Last updated: June 4, 2026·🔄 Guide reviewed and refreshed ahead of Halloween 2026.· By Seckin Peker

Halloween Costume Guide

Ellie Williams From The Last of Us Halloween Costume Guide

Immune. Orphan. Carrying a joke book and a switchblade into the end of the world.
Bella Ramsey TV Series Badass Women Dystopia HBO Knife Apocalypse Scar Survivor Teenage
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Quick Answer: The Ellie Williams Halloween costume comes in three versions. The HBO build has the widest recognition in 2026.
  • HBO: Burgundy Button Shirt over Grey Long Sleeve (essential), Maroon Sneakers
  • Part II: Grey Work Shirt, Ellie Arm Tattoo (essential), Full Weapon Set
  • Part I: Red Palm Tee over Black Long Sleeve, Side Bangs Wig, Fake Blood

Ellie Williams is immune to the Cordyceps infection, which makes her either the most important person alive or the next person to die in a surgery room, depending on who you ask. The burgundy shirt over the grey long sleeve is the most recognizable build in 2026, and the arm tattoo is the detail that lands fastest for game fans. Bella Ramsey plays Ellie across the first two seasons of the HBO series, which premiered in 2023 (Wikipedia). Recognition at any Halloween party is high across all three builds, with the HBO version reading most broadly.

HBO Items7 Items
Part II Items14 Items
Part I Items13 Items
DifficultyEasy-Medium

Ellie Williams Halloween Costume Items

Ellie Williams HBO series Halloween costume infographic showing grey long sleeve, burgundy button shirt, medium wash jeans, black backpack, grey socks, maroon sneakers, and flashlight

Ellie Williams: HBO Look

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Ellie Williams HBO Bella Ramsey The Last of Us
  • 1 Grey Long Sleeve T-ShirtThe base layer, visible at the neckline and sleeves under the open burgundy shirt. Plain grey, slightly worn. Check your wardrobe before ordering.
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  • 2 Burgundy Short Sleeve Button Down Shirt (essential)This is the piece that makes the HBO build immediately recognizable. Wear it open over the grey long sleeve, unbuttoned or with only the middle buttons done. It should look like something grabbed off a shelf rather than something coordinated. The burgundy shade is specific: too dark reads as maroon, too light reads as pink. Check the product photos carefully before ordering.
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  • 3 Medium Wash High Rise JeanMid-wash denim, high rise, slightly relaxed through the leg. Ellie wears her jeans consistently throughout the HBO series without visible distressing. Check your wardrobe first.
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  • 4 Black BackpackA plain black canvas or nylon backpack. Fill it so it sits naturally. Ellie’s backpack in the HBO series is a functional school-style pack, not a tactical or heavily branded one.
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  • 5 Grey Crew SocksWorn visibly above the sneakers. A small detail that reads correctly for Ellie’s casual athletic look throughout the show. Check your sock drawer before ordering.
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  • 6 Maroon SneakersLow-top canvas sneakers in maroon or dark red. Ellie’s insistence on canvas sneakers over more practical boots is a character trait the HBO series maintains, with Maria eventually persuading her to wear proper footwear for the Seattle journey in Season 2.
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  • 7 G.I. Type D-Cell FlashlightClip to the backpack strap or carry it. Ellie uses a flashlight throughout both the game and the series. A working flashlight is more useful at a party than a decorative prop and it is in character to have it on.
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Ellie Williams The Last of Us Part II Halloween costume infographic showing grey work shirt, v-neck tee, arm tattoo, olive jeans, backpack, and full weapon set

Ellie Williams: The Last of Us Part II Look

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Ellie Williams Part II Seattle Moth Tattoo
  • 1 Grey Work ShirtWorn open as the outer layer over the grey v-neck. A plain grey short-sleeve work shirt in a workwear cut. The layered grey look is the most recognizable silhouette from the Seattle portion of Part II.
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  • 2 Grey V-Neck T-ShirtThe base layer visible under the open work shirt. Plain grey, fitted without being tight.
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  • 3 Last of Us Part II Ellie Arm Tattoo (essential)The moth tattoo on Ellie’s right forearm is the most recognizable character-specific detail in the Part II build. It is what separates this costume from a generic grey-shirted survivor. Apply it to the right forearm, which is where Ellie’s tattoo covers her original infection bite scar. Game fans will notice it immediately.
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  • 4 Junior GuitarEllie learns to play guitar from Joel and carries it into Seattle in Part II. At a convention a guitar is a prop that generates conversation. At an indoor party it is a logistical problem. Make the call based on the venue.
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  • 5 Fake Scar SetEllie has a scar bisecting her right eyebrow throughout the series. Apply a small scar using the set at the right eyebrow. It is a subtle detail that Last of Us fans will clock at close range without it being the dominant feature of the costume.
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  • 6 Slit Knee Olive JeansOlive or dark green jeans with visible knee distressing. The olive tone and the distressing at the knee together distinguish this build from the HBO and Part I looks. Check your wardrobe for anything close before ordering.
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  • 7 Grey BackpackFunctional and worn-in. Fill it. The same rule applies here as in the other builds: an empty backpack reads as a prop.
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  • 8 Toy ShotgunEllie uses a shotgun throughout Seattle. At a convention it adds visual weight to the weapon set. At an indoor party, holster or sling it and rely on the smaller weapons for the evening.
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  • 9 Toy Wooden Bow and Arrow SetEllie’s bow is her signature long-range weapon in Part II and the most recognizable prop in the weapon set after the switchblade. It reads from a distance and generates strong reactions from Last of Us fans.
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  • 10 Toy PistolThe most manageable weapon prop for a full evening. Keep it holstered or visible at the hip. Combine it with the switchblade and you have the two most practical props for an indoor event.
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  • 11 Toy MacheteEllie uses a machete in several key combat sequences in Part II, most memorably against the bloater in the hotel. It is the bulkiest prop in the weapon set and best suited to outdoor or convention wear. Carry it at the hip or slung on the backpack.
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  • 12 Toy Hunter KnifeEllie’s switchblade is her most consistent weapon across every version of the character. A hunter knife works as a substitute for the prop version. Keep it visible at the belt or in the hand.
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  • 13 Last of Us Ellie BraceletA small wrist detail that fans of the game will recognize. Wear it on the left wrist, which is where Ellie wears the hamsa bracelet Dina gives her before Seattle.
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  • 14 Chuck Taylor All Star Charcoal HiHigh-top canvas shoes in charcoal. Ellie’s consistent footwear choice across the games and the show. Worn-in or new both work here.
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Ellie Williams The Last of Us Part I Halloween costume infographic showing black long sleeve, red palm tee, side bangs wig, skinny jeans, grey backpack, and prop weapons

Ellie Williams: The Last of Us Part I Look

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Ellie Williams Part I Boston QZ Original Game
  • 1 Black Long Sleeve T-ShirtThe base layer worn under the red palm tee. Plain black, slightly fitted. Check your wardrobe before ordering.
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  • 2 Red Palm Seaside T-Shirt (essential)The red graphic tee over the black long sleeve is Ellie’s most recognizable look from the original game. The specific red with the palm tree print is the detail that game fans recognize at a glance. Wear it slightly loose over the black base layer.
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  • 3 Side Bangs WigThe game version of Ellie has auburn hair with side bangs and a ponytail. If your natural hair does not match, this wig anchors the Part I build. Skip it if you can achieve a similar look with your own hair.
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  • 4 Skinny JeansDark wash skinny jeans. The game model consistently shows Ellie in a darker, slimmer cut than the HBO version. Check your wardrobe before ordering.
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  • 5 Grey BackpackEllie’s canvas pack in Part I has a flashlight and other supplies attached. Fill it and clip the flashlight to the strap to match the game’s reference look.
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  • 6 Uncle Sam PinEllie collects pins and accessories throughout the game. The Uncle Sam pin is one of the character details visible on her backpack in reference materials. A small addition that rewards fans who know the game closely.
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  • 7 Nuclear Radiation StickerAnother backpack detail from the game. Apply to the outside of the grey backpack alongside the Uncle Sam pin for a layered character-accurate prop.
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  • 8 Ellie TattooThis is the Part I version of the character’s infection bite mark, which appears on her right arm. Different from the moth tattoo used in the Part II build. Apply to the right arm.
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  • 9 C-Cell Angle-Head FlashlightClip to the backpack strap. Ellie’s flashlight in Part I is attached to the outside of her pack and is one of the most recognizable details of her game look. A working flashlight is better than a decorative one.
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  • 10 Toy Hunter KnifeEllie’s switchblade is her signature weapon in Part I. The hunter knife works as a prop substitute. Carry it visibly.
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  • 11 Fake BloodApply to the hands and forearms for the post-encounter version of Ellie’s look, particularly relevant to the David sequence in the game’s winter chapter. Use sparingly: a little goes further than you expect and is significantly harder to remove from clothing.
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  • 12 Toy ShotgunEllie uses a shotgun in the later game chapters. For the Part I build, the shotgun adds the survivor weapon detail that the switchblade alone does not fully carry at a distance.
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  • 13 Grey High Top SneakerGrey canvas high tops matching the game’s consistent footwear. Ellie’s sneaker preference is one of her most consistent character details across all versions. Worn-in reads better than new for this build.
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Ellie Williams from The Last of Us game in her red palm tee over black long sleeve with grey backpack and flashlight, the primary reference for the Part I Halloween costume build

How to Style the Ellie Williams Halloween Costume

For the HBO build, the burgundy shirt worn open is the one item people will recognize first, and it needs to be open throughout the night. A buttoned burgundy shirt over a grey tee reads as a different outfit entirely. For the Part II build, the arm tattoo does the character-specific work that the grey layered shirts cannot do on their own. Without it, the costume reads as a generic grey-dressed survivor. For the Part I build, the red palm tee over the black long sleeve is specific enough that game fans will get it immediately, but the fake blood is what makes the build memorable at a convention.

In the HBO series, there is a scene where Ellie climbs a full-sized dinosaur statue in a museum, stands at the top, and shouts into an empty room about being on a motherfucking dinosaur. She has just come from a conversation about whether they should turn back, and she is choosing not to process it. That is the character in almost every scene: something difficult just happened or is about to happen, and she is choosing to be exactly this loud about something else instead. Bring that energy to whichever build you choose.

Managing the Part II weapon set at a party

Fourteen items sounds like a lot, and the weapon set is where most of it lives. At an indoor party, the bow and the machete become obstacles within the first hour. The practical approach is to arrive with the full set for photos at the beginning of the evening, then consolidate to the pistol and knife for the rest of the night. Both are small enough to holster or tuck away and visible enough to maintain the character read at close range. The tattoo and the scar do the heavy lifting once you are in conversation with anyone who knows the game.

Fake blood on the Part I build

Fake blood looks dramatic in photos and becomes a problem approximately forty-five minutes into any party. It transfers to everything it touches, including other people’s costumes, furniture, and door handles. If you want the David-chapter battle-worn version of Ellie, apply the blood to the hands and forearms only, not the face or the red tee. A small amount applied at the party rather than before arriving gives you more control over how much stays on what. Bring makeup remover wipes for the inevitable moment when someone grabs your hand without looking.

Ellie Williams Group Halloween Costume Ideas

Couples Idea

Ellie Williams & Joel Miller (The Last of Us)

Excellent couples concept with the strongest narrative weight in the franchise. The visual contrast between Ellie’s teenage casual build and Joel’s worn flannel-and-revolver look does the character work without any explanation. Anyone who has seen even one episode of the HBO series will recognize the pairing immediately. At any Halloween event in 2026 this is one of the most recognized father-daughter pairings in pop culture.

Ellie Williams Joel Miller

Duo Idea

Ellie Williams & Riley Abel (The Last of Us)

Excellent duo with strong emotional resonance for Last of Us fans. Riley and Ellie’s story in Left Behind is one of the most recognized and discussed parts of the franchise, and their relationship is central to understanding everything Ellie does afterward. The two builds are visually distinct enough to read as separate characters and specific enough that game fans will recognize the pairing without a prompt. At a general party, Ellie carries the recognition while Riley rewards people who know Left Behind specifically.

Ellie Williams Riley Abel

Group Idea: The Last of Us Cast

Ellie Williams, Joel Miller, Riley Abel, Tess, Sarah Miller

Strong group for a Last of Us fan gathering or gaming convention. The five characters span the full emotional arc of the first game and its DLC, with Ellie and Joel as the central pairing and Riley, Tess, and Sarah as the losses that shape what both of them are running from. Ellie and Joel are the most widely recognized anchors at a general event. All five builds have dedicated pages linked here.

Ellie Williams Joel Miller Riley Abel Tess Sarah Miller

Group Idea: Iconic Survival Women

Ellie Williams, Katniss Everdeen, Furiosa, Naru, Maggie Greene

Strong group for a genre convention or a pop culture Halloween party. Katniss and Furiosa have the widest general recognition. Naru from Prey and Maggie Greene are well-known among genre fans. Ellie carries current cultural recognition following Season 2 of the HBO series, which puts her alongside Katniss as one of the two most immediately recognized characters in this group in 2026. The five builds are visually distinct enough that no two characters look like they came from the same show, which is what makes the group concept hold together as intentional.

Ellie Williams and Dina from HBO's The Last of Us Season 2 showing Ellie's layered survivor outfit, useful as a group Halloween costume reference

Ellie Williams Halloween Costume DIY Tips

Building Any of the Three Looks

All three builds share one underlying rule: the layering is everything. A single shirt on its own reads as a casual outfit. The layered combination is what makes each version character-specific. The backpack and footwear are consistent anchors across all three.

  • HBO burgundy shirt: the shade has to be right. Check product photos for the actual colour before ordering, not just the label.
  • Part II arm tattoo: right arm, not left. Apply it before putting on any sleeves and let it set fully before wearing clothes over it.
  • Part I red palm tee: thrift stores occasionally stock graphic tees in this style. Worth checking before ordering.
  • Side bangs wig for Part I: only needed if your natural hair does not match the game’s auburn with side bangs. A wig you already own in any reddish tone can be styled to approximate it.
  • Backpack: fill it with your actual belongings for all three builds. It solves the shape problem and is more comfortable than carrying a separate bag.
  • Weapon props: order in advance and check venue policies before bringing them. The knife is the most versatile prop across all three builds and the easiest to manage at a party.
  • Fake blood: apply at the venue, not before arriving. It transfers and it stains.

Playing Ellie at a Party

Ellie is loud when she is deflecting and quiet when she is actually affected by something. Most of the time at a party, she would be loud. The joke book is not a random character detail. It is what she uses when the silence gets too heavy.

  • When someone asks who you are: name the character and the show or game. Most people will know immediately in 2026.
  • The dinosaur quote is the best party line. Say it once, loudly, and move on. She would not explain it.
  • The Joel quote is the one for when someone asks you to say something in character: “Everybody I have cared for has either died or left me. Everybody fucking except for you.” It lands very differently at a party than it reads on a page.
  • Carry the knife visibly. It is her most consistent character detail across all three versions and gives you something to do with your hand that is in character.
  • For photos with a Joel cosplayer: stand slightly behind him, slightly annoyed. That is the first season dynamic in one pose.

Ellie Williams Halloween Costume: FAQ

Three builds are available. For the HBO look: grey long sleeve under a burgundy short-sleeve button shirt, medium wash jeans, black backpack, grey crew socks, maroon sneakers, and a flashlight. For the Part II look: grey work shirt, grey v-neck tee, Ellie arm tattoo, slit-knee olive jeans, grey backpack, and a full weapon set. For the Part I look: black long sleeve under a red palm tee, side bangs wig, skinny jeans, grey backpack, Uncle Sam pin, flashlight, fake blood, and grey high tops.

Yes, and it is one of the strongest recognition builds available for Halloween 2026. The HBO series brought Ellie to a mainstream audience far beyond the game’s existing fanbase, and Bella Ramsey’s version of the character is widely recognized. At any general Halloween party the HBO build reads immediately. At a gaming convention, all three builds land clearly.

Two quotes define her. The first is from the dinosaur museum scene in the HBO series: “Look at me. I’m on a motherf*cking dinosaur.” The second is her outburst to Joel in Jackson: “Everybody I have cared for has either died or left me. Everybody fucking except for you.” The first shows who she is when nothing is wrong. The second shows what she is protecting.

Ellie is played by Bella Ramsey, an English actor. More than 100 actors were considered for the role before Ramsey was cast. They learned an American accent and cut over 15 inches of hair for the part. Ashley Johnson, who voiced Ellie in the original games, also appears in the HBO series in a different role.

Ellie was exposed to a trace amount of Cordyceps during birth, when her mother was bitten. The infection that grew with her from birth produces a chemical messenger that tricks any new Cordyceps infection into thinking she is already infected, preventing the fungus from progressing. The Fireflies believed this could be reverse-engineered into a vaccine, which is the reason for her entire journey with Joel.

The HBO build. Bella Ramsey’s version of the character is the most widely recognized in 2026 because of the show’s mainstream audience. The burgundy shirt over the grey long sleeve with maroon sneakers and a backpack reads clearly to anyone who has watched the series. The Part II arm tattoo is the strongest recognition detail for game fans specifically, but it requires explanation at a general party.

No. The linked temporary tattoo approximates the moth design from Part II and is recognizable to fans of the game without needing to be exact. The tattoo is primarily relevant for the Part II build. For the HBO and Part I builds, Ellie does not have the moth tattoo, so skip it entirely for those versions.