The Last of Us Season 2 is already shaping up to be darker, deadlier, and more fractured than anything we saw in season 1. With Joel’s murder setting the stage for a revenge-driven story, Episode 3, titled “The Path”, introduces a sinister new threat, the Seraphites. Covered in symbols, whispering in the woods, and mutilated by ritual scars, this cult is nothing like the Fireflies or the Washington Liberation Front. But who leads them? And how dangerous are they? Here’s everything you need to know about the leader of Seraphites (Scars).
Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers for The Last of Us Season 2 and Part II of the game.
Who Are the Seraphites?
The Seraphites, also known as the Scars, were founded in the Lower Queen Anne area of Seattle between September 2013 and March 2014. Their origins trace back to a woman who had a vision of a simpler, egalitarian life, detached from technology and the excesses of the pre-outbreak world. This woman, later known as the Prophet, preached that the Cordyceps infection was a punishment for humanity’s sins and a second chance for redemption. Her teachings inspired the community to live off the land, grow their own food, and defend themselves from both the infected and looters.
For them, silence, discipline, and sacrifice are key values, and they communicate through whistles instead of speech. Guns are rarely used, and most followers carry melee weapons or bows. A key symbol of their devotion is the large scar carved into each follower’s face, marking a rite of passage. Outsiders call them “Scars” because of this, but within their community, they refer to each other by faith-based titles.
Who Is the Leader of the Seraphites?
While the show hasn’t named her yet, the Seraphites are built around a messianic woman known only as “The Prophet.” She isn’t alive by the time the events of the series take place, but her teachings shape every part of Seraphite life.
According to Seraphite belief, she was a survivor of the early outbreak who rejected the chaos and violence of the old world. She began preaching about simplicity, humility, and living in harmony with nature. Her followers saw her as a beacon of hope, someone who understood the truth about the infection and what humanity had to do to survive it. They began carving their faces in her honour, mimicking her teachings, and creating murals to preserve her message.
Despite her focus on peace, war with the Washington Liberation Front (WLF) eventually became unavoidable. The Prophet led a group of Seraphite soldiers in an attack on a WLF supply route, destroying trucks and killing patrol units. The WLF later captured her, holding her at one of their outposts. Even in captivity, her words swayed some of her captors. But her influence was seen as too dangerous, so Isaac Dixon, the WLF’s leader, ordered her execution.
However, the Prophet’s death didn’t weaken the Seraphites — it transformed her into a martyr. Her followers later overran the outpost where she died, seizing it from WLF control. Her legacy lives on through murals, doctrine, and an Elder Council that interprets her words. Even in death, she remains the true leader of the Seraphites.
What Role Will the Seraphites Play in Season 2?
The Seraphites make their first on-screen appearance in The Last of Us Season 2, Episode 3, “The Path.” As Ellie and Dina begin their journey to Seattle, they come across a group of dead bodies left in the forest. Among the dead is a young girl, one of the casualties of a group Ellie doesn’t recognise. Dina is so shaken by the sight that she vomits. No one says the name Seraphites, but their brutality speaks for them.
This moment marks their arrival in the show’s world. Quiet, violent, and deeply ritualistic, the Seraphites kill without hesitation, even children. They serve as a dark mirror to the WLF, following a strict code taught by a long-dead prophet. As season 2 unfolds, the Seraphites will become an even more dangerous threat. Their war with the WLF will pull Ellie, Abby, and everyone else deeper into chaos. They are not just another enemy faction. They are a threat unlike anything Ellie has ever faced before.q
