In The Last of Us Part II, Ellie does not kill Abby in a quick, decisive execution during their final scripted confrontation; the game presents multiple opportunities where Ellie could end Abby’s life but ultimately chooses not to in the primary outcomes. This relationship explainer breaks down their conflicted dynamic, the contextual triggers that escalate violence, and the narrative consequences, focusing on what the story explicitly shows rather than hypothetical or speedrun scenarios. Understanding these moments clarifies how the game frames accountability, trauma, and closure.
Ellie and Abby’s conflict in context
The story of The Last of Us Part II centers on cycles of revenge and the cost of vengeance, with Ellie pursuing Abby to avenge Joel’s death. Abby seeks redemption for her past as a soldier and later tries to protect a community. Their paths repeatedly intersect in hostile encounters across Seattle and Santa Barbara. Because the game emphasizes moral ambiguity, it avoids a simple hero-versus-villain framing, instead asking what closure looks like when both characters are wounded and justified in their motivations.
Playable encounters and outcomes
During key chapters, players control both characters and experience pivotal duels. In one high-stakes sequence on the pier, Ellie confronts Abby with the option to kill or spare her. In the default, narrative-canonical path, Ellie chooses not to kill Abby at that moment, leading to an abrupt separation and an unresolved tension. Later, in the hospital chapter, Ellie again overpowers Abby but does not execute her, signaling that completion and catharsis are not achieved through killing. These moments are designed to complicate the player’s expectation of satisfaction from violence.
Gameplay design and player choice
The game mechanics frame killing as a persistent option but not the intended resolution. Certain sections allow Ellie to overpower Abby in stealth or combat, yet the narrative only progresses on a predetermined arc regardless of combat results in these set pieces. This design emphasizes theme over agency at critical junctures: the story prioritizes the cycle of violence and its emotional toll over rewarding or punishing the player with a specific kill choice. Players may interpret quieter moments as implicit judgment against vengeance.
Alternate timelines and speculation
Hypothetical scenarios in speedruns or modded playthroughs sometimes depict Ellie killing Abby, but these outcomes are not part of the main story. Rumors that the game offers a ‘kill ending’ as an explicit canon conclusion are inconsistent with the released content. The canonical ending emphasizes ambiguity and emotional exhaustion, leaving Ellie’s relationship with Abby unresolved rather than conclusively settled by a single act of murder.
Character aftermath and thematic closure
Ellie’s journey after her pursuit of Abby focuses on isolation, trauma, and fractured identity rather than triumph. Abby’s fate shifts to survival and rebuilding, contrasting Ellie’s downward spiral. The game uses their relationship to explore how unfinished business and unresolved rage can perpetuate harm, suggesting that true closure may require relinquishing the desire for retribution rather than satisfying it. This framing remains central to the title’s status as a psychological drama.
Quick reference: narrative outcomes
| Context | Canonical outcome | Source basis |
|---|---|---|
| Pier chapter (main story) | Ellie does not kill Abby; tension remains unresolved | Game narrative and scripted sequences |
| Hospital chapter (main story) | Ellie overpowers Abby but does not execute her | Game narrative and scripted sequences |
| Hypothetical speedrun or mod scenarios | Variable, non-canonical outcomes | Community playthroughs, not official story |
| Thematic resolution | Cycle of violence continues; no clean catharsis | Developer interviews and narrative analysis |
Key takeaways
- Ellie does not canonically kill Abby in the main story of The Last of Us Part II.
- The game deliberately avoids a satisfying kill moment to emphasize ongoing trauma and moral complexity.
- Player actions in combat encounters do not alter the core narrative outcome regarding Abby’s fate.
- Speculative scenarios where Ellie kills Abby exist outside the intended story and are not treated as canonical.
- The conclusion underscores emotional exhaustion rather than closure, aligning with the game’s exploration of vengeance.
Frequently asked questions
Can I choose to kill Abby in the main campaign? In scripted set pieces, player actions are guided toward narrative beats rather than open-ended agency; the story does not provide a canonical kill option in decisive form. Is there an ending where Ellie spares Abby? Yes, the default narrative outcome is non-lethal in pivotal confrontations, with lingering tension. Does Abby die later in the story or in a sequel? Abby survives in the events shown; any claims of her death are not supported by the released game or official material.
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