Does Abby Kill Ellie? The Shocking Truth Behind The Last Of Us Part II's Controversial Ending

The question of whether Abby kills Ellie is one of the most persistent and emotionally charged debates surrounding Naughty Dog's masterpiece, The Last of Us Part II. As of the latest discussions in late 2025, fueled by the recent release of the Remastered edition and ongoing speculation about the HBO series adaptation, the definitive answer remains a powerful and controversial "no." The final, brutal confrontation between the two protagonists at the Santa Barbara coast does not end in the death of Ellie Williams, but rather in a moment of profound, painful, and widely debated mercy.

This article will dive deep into the events of the game’s climactic final act, explaining the true outcome of the *Ellie vs. Abby* showdown and analyzing the complex motivations that led to Ellie’s final, game-changing decision. Understanding this ending is crucial to grasping the game's central theme: the destructive and self-perpetuating nature of the cycle of revenge. The fate of both Ellie Williams and Abby Anderson is a testament to the high cost of obsession in a post-apocalyptic world.

The Final Confrontation: Santa Barbara and the Breaking Point

The entire narrative of *The Last of Us Part II* is built around the pursuit of revenge. Ellie’s journey is driven by her need to avenge the brutal death of Joel Miller at the hands of Abby. Conversely, Abby's initial actions were a direct act of revenge for the death of her own father, a Firefly surgeon, at Joel’s hands in the first game.

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The final showdown occurs months after the events in Seattle, where Abby had already spared Ellie and Dina in the theater, an act of mercy influenced by her growing bond with the young Seraphite boy, Lev.

The State of the Combatants

When Ellie tracks Abby to Santa Barbara, the conditions are drastically uneven, yet the fight is still intensely brutal:

• Abby’s Condition: Abby is severely weakened, malnourished, and tied to a post by the Rattlers (a slaver faction). She is a shadow of the muscular, formidable warrior Ellie fought in Seattle.
• Ellie’s Condition: Ellie is physically stronger than Abby at this point, but is psychologically ravaged by her obsession. She is driven by a singular, consuming need for closure, which has already cost her her life with Dina and their baby, J.J., back in Jackson.

Ellie frees Abby and Lev, but immediately forces Abby into a fight, threatening Lev's life to provoke a response. This is a crucial detail: Ellie doesn't find Abby strong and ready; she forces the fight upon a dying woman, highlighting the depth of her addiction to revenge.

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Ellie’s Ultimate Choice: Why She Spares Abby

The question, "Does Abby kill Ellie?" is often misphrased. The real dramatic tension lies in whether *Ellie* kills *Abby*. The answer is no, and the reason is the game’s core thematic resolution: the memory of Joel Miller.

During the brutal water-based fight, Ellie manages to overpower Abby, pinning her down and beginning to drown her. Just as she is about to deliver the killing blow—the final act of her two-year-long quest for vengeance—a flashback hits her.

This isn't a flashback to Joel's death, but to a moment of peace and reconciliation with him on the porch in Jackson, shortly before his murder. In that memory, Ellie is talking to Joel about the lie he told her at the end of the first game, and she tells him, "I don't think I can ever forgive you for that. But I would like to try."

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This memory is the key to her decision. It reminds her that forgiveness—or at least the attempt at it—is possible, even for the most unforgivable acts.

In that moment, Ellie realizes that killing Abby will not bring Joel back, nor will it heal the profound trauma and loss she has suffered. It would only complete the cycle of hate that has already destroyed her life with Dina and Tommy. She lets go of Abby, who is then free to leave with Lev, presumably to find the remaining Fireflies.

The Price of Mercy: Ellie’s Missing Fingers

While Abby does not kill Ellie, the confrontation is not without a physical toll on Ellie. During the struggle, Abby manages to bite off two of Ellie's fingers (her index and middle fingers) on her left hand.

This injury is significant because it directly impacts Ellie’s ability to play the guitar, a deep emotional connection she shared with Joel. In the game's final scene, Ellie is seen trying to play the guitar, but the missing fingers make it impossible. This permanent physical loss symbolizes the ultimate price of her revenge quest: even though she chose mercy, she lost the ability to fully connect with the memory of the man she was trying to avenge. Her trauma remains, physically manifested.

The True Ending: A Broken Cycle and an Uncertain Future

The ending of *The Last of Us Part II* is deliberately ambiguous and emotionally devastating, precisely because neither protagonist achieves a traditional victory. The answer to "Does Abby kill Ellie?" is a resounding negative, but the outcome for Ellie is far from a happy one.

The Fate of Abby and Lev

Abby and Lev escape on a small boat, heading toward the rumored location of the Fireflies. They are alive, having broken free from the WLF (Washington Liberation Front) and the cult-like Seraphites. Abby’s journey has been one of slow redemption, trading her quest for revenge for the protection of a surrogate child, mirroring Joel's own arc.

The Fate of Ellie

Ellie returns to the farmhouse, only to find it empty. Dina and J.J. are gone, having finally given up on her obsession. Ellie leaves the farmhouse, walking away with only her guitar. The final shot of the game is of her walking towards an uncertain future, having lost everything—her family, her home, and her ability to play the guitar—but having finally shed the burden of revenge.

The game's narrative asserts that the most destructive force in their world is not the Infected, but the human capacity for endless vengeance. By choosing to let Abby live, Ellie finally stops the cycle, but she pays a profound and irreversible personal cost. This is the core tragedy and brilliance of the game's controversial final act, ensuring that the question of *does abby kill ellie* is overshadowed by the deeper question of what killing her would have done to Ellie herself.

Key Entities and Characters in The Last of Us Part II

To fully appreciate the complex narrative of the game, it is essential to understand the key players and factions involved in the conflict:

• Ellie Williams: The main protagonist, driven by a quest to avenge Joel’s death.
• Abby Anderson: The secondary protagonist, whose own revenge quest leads to the conflict.
• Joel Miller: Ellie’s surrogate father, whose death sets the plot in motion.
• Dina: Ellie’s partner, who leaves her due to her consuming obsession.
• Lev: A young Seraphite boy who becomes Abby’s surrogate child, inspiring her mercy.
• Tommy: Joel’s brother and a leader in Jackson, who is also consumed by revenge.
• Jesse: A friend of Ellie and Dina, killed during the Seattle conflict.
• Owen & Mel: Members of Abby’s WLF group, killed by Ellie.
• Washington Liberation Front (WLF): A militaristic faction based in Seattle, also known as the "Wolves."
• Seraphites (Scars): A cult-like religious group and the WLF’s main enemy in Seattle.
• The Rattlers: A slaver faction operating in Santa Barbara who capture Abby and Lev.
• Fireflies: The militia group from the first game, which Abby and Lev seek to rejoin.