In The Last of Us (2013), Ellie kills several characters across the main campaign and the Left Behind expansion, with each death tied to survival, self-defense, or narrative consequence rather than a broad kill count. The most narratively significant confirmed kills include a soldier who threatens her early in the game, an infected individual during tense stealth segments, and, most critically, Abby Anderson in the Left Behind expansion and its repercussions in Part II. This guide details which kills are canonical, the immediate context for each, and how these events shape Ellie’s character arc and the broader themes of violence and accountability.
Confirmed canonical kills by Ellie
Across the main story and Left Behind, the following kills are clearly shown as performed by Ellie and are treated as canonical within Naughty Dog’s authored narrative. Context, stakes, and narrative function are summarized below.
| Character | Kill context | Game/source | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soldier (Bill’s group / patrol) | Self-defense after ambush; Ellie is cornered and fires to survive | The Last of Us (main campaign) | Establishes lethal competence and trauma early in her arc |
| Runner (infected) | Stealth failure; Ellie kills an infected to protect Joel | The Last of Us (main campaign) | |
| Abby Anderson | Ellie kills Abby in Left Behind after Abby kills Joel; motivation is revenge, complicated by empathy | The Last of Us: Left Behind | Drives long-term trauma, guilt, and sets up broader consequences for Part II |
| Multiple human opponents | Combat encounters in Left Behind and Part II (not detailed one-by-one in this overview) | The Last of Us: Left Behind / The Last of Us Part II | Highlights moral cost and cyclical violence rather than a tally |
Left Behind context and the Abby kill
The Last of Us: Left Behind focuses on Ellie and Riley, culminating in a mission-driven arc where Ellie confronts Abby after Joel’s death. The canonical kill of Abby occurs in this expansion under emotionally charged circumstances, blending revenge with reluctant understanding. This moment echoes the game’s themes of loss and the heavy price of survival, and it directly motivates Ellie’s journey in The Last of Us Part II.
How these kills serve Ellie’s character arc
Ellie’s kills are framed less as empowerment and more as irreversible steps into a violent world. Each confirmed kill reinforces her loss of innocence, complicates her relationships, and ties directly to Joel’s protection and, later, to cycles of revenge. The narrative uses these moments to explore trauma, accountability, and the moral ambiguity of survival rather than glorifying violence.
The Last of Us Part II repercussions
Part II spends significant time on the fallout of Ellie’s decision to kill Abby. Her initial justification erodes as she encounters Abby’s humanity, leading to a more nuanced portrait of grief and responsibility. The game avoids simple moral binaries, instead presenting Ellie’s kills as part of an ongoing, painful reckoning.
Narrative themes: trauma, cost, and justification
The series consistently links Ellie’s kills to lasting psychological scars. Rather than presenting kills as victories, the games dwell on aftermath: survivor’s guilt, fractured trust, and the heavy cognitive load of living with lethal actions. This deliberate pacing reinforces that the story is about consequences, not count.
Combat design perspective
Gameplay framing matters here. Whether facing infected or human enemies, mechanics emphasize tension, resource management, and vulnerability. Ellie’s capacity to kill is a gameplay tool, but the writing and pacing ensure that each kill feels weighty and, in many cases, reluctant.