last of Us Part 1 when it comes to stealth, offense, and much more. It is a deceptively simple yet extremely lethal weapon. It is possible to kill most foes with a single shot, frequently without needing to aim for the head, although it takes some effort to do it correctly.

Ellie’s bow is not very precise, but it does not make a sound, and it is quite efficient for one-shot kills. It was first discovered in Bill’s booby-trapped tiny town. Simply hide behind whatever is in front of you and strike out at your foes without being spotted.

A further advantageous aspect of the bow is that, in contrast to bullets, it is possible for players to reclaim lost arrows from either fallen foes or failed shots, provided they have sufficient time to do so. This is particularly important given the much lower availability of arrows in comparison to bullets.

The Bow is an essential tool for survival in any situation where ammunition is in short supply since it may be used to fire reusable projectiles like arrows. However, there is a possibility that the arrows may shatter, leading the player to lose those arrows. When used against foes that are ignorant of the presence of the player, arrows deliver much greater damage.

If human foes without armor, as well as Runners and Stalkers, are unaware of the player’s presence, it usually only takes one shot to kill them, provided that the shot hits either the body or the head. This is true even if the player is wearing armor. Clickers, in contrast to most other enemies, can only be destroyed with a headshot from your weapon.

Verdict

There is a limited supply of ammo for Ellie & Joel in the post-apocalyptic world of The Last of Us Part 1, and the players may only carry a modest amount of ammunition at any one time, making it difficult to conserve. Long Guns and Pistols make up the two distinct categories of firearms that make up an inventory.

That is why we have listed 14 Last of Us Part 1 best weapons containing small, long guns and throwables that you should rely on to dominate most encounters with little trouble. 

Which weapons are in your top five list? Let us know in the comments section.

Before reading further, consider checking other similar guides:

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Irfan Ansari


With four years of Video Game Journalism and Tremendous love for Gaming, Irfan loves chatting and writing everything about video games.

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