Find The Last of Us Part 1 Training Manuals to increase the effectiveness of your equipment, such as more durable shivs and deadlier molotovs. There are 12 of these Training Manuals to find from Bill's Town to the Bus Depot, so make sure you explore each chapter to find the Training Manual locations. However, it is also possible to miss them, and with no opportunities to backtrack or collect missing training manuals at later points, you'll want to make sure you're not missing out on a great equipment enhancement. To make sure that doesn't happen, we've got all The Last of Us Part 1 Training Manual locations listed below, as well as the effects of each one.
All the Last of Us Part 1 Training Manual locations
There are twelve training manuals in The Last of Us Part 1, found in the following locations:
- Shiv: Sharpening (increases shiv uses) in the Bill's Town bar hideout.
- Health: Splinting (increases health restored) above the first Pittsburgh garage.
- Shiv: Reinforcement (increases shiv uses) in the Pittsburgh hotel lobby safe.
- Melee: Knots (improves melee weapon upgrades) in the corridors after beating the Pittsburgh hotel basement.
- Molotov: Construction (increases molotov blast radius) in the Pittsburgh apartment where you first meet Henry and Sam.
- Bomb: Containment (increases nail bomb blast radius) in the Suburbs sewers just after finding the Shorty shotgun.
- Melee: Techniques (improves melee weapon upgrades) in the Suburbs brick house, in the attic.
- Smoke: Chemistry (improves smoke bomb duration) at Tommy's Dam, to the left of the workbench near the generators.
- Health: Sterilization (increases health restored) at the University, in the building on the right of the monkey-filled courtyard.
- Molotov: Deployment (increases molotov blast radius) in the University Science Building, behind the Shiv Door.
- Smoke: Shaping (improves smoke bomb duration) when approaching David's Lakeside Resort base as Joel, go through the motel to the shed Shiv Door and open it.
- Bomb: Shrapnel (increases nail bomb blast radius) past the Bus Depot and Triage, on top of the semi-truck near the tunnel Bloaters.
We've explained where each of the Training Manuals are kept in The Last of Us Part 1 in more detail below. So scroll down to see more or click on the links above to to jump right to any you want in particular.
The buffs and perks provided by Training Manuals are totally passive - once you have them the effects are permanent from that point in for the rest of the game. In reality there's actually only six Training Manuals - a standard version and an enhanced version that buffs the same quality further. Finding either version will improve your skills, and finding them both will obviously make a bigger difference.
The skills Training Manuals give you are different to the ones provided by The Last of Us supplements - Manuels change Joel's gear, while supplements change Joel himself.
Shiv Sharpening Training Manual Location
Effect: Shivs survive for an additional hit (does not apply to Shiv Doors). This effect stacks with the Shiv Reinforcement Training Manual.
The first Training Manual is found in Bill's Town, after the scene where you hang upside down and are rescued by the titular Bill. He'll take you to a bar, abandoned and filled with gear and collectibles. The manual is on the bar countertop, close to where Bill is waiting for you.
Health Splinting Training Manual location
Effect: Health Kits restore 33% more health. This effect stacks with the Health Sterilization Training Manual.
The Training Manual for Health Splinting is early in the Pittsburgh level. After the first ambush and escaping through the garage that holds the tools and smoke bomb, head upstairs and turn right into the room full of mattresses. On the left, on the corner of one of those mattresses, is the Training Manual you're looking for.
Shiv Reinforcement Training Manual location
Effect: Shivs survive for an additional hit (does not apply to Shiv Doors). This effect stacks with the Shiv: Sharpening Training Manual.
Later in Pittsburgh, Joel and Ellie end up in a hotel, coming through the window and dropping into the ruined lobby. The Training Manual is in a safe on the right hand side - go behind the reception to the coat check area and you'll see it. The safe is locked, but the code for it is found by moving the ladder to the back wall, to the left of the destroyed staircase, then climbing the ladder and turning right, shuffling around the staircase wreckage until you find the code in the suitcase ahead of you. Then drop back to the safe and get the Manual, as well as some bonus Parts. If you want more directions, use our guide to The Last of Us Safe Codes to find out how to crack every safe in the game.
Melee Knots Training Manual Location
Effect: Melee weapon modifications last one hit longer. This effect stacks with the Melee Techniques Training Manual. Keep in mind that this applies to enhanced melee weapons like pipes and clubs, not The Last of Us weapon upgrades applied to firearms from workbenches.
After Joel escapes the hotel basement with The Last of Us Keycard and Ellie saves him by shooting a hunter, follow the critical path up the stairs until you pass the bathrooms and a dead end on the right, with a coat rack at the corner. Ahead are some desks to be vaulted over, but in front of those is a table with the Training Manual resting on it.
Molotov Construction Training Manual location
Effect: Molotovs have their explosion radius increased by 1.5 times. This effect stacks with the Molotov: Deployment Training Manual.
Still in Pittsburgh, after escaping the armored car and meeting Henry and Sam, wait for the first cutscene to end, then turn right out of the bedroom and into the kitchen. On the countertop ahead of you is the Molotov: Construction Training Manual.
Bomb Containment Training Manual location
Effect: Nail Bombs have their explosion radius increased by 1.5 times. This effect stacks with the Bomb: Shrapnel Training Manual.
While exploring the sewers after escaping the armored car you'll trigger a sound trap while walking through a door. Vault the table ahead (there'll be the Shorty on your right, one of the best The Last Of Us weapons) and directly ahead will be some storage shelves. The Bomb Containment Training Manual is on the middle shelf, to the right of some blue containers.
Melee Techniques Training Manual location
Effect: Melee weapon modifications last one hit longer. This effect stacks with the Melee: Knots Training Manual.
Once out of the sewers and in the Suburbs proper, follow the winding road down to the ice cream truck, which Ellie and Sam will comment on. Go into the brick house left of the truck, and go upstairs to the landing; if you look up there'll be an attic hatch you can interact with. Joel will accidentally destroy the ladder, but talk to Ellie and she'll search it for you, providing you with the Melee Techniques Training Manual.
Smoke Chemistry Training Manual location
Effect: The effects of Smoke Bombs last for an additional ten seconds. This effect stacks with the Smoke: Shaping Training Manual.
After making it to Tommy's Dam and being allowed inside, you'll get a little guided tour through the place. Follow Tommy and after seeing the dog Buckley, head inside to see some workmen leaning over blueprints - to the left of them is a side room with a workbench for weapon modifications, and to the left of that is the Smoke: Chemistry Training Manual on a countertop.
Health Sterilization Training Manual location
Effect: Health Kits restore 67% more health. This effect stacks with the Health Splinting Training Manual.
A while later you'll reach the University; keep going through until you reach a large courtyard plaza with a statue in the middle and monkeys. Head to the right side and there'll be a blue dumpster you can climb onto before reaching a lower roof. Jump through the window on your immediate right, and on a desk looking out over the courtyard, next to a computer monitor, is the Health Sterilization Training Manual.
Molotov Deployment Training Manual location
Effect: Molotovs have their explosion radius increased by 2 times. This effect stacks with the Molotov: Deployment Training Manual.
Once you're far enough through the University, Joel will break down a gate using a rolling dumpster. After that, climb through the open window of the Science Building as intended, then follow the corridors left to Room 205. It's a Shiv Door - crack it open and you'll get all manner of goodies, including the Molotov Deployment Training Manual on a desk to your right as you enter. There's also the fourth set of The Last of Us Tools for upgrading weapons, and you can check the linked guide to find the rest.
Smoke Shaping Training Manual location
Effect: The effects of Smoke Bombs last for an additional twenty seconds. This effect stacks with the Smoke: Chemistry Training Manual.
This one's a little tricky - during the second time playing as Joel in the Lakeside Resort level, you'll approach David's camp with a gas station on your right. On the left hand side before the first barricade is a motel - go through that and out the other side, and on your left will be a run down wooden shed. It's locked by a Shiv Door - open it and you'll get the Smoke Shaping Training Manual, as well as some other useful resources.
Bomb Shrapnel Training Manual location
Effect: Nail Bombs have their explosion radius increased by 2 times. This effect stacks with the Bomb: Containment Training Manual.
The final Training Manual, Bomb Shrapnel, is found at the Bus Depot in Salt Lake City. When going through the underground section of the highway, fighting clickers, infected and bloaters, you'll see a large white semi-truck with "EXPRESS" written in faded letters on the side. Climb up on top of it, and the Training Manual will be on the roof.
