Every collectible tells a story in The Last of Us Part I. From hidden notes and artifacts to heartfelt optional conversations, this guide maps every find and moment you can uncover across Joel and Ellie’s path on PlayStation.
Still, even if you’ve walked Joel and Ellie’s path more times than this game has hit shelves, you’ll find differences in The Last of Us Part 1 beyond the mere visual. Some collectibles and trinkets aren’t exactly where they were in the original(s), for instance. That’s where our guides and walkthroughs come in.
Start off with the early “Quarantine Zone” and “Outskirts” chapters, and work your way through the climactic “Firefly Lab” finale. When you’re done, don’t miss the gut-wrenching “Left Behind” expansion. Or, if you’re just looking for safe codes, we’ve got those as well.
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The Last of Us Part 1 chapter with most collectibles
Pittsburgh has the most collectibles in The Last of Us Part 1, with around 30-35 across its sub-chapters like Alone and Forsaken, Hotel Lobby, Financial District, and Escape the City.
Collectible Count
Detailed breakdowns show Pittsburgh leading due to dense urban scavenging spots:
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Alone and Forsaken: 10+ artifacts, 1 pendant, multiple conversations, comic, jokes, shiv door.
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Hotel Lobby: Several artifacts, workbench, training manual.
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Financial District: 4+ artifacts, 3+ conversations, shiv door.
This edges out other high-count chapters like Bill’s Town (~20) or The Suburbs (~15).
Why Pittsburgh?
The chapter’s multi-area layout (streets, hotel, apartments) hides items in side rooms, safes, and on bodies-ideal for hunters’ ambushes but rich in loot. Prioritize exploring shiv doors and staring at Ellie/Joel for optional talks before fights advance.
How to find all collectibles in University chapter
The University chapter (Chapter 8) in The Last of Us Part 1 contains 24 collectibles, including 7 artifacts, 2 Firefly pendants, 1 comic, 2 optional conversations, 2 workbenches, 1 training manual, 1 shiv door, 1 safe, 1 workbench tool, and Ellie’s jokes-making it one of the denser chapters for loot.
Collectible Breakdown
It’s split into two main sections: Go Big Horns and Science Building. Prioritize side rooms, dorms, and labs before advancing, as some are missable after fights or cutscenes.
| Section | Collectibles | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Go Big Horns | 2 Artifacts (Lecture Room, Chemistry Lab), 1 Comic (Free Radicals, dorm shower), 1 Pendant (rooftop scaffold), 1 Workbench (dorm entry), 1 Shiv Door (dorm closet), 1 Safe (dorm room, combo 08-21-36), Ellie’s Jokes (porch talks) | |
| Science Building | 5 Artifacts (elevator, lab desks, recorder on body), 1 Pendant (monkey bars outside), 1 Training Manual (recorders shelf), 1 Workbench (recorders room), 2 Conversations (Joel/Ellie at telescope, generator room), 1 Workbench Tool (cafe counter), Flamethrower upgrade | 13 |
Step-by-Step Guide
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Go Big Horns: After horse riding, dismount left into lecture hall for Artifact #1; shower room has comic; scaffold pendant from dorm roof; break into shiv door before leaving dorms.
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Science Building: Post-elevator crash, grab manual and artifacts on desks; pendant on playground bars; trigger conversations by lingering (triangle prompt).
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Tips: Use chapter select later if missed (progress carries over). Check backpack for tracking; explore giraffe area fully for talks. Video timestamps help for precision, like 0:15 comic or 2:15 artifact.
