The Last of Us 2 Strange Artifact: how to find the Precursor orb

(Image credit: Sony/Naughty Dog)

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On the hunt for the Last of Us 2's Strange Artifact? Then you've landed on the right page. The Strange Artifact is an easy collectible to miss, but finding the hidden Easter Egg unlocks the Relic of the Sages (bronze) PlayStation trophy - and gives you that warm, fuzzy feeling you get when you find a hidden item.

The Strange Artifact not only acts as a The Last of Us 2 collectible, it's also an Easter Egg. It's a Precursor orb, previously seen in Naughty Dog's Jax and Daxter series, where the item served as both a collectible and a type of currency. Pretty cool, huh?

If you missed this Easter Egg on your first playthrough, don't worry, you can always scoop it up (along with any other missed collectibles) through The Last of Us 2's New Game + mode, which allows you to replay the game with all of the upgrades you obtained in your first playthrough.

Where to find the Last of Us 2 Strange Artifact

You can pick up the Strange Artifact in the Hostile Territory chapter of The Last of Us 2 – Seattle Day 1 for Abby - which takes place after the aquarium flashback chapter. Early in the chapter, you should come across Seattle China Town, an alley lined with a bakery, bar and pharmacy (and dragon graffiti down the side of the buildings).

First things first: enter the Ruby Dragon bar, open the door inside and head up the staircase to the second floor. Crawl under a blockade and enter the next room, which should be occupied by some pesky Clickers. Kill the Clickers, then jump over the gap to the left of where you came in, to the building across the street.

The balcony you land on should have a staircase going up to the roof, but nearby is another room with a hole in the floor. Head into that room with the hole in the floow, but don't jump down. Instead, check out the table with the fan that's up against the wall – on that should be the Strange Artifact (AKA the Precursor orb).

Picking up the artifact should cause the Relic of the Sages trophy to pop. Simple as that.

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An award-winning games journalist, with seven years of experience in games journalism and a degree in journalism from City University, London, Vic brings experience from IGN, Eurogamer, The Telegraph, VG247, Dot Esports and more to the TechRadar table. You may have even heard her on the radio or speaking on a panel, as she’s previously appeared on BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio 5, BBC Radio Ulster and more. Not only is Vic passionate about games, but she's appeared on both panels and podcasts to discuss mental health awareness. Make sure to follow her on Twitter for more.