Over the course of The Last of Us Part 1, players will accumulate various types of weapons, ranging from firearms to throwable items, which will help in different scenarios. But, as Joel and Ellie draw closer to their goal, the obstacles they face become more challenging, and their starting gear may not be as useful as it once was. This is where workbenches come into play.
Workbenches are an important mechanic as they allow players to upgrade their guns using parts that they have collected. Weapon upgrades are key to ensuring survival, and the higher tier upgrades will require them to find the relevant Tools. There are a total of 11 workbenches for players to find in The Last of Us Part 1, with some chapters having more than one, and tracking down each of them will award players with a trophy.
The Outskirts
As Joel, Ellie and Tess make their way through the downtown area, they will be chased by a group of runners and must take refuge in a nearby garage. After scrambling through, players will find themselves in a loading bay with a truck parked inside. As it turns out, this is the basement area of a museum, and players can find a workbench on the left at the far end of this room.
Bill's Town
In the next section, players will reach Bill's Town and meet the eponymous BillL: a distrustful but resourceful survivor. He will aid Joel and Ellie in their search of a car, and will lead players through the town to various locations, bypassing and dispatching Infected that obstruct the way. Players will be able to collect resources and obtain new weapons as they travel, but, most importantly, the next workbench will become available in the basement of the church where Bill has set up a safe house.
Pittsburgh
Workbench 1
At the beginning of the chapter, players will have a chance to take out a group of Hunters before proceeding into a garage where Ellie and Joel work together to get themselves in. Inside, there are bodies of previous victims of the Hunters and a set of stairs that must be taken to progress. Before proceeding through a door to the left upstairs, however, players can loot resources in the sleeping quarters to the right and the room directly opposite the stairs has a workbench inside.
Workbench 2
During this section, players will become separated from Ellie and Joel must find a means to escape the Infected that have congregated in the hotel basement by bringing power back to a locked door. After finding their way out, players must ascend a stairwell and there will be two open doors opposite them as they reach the next floor up. The open door to the player’s left is where they can find the next workbench.
Workbench 3
After Ellie wedges a laundry cart under the garage door so that Joel can pass, players can use the same cart to prop against the wall with the yellow cordoning tape. It will then be possible to vault over a set of shelves that have fallen to find another workbench directly to the right to further upgrade weapons.
The Suburbs
After escaping from the sewers with Henry and Sam, players need to keep an eye out for an open garage with a basketball hoop affixed to the top to find the next workbench. This garage is located on the second street in the Suburbs, just before the abandoned ice cream truck that Ellie and Sam discuss with their older companions.
Tommy's Dam
After petting Buckley outside the control room, players should follow Tommy inside to begin the turbine test. The workbench can be found in an area to the left of the main area in the control room, and it is recommended that players complete any desired upgrades at the workbench before speaking to Tommy again as it becomes inaccessible after progressing the story.
The University
Workbench 1
This first workbench can be found in the same room in which Joel can first obtain the flamethrower, meaning that players can immediately begin to upgrade it to deal extra damage to an already devastating weapon. There is an open loading dock that players can enter, with a yellow forklift parked inside, and the workbench on the left side of the room.
Workbench 2
After climbing into the science building through the large opening in the wall, players can immediately head to their left to an open door. Once through this doorway, there will be a workbench to the right.
Bus Depot
Workbench 1
Behind a rusted FEDRA container, players can find a single medical triage tent with a workbench inside.
Workbench 2
Players will be momentarily blocked from progressing past a metal gate, but Ellie will be able to get around and open the door for Joel. In this room, players can go up a short set of stairs and the final workbench will be over to their right.
Finding and interacting with each of the available workbenches in The Last of Us Part 1 will reward players with the trophy “Prepared for the Worst,” getting themselves one step closer to a platinum.
The Last of Us Part 1 is available on PlayStation 5 and a PC version is in development.