How to Achieve Maximum Weapon Upgrades in The Last of Us Part II Remastered

I've spent countless hours in The Last of Us Part II Remastered, and I can tell you that mastering the weapon upgrade system is the difference between surviving a brutal encounter and restarting from a checkpoint. When you're aiming for a No Damage Run on Grounded+ difficulty, every single bullet and every millisecond matters. That's where the pursuit of maximum weapon upgrades becomes more than just a completionist goal, it becomes a survival strategy. In this article, I'll share practical insights from my own gameplay walkthrough, focusing on how to efficiently max out your arsenal without wasting precious Upgrade Parts.

Understanding the Weapon Upgrade Bench

The Weapon Upgrade Bench is your home base for improving every firearm in your inventory. These benches appear at safe houses and key story locations, and they allow you to spend Upgrade Parts to enhance specific attributes like damage, rate of fire, reload speed, and stability. What many players miss is that each weapon has multiple upgrade tiers, and reaching the final tier requires a significant investment. The Hunting Pistol, for example, becomes a one-shot beast against basic infected when fully upgraded, but it takes careful resource management to get there.

Early in the game, you'll find Upgrade Parts scattered in toolboxes, drawers, and on enemy bodies. If you're playing with All Collectibles enabled, you'll have a much easier time tracking down every last part. I always recommend exploring every room and checking every corner before moving on. The difference between a partially upgraded weapon and a maxed out weapon is often just a few missed parts.

Prioritizing Your Arsenal for Grounded+

On Grounded+ difficulty, enemies are relentless, resources are scarce, and a single mistake can end your run. That's why you need to prioritize which weapons to upgrade first. Here's a hierarchy based on my experience:

• Tactical Shotgun, This is your crowd-control king. With a Stun Upgrade and maxed rate of fire, it can stagger multiple enemies and buy you precious seconds.
• Hunting Pistol, Silent, powerful, and versatile. A maxed out weapon here lets you take down armored foes with one headshot.
• Semiautomatic Pistol, Your everyday sidearm. Focus on reload speed and stability to keep the pressure on.
• Rifles and Long Guns, Useful for long-range encounters, but they consume rare ammo. Upgrade damage first, then rate of fire.
• Melee Upgrades, Don't ignore the toolbox for melee modifications. A fully upgraded melee weapon can save ammo and keep you quiet.

This order assumes you're playing through Chronological Mode, which presents the story in the order events actually unfold. That mode changes how you encounter enemies and resources, so flexibility matters. But the core principle remains: get the most bang for your Upgrade Parts early, and you'll have an easier time later.

The Role of the Skill Tree

While upgrades happen at the bench, your Skill Tree also influences how effective your weapons feel. Precision skills reduce sway, faster crafting speeds mean more ammo on the fly, and survival skills let you carry more Upgrade Parts. I've found that pairing a maxed out weapon with complementary skills creates a synergy that makes Grounded+ feel almost manageable. For instance, if you invest in the "Stability" branch, your Semiautomatic Pistol becomes incredibly accurate even when firing rapidly.

Don't neglect the Toolbox either. It's easy to think of upgrades only in terms of guns, but the Toolbox holds modifications for your melee weapons and even your explosive devices. A fully upgraded pipe with the Stun Upgrade can knock an enemy down long enough for you to finish them without firing a shot. In a No Damage Run, that's gold.

How to Find Every Upgrade Part

If you're aiming for maximum weapon upgrades, you need to be systematic about collecting Upgrade Parts. Here are the best sources I've found:

• Toolboxes, They're everywhere. Check every workbench, garage, and maintenance room.
• Enemy Drops, Some human enemies carry Upgrade Parts. Loot them after every fight.
• Safe Houses, Each safe house has at least one bench, and often a few loose parts nearby.
• Story Progression, Certain chapters guarantee a part. Memorize the key locations.
• All Collectibles, Some collectible sets reward you with Upgrade Parts when completed. If you're doing a full run, this is a no-brainer.

I've seen players rush through areas and miss three or four parts that would have made a huge difference later. Take your time. The game rewards patience, especially when you're playing in 4K Ultra and can spot the glint of a toolbox across a room.

Practical Tips for a No Damage Run

Let's talk about the No Damage Run specifically. This is the ultimate test of your skill and preparation. You cannot afford to get hit even once. That means your weapons need to be reliable and powerful. Here's where maximum weapon upgrades truly shine. When your Hunting Pistol is fully upgraded, you can one-shot clickers from across a courtyard. When your Tactical Shotgun has a Stun Upgrade, you can interrupt a runner mid-charge and finish it before it touches you.

I always keep my Semiautomatic Pistol as a backup. It's not the strongest weapon, but with maxed rate of fire and stability, it becomes a versatile tool for clearing corridors and staggering enemies. The key is to never let your primary weapon run dry. Always reload between encounters. Always craft ammo when you have materials. A single empty click can mean a restart.

Another tip: use the environment. In many areas, you can break line of sight and reposition. With a maxed out weapon, you can afford to take a few shots, then move. Without upgrades, you'll waste ammo and attract more enemies. The difference is night and day.

Naughty Dog's Design Philosophy

Naughty Dog designed The Last of Us Part II Remastered with a careful balance between challenge and reward. The weapon upgrade system is a perfect example. Every Upgrade Part you find feels earned. Every time you slot it into a bench, you feel the weapon improve. That satisfaction is why I keep coming back to this game. On Grounded+, that satisfaction is doubled because every upgrade is a lifeline.

I've played through the game multiple times, and I still discover new ways to optimize my loadout. The beauty of the system is that there's no single right answer. You might prefer a silenced weapon for stealth, while another player goes all-in on firepower. The important thing is to commit to a strategy and stick with it. Chasing maximum weapon upgrades in every category is possible, but only if you're thorough and patient.

Final Thoughts on the Grind

Getting maximum weapon upgrades isn't just about collecting parts. It's about understanding the flow of combat, knowing when to engage and when to slip away, and making every shot count. When you finally hold that maxed out weapon in your hands, you'll feel the difference. The recoil is manageable. The reload is instant. The damage is devastating.

Whether you're playing for a speedrun, a No Damage Run, or just to see every corner of the world, investing in upgrades is always worth it. And if you're playing in 4K Ultra with Chronological Mode, the experience is even more immersive. The sound of a fully upgraded weapon echoing through Seattle's streets is something you have to hear for yourself.

So grab your toolbox, find those Upgrade Parts, and get to work. The streets are dangerous, but with the right upgrades, you'll be ready for anything.