How to Get Complete Notes and Artifacts in The Last of Us Part II Remastered

Tracking Every Collectible in a No Damage Run

When you set out to conquer The Last of Us Part II Remastered on grounded+ difficulty with a no damage run, every decision matters. You cannot afford to take a single hit from an infected or a human enemy, and you still need to gather all collectibles along the way. That means you are balancing survival instincts with a historian's patience. The game world is dense with story fragments, training manuals, coins, trading cards, and workbench upgrades. To get them all without dying, you need a reliable system for tracking your progress. That is where the idea of complete notes and artifacts becomes essential. You are not just fighting for Ellie and Abby; you are documenting their entire journey through Jackson, Seattle, and Santa Barbara.

I have spent dozens of hours on this exact challenge. The 4K ultra gameplay walkthrough I studied showed me that even a single misstep on grounded+ can send you back to the last checkpoint, which might cost you an artifact you already picked up. The key is to treat each chapter as a self-contained scavenger hunt. Before you engage any enemy, scan the environment for glinting objects or interactable prompts. This becomes second nature after a while, but it takes discipline to maintain that awareness during a firefight. The payoff is huge: you unlock concept art, character models, and deeper lore about the Seraphites, the WLF, and the Rattlers.

Why Chronological Mode Changes Your Approach

One of the smartest features in the remaster is chronological mode. Instead of jumping between Ellie's and Abby's stories in the original order, the game presents events in the order they happen in the timeline. For a completionist run, this is a gift. You can follow a single character's arc without switching contexts, which makes it easier to remember which area you have already cleared. I found that when I played in chronological mode, my mental map of Seattle became much clearer. I knew exactly which buildings I had searched and which streets still held a collectible I needed.

This mode also helps you plan your upgrade bench visits. Since you see all of Ellie's chapters first, you can focus on her skill tree early. Then, when you switch to Abby, you already know what maximum upgrades look like for her loadout. The same applies to artifacts. Some of the most interesting notes are found in the WLF headquarters and the Seraphite territory. If you are not paying attention, you might miss a note that explains why the Seraphites broke away from the WLF or how the Rattlers formed in Santa Barbara. Chronological mode keeps those revelations in order, so the story feels coherent even when you are playing on grounded+ difficulty without taking damage.

The Art of the No Damage Run with All Collectibles

Combining a no damage run with all collectibles sounds impossible at first. I have tried it enough times to know that the hardest part is not the combat; it is the environmental hazards. A single trip over a ledge or a misplaced dodge into a spore cloud counts as damage. You have to move slowly through infected areas, listening for the telltale click of a Runner or the hiss of a Shambler. When you are also watching for a note tucked behind a desk or an artifact on a high shelf, the challenge multiplies. The trick is to clear the room of threats first, then sweep for items. Even on grounded+, enemies have patrol patterns you can exploit. Wait for them to turn their backs, then grab what you need and retreat.

I have learned to keep a mental checklist for each chapter. For example, in the downtown Seattle section, there are several notes from the WLF soldiers that describe their morale and tactics. One of them mentions a hidden cache of supplies near the courthouse. If you miss that note, you never find the cache, and you lose out on valuable ammo and crafting materials. That is why complete notes and artifacts are not just for lore completionists; they actually help you survive. The game rewards exploration with practical resources. On grounded+, every bullet counts, and every health kit is precious. The more you find, the better your chances of finishing the run without a scratch.

Using the Upgrade Bench Strategically

Maximum upgrades are not handed to you. You need to find training manuals and parts scattered across the world. The upgrade bench is where you put them to use. In my experience, the best order is to prioritize holster capacity and weapon stability first, because those help you aim faster and switch weapons without fumbling. After that, focus on the skill tree abilities that let you dodge or counter more effectively. For Abby, her tree includes a powerful charge attack that can stagger enemies, which is a lifesaver on grounded+. But none of that matters if you skip the notes that point you to the manuals. The connection between exploration and power is direct. That is why I always tell people to treat every chapter like a puzzle. The artifacts and notes are clues to the best upgrades.

Practical Tips for the Collectible Hunt

• Use the in-game chapter select to track your progress. The game tells you how many items you have found per chapter, so you can go back and fill in gaps without replaying the whole story.
• Listen for ambient sounds. Some artifacts are hidden behind breakable walls or in rooms that only open after you solve a small environmental puzzle. The sound of creaking wood or running water often points the way.
• Check every desk and shelf in the Seraphite compound. Their headquarters is packed with notes that explain their ideology and why they oppose the WLF. Missing even one means an incomplete lore entry.
• In Santa Barbara, the Rattlers' territory is full of personal journals. These entries give you insight into how the group formed after the outbreak. They also contain hints about safe paths through the area.
• Do not rush the Jackson prologue. The house where Ellie grew up has several notes and a coin that are easy to overlook. Take your time. This is the foundation of her story, and the artifacts here set the emotional tone for the entire game.

The Emotional Weight of Every Note

Naughty Dog has always been good at environmental storytelling, but The Last of Us Part II Remastered takes it further. Every note you find is written by someone who lived through the outbreak. Some are hopeful, others are desperate. When you read a letter from a mother in Seattle telling her children where to find food, or a WLF soldier's diary entry about losing a friend, you feel the weight of the world. The artifacts are not just collectibles; they are memorials. That is why I push for complete notes and artifacts in every playthrough. You owe it to the characters to hear their voices, even the ones who never appear on screen.

The grounded+ difficulty forces you to respect every encounter. When you are also hunting for every piece of paper and every trinket, you slow down. You notice the details in the environment that you might otherwise sprint past. You see the graffiti that the Rattlers left on the walls, or the family photos that the Seraphites saved. These moments turn a survival game into a meditation on loss and resilience. I have completed this run three times now, and each time I find something new. A note I missed, an artifact I walked past, a trading card I thought I had already collected. The game has layers, and the only way to see them all is to be methodical.

Final Thoughts on the Walkthrough Experience

If you are attempting a 4K ultra gameplay walkthrough with no damage and all collectibles, you are in for a challenge that tests both your reflexes and your patience. But the reward is a deeper understanding of the story and a sense of mastery over one of the most demanding games ever made. The combination of grounded+ difficulty and the need to find everything forces you to develop new strategies. You learn to use the environment as cover, to read enemy patterns, and to prioritize which upgrades matter most. And through it all, the notes and artifacts you collect tell a story that the main campaign only hints at. That is the real treasure. Not the trophies or the completion percentage, but the empathy you build for the people who lived and died in this world.

So take your time. Use chronological mode to keep the timeline straight. Visit every upgrade bench you can find. And never skip a note because you are in a hurry. The complete notes and artifacts are the soul of the game. Treat them with the same care you give to every dodge and every headshot. That is how you finish a no damage run with your head held high and your collection full.