Finding every hidden item in Naughty Dog's post-apocalyptic masterpiece requires a methodical approach because chapters span massive open areas like Downtown Seattle alongside linear corridors. This guide covers the exact search intent for finding all items, breaking down the four core collectible types: Artifacts, Trading Cards, Journal Entries, and Coins, while bypassing the guesswork that traps players in empty rooms.
Tracking down every single collectible unlocks prestigious trophies like Archivist, Sightseer, and Numismatist. Because progress carries over through Chapter Select if you use manual saves correctly, you don't need to restart the entire game if you miss a single note or coin on your first run.
Understanding Collectible Types in Part 2
Before exploring specific maps, it's essential to understand what you're looking for and how the game tracks them. Unlike the first game, Part 2 introduces distinct categories tied to specific characters. Ellie hunts down trading cards and writes journal entries, while Abby collects historical coins. Both characters pick up artifacts.
Artifacts include letters, notes, maps, flyers, and pamphlets. Reading or picking them up adds them to your journal and inventory. Trading cards feature fictional comic book heroes and villains, usually tucked away in corners, under benches, or inside glove compartments. Journal entries require Ellie to interact with specific world details, and coins are scattered across Seattle streets for Abby to pocket. Experts at Bloomberg have shared their thoughts on this matter.
Chapter-by-Chapter Search Strategies
Jackson and Seattle Day 1 (Ellie)
Jackson serves as a quiet tutorial area before dumping you into Seattle Day 1, which features the game's first major open-world hub: Downtown Seattle.
- The Gate: Right after entering Seattle through the overgrown highway gates, check the trailer offices and guard posts for early artifacts and gate codes.
- Downtown Seattle: This area features dozens of abandoned storefronts, the Westlake Bank, and the courthouse. Don't rush to the main objective. Check the bank vault for the antique ring, explore the music shop for trading cards, and thoroughly loot the courthouse basement.
- Capitol Hill and Beyond: Look out for tripped wire traps and tripmines. Check every motel room through open windows and inspect the thrift store backroom for safes and combination notes.
Seattle Day 2 and Day 3 (Ellie)
As tension ramps up, environments become tighter, but optional exploration remains rewarded with crucial upgrade items and lore.
- Hillcrest: Navigating Hillcrest means dealing with heavy WLF patrols and infected runners. Clear out buildings like the tattoo parlor and the auto repair shop to find hidden notes and workbench locations.
- The Seraphites: Pay close attention to environmental storytelling. Approaching major religious murals and abandoned apartment complexes triggers vital journal entries and artifact pickups.
- The Flooded City: While piloting the motorboat, look for side doors, dark tunnels, and broken upper levels of partially submerged buildings to secure missed trading cards.
Seattle Day 1 to Day 3 (Abby)
Switching perspectives to Abby introduces a fresh set of collectibles, notably coins, which require sharp eyes on park benches, ticket booths, and store counters.
- On Foot and The Stadium: Before leaving the stadium, check lockers and benches thoroughly.
- Hostile Territory: This dense Chinatown section hides artifacts inside souvenir shops and alleyway shrines. Hug the left and right walls of open alleys to avoid missing side rooms.
- The Forest and The Coast: Inspect stranded shipwrecks, ferry hulls, and abandoned logging camps. Abby's coin collection heavily populates ticket counters and bus stop benches in these segments.
Essential Tips for 100 Percent Completion
Maximizing your completion percentage requires utilizing menu settings and tracking tools effectively.
- Check Chapter Select: The main menu shows your exact collectible status for every sub-chapter once you've completed the story. You can replay any section to mop up missing items without losing your overall progress.
- Turn on Navigation Aids: Access the accessibility settings to enable enhanced listening mode scans. This highlights items through walls and surfaces, drastically cutting down search time.
- Read Every Note Completely: Picking up an artifact isn't always enough; opening your inventory to read complex maps or notes can be the trigger that unlocks a subsequent safe code or puzzle solution.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to collect everything in a single playthrough?
No. Once you finish the story, you can use Chapter Select at any time to grab missing items. As long as you reach a checkpoint after picking up the collectible, it saves permanently to your profile statistics.
Can I track which specific collectibles I am missing?
Yes. The Chapter Select menu explicitly details how many artifacts, trading cards, journal entries, and coins you've found in each specific subsection of the game.
Do custom difficulty settings disable collectible tracking?
No. You can change combat, traversal, and stealth difficulties at any point during your playthrough without locking out trophies or collectible tracking.
Where can I check official game updates and community discussions?
For patch notes, accessibility updates, and official developer announcements, check the Naughty Dog Official Site or browse discussions on the PlayStation Community Hub.
