EN MAR 19, 2026 •
6 min read

Comprehensive Character Guide for No Return (The Last of Us Part II Roguelike Mode)

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Quick Summary

While the game 'NO ENTRY' is a bouncer simulator without traditional playable characters, searches for 'NO ENTRY best characters' frequently lead to discussions about 'No Return,' a roguelike survival mode in The Last of Us Part II. This guide focuses on the best characters in 'No Return,' highlighting Jesse as a top-tier choice due to his resourcefulness, with Abby, Ellie, and Lev offering strong alternative playstyles. Joel, Bill, and Yara are generally considered less optimal due to their limitations.

◈ Navigation Index ▼
  • 01 Clarification: 'NO ENTRY' vs. 'No Return'
  • 02 Understanding Character Tiers in No Return
  • 03 Top-Tier Characters
  • 04 Strong Contenders
  • 05 Situational / Lower-Tier Characters
  • 06 General Strategy Tips

Clarification: 'NO ENTRY' vs. 'No Return'

It's important to clarify that the game literally titled "NO ENTRY" is a recently released (February 2026) bouncer simulator where players manage a club's entry, judging guests based on various criteria while handling the bouncer's stress, energy, and health. This game does not feature a roster of playable characters with distinct abilities or a "best characters" system in the traditional sense that would warrant a guide on builds or tier lists.

However, web searches for "NO ENTRY best characters" frequently lead to discussions and tier lists for "No Return," a roguelike survival mode within The Last of Us Part II. This guide will focus on the characters and strategies for No Return, as it aligns with the common intent behind such a search query.

Understanding Character Tiers in No Return

In No Return, each playable character offers a unique starting loadout, skill tree, and inherent advantages or disadvantages that cater to different playstyles and challenges. Character effectiveness can vary based on individual player skill and preferred strategies, but general consensus often highlights certain characters for their consistent performance and versatility across difficulties, including the challenging Grounded mode.

Top-Tier Characters

Jesse

Jesse is widely regarded as the "best character" and is often considered "meta" in No Return.
  • Strengths:
    • * Silenced Pistol: Starts with a silenced pistol, allowing for two silent shots in the very first encounter. * Resource Management: His upgrade branch provides four uses of the silenced pistol, a 50% expanded bomb radius, and the ability to craft three pipe bombs at a time (holding six instead of four). * Economy: Jesse gains 30% more currency and has infinite rerolls in the locker, making him a powerhouse for acquiring desired weapons and items like shotguns and abundant pipe bombs.
  • Strategy: Jesse's strong economy and access to powerful crafting options allow players to adapt to various encounters and maintain a steady supply of crucial resources. His silenced pistol provides an early stealth advantage.
  • Weaknesses: His value from the trading post relies on random rolls, which can introduce some inconsistency.

    • Strong Contenders

    Abby

    Abby is considered highly effective, often ranked close to Jesse.
  • Strengths:
    • * Melee Healing: Gains health back with melee attacks, which can be life-saving, especially in lower difficulties. * Starting Weapon: Begins with a hammer.
  • Strategy: Abby excels in melee and close-range combat, making her a strong choice for aggressive playstyles. Her self-healing ability reduces reliance on med kits in certain situations.
  • Weaknesses: Her melee healing becomes less impactful on Grounded difficulty, where players are often at full health or prefer med kits over risky close-quarters engagements.

    • Ellie

    Ellie is noted as the easiest character to succeed with on Grounded difficulty.
  • Strengths:
    • * Endure: Her "Endure" ability is crucial, allowing her to survive one-shots from enemies like WLF snipers and shotguns, and other stray bullets when at low health. * Enhanced Healing: Her crafted kits heal 50% more. * Skill Progression: Can complete three skill trees by round 4.
  • Strategy: Ellie's resilience and improved healing make her highly survivable. Her focus on molotovs can be useful for crowd control, though pipe bombs are generally more effective against armored enemies like Rattlers.

    • Lev

    Lev offers a unique ranged playstyle centered around his bow.
  • Strengths:
    • * Bow Power: His bow can one-shot almost any enemy with a headshot, making it a very strong weapon. Improved draw speed and explosive arrows further enhance its utility. * Tactical Utility: Can be used as a damage sponge and to draw enemy attention, creating opportunities for repositioning or focusing on higher-priority targets.
  • Strategy: Lev thrives in ranged combat and requires careful positioning. Pairing him with a shotgun can help compensate for his struggles in close-quarters encounters.
  • Weaknesses: Struggles in close-quarters combat and may not be ideal for holdout rounds.

    • Dina

    Dina is effective with crafted weapons and offers decent melee options.
  • Strengths:
    • * Crafted Weapons: Excels with the use of crafted weapons. * Melee Potential: Can build into a decent melee character thanks to easy access to smoke bombs.
  • Strategy: Her smoke bombs can be used for crowd control or creating openings for melee attacks, though pipe bombs are often seen as a superior alternative.

    • Situational / Lower-Tier Characters

    Joel

    Joel is generally considered one of the weaker characters, particularly for achieving high scores.
  • Strengths:
    • * Starting Gear: May start with an upgraded melee weapon, can craft two shivs at a time, and has an open right holster, offering some utility. * Speedrunning Potential: Might be the best character for speedrunning due to his revolver's one-hit kill potential on runners.
  • Weaknesses:
    • * No Dodge: Joel cannot dodge, significantly limiting his defensive options. * Revolver Drawback: His revolver is a one-hit kill on runners, preventing stunning, and a missed headshot offers no second chance, making it unforgiving.
  • Strategy: His playstyle is less forgiving and requires precise aiming due to the nature of his starting weapon and lack of dodge.

    • Bill

    Bill is ranked among the non-dodging characters, considered better than Yara.
  • Strengths: Starts with a pistol.
  • Weaknesses: Cannot dodge, similar to Joel.

    • Yara

    Yara is typically considered the weakest of the non-dodging characters.
  • Strengths: Her minimal kit allows for adaptability to various playstyles.
  • Weaknesses: Lack of dodge and a minimal starting kit can make early encounters challenging.

    • Manny

    Manny is a viable choice for players who prefer gunplay but comes with specific challenges.
  • Strengths: Good for players who enjoy gun-focused combat. His hunting pistol is a solid starting weapon.
  • Weaknesses: Can consume a lot of materials for crafting ammo, demanding precise shooting to avoid resource depletion. His med kit ability is often seen as less significant since most med kits are acquired through the shop anyway.

    • General Strategy Tips

  • Resource Management: Pay close attention to your currency and crafting materials. Characters like Jesse excel here, but even with others, efficient use of resources is key to long-term survival.
  • Adapt to Encounters: Each character has strengths and weaknesses. Be prepared to adapt your strategy based on the current character and the specific encounter type (e.g., stealth for Jesse, aggressive melee for Abby).
  • Utilize Character-Specific Abilities: Leverage unique character abilities, such as Ellie's Endure or Abby's melee healing, to maximize their effectiveness.
  • Weapons and Upgrades: Prioritize upgrades that complement your character's strengths or mitigate their weaknesses. For instance, a shotgun can balance Lev's close-quarters combat deficiency.
    • ⚠

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    FAQ Database

    Q.01 Which game is 'NO ENTRY' referring to in this guide?
    ▼

    This guide focuses on 'No Return,' a roguelike survival mode in *The Last of Us Part II*. The game *literally* titled 'NO ENTRY' is a bouncer simulator that does not feature a traditional 'best characters' system. Searches for 'NO ENTRY best characters' often lead to content about 'No Return'.

    Q.02 Who is considered the best character in No Return?
    ▼

    Jesse is widely considered the best character in No Return due to his strong economy, silenced pistol, and powerful crafting abilities, particularly with pipe bombs.

    Q.03 Are there characters that cannot dodge in No Return?
    ▼

    Yes, Joel, Bill, and Yara are noted as characters who cannot dodge, which can significantly impact their defensive capabilities in combat.

    Q.04 What makes Ellie strong in No Return?
    ▼

    Ellie is strong due to her 'Endure' ability, which helps her survive critical damage, and her med kits heal 50% more. She is considered the easiest character to beat Grounded difficulty with.

    Q.05 How does Abby's melee healing work?
    ▼

    Abby gains health back with melee attacks, making her effective in close-quarters combat and reducing her reliance on med kits, especially in lower difficulties.

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