The Last of Us 2: Workbenches and weapons upgrades The Last of Us 2 guide, walkthrough
Workbenches: how and where to upgrade weapons? Scrap, a list of all workbenches available for Ellie and Abby.
Last update: 18 June 2020
On this page of our game guide to The Last of Us 2 we have prepared information on how to improve your weapons by visiting workbenches. Also, we explain how to acquire crafting materials that are necessary to buy improvements. Furthermore, we have prepared a list of workbenches that can be used to upgrade your weapons.
Upgrading weapons - how and where?
In TLoU2, the only way to upgrade your weapons is to reach one of the workbenches. These objects can be treated as collectibles / secrets, as new workbenches are quite rare. In addition to that, many of them are located in optional locations that aren't part of the main plot.
Information about the number of workbenches in a given stage can be found in the Chapter Select menu - the picture shows an example of a stage with 2 workbenches.
You need scrap to buy upgrades - it is marked in-game with a screw icon. You can find it along with other loot by carefully exploring the game's world. Try to thoroughly explore all newly visited areas. You should also be able to find at least one larger pack of scrap metal near every workbench.
Each weapon has several possible upgrades you can buy. Unlike passive skills, you don't have to buy weapon upgrades in a linear order. It is also a good idea to buy the first of the most expensive ones, because they can make weapons much better.
The List of weapons and gadgets page has a complete list of weapons and upgrades, along with recommendations for the best modifications.
List of workbenches
The following list has all the workbenches found in the game. For more information on the location of the individual workbenches, check out Collectibles and secrets section.
Jackson chapter
Patrol stage. The workbench is located in the library building. You can't miss it. Ellie and Dina find the workbench just after restoring the electricity supply to the library.
Seattle Day 1 chapter - Ellie
Downtown stage. The workshop table is located in a tent at the western edge of the map, north of the synagogue building.
Capitol Hill stage. The workbench is located in the car workshop adjacent to the gas station - you visit it at the very beginning of the stage.
Capitol Hill stage. This workbench is inside the martial arts school building you pass by while moving through the minefield.
Tunnel stage. The workbench is in a room you visit shortly after escaping from the subway tunnels - where members of the WLF encounter Clickers. You will find the workbench before the first encounter with a Shambler.
Seattle Day 2 chapter - Ellie
Hillcrest stage. This workbench is located in the basement of the clothes store (you'll recognize it by its numerous mannequins).
Hillcrest stage. You can find this workbench just after you have solved the environmental puzzle in which you had to push a garbage container and climb the garage roof.
In the Search of Nora stage. This workbench is on the upper floor of a residential building, which can be optionally explored in the early part of the stage. Note - Interacting with the workbench will lead to a surprise attack by a group of opponents.
In the Search of Nora stage. The workbench is inside Weston's Pharmacy, which is adjacent to the small water tank.
Seattle Day 3 chapter - Ellie
Road to the aquarium stage. The workbench is inside the red building you can check out while traveling with Jesse in the early part of the stage.
Road to the aquarium stage. The workbench is in ruins located to the left of one of the water tanks. You can also explore this area with Jesse.
Sunken city stage. This workbench is inside the building you can check out while travelling by boat. It is located near the Seattle Sleep Warehouse.
Sunken city stage. The workbench is on the upper floor of the arcade, the location where Ellie stays for longer while travelling by boat.
Seattle Day 1 Chapter - Abby
On Foot stage A workbench can be found inside the hangar, in which there is a hanging boat.
The Forward Base stage The workbench can be found in an area with a large number of NPCs. You will reach this area after leaving the car parking and passing through the control post.
Hostile Territory stage The workbench can be found shortly after dealing with the cultists gathered at the base of the skyscraper. Just after you climb towards higher floors of the building.
The Forest stage It's located inside La Rosa's Auto Shop, which can be reached after completing the initial escape scene.
The Coast stage The workbench is located in the building which you can visit after leaving the first area, that is, the one with the barracks where Lev and Yara are residing.
Seattle Day 2 chapter - Abby
The Shortcut stage The first workbench table is located inside the Interbay building which can be explored in the early part of the stage.
The Shortcut stage The second workbench table is on one of the upper floors of the skyscraper and it can be found shortly after using a ladder illuminated by an oil lamp.
Ground Zero stage The workbench is on the lower floor of the hospital, in one of the dark rooms which you visit on the way to the power generator.
Seattle Day 3 chapter - Abby
The Island stage A workbench table is located inside one of the huts of the cultists village.
The Escape stage The workbench table is in the building to which the heroes enter through the upper shutter, just after taking part in the battle against WLF soldiers.
Santa Barbara chapter
Pushing Island stage The workbench is on the ground floor of the property where Ellie had to defeat a group of monsters.
The Resort stage You can find a workbench just after you reach the resort area occupied by slave hunters. It is located in one of the roof-covered areas outside the main estate.