The Last of Us Part II training manual locations
Unlock all eight optional skill branches and understand alternate manual spawns.
Applies to: Standard campaign order · later-character spoilers
Quick answer
Eight manuals unlock the optional skill branches: Crafting, Stealth, Precision, Explosives, Covert Ops, Close Quarters, Firearms and Ordnance. Some manuals can move to a later backup spawn if missed, so a single landmark is not guaranteed to be every player’s only location.
Ellie’s four optional branches
- Crafting: Downtown, reached from the broken highway/firetruck route.
- Stealth: Capitol Hill bookstore; earlier bonus ownership can change the spawn.
- Precision: Hillcrest apartment entered from the truck and roof.
- Explosives: The Seraphites route.
Later four branches — character spoiler
- Covert Ops: On Foot.
- Close Quarters: Hostile Territory, near Tang Fabrics.
- Firearms: The Forest, in the auto-shop office.
- Ordnance: The Coast ship safe, code 90-77-01.
Alternate spawns
The game can place a missed manual at a later backup point. Guides therefore identify the earliest reliable route, not an exclusive immutable spawn. Keep all manuals in one continuous save for the Journeyman trophy.
Sources
PowerPyx cross-checked route · GameSpot alternate-spawn note
Official version and PC facts are linked to PlayStation, Steam and Naughty Dog. Safe and manual locations are cross-checked against established walkthrough sources and labeled for spoilers.
Not independently play-tested. This is not a claim that every platform or game version was tested. Source review: Oct 12, 2026.
More The Last of Us Games Guides
The Last of Us GamesHow long is The Last of Us Part II?
Estimate story and completion time across the original and Remastered releases.
The Last of Us GamesThe Last of Us Part II safe codes and door combinations
Use a chapter-ordered list of every safe, vault and major keypad combination.
The Last of Us GamesThe Last of Us Part II Remastered PC settings and requirements
Match the official performance tiers and adjust upscaling, frame generation and memory-heavy settings.
The Last of Us GamesThe Last of Us Part II ending explained
Understand Ellie’s final choice, the farmhouse, the guitar and what the ending leaves unresolved.
The Last of Us GamesThe Last of Us Part I: version, platforms and guide index
Identify the 2022 remake, its included Left Behind chapter, supported platforms and the correct Part I guides.
The Last of Us GamesThe Last of Us Part II Remastered: version, platforms and guide index
Identify the PS5 and PC remaster, its added modes and the correct Part II campaign guides.