Collecting superhero trading cards in The Last of Us Part 2 is one of the most engaging side activities for players exploring Ellie's journey. Scattered throughout Jackson, Seattle, and Santa Barbara, these 48 unique collectibles provide fascinating world-building lore and offer insight into Ellie's personality. Finding every single card requires patience, thorough exploration, and a keen eye for subtle environmental details.

Starting the Search in Jackson and Early Chapters

Your collection journey begins early during the prologue chapters set around the settlement of Jackson. Cards like Seismicayla and Tesseracter can be found attached to bulletin boards or hidden in residential closets. Paying close attention to abandoned buildings before leaving the area ensures you do not miss these introductory collectibles.

As story events progress toward Seattle, the frequency and distribution of trading cards increase significantly. You will often find them tucked inside drawer sets, resting on nightstands, or lying beneath discarded trash. Setting up a systematic search pattern for every interior space is essential for tracking them all down.

Navigating the Dense Urban Areas of Seattle Day 1

Seattle Day 1 features the largest concentration of trading cards across its massive open-world neighborhood and underground tunnels. Areas like Downtown and Capitol Hill contain multiple cards hidden within motels, banks, and bookstores. Crawling under broken desks or breaking window glass allows players to access locked rooms holding rare cards like Doctor Stem and Rockafella.

Later in the day, exploring dark environments like the subway tunnels requires additional caution while searching for collectibles. Cards such as The Imp and Bastet are concealed inside overturned train cars and trash piles. Always clear nearby infected or hostile patrols before going prone to retrieve items from tight spaces.

Locating Hidden Cards in Seattle Day 2 and Beyond

In the residential neighborhoods of Hillcrest during Seattle Day 2, cards are frequently tucked inside suburban houses and garages. For example, the Reverb trading card is hidden underneath a bed on the top floor of a heavily guarded house. You can also inspect bicycle spokes and playhouse windows in backyards to discover additional items.

Continuing into late-game areas leads players through flooded streets, convention centers, and tropical coastal ruins. Searching near workbenches, inside office drawers, and behind stage curtains will yield the remaining collectibles. Collecting the final card, Sparkthug, near the end of Santa Barbara completes the full set and unlocks the Master Set trophy.

Pro Tips for Efficient Collection Tracking

To avoid missing cards during your initial playthrough, use the built-in chapter select menu to review missing collectibles by location. Enabling high-contrast mode in the accessibility settings can also help highlight pickup items in dark environments. Maintaining a detailed checklist ensures you cover every optional building without unnecessary backtracking.

Understanding the placement patterns of collectibles allows you to explore story chapters far more effectively. Always look for breakable glass, crawlspaces, and elevated ledges whenever you enter a new structure. With careful exploration and persistence, completing the entire trading card collection becomes a smooth and rewarding achievement.