Infected Types & Weaknesses

Master survival against infected in The Last of Us Part II. This guide details each infected variant, including Stalkers and Clickers, and their weaknesses.

Navigating the post-apocalyptic world of The Last of Us Part II means constantly adapting to the myriad threats posed by the Cordyceps brain infection. Understanding each infected type's behavior, strengths, and most importantly, their weaknesses, is paramount to survival. This section details every infected variant you'll encounter and provides actionable strategies to dispatch them efficiently, conserving precious resources.

Runners

The most common and least evolved infected, Runners are newly infected individuals. They retain some human characteristics, including sight and hearing, but are driven by aggressive, primal urges. They will sprint directly at you once alerted.

• Behavior: Fast, aggressive, often appear in groups. Can be distracted by thrown objects.
• Weaknesses:
• Stealth Kills: Easily dispatched with a stealth kill from behind. This is your primary method for conserving ammo.
• Melee: A single melee hit (with a weapon or bare hands) will stagger them, allowing for follow-up attacks or a quick dodge. Two to three hits usually suffice.
• Headshots: A single pistol or rifle headshot is instantly fatal.
• Molotovs: Extremely effective against groups of Runners. A single Molotov can ignite and kill several at once.
• Shotgun: Devastating at close range, especially against multiple Runners charging simultaneously.

Strategy Tip: In areas with multiple Runners, use bottles or bricks to lure them away from your path or to group them together for a Molotov. If you're overwhelmed, sprint to a higher vantage point or through a narrow choke point to funnel them.

Stalkers

More advanced than Runners, Stalkers are in an intermediate stage of infection. They are cunning and will actively try to flank you, using cover and breaking line of sight. Their clicking sounds are less pronounced than Clickers, making them harder to detect by sound alone.

• Behavior: Stealthy, ambush predators. They will hide, peek around corners, and attempt to get behind you. They emit a quiet, guttural growl and occasional clicks.
• Weaknesses:
• Listen Mode: Crucial for detecting Stalkers hiding in the environment. Pay close attention to their faint outlines.
• Shotgun: Highly effective for close-quarters encounters when they ambush you.
• Traps (Tripmines/Proximity Mines): Placing a Tripmine or Proximity Mine in a doorway or narrow corridor where you expect a Stalker to emerge is an excellent way to thin their numbers or create an escape route.
• Molotovs: Can flush them out of cover or deal significant damage if they are grouped.
• Melee Counters: If a Stalker lunges, a well-timed dodge and counter-attack can be effective, but be prepared for follow-up attacks from others.

Strategy Tip: Always check your flanks and behind you in areas known to have Stalkers. Use Listen Mode frequently. If you hear their faint growls, try to pinpoint their location and preemptively strike or set a trap.

Clickers

Blind due to advanced fungal growth, Clickers rely entirely on echolocation to navigate and hunt. Their distinctive clicking sound is a terrifying warning. They are heavily armored with fungal plates, making them resistant to most frontal attacks.

• Behavior: Blind, use echolocation (clicking) to locate prey. Extremely strong and will instantly kill you if they grab you. Slow-moving but relentless.
• Weaknesses:
• Stealth Kills (Shiv Required): A stealth kill is the most resource-efficient way to deal with a Clicker, but it requires a Shiv. Always have one crafted if you anticipate Clicker encounters.
• Shotgun (Headshots): Two direct shotgun blasts to the head are usually enough to take down a Clicker. Aim carefully.
• Explosives (Pipe Bombs/Grenades): A single Pipe Bomb or Grenade can kill a Clicker outright or severely wound it, making it vulnerable to follow-up attacks.
• Molotovs: While not instantly fatal, a Molotov will set a Clicker ablaze, causing continuous damage and making it easier to finish off with a few pistol shots or a melee strike.
• Bow/Crossbow (Headshots): A well-placed arrow or bolt to the head can be a one-shot kill, especially with upgraded draw strength.

Strategy Tip: Avoid direct confrontation whenever possible. Use stealth and Shivs. If forced into combat, prioritize headshots with powerful weapons. Throwing a bottle or brick to distract them can buy you precious seconds to line up a shot or escape.

Shamblers

A new, highly evolved infected type introduced in Part II. Shamblers are large, heavily armored, and emit corrosive spores. When killed, they explode into a cloud of these spores, causing damage and obscuring vision.

• Behavior: Slow-moving, heavily armored. Emit corrosive spore clouds that damage you over time. Explode upon death, releasing a final, larger spore cloud.
• Weaknesses:
• Molotovs: Extremely effective. A single Molotov will ignite a Shambler, causing continuous damage and often forcing it to stagger, making it easier to hit.
• Explosives (Pipe Bombs/Grenades): A Pipe Bomb or Grenade can deal massive damage, often taking down a Shambler in one hit or leaving it severely weakened.
• Shotgun (Legs/Back): While their front is heavily armored, their legs and back are more vulnerable. Aim for these areas to deal consistent damage.
• Rifle/Hunting Pistol: High-damage firearms can chip away at their health, but aim for exposed areas or combine with other methods.

Strategy Tip: Maintain distance! Their spore clouds are dangerous. Use Molotovs and explosives to deal with them quickly. If you must engage with firearms, aim for their less armored areas. Be prepared to sprint away immediately after killing one to avoid the death explosion.

Bloaters

The most advanced and formidable infected type, Bloaters are massive, covered in thick fungal armor, and throw explosive spore sacs. They are incredibly resilient and can withstand a significant amount of punishment.

• Behavior: Extremely slow, heavily armored. Throws explosive spore sacs. Will charge and attempt to grab you for an instant kill if you get too close.
• Weaknesses:
• Fire (Molotovs/Flamethrower): Fire is a Bloater's greatest weakness. Molotovs will cause continuous damage, and the Flamethrower (when acquired) is devastating. Keep them burning!
• Explosives (Pipe Bombs/Grenades): Multiple Pipe Bombs or Grenades are necessary but highly effective. Aim to hit them directly.
• Shotgun (Repeated Blasts): While their armor is tough, sustained shotgun fire, especially to the head or exposed areas, will eventually bring them down. This is resource-intensive.
• Rifle/Hunting Pistol (Headshots): Use these only if you have no other options, and focus on headshots. It will take many rounds.

Strategy Tip: Bloater encounters are boss-like. Prioritize fire and explosives. Keep moving to avoid their thrown spore sacs and their charge. Utilize environmental hazards or tight spaces to your advantage, but be wary of getting cornered. Save your most powerful weapons for these encounters.

Rat King

A unique, monstrous infected encountered during Abby's storyline. The Rat King is a grotesque amalgamation of multiple infected, making it incredibly durable and powerful. It's essentially a multi-stage boss fight.

• Behavior: Massive, extremely aggressive, and relentless. Splits into multiple powerful infected (a Shambler and Stalkers) during the fight.
• Weaknesses:
• Flamethrower: The most effective weapon against the Rat King. Keep it burning constantly.
• Explosives (Pipe Bombs/Grenades): Crucial for dealing significant burst damage, especially when it's stationary or recovering.
• Shotgun: Use for close-range damage, particularly against the individual infected that break off.
• Rifle: Good for sustained damage from a distance, but less impactful than fire or explosives.

Strategy Tip: This is a war of attrition. Conserve your Flamethrower fuel for the Rat King itself. When it splits, prioritize the Shambler with explosives or shotgun blasts, then deal with the remaining Stalkers. Use the environment to create distance and break line of sight. Scavenge for supplies during the fight if possible.