Each character brings unique advantages worth mastering for survival. Abby excels at close combat, healing from melee and stealth kills so stay aggressive when possible. Joel lacks dodge but crushes with his custom revolver, use cover and craft shivs constantly. Ellie's versatility shines through molotov crafting and flexible upgrades, definitely worth exploring different builds

For specialized roles check out jesse who earns extra currency early on perfect for powering up with silenced weapons. Manny's strong firearm game makes up for no health kit crafting, while lev thrives in stealth but adapt when combat's unavoidable

Tip: dump upgrades early to amplify what makes each character special. Resource management changes per character like saving health supplies with manny or maximizing jesse's early money bonus. Match your approach to their strengths instead of forcing a playstyle that doesn't fit and you'll see better results especially in later rounds when things get intense. Keep an eye on specific traits during character select, since knowing limitations helps plan your run strategy

Stay flexible with builds but lean into core advantages - aggressive with abby, methodical with joel, opportunistic with ellie. The more you work with their natural strengths, the smoother those challenging encounters become