Resident Evil 4 – All Weapons Guide

Building your arsenal in Resident Evil 4 requires strategic planning and resource management. Throughout your campaign journey, you’ll encounter numerous armaments essential for surviving the relentless infected hordes.

The Resident Evil 4 weapon ecosystem divides into distinct categories: handguns for versatility, shotguns for close-quarters dominance, rifles for precision elimination, submachine guns for suppression, magnums for raw stopping power, and special utility weapons for unique situations. Most firearms become available through the Merchant as you advance in the story. Acquisition options include spending hard-earned Pesetas or trading Spinels obtained from completing side requests. Additionally, certain weapons support specialized attachments that enhance performance, equipped through your inventory’s Parts selection interface.

Upgrade paths typically focus on four core attributes: destructive power (damage output), firing cadence (rate-of-fire), magazine capacity (ammo per reload), and reload efficiency. Achieving maximum upgrade levels unlocks each weapon’s distinctive bonus ability. Alternatively, the Exclusive Upgrade Ticket available from the Merchant for 30 Spinels provides immediate access to the exclusive perk regardless of current upgrade status.

Gallery

Left: The Striker shotgun’s upgrades; Right: The Exclusive Upgrade Ticket will let you acquire the bonus perk regardless of the weapon’s level.

Resident Evil 4 Knives

• Combat Knife – Unlike disposable blades found throughout environments, the Combat Knife features Merchant-repairable durability alongside upgradeable damage and resilience.
  • Bonus upgrade: 1.5x attack speed – dramatically increases DPS for parrying and quick successive strikes.
  • Attachments: N/A.
• Fighting Knife – Boosts superior base damage and sturdiness; acquired after defeating the formidable Krauser.
  • Bonus upgrade: 2x power – transforms it into a devastating melee option.
  • Attachments: N/A.
• Primal Knife – Features an exceptionally valuable indestructibility perk; unlocked via Bonus Content Shop after destroying all 16 Clockwork Castellans.
  • Bonus upgrade: Becomes permanently unbreakable – eliminates repair costs and concerns during intense combat sequences.
  • Attachments: N/A.

Pro Tip: The Primal Knife’s indestructible trait makes it ideal for professional difficulty runs where resource conservation becomes critical.

Resident Evil 4 Handguns

• SG-09R – Your initial sidearm providing reliable baseline performance.
  • Bonus upgrade: 5x critical hit rate – turns this standard sidearm into a headshot machine.
  • Attachments: Laser Sight – Significantly improves target acquisition speed and accuracy, especially during frantic encounters.
• Punisher – Features minimal recoil with exceptional penetration capabilities; available for five Spinels.
  • Bonus upgrade: Penetrates up to five targets – extremely effective against lined-up enemies in corridor sections.
  • Attachments: Laser Sight – Enhances aiming precision for maximum penetration effectiveness.
• Red9 – Delivers solid damage output but suffers from poor accuracy and wide shot dispersion. Detailed acquisition methods available in our Red9 location guide.
  • Bonus upgrade: 1.5x power – makes it one of the hardest-hitting handguns available.
    • Attachments: Red9 Stock – Drastically improves precision and tightens shot grouping for consistent performance.
  • Blacktail – A premium high-performance sidearm requiring 24,000 pesetas investment.
    • Bonus upgrade: 1.5x power.
    • Attachments: N/A.
  • Matilda – Transforms into a three-round burst weapon when equipped with its stock; costs 10 Spinels.
    • Bonus upgrade: 2x ammo capacity – essential for managing the weapon’s high ammunition consumption.
    • Attachments: Matilda Stock – Enables three-round burst fire mode, dramatically increasing close-range stopping power.

  Common Mistake: Many players underestimate the Punisher’s penetration capability against shielded enemies and grouped targets, making it more valuable than its base stats suggest.

  Resident Evil 4 Shotguns

  • W870 Shotgun – Located on the second floor of a Village Square house’s left-side structure. This pump-action powerhouse delivers tremendous impact per shot but suffers from slow firing cycles.
    • Bonus upgrade: 2x power – turns it into an absolute room-clearer.
    • Attachments: N/A.
  • Riot Gun – A semi-automatic shotgun alternative; priced at 28,000 pesetas.
    • Bonus upgrade: 1.5x power.
    • Attachments: N/A.
  • Striker – A compact semi-automatic shotgun offering faster handling; investment of 38,000 pesetas required.
    • Bonus upgrade: 2x ammo capacity – significantly extends engagement duration before reloading.
    • Attachments: N/A.

  

  Shotguns are extremely deadly at close range or when enemies are packed together.

  Advanced Strategy: The Striker’s compact design makes it ideal for quick-swap situations where you need immediate stopping power without movement penalty concerns.

  Resident Evil 4 Rifles

  • SR M1903 Rifle – A bolt-action precision instrument with deliberate firing rhythm but devastating damage on well-placed shots. Available for 12,000 pesetas.
    • Bonus upgrade: 2x power – makes it capable of eliminating most standard enemies with a single headshot.
    • Attachments: Scope, High-powered Scope, Biosensor Scope – each offering distinct magnification and situational advantages.
  • Stingray – A semi-automatic rifle alternative; priced at 30,000 pesetas.
    • Bonus upgrade: 2x rate-of-fire – dramatically improves target engagement speed.
    • Attachments: Scope, High-powered Scope, Biosensor Scope.
  • CQBR Assault Rifle – A fully-automatic rifle system with exceptional fire rate. Comprehensive location details in our CQBR Assault Rifle location guide.
    • Bonus upgrade: 1.5x power.
    • Attachments: Scope, High-powered Scope, Biosensor Scope.

  Pro Tip: The SR M1903’s bolt-action mechanism rewards patient, deliberate shooting – perfect for players who prefer methodical combat over frantic firefights.

  Resident Evil 4 Magnums

  • Broken Butterfly – Your inaugural magnum acquisition opportunity; costs 29,400 pesetas.
    • Bonus upgrade: 1.5x power – transforms it into an absolute boss-melting machine.
    • Attachments: N/A.
  • Killer 7 – A user-friendly magnum variant featuring integrated laser sight technology.
    • Bonus upgrade: 5x critical hit rate – combined with its precision makes it exceptionally lethal.
    • Attachments: N/A.

  Resource Management: Magnum ammunition remains scarce throughout the campaign – reserve these weapons for elite enemies, mini-boss encounters, and particularly challenging situations where maximum damage output becomes necessary.

  Resident Evil 4 Submachine Guns

  • TMP – This submachine gun delivers blistering rate-of-fire but challenging recoil control; available for 10,000 pesetas.
    • Bonus upgrade: 1.5x power – significantly increases its damage-per-second potential.
    • Attachments: TMP Stock – Substantially reduces recoil and improves accuracy for sustained target engagement.
  • LE5 – Features respectable penetration capability with scope attachment compatibility. This Resident Evil 4 weapon becomes accessible during Keycard Access Terminal Puzzles progression.
    • Bonus upgrade: Penetrates up to five targets – excellent for dealing with clustered enemy formations.
    • Attachments: Scope, High-powered Scope, Biosensor Scope.

  Common Mistake: Many players attempt to use SMGs at medium-to-long ranges where their effectiveness diminishes dramatically – these are strictly close-to-mid range suppression tools.

  Resident Evil 4 Special Weapons

  • Bolt Thrower – This versatile Resident Evil 4 weapon offers silent bolt projection or explosive mine alternatives. Detailed operational guidance in our Bolt Thrower guide.
    • Bonus upgrade: 2x ammo capacity – enhances its sustainability during stealth sequences.
    • Attachments: N/A.
  • Rocket Launcher – A franchise signature weapon featuring single-shot deployment requiring precise timing. Additional insights available in our Rocket Launcher guide.
    • Bonus upgrade: N/A.
    • Attachments: N/A.

  Advanced Application: The Bolt Thrower’s silent operation makes it ideal for dealing with specific enemies without alerting nearby threats.

Additional Resident Evil 4 Remake armaments exist, several featuring extraordinary perks that can significantly ease gameplay challenges. We explore these specialized options comprehensively in our unlockables guide.

Resident Evil 4 contains numerous intricate systems and hidden elements awaiting discovery. Furthermore, you can deepen your understanding of various game mechanics through our comprehensive guides hub.

Weapon Synergy and Loadout Composition

Mastering Resident Evil 4’s combat requires understanding how different weapon categories complement each other. An optimal loadout typically includes one weapon from each major category to handle diverse combat scenarios effectively.

Optimal Early Game Loadout: Combat Knife (repaired), SG-09R (with Laser Sight), and W870 Shotgun provides balanced capability for initial chapters.

Mid-Game Progression: As resources accumulate, consider upgrading to the Red9 with Stock for superior handgun performance and adding the Stingray rifle for long-range precision work.

End-Game Optimization: For professional difficulty or speedruns, prioritize the Primal Knife (indestructible), Blacktail for reliability, and Killer 7 magnum for emergency situations.

Resource Management Strategies

Pesetas should be strategically allocated toward weapons you plan to use throughout the entire campaign. Avoid spreading upgrades too thinly across multiple weapons in the same category.

Spinels Allocation Priority: Exclusive Upgrade Tickets (30 Spinels) often provide better value than individual weapon purchases, especially for high-tier armaments.

Common Pitfall: Many players waste resources upgrading early-game weapons they’ll eventually replace. Focus investments on weapons that remain viable through late-game content.

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