You're standing in a dark, damp hallway in Pittsburgh. Your heart is thumping because you just barely dodged a pair of Clickers, and you’ve only got half a blade and some old binding in your pocket. Then you see it. That wooden door with the prompt. It’s a shiv door, and it’s basically Naughty Dog asking you a very mean question: do you feel lucky?
Honestly, shiv doors in The Last of Us are the ultimate resource trap. You spend the whole game hoarding supplies like a squirrel preparing for a nuclear winter, and then the game dangles a locked room in front of you. Most of us just open them instinctively. But if you’re playing on Grounded or even Survivor, that shiv isn't just a key—it’s your life insurance policy.
What are Shiv Doors, anyway?
For the uninitiated (or those who haven't played since 2013), these are special locked doors scattered throughout the world of The Last of Us Part 1 and the original Remaster. You can’t kick them down. You can’t shoot the lock. You have to use a shiv to jemmy them open.
The catch? Using the shiv breaks it. Even if you've upgraded your "Shiv Master" skill to make them last longer in combat, opening a door consumes the entire tool. It’s a one-and-done deal.
Why Shiv Doors in The Last of Us are a massive gamble
Look, on Easy or Normal mode, you should open every single one. Don't even think about it. You’ll find enough scissors and tape to build a small army of shivs. But once you crank that difficulty up, the math starts to get really ugly.
In Grounded mode, resources are so scarce it’s actually painful. You might go two whole chapters without seeing a single piece of binding. If you waste a shiv on a door that only gives you two revolver bullets and a rag, you might have just screwed yourself for the next big stealth encounter.
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The Master of Unlocking Trophy
There are 13 shiv doors in the game. If you want that "Master of Unlocking" trophy, you have to hit all of them. The good news is that the game tracks this across playthroughs. If you missed the one in the Science Building on your first run, you can just snag it in New Game Plus or via Chapter Select. You don't have to get all 13 in a single continuous run, which is a huge relief because getting enough materials on Grounded to open every door is technically possible but incredibly stressful.
Every Shiv Door Location (and what's actually inside)
Let's get into the nitty-gritty. I'm not going to give you a boring list; I’m going to tell you which ones are worth your precious tape and which ones are total bait.
1. The Outskirts (Downtown)
Early on, after the first real Clicker encounter, you’ll find a white door in a hallway.
- The Verdict: It's "meh." You get some parts and supplements (pills), but on higher difficulties, it’s mostly a wash. If you’re low on health, skip it.
2. The Outskirts (Museum)
After you get separated from Tess and Ellie, you’ll find this one in the kitchen area.
- The Verdict: Essential. This room is usually loaded with ammo and crafting supplies. It’s one of the few doors that feels like a genuine win.
3. & 4. Bill’s Town
Bill’s Town has two. One is behind the building where you see the Clicker get blown up by a tripwire. The second is after the fence-jump near the ambulance.
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- The Verdict: The first one is solid because it has rifle ammo. The second one? Kinda trash. It’s often just a few parts and maybe some alcohol.
5. through 8. Pittsburgh (The Long Haul)
Pittsburgh is the "Shiv Door Capital." There are four here.
- Kingston Bookstore: On the second floor. It has a map (artifact) and some supplies.
- The Red X Taxi: Right after the ambush, there's a door marked with a red X. DO THIS ONE. It’s one of the best loot drops in the game.
- Financial District: Inside the "Credit Union." Lots of parts here.
- Escape the City: In the apartment where you meet Sam and Henry. It has a comic book, which is great if you’re a completionist.
9. Tommy’s Dam
Right at the start, near the valve you have to turn.
- The Verdict: Open it. You’re about to get into a big shootout, and the ammo inside is usually exactly what you need.
10. The University (Science Building)
At the end of a long hallway on the upper floor.
- The Verdict: DO NOT SKIP. This is arguably the most important door in the game. It contains Tools Level 4 and a Training Manual for Molotovs. If you skip this, you’re literally making the rest of the game harder for yourself.
11. Lakeside Resort (The Cabin)
As Joel, in the snowy town. It’s in a shed behind the motel.
- The Verdict: High value. It has a Smoke Bomb Training Manual. If you like using smoke to bypass groups of enemies, this is a must-have.
12. Bus Depot (Tunnel)
Before you head into the final tunnel, Ellie opens a gate for you. The door is right there.
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- The Verdict: It’s okay. Mostly parts and an arrow. If you’re full on upgrades, you can pass.
13. The Firefly Lab (Hospital)
The final door. It’s on the second floor, tucked behind a desk near the surgeon's recorder.
- The Verdict: Do it for the trophy. At this point, you’re minutes away from the credits, so there’s no reason to save your supplies.
Strategy: The Grounded Mode Nightmare
If you’re crazy enough to play on Grounded, you need to know about the "Shiv Glitch."
Basically, in the original and Remastered versions, if you find a modded melee weapon (like a pipe with scissors on it), you can swap it with another melee weapon on the ground. Doing this repeatedly used to reset your crafting materials, essentially giving you infinite shiv components. Naughty Dog patched a lot of this in the Part 1 Remake, but the resource management remains the same.
On Grounded, you often have to choose between a Nail Bomb and a Shiv Door.
Most pros will tell you to skip the first door in the Outskirts. Why? Because you need those blades for a Nail Bomb to handle the High School section in Bill's Town.
Is it ever worth using a shiv on a Clicker?
Unless you are about to die and it's your only way out—no.
A brick is free. A bottle is free. Sneaking is free. A shiv costs half a pair of scissors and a roll of tape that could have opened a door containing 50 weapon parts. The math just doesn't add up. Use the "Brick Smash" (hit them three times with a brick) instead of wasting a shiv.
Actionable Tips for your next run
If you want to maximize your efficiency with shiv doors, keep these three things in mind:
- Prioritize the University: Save a shiv specifically for Chapter 8. The Tool Level 4 upgrade is a game-changer for your weapons.
- Check your Supplements: If you’ve upgraded Joel’s crafting speed, it doesn't help with shiv durability. You want the "Shiv Master" upgrade ONLY if you plan on using them for defense. If you’re just opening doors, save those pills for Maximum Health or Weapon Sway.
- The "One-Shiv" Rule: Always try to keep at least one full shiv in your inventory. You never know when you’ll stumble onto a door, and backtracking is usually impossible once you drop down into a new area.
Your next move: Go check your "Collectibles" menu in the pause screen. It’ll tell you exactly how many shiv doors you’ve opened in your current save. If you’re at 12/13, you’re probably missing the one in the Lakeside Resort shed or the Pittsburgh Bookstore. Go get that Platinum.