10 BEST Last Of Us Part 1 Combat Tips

eXputer's take on The Last of Us Part 1 combat tips guide entails the best strategies players should use to dominate encounters with infected.

The Last of Us Part 1 is an updated version of a video game that was released not too long ago. There is a fair probability that a certain percentage of new players will already be well versed with the ins and outs of the gameplay style & mechanism for The Last of Us. This is because the game has been out for quite some time.

We’ve put up a list of some useful Last of Us Part 1 combat tips for you to keep in mind while you play the game. Keep these guidelines in mind whenever you engage in the fight.

However, if you are not a part of such a group, you should know that there is no such thing as a good or bad playstyle trick. Although, it’s best to keep the following tips in mind:

Tips and TricksDescription
CombatEmphasizes close-quarters combat and saving bullets.
Upgrade Guns & Melee WeaponsUpgrade weapons to improve their effectiveness.
Bottles & BricksUse these throwables items for distraction.
Use ShivShivs are extremely important for stealth kills, locked doors, and Clickers.
Use BowUse the bow for stealth and ammo saving.
Use MolotovMolotov cocktails can control crowds of enemies.
Don't Forget To ReloadIt's important to keep your weapons loaded.
Scavenge HeavilySearch for supplies constantly.
Infected TypesDifferent infected types require different strategy to be taken down.
Craft Various Weapons & HolstersKeep crafting weapons and holsters (to carry more weapons).

Save Ammo & Master Melee Combat

melee combat tips Last of Us Part 1

Because there is a limited supply of ammo in The Last of Us Part 1, you cannot approach confrontations with the intention of spraying shots in all directions and killing all of your foes. It is understandable that firing your weapons may be the most effective tactic and, in many cases, the only one, but if you have the option, you should choose close-quarters combat. Consider this as one of the best Last of Us Part 1 combat tips.

Upgrade Guns & Melee Weapons

Upgrade Guns and melee weapons combat tips Last of Us Part 1

In relation to melee weapons, The Last of Us Part 1 does provide players the opportunity to make small modifications to certain weapons, even though doing so is not always the most efficient use of available resources.

Everything that can be crafted in the game draws from the same few groupings of materials. So make sure to utilize your extra resources and upgrade your weapons from time to time, in order to keep up with the rising difficulty of the game.

Utilize Bottles & Bricks Frequently

Combat Tips TLOU 

In The Last of Us Part 1, you have the option of picking up things from the surroundings, such as bricks or empty bottles. Never ignoring throwables is the best Last of Us Part 1 combat tip that we can give you right now.

These objects are utilized mostly as throwables, although they may also be smashed into foes and used as one-time weapons in skirmishes. 

Players who are skilled at sneak will want to have an empty bottle with them at all times since it provides a useful diversion during stealth sequences. On the other hand, charging at a guy and slamming his skull in with a brick is also an effective method to end an encounter.

Mastering Shiv

In The Last of Us Part 1, shivs are another important resource, and we strongly advise you to have at least one of them in your possession at all times. Shivs not only allow you to execute stealth kills, but they are also the only means to execute stealth kills on Clickers.

In addition to this, you may often come across locked doors that can only be unlocked with shivs. These doors may conceal valuable resources and objects on the other side. All of this comes down to the fact that as soon as one of your shivs is used up, you should quickly create another one if you have the materials necessary to do so.

Prioritize getting the Shiv Master skills upgraded since it further enhances the use of the Shiv. So it’s easy to say that Shivs are immense when it comes to Last of Us Part 1 Combat Tips

Use Bow & Avoid Trouble

Stealth takedowns in Last of Us Part 1

After playing The Last of Us Part 1 for a few hours, you’ll be able to obtain a bow, which, as you would expect, is a really effective weapon. It is, obviously, the most useful ranged weapon in your arsenal when it comes to possibilities for stealth. Still, we would encourage employing it even in some scenarios when you may normally use a gun.

It is arguably the most convenient ranged weapon of your choice when it comes to evasive alternatives. When you only have a few seconds to spare, however, it is preferable to use up an arrow than a bullet since arrows can be reclaimed; however, bullets cannot.

Use Molotov For Crowd Control

Use Molotov in Last of Us Part 1

Molotov cocktails serve much the same purpose of killing Clickers and infected crowds in The Last of Us Part 1 as they do in Part II. Molotov cocktails are the most stealthy and effective technique to eliminate Clickers at a distance without attracting attention to oneself.

Clickers are visually impaired and rely on echolocation to find their way around. If you find one and know that others are around, strike the first one with the Molotov cocktail. This will, in the majority of cases, cause the others to lose their bearings and walk into the flames, where they will perish.

Crowd control is never easy, but Molotov turns the tables in the blink of an eye. That is why we can’t put enough emphasis on this Last of Us Part 1 combat tip to be a valuable strategy.

Don’t Forget To Reload

reload whenever you can combat tips. Last of Us Part 1

Reloading our firearms when there is still half a magazine’s worth of ammo is a behavior that may be useful at times but is more often than not counterproductive. It is quite likely that doing so will keep you alive. We are not proposing that you switch magazines in the midst of a fist battle with a Bloater, but after everyone else has been eliminated, you should take the time to reload each and every one of the weapons that you own.

If you prepare yourself in this manner, the next time you find yourself facing death in the face, you will at least be able to go out fighting.

Scavenge Heavily

The Last of Us is not a survival horror game in the strictest sense of the term, but it does prominently use many of the genre’s components, with resource planning being one of the most important of those themes. It is also essential to the gameplay cycle that you search each new place you enter thoroughly in order to ensure that you have found all of the necessary crafting materials, bullets, bandages, or other items.

There isn’t nearly as much potential to explore in The Last of Us Part 1’s settings because they aren’t as large as the surroundings that frequently appeared in Part 2; however, there is still a reasonable amount of room, so ensure you scavenge as extensively as possible, particularly if you’re going to play on higher difficulties.

Knowing All Infected Types

In The Last of Us Part I, different weapons have varying damage levels on enemies, each with a specific tolerance before defeat. Knowing the right shots and weak points is crucial to conserve ammo.

Here’s a concise breakdown for specific enemies:

  • Clickers: Headshots with a handgun won’t cut it; use a hunting rifle for a one-shot kill. Unaware Clickers can be taken down with a single arrow.
  • Runners: A headshot from a pistol or hunting rifle does the job. If aware, it takes about five to six body shots.
  • Bloaters: Opt for headshots with a hunting rifle or close-range shotgun blasts. Avoid using a pistol.
  • Hunters: A distracted hunter falls to one arrow or a headshot from any weapon.

Craft Various Weapons & Holsters

Craft weapons combat tips Last of Us Part 1

In facing both infected and human enemies, strategic use of resources becomes crucial. Store raw materials until specific needs arise.

The same ingredients are used for both offensive (Molotov cocktail, Nail Bomb) and defensive (Medkit, Smoke Bomb) items. Decide whether to prioritize offense or defense based on your situation.

Joel starts with a pistol and a rifle, but capacity can be expanded. Find weapon components and equipment during exploration to create additional holsters. These holsters enable carrying an extra handgun and long gun, a significant advantage as the game progresses. Prioritize unlocking both holsters by reserving enough inventory items.

The outstanding action-adventure and horror video game The Last of Us, which was developed by Naughty Dog, has a simple objective: go through as much as possible while avoiding death. However, due to the many different upgrade branches, the open-ended fighting, and the crafting mechanism, we decided that it would be beneficial to provide some useful combat tips for the new players.

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Sameer is a Senior Writer & Editor for all sorts of guides on eXputer. He has dove deep into many gaming genres and ended up investing 8,000+ hours on COD titles, Pokemon games, Witcher 3, Minecraft, and Bloodborne. Sameer has a degree in Writing and Editing from the University of Michigan. Additionally, he has several years of writing experience and has worked for Mashable previously. Get familiar with Sameer's gaming library on his PSN and Steam profiles.

Experience: 5+ Years || Previously Worked for Mashable || Education: ACCA

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