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PlayStation 5 users now have the opportunity to experience The Last of Us in all its glory after the remake hit stores on September 2, 2022. The Last of Us Part I’s release has reignited interest in the zombie series, with fans wanting to analyze everyone from Joel and Ellie to Abby and her allies.

As survival is the main theme, it’s interesting to see which characters were the most capable in their abilities. These range from combat, scavenging, and resourcefulness, and the main cast went about the zombie-ridden world using these very abilities to their benefit.

Dina

Dina wasn’t inclined toward the survival aspects of the story in The Last of Us Part II and was content with living in peace. As such, she didn’t have the greatest skill set in terms of fighting, having been overpowered by Abby and playing the supporting role to Ellie when Dina did get into combat.

In terms of abilities related to surviving the zombie-ridden world in general, Dina was capable of putting the farm into functioning where she and Ellie resided. She generally needed others to truly make it in life, although that also shows that Dina was able to live without conflict, unlike the rest.

Riley

The Last of Us: Left Behind is among the best video game DLCs, especially due to Riley’s role. She died at a young age but was a very able person, as seen when she navigated around the world on her own. In fact, Riley took charge during her adventure with Ellie before the latter truly became proficient.

Riley wasn’t the strongest in terms of fighting ability, although she made up for it using her agility. Riley was resourceful for the way she found ways to get out sticky situations, and it’s a shame she was infected before she could fully come into her own.

Lev

Lev started out relatively helpless due to being sheltered by his sister and later by Abby. However, he picked up on archer-based abilities to become much more capable. Lev provided solid support to Abby once he was better with a bow and arrow, which added to his abilities.

He was capable enough to escape his community on his own, along with proving he could keep up with the stiff learning curve of having to survive. Lev’s weak points were clear when he had to face tougher survivors, as he was easily outmatched and overpowered.

Yara

Yara didn’t get to showcase as much as she could have in The Last of Us Part II because her arm was severely damaged through most of the events. Still, she proved to be a survivor by saving Abby from Tommy and managing to ensure Abby and Lev escaped before Yara was executed.

In addition, Yara’s abilities were evident by the fact that she shouldered through with a mangled arm, which goes to show that she would have been extremely proficient had she been in top form. Yara’s young age meant she didn’t fulfill all her potential, with more developed characters getting the best of her.

Tess

Characters like Tess are the reason why The Last of Us comes among the best zombie survival horror games ever. As Joel’s partner, Tess was a capable fighter, who appeared to be the levelheaded and more rational of the two. Tess didn’t have Joel’s strength, but she had a knack for tactics.

The fact that Tess survived decades during the time the outbreak was at its worst goes to show just how able she was. Unfortunately for her, she wasn’t as proficient as her allies since Tess ended up being infected when she couldn’t overcome the hordes of zombies after the group.

Bill

Bill’s traps pretty much took a life of their own, seeing as people who came near his area almost always perished. Bill was a master when it came to traps and snares, having lived through the zombie apocalypse on his own with supplies salvaged by himself.

Bill was good at combat as well, as seen when he aided Joel and Ellie. He wasn’t the greatest when it came to improvisation since Bill was afraid of leaving his town over the possibility that he would die in uncharted territory. He was a beast in his own yard but inexperienced in the outside world.

Ellie

Ellie is considered among the best video game companions for her role in The Last of Us Part I, where she even tended to a weakened Joel by herself all winter. She became a force to be reckoned with in The Last of Us Part II, as Ellie took down Abby’s friends and nearly eliminated her rival.

Ellie’s scavenging abilities were most definitely superb, never having difficulties in making along vast areas of land. She wasn’t the greatest when it came to strength and combat, as she was overpowered several times. But her strategic mind enabled her to eliminate droves of enemies. Ellie's immunity to the virus is also something that places her a class apart.

Abby Anderson

Abby trained herself into a tank in terms of fighting ability, as she could take on multiple enemies at once even without the need for firearms. She was also resilient in the face of great challenges, not being bothered by dangerous terrain and being able to evade monstrous zombies.

She wasn’t completely invulnerable, as Abby had difficulty seeing ambushes coming; she was mainly capable when she knew danger was afoot. To her credit, Abby could still put on a fight even in a weakened state, as seen when she went toe to toe with Ellie despite being malnourished in their climactic fight.

Tommy Miller

Tommy and Joel were said to be a fearsome duo in the 20 years between the onset of the apocalypse and Joel meeting Ellie. Tommy was so good at surviving through brutal measures that he carried guilt over what he had to do. The Last of Us Part II showed just how dangerous he could be.

Tommy hunted Abby’s group all on his own, mercilessly slaying them and becoming a shadow they couldn’t shake off. Tommy was about to kill Abby as well until Yara intervened, showing just how capable he was. The fact that he raised an entire community on his own also provides further evidence of his abilities.

Joel Miller

Joel is largely considered to be the best character in The Last of Us for his layered characterization. He was capable of living a normal life and becoming a hardened survivor when the time called for it. Joel kept Tommy alive for 20 years using brutal but necessary tactics, later doing the same for Ellie.

Joel wasn’t even in his prime during The Last of Us Part I, yet evaded and defeated hundreds of enemies while making it through in the end. His scavenging abilities meant he never went hungry or helpless, and his combat was diverse in both ranged and close-quarter fights. In the end, Joel was only killed by Abby because he was in a vulnerable position she took advantage of.

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