Mastering The Last of Us Part II Remastered: The Art of a No Damage Walkthrough on Grounded+

I remember my first encounter with a clicker in The Last of Us Part II Remastered. My hands were sweating on the DualSense controller, and I died before I could even raise the pistol. That was on moderate difficulty. So when I started hearing about players attempting a no damage walkthrough, I thought they were either lying or using cheats. After spending months on my own run, I can tell you it is neither. It is a discipline that combines patience, map knowledge, and a willingness to fail hundreds of times.

Let me clarify what a no damage walkthrough actually means in this context. It does not mean you never get touched. It means you complete every encounter, every boss fight, and every traversal sequence without taking any health loss. One bite from a runner, one stray bullet from the Washington Liberation Front, one misjudged fall, and you restart the checkpoint. On Grounded+ difficulty, where enemies kill you in two hits and your resources are scarce, this becomes an exercise in absolute precision.

Why Bother With a No Damage Run?

I get the question a lot. Why would anyone put themselves through that kind of suffering in a game that already offers a rich narrative and a deep combat system? The answer is different for everyone. For speedrunners, it is about optimizing every second. For trophy hunters, it is about proving mastery. For me, it was about seeing the game in a way I had never seen it before. When you are trying to avoid all damage, you start noticing patterns you would normally ignore. You learn the exact timing of an enemy's patrol route. You find hiding spots you never knew existed. You use the environment not as scenery, but as a shield.

There is also a certain satisfaction in finishing a run and looking at the final screen with zero deaths from damage. It feels like you have truly conquered the game. And with The Last of Us Part II Remastered offering 4K ultra gameplay on the PlayStation 5, the visual fidelity makes every near-miss look cinematic. I spent as much time in photo mode after clean encounters as I did actually fighting.

Preparing for a No Damage Walkthrough

Before I even started my no damage walkthrough, I spent two weeks just playing the game normally on Grounded+ difficulty. I wanted to internalize the flow of combat, the placement of collectibles, and the locations of health pickups that I would never use. I also adjusted my settings through the extensive accessibility options. The Last of Us Part II Remastered has some of the best accessibility features I have seen in a triple-A title. I turned on the high-contrast display mode to make enemies easier to spot in dark areas. I also enabled the option that lets you hold your breath while aiming with a scope, which might seem minor but makes a huge difference when you are trying to land a headshot without taking return fire.

Another key part of preparation was studying the trophy list. Some trophies require you to complete the game on Grounded+ difficulty, and others require you to find all collectibles. I wanted to combine both goals into a single run, which meant I needed to know where every artifact, trading card, and journal entry was hidden. I made my own game guide out of notes, marking each chapter with the collectibles present and the safest route to grab them without taking damage.

The Role of Chronological Mode

One feature that surprised me was chronological mode. This mode rearranges the story to play in strict chronological order rather than the original narrative's back-and-forth structure. For a no damage run, this actually helps. You play all of Ellie's sections first, then all of Abby's sections. That means you get a consistent difficulty curve with the same character abilities before switching. It also means you do not have to mentally reset between different skill sets mid-run. I found that my muscle memory for Ellie's dodge timing carried over better when I played her entire arc in one block.

Chronological mode also changes how you experience the story. Without spoiling anything, seeing Ellie and Abby's journeys unfold in sequence makes certain moments hit differently. But from a gameplay perspective, it is a practical choice for anyone attempting a no damage walkthrough.

Maximum Upgrades and Resource Management

To survive a no damage run, you need maximum upgrades as early as possible. That means grinding for pills, parts, and supplements in the early chapters. I made a habit of breaking every crate, searching every drawer, and crafting only when necessary. The game gives you plenty of materials if you are thorough, but you have to be smart about what you craft. Smoke bombs and stun traps are your best friends. They allow you to disengage from combat without taking a hit.

I also upgraded the weapon holster first. Being able to switch between a pistol and a rifle instantly is crucial when you need to headshot an enemy before they alert the entire compound. After that, I focused on health upgrades, even though I was trying not to take damage. The reason is simple: sometimes you make a mistake, and having a larger health pool gives you a second chance to reset the checkpoint before you die. It is a safety net, not a strategy.

Key Encounters and Strategies

Every player who attempts a no damage run will hit a wall at certain encounters. For me, the hospital basement in Seattle was the first major hurdle. The combination of stalkers, clickers, and tight corridors forces you to use every tool you have. I eventually found a rhythm: lure stalkers into a hallway, drop a stun trap, and take them out with a silenced pistol before the clickers even wake up. It took me forty tries to get through that section without a scratch.

The encounter with Ellie at the theater is another notorious choke point. The AI in The Last of Us Part II Remastered is aggressive and adaptive. Ellie will flank you, throw bottles to distract you, and use the environment to her advantage. I had to learn her movement patterns through pure repetition. I watched my own recordings in slow motion, studying where she appeared after each phase change. That kind of analysis is essential for any serious speedrunning or high-difficulty playthrough.

Santa Monica Studio, the team behind the remake, did a phenomenal job with the enemy AI. It is one of the reasons the game remains so rewarding to master. You cannot rely on cheap tactics. You have to genuinely outthink and outplay every opponent.

The Emotional Toll of a No Damage Run

I want to be honest about the mental side of this challenge. A no damage walkthrough can be frustrating. There were nights when I spent three hours on a single encounter and made no progress. I would get to the last enemy, slip up, and watch the screen fade to black. The temptation to lower the difficulty or skip a collectible was strong. But I kept going because I knew that every failure was teaching me something.

One thing that helped was taking breaks. I would step away from the PlayStation 5, go for a walk, and come back with fresh eyes. Another was talking to other players in forums who were attempting similar challenges. The community around The Last of Us Part II Remastered is surprisingly supportive. People share tips, video clips, and encouragement. It made the journey feel less solitary.

Collectibles and Supplemental Materials

Gathering all collectibles during a no damage run adds another layer of difficulty. You have to divert from the optimal combat path to grab a note or a coin, and that diversion often puts you in the line of fire. I learned to prioritize collectibles that were in safe zones first, then tackle the ones in combat areas only after clearing the room. I also used photo mode as a crutch. It pauses the action, so I could scout the area for collectibles before engaging. It is not cheating; it is using the tools the game gives you.

The supplemental materials themselves are rewarding. The artifacts and journal entries flesh out the world and the characters. Reading Eleanor Williams's notes in the hospital gave me a deeper appreciation for the lore. It made the world feel lived in, even when I was restarting the same encounter for the thirtieth time.

Final Thoughts on the Challenge

Completing a no damage walkthrough of The Last of Us Part II Remastered on Grounded+ difficulty is not for everyone. It requires a level of dedication that borders on obsession. But for those who love the game and want to see it from a new angle, it is an unforgettable experience. You will learn the game's systems inside and out. You will develop reflexes and strategies that carry over into every other game you play. And when you finally see that end screen, with every chapter marked as cleared without damage, you will feel a sense of accomplishment that few gaming achievements can match.

If you are thinking about attempting one, my advice is simple: start small. Try a single chapter on Grounded+ without taking damage. If you succeed, try two chapters. Build up gradually. Use the accessibility options, study the trophy list, and make your own notes. And above all, be patient with yourself. The game is designed to be brutal, but it is also designed to be conquered. Every death is a lesson. Every restart is a step forward.

I am already planning my next run. This time, I want to see if I can do it faster while still collecting everything. The challenge never really ends. It just evolves.