The world of The Last of Us Part 1 is teeming with danger, as Joel and Ellie fight their way across the post-apocalyptic United States in the hope of bringing about a vaccine for the fungal infection that has decimated the population. With powerfully violent Infected and ruthless killers abound, players must fight like hell to overcome The Last of Us Part 1’s many challenges.

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With a large selection of weapons, enemies, and mechanics at play, the game can be a little confusing for players new to the genre. This guide will show players how to tackle the basics of stealth and combat in the critically acclaimed series.

Combat And Stealth Basics

Typically, when approaching a combat encounter in The Last of Us Part 1, the player will have the option of engaging in stealth or active combat. The game’s first encounter with enemies puts Joel and Tess against a small group of Runners in a spore-filled building and introduces the player to “Listen Mode.” Though unavailable on The Last of Us' Grounded difficulty which is thusly not recommended for new players, Listen Mode gives Joel the ability to see through walls at a limited distance, making it a useful tool for assessing enemy placements.

In order to successfully sneak by enemies, look around and use Listen Mode to pinpoint enemy patrol locations; unless actively searching for the player, they will stick to the same route regardless of difficulty. Upon understanding enemy patrols, be sure to block lines of sight, making use of the plentiful cover available to sneak up behind enemies and strangle them. As Part 1 doesn't feature The Last of Us Part 2's stealth mechanics, obtaining the bow a little while into the game makes stealthing from afar much easier.

Though the game is never so cruel as to leave players without any means of survival, ammunition management is a big part of the survival horror genre, so stealthing encounters where possible is advised, though players need not reload previous saves - or save scum - if they have used too much ammo or resources, as the game will always provide plenty more before the next encounter, even on the most punishing of difficulties.

When open combat is engaged, take cover or begin running to make distance. If players have their bow equipped, put it away and bring out The Last of Us' louder weapons that can pack a punch and crowd control. Ideally, aim for the heads of enemies for an almost guaranteed instant kill. Failing that, pummel as many bullets as possible into the enemies as possible keeping in mind that different weapons have varying ranges.

The Last of Us Part 1 is leading the way in the triple-A space with its plentiful accessibility options, so if players find the game too difficult, open the options menu to find a plethora of features that ease the difficulty, including the option to enable lock-on aim and navigational assistance.

The Last of Us Part 1 is currently available on PS5, and is in development for PC.

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