Survivors/Stats/Strength

Strength is one of six stats a character has in Sheltered 2. It is symbolized by a red dumbbell icon.

About

Strength can be considered one of the most important stats in the game, as it helps characters to deal more damage in combat, as well as use heavier weapons.

Uses

Strength affects a character's damage output in combat. This also applies to other survivors, faction members, and hostile animals.

Strength also allows survivors to use weapons that require higher strength levels. Note that strength doesn't affect guns, those require Dexterity.

Gaining XP

Strength experience can be gained in two ways. The first is to have survivors exercise using punching bags and weights. There are four tiers of strength training objects: the Light Punching Bag, the Light Weights, the Heavy Punching Bag, and the Heavy Weights. Each object has a "Recommended level" for training, with the Light Punching Bag having 1-5 strength, all the way up to the Heavy Weights with 16-20 recommended strength.

Another way to increase a survivor's strength is to kill other survivors and animals in combat. While it does lower the survivor's mood, it can be more effective than exercising.

Level Caps

As with all other stats, the level cap for strength depends on the character's starting strength level. The higher the character's starting strength, the higher the level cap will be.

Leader Traits

Strength also has leader traits related to it, just like every other stat.

If you give your faction leader the "Body Builder" leader trait, then the leader will start with a guaranteed max strength of 20. This trait costs 3 trait points. Additionally, if you give your leader the "Strong" trait, they will gain +3 strength levels.

Conversely, if you give your leader the "Weak" negative trait, then the leader will start with a guaranteed max strength of 10. Adding this negative trait will give you 1 trait point.