The Complete The Last of Us 2 Trophy Guide for Remastered Players

Why a Trophy Guide Still Matters for The Last of Us Part II Remastered

When Naughty Dog released The Last of Us Part II Remastered, they gave veteran players a reason to go back to Seattle, Jackson Hole, and Santa Barbara. The remaster brought a native 4K presentation, improved frame rates, and a few new modes that change how you approach the trophy list. If you already earned the platinum on PS4, you might wonder whether it is worth running through again. The answer depends on how much you enjoy the combat and the world. The trophy list in the remaster is largely the same, but the addition of Grounded+ difficulty and the no damage run challenge means you have to rethink your usual strategies.

I have spent a good chunk of time with this version, working through a fresh save on Grounded+ while trying to keep Ellie and Abby alive through every encounter. What follows is a practical the last of us 2 trophy guide built from that experience. It covers the essential collectible locations, explains how the new difficulty options affect the grind, and offers a few tricks for saving time without ruining the story.

Understanding the Trophy List

The base trophy list for The Last of Us Part II Remastered contains 26 trophies including the platinum. Most of them are tied to collectibles, upgrades, and story progression. You do not need to complete a no damage run or finish the game on Grounded+ for the platinum, but those challenges are present as separate trophies if you want the full set. The remaster also adds a few new trophies connected to the roguelike survival mode and the lost levels, so check your list before you start.

The collectibles are the main time sink. You have trading cards, coins, workbench upgrades, safe codes, and journal entries scattered across every chapter. Missing one forces you to either replay the whole chapter or use chapter select, which resets your current playthrough progress unless you are careful. I recommend doing your first run blind for the story, then using a guide for cleanup. That approach keeps the emotional weight of the game intact while still letting you chase the platinum later.

Collectible Locations and Safe Codes

The collectible locations in The Last of Us Part II Remastered are well hidden. Some are behind locked doors that require safe codes, others are tucked inside workbenches that also provide weapon upgrades. The trading cards are scattered throughout Seattle day one through day three, with a few in the Jackson Hole flashbacks and the Santa Barbara finale. Coins are mostly found in the same areas but tend to sit on desks, nightstands, or shelves that are easy to miss if you are moving fast.

Safe codes are a pain because the game does not give you a code list. You have to find the note or the document that contains the combination, and those notes are often in a different room or even a different building. For example, the safe in the bank on day one requires a code that is written on a piece of paper inside a nearby office. Without that paper, you cannot open the safe. If you miss it, you have to replay the chapter. A proper the last of us 2 trophy guide will list every safe code and the exact note location, so keep that reference handy during your cleanup run.

Grounded+ Difficulty and the No Damage Run

Grounded+ is the new hard mode in the remaster. It combines the Grounded difficulty with permadeath settings, meaning one mistake can send you back to the start of the chapter. The no damage run is a separate challenge where you cannot take any health damage throughout the entire game. These two are not required for the platinum, but they are the hardest trophies in the list.

If you decide to attempt them, you need to memorize enemy patrol routes, know exactly where every health pickup is, and abuse the dodge mechanics. I found that using chronological mode helps with planning because it arranges the story in strict timeline order. That way you know which encounters come next and can practice specific sections without replaying the whole game. The upgrades you pick also matter. Prioritize weapon upgrades that increase stability and reload speed, and invest skill upgrades into dodge timing and health regeneration. A fully upgraded workbench gives you access to silencers and improved scopes, which let you thin out patrols from a distance before they even know you are there.

Skill Upgrades and Workbench Strategy

The upgrade system in The Last of Us Part II Remastered is straightforward but easy to mess up if you spread your points too thin. You have two separate skill trees, one for Ellie and one for Abby. Each tree has branches for stealth, combat, and survival. I suggest focusing on the stealth branch first because it makes the no damage run possible. Silent takedowns and faster prone movement let you avoid direct fights. After that, put points into the survival branch for increased health and faster healing.

The workbench is where you upgrade your weapons. You find workbenches in safe houses and hideouts throughout the game. Each workbench lets you apply one upgrade per weapon type. The best early upgrade is the revolver silencer, which turns a loud pistol into a stealth tool. Later, upgrade the hunting rifle for better zoom and stability. Do not waste materials on upgrades for weapons you rarely use. Stick to the pistol, the rifle, and the shotgun. That covers most encounters.

Chronological Mode and Its Effect on Trophy Hunting

Chronological mode is a new feature in the remaster that rearranges the story chapters into strict timeline order. Instead of jumping between Ellie and Abby across three days, you play everything that happens to Ellie first, then switch to Abby. This mode is useful for trophy hunters because it groups all of Ellie's collectibles together and all of Abby's collectibles together. You can clear one character's entire trophy list before moving to the other. It also helps with the no damage run because you do not have to switch playstyles mid-session. Ellie plays more stealthy and Abby plays more direct, so separating them keeps your muscle memory consistent.

Practical Tips for the Grind

Here are a few things I wish I knew before starting my cleanup run:

• Use chapter select for collectibles. Do not try to get everything on one playthrough. The stress of missing one trading card will ruin the experience.
• Write down safe codes as you find them. The game does not track them in a log, so you will forget.
• Upgrade the workbench as soon as you reach a new area. Weapon upgrades are permanent and carry over through chapter select.
• Save your game manually before every locked door. If you fail the safe code, you can reload instead of replaying the whole chapter.
• Play on a lower difficulty for the collectible run. You do not need Grounded+ for the platinum. Save that for a separate attempt.

Final Thoughts on the Trophy Journey

The Last of Us Part II Remastered is a dense game, and its trophy list reflects that density. You will spend hours hunting trading cards, cracking safe codes, and perfecting encounters on Grounded+. But the game rewards patience. The combat system is deep enough that a no damage run feels like a genuine accomplishment, not a buggy exploit. The collectible locations tell their own stories, filling in gaps about the world before the outbreak. And the upgrades give you a real sense of progression as Ellie and Abby grow stronger.

If you are looking for a complete the last of us 2 trophy guide that covers all of this in detail, the best approach is to treat the game like two separate experiences. Play it once for the story, then play it again for the trophies. Use chronological mode to keep the chapters organized, lean on chapter select for cleanup, and do not be afraid to drop the difficulty for the collectible run. The platinum is achievable for any dedicated player. It just takes time, patience, and a willingness to learn every corner of Seattle, Jackson Hole, and Santa Barbara.