How to unlock Bill and Marlene in The Last of Us Part 2

The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered introduces an exciting new roguelike survival mode called No Return, where players face randomized encounters and challenges. Among the biggest surprises are the additions of Bill and Marlene as playable characters—two fan-favorite figures from the franchise who didn’t appear in Part II’s main story.
Naughty Dog has listened to fans, bringing back these beloved characters with unique abilities and playstyles. However, unlocking them requires completing specific challenges. This guide covers everything you need to know about how to unlock Bill and Marlene, their strengths, weaknesses, and additional rewards tied to them.

How to Unlock Marlene in No Return

Marlene, the former leader of the Fireflies, makes her playable debut in No Return. To unlock her, you must:

Step 1: Complete Five Gambits

• Gambits are optional side objectives that appear at the start of each run.
• These challenges vary from stealth-based tasks (e.g., "Kill all enemies undetected") to combat-focused ones (e.g., "Defeat enemies with melee attacks only").
• Some gambits are high-risk, high-reward, such as "Complete a run without taking damage."

Tips for Completing Gambits Efficiently:

✅ Use Custom Runs – Adjust the difficulty to Very Light to make gambits easier.
✅ Quitting Doesn’t Reset Progress – Even if you fail or exit mid-run, completed gambits still count.
✅ Focus on Easier Gambits – Prioritize simple tasks like "Drop X items at a dead drop" or stealth kills.Once you complete five gambits (across any number of runs), Marlene will be permanently unlocked.

Marlene’s Abilities & Playstyle

Marlene is an aggressive, high-risk/high-reward character with the following traits:🔫 Custom Assault Rifle – A powerful but hard-to-control weapon from The Last of Us Part I.
🔄 One-Time Path Reroute – Allows you to change your next encounter once per run.
🎲 All or Nothing Gambits – Gambits provide greater rewards but are mandatory (you can’t skip them).
📈 Calculated Upgrade Branch – Her skill tree is optimized for tactical play.

.Best Strategies for Marlene:

• Control recoil by firing in short bursts.
• Use cover effectively—her assault rifle excels at mid-range combat.
• Plan around gambits since you can’t ignore them.

How to Unlock Bill in No Return

Bill, the paranoid smuggler from The Last of Us Part I, returns as a playable character. Unlike Marlene, his unlock method revolves around dead drops.

Step 1: Deposit Three Requested Items at Dead Drops

• Dead drops are blue mailboxes scattered throughout certain levels.
• You can locate them using Listen Mode (R1).
• They only appear in Assault and Hunted encounters.

Tips for Finding Dead Drops:

✅ Check corners and hidden areas – Dead drops are often tucked away.
✅ Craft requested items in advance – If a dead drop asks for a Molotov or health kit, be prepared.
✅ Play multiple runs – You don’t need to deposit all three items in one attempt.

After successfully delivering three items, Bill joins your roster.

Bill’s Abilities & Playstyle

Bill is a survivalist with tools perfect for lone wolves:

🔪 Machete as a Starting Weapon – A deadly melee option.
💣 Extra Crafting Materials – Starts with more resources for bombs and traps.
🔄 One-Time Escape – Can instantly flee from an encounter (once per run).
🔫 Pump Shotgun Proficiency – Deals extra damage with shotguns.

Best Strategies for Bill:

• Use traps and explosives to control enemy movements.
• Save his escape ability for emergencies.
• Prioritize shotgun upgrades for maximum close-range damage.

Bonus Unlockables: Alternate Skins & Trophies

Once you’ve unlocked Bill and Marlene, you can earn alternate outfits by completing their challenges in a single run:

👗 Marlene’s Salt Lake City Outfit – Complete five gambits in one run.
🤠 Bill’s Western Outfit – Deposit three dead drop items in one run as Bill.

Additional Trophies Related to Bill & Marlene

🏆 "This Makes You All Nostalgic?" – Complete all Part I-related challenges (a reference to Bill’s town in the first game).
🏆 "Boom, Headshot!" – Kill a Bloater using Bill’s pump shotgun.
🏆 "Firefly Rampage" – Defeat 15 enemies in one encounter using Marlene’s assault rifle.

Final Tips for Unlocking Both Characters

• Lower the difficulty if you’re struggling.
• Dead drops only appear in Assault/Hunted—avoid other encounter types when farming for Bill.
• Gambits are random, so reset until you get easy ones.

With these strategies, you’ll add both Bill and Marlene to your roster in no time. Whether you prefer Marlene’s aggressiveassault rifle or Bill’s trap-heavy playstyle, both bring fresh tacticsto No Return.

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