Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh is the fifth chapter where Joel and Ellie encounter bandits and enter a quarantine zone. The chapter includes a highway ambush, checkpoint, flooded streets, hotel, financial district, and meeting survivors Henry and Sam. Complete all areas to reach the bridge and escape via water.

How to Survive the Pittsburgh Ambush?

Bandits create a roadblock trap on the highway and force a crash into a store. Fight 2 enemies in melee combat, then defend against armed attackers outside.

Store crash collectibles:

Item	Location	Notes
Hose (28)	Backpack	Check bag after crash
Ingredients, Ammo	Inside store and adjacent building	Multiple locations

Garage access:

1. Go to corner gates on street.
2. Lift gates and crawl into garage.
3. Talk to Ellie inside garage (conversation 14).

Garage collectibles:

Item	Location	Floor
Tool box (2), Smoke bomb, Supply list (29)	Inside garage	Ground floor
Training manual (2)	Right bedroom	Second floor (Med kits +33%)
Workbench (3)	Near bedroom	Second floor
City map (30)	Wall	Second floor

What Collectibles Are at the Highway Checkpoint?

The checkpoint area contains 5 bandits, a comic book, and a Firefly pendant hidden behind a cabinet. The bridge is visible in the distance beyond the checkpoint.

Highway approach:

Item	Location	Notes
Pills	Highway	Blue flowers
Comic (1)	Inside bus	Ground level
Body in car	Near bus	Triggers conversation (15)
Joke book moment	Stand in front of bus near gates	Ellie reads joke (1)

Checkpoint collectibles:

Item	Location	Details
Parts, Note (31)	Right counter	Behind checkpoint desk
Wall inscription	Right wall	Triggers conversation (16)
Poster (32)	Turn right after exiting gates	On wall
Firefly pendant (11)	Right dead end	Hidden behind fallen cabinet

Checkpoint combat: 5 bandits patrol the checkpoint area. Climb over bus to reach checkpoint building.

How to Navigate the Library Building?

The library contains multiple enemies but can be passed stealthily along the left wall or by running through quickly. Two bandits talk to each other outside—bypass them through the left building.

Library approach:

1. Go around 2 talking bandits using left building entrance.
2. Climb to second floor of library.
3. Choose stealth route along left wall OR run through quickly.

Post-combat collectibles:

Item	Location	Details
Joke moment	Right building, ground floor	Stand still, Ellie tells joke (2)
Note (33)	Right building	Under corner stairs
Note (34)	Kitchen table	Right building
Ingredients, City map (35)	Bathroom behind lockpick door (5)	Top of stairs

Exit: Jump down ladder from stairwell landing into next courtyard.

How to Cross the Flooded Streets?

The swamp area requires using a wooden pallet as a raft to transport Ellie. A lockpick door contains valuable supplies including 50 parts.

Swamp collectibles:

Item	Location	Details
Poster in store	Left rear area	Triggers conversation (17)
Joke moment	Same poster location	Wait 2 minutes, Ellie tells joke (3)
Lockpick door (6)	Left of bus stop with poster	Marked with red cross
Arrows, Ammo, Parts (50), Note (36), Pills (10)	Behind lockpick door	Inside room

Crossing sequence:

1. Swim forward and grab wooden pallet.
2. Carry pallet back to Ellie.
3. Use pallet as raft to transport Ellie.
4. Boost Ellie onto right bus.
5. Swim into left van yourself.

Flooded cafe:

Item	Location	Floor
Ingredients	Flooded cafe	Ground floor
Ingredients, Shiv, Pills (5), Note (37)	Separate section	Second floor via stairs

Exit: Meet Ellie on first floor and cross to adjacent building.

How to Complete the Hotel Section?

The hotel spans multiple floors with a safe (code 22-10-56), bandit encounters, spore-infected areas, and a basement generator puzzle. The hotel card key opens electronic doors.

Hotel lobby:

Item	Location	Notes
Coffee machine	Left corner	Triggers conversation (18)
Ladder	Left side	Carry forward to reach second floor
Note with password (38)	Upper right corner	Past floor gap

Safe location:

1. Go right downstairs behind counters.
2. Collect pills (5).
3. Open safe (3) with code 22-10-56.
4. Take ammo, parts (50), training manual (3) (improved knives).
5. Return upstairs—Ellie tells joke (4) if password was found.

Upper floor enemies:

Floor	Enemy Count	Location
Roof/adjacent building	2 bandits	After crossing rooftop
Corridor	1 bandit	Past adjacent building
Third floor	1 bandit corridor, 3 in rooms	Throughout floor

Third floor collectibles:

Item	Location	Notes
Pills (5)	Bathroom with two bodies	Triggers conversation (19)
Parts (5)	Room with floor gap	Inside room
Ladder	Third floor	Find to access fourth floor

Fourth floor and basement sequence:

1. Enter elevator on fourth floor.
2. Jump down into shaft.
3. Boost Ellie to next floor.
4. Fall into water (Joel only).
5. Collect ingredients from shelves in flooded basement.
6. Dive from stairwell landing into adjacent room.
7. Dive again to reach spore area.

Spore zone:

Item	Location	Notes
Pills (10)	Laundry upper shelf	One floor up from spores
Hotel keycard (39)	Room with screens	On desk

Generator puzzle:

1. Try to open door with keycard (no power).
2. Follow red and yellow wires.
3. Descend into water.
4. Start generator.
5. Run to doors (3 monsters spawn on path).

Post-generator floor:

Item	Location	Notes
Ingredients, Parts	Stairwell landing floor	After unlocking doors
Workbench (4)	Same floor	Available for use
Parts (10)	Adjacent room	On shelving

How to Escape the Hotel Kitchen?

The kitchen has bandits fighting infected. Ellie saves Joel from a choking bandit after reaching the second-floor balcony.

Kitchen combat:

1. Watch bandits kill one infected.
2. Silently kill 2 enemies.
3. Kill 2 more bandits in cafe hall.
4. Pick up ladder in dead end.
5. Place ladder against second-floor balcony.
6. Climb ladder—bandit attacks and chokes Joel.
7. Ellie shoots attacker, saving Joel.

Second floor escape route:

Item	Location	Notes
Wall inscription	Top of stairs	Read message
Parts, Comic (2)	Desk ahead	Past floor gap along right wall
Shiv	Bathroom	Ground level
Firefly pendant (12)	Corner stall	Bathroom
Training manual (4)	Dark corridor desk	Melee weapon upgrade

Restaurant exit:

1. Climb over table in dark corridor.
2. Enter restaurant.
3. Examine painting in right corner (conversation 20).
4. Push piano on stage toward front wall.
5. Climb piano to reach end of balcony.
6. Collect parts at balcony end.

How to Clear the Financial District?

The Financial District contains a sniper encounter where Ellie provides rifle cover from a balcony. Give Ellie the rifle, then eliminate enemies below while she snipes from above.

Sniper strategy:

1. See enemy group from balcony.
2. Give Ellie the rifle.
3. Leave Ellie on balcony for covering fire.
4. Descend and silently kill first enemy at car.
5. Enter left building, kill second enemy.
6. Shoot enemy sniper on right from alley.
7. Return to street near cars so Ellie can assist during firefight.

After clearing enemies:

Action	Details
Ellie descends	Give Ellie pistol to replace rifle
Hanging body	Examine person on tree (conversation 21)

Building collectibles:

Item	Location	Floor
Parts	Left building armchairs	Ground floor
Note (40)	Right building dark room floor	Ground floor
Ingredients	Right building	Second floor

Garage area:

1. Open garage door ahead.
2. Pull cart from under gate.
3. Roll cart to window.
4. Collect pills (5) and use workbench (5) in workshop.
5. Watch bandits execute fleeing people on street.
6. Go upstairs via ladder.
7. Kill 2 bandits on upper floor.
8. Enter bank office far right corner for note (41).
9. Descend to street through floor gap.

What Enemies Are in the Supply District?

The supply district contains multiple bandit groups, a tripwire trap, and an armored vehicle with a mounted gun. Avoid the vehicle by staying inside buildings.

Right building ahead:

Area	Enemies	Notes
Inside building	3 bandits	Stealth kill
Outside	4 bandits	Some may rush inside

Supply district collectibles:

Item	Location	Details
Tripwire	Left building near bookshelf	Avoid trap
Note (42)	Liberty building stairs	Floor with collapse, on desk
Note (43)	Supply agency building corner	On desk
Lockpick door (7)	Next to agency	Opens with shiv
Graffiti spot	Street	Talk to Ellie (informal, doesn’t count)

Courtyard access:

1. Boost Ellie onto fire escape at graffiti area.
2. Enter next courtyard.
3. Examine school sign on right (conversation 22).
4. Examine large poster on left (conversation 23).

Alley and street combat:

Location	Enemies	Strategy
Left alley building	2 talking bandits	Silently eliminate
Further alley	1 bandit	Kill quietly
Wide street	Armored vehicle with gun	Hide in buildings
Right building	1 bandit	Cross street, kill inside
Fenced alley behind building	3 bandits	Eliminate all

Final building escape:

1. Enter last building after alley.
2. Climb fire escape to upper level.
3. Collect pills (5) inside apartment.
4. Exit through window.
5. Walk along ledge to far window.

How to Meet Henry and Sam?

Henry and Sam are survivors—a father and son who also seek the Fireflies. Access their hideout through a toy store, then wait until night to pass the enemy blockade.

Hideout collectibles:

Item	Location	Notes
Parts, Training manual (5)	Kitchen	Molotov cocktail upgrade
Ammo, Parts (25), Pills (10), Comic (3)	Lockpick door (8)	Stairwell landing, opens with shiv

Toy store and hideout:

1. Descend to toy store.
2. Kill 2 bandits in back courtyard.
3. Climb left truck.
4. Kill 2 more enemies that rush out above.
5. Go to far bathroom in building for Firefly pendant (13).
6. Enter hideout—note (44) in right room corner.
7. Collect pills (5) from front table.
8. Learn Henry’s family also seeks Fireflies.
9. Wait until night to cross enemy blockade.

How to Pass the Night Blockade?

The night blockade requires stealth or combat to reach the gates. Disabling the generator without killing anyone unlocks an achievement.

Night approach:

1. Descend to street at night.
2. Kill 2 enemies at burning barrel on lower floor (back attacks).
3. Watch checkpoint guards shoot a clicker.
4. Hide behind cars.
5. Approach from left side.

Generator strategy:

Achievement Route	Combat Route
Turn off generator under spotlight without killing anyone	Shoot spotlight, kill 3 guards, then turn off generator

Courtyard and escape:

1. Enter gates after generator is off.
2. Kill 1 enemy above in courtyard.
3. Boost allies onto truck (Henry and Sam escape).
4. Open right garage doors with Ellie.
5. Hide from armored vehicle inside garage.
6. Silently kill 4 enemies in bar.
7. Push cart in round room to exit through doors.
8. Run from armored vehicle on highway.
9. Reach broken bridge edge.
10. Jump into water to escape.