Best Weapons In Resident Evil 4 Remake

The Resident Evil 4 Remake features 22 different weapons, but you don’t really need most of them. The game is actually beatable with just the weapons you start with, especially if you upgrade your basic pistol. That begs the question: which extra weapons are actually worth investing in?

This list ranks the best weapons in the Resident Evil 4 Remake. It includes weapons from every type – melee, pistols, shotguns, submachine guns, rifles, assault rifles, and special weapons. The ranking considers how well each weapon performs within its class, but also how it stacks up against all other weapons in the game. We’ll explain the criteria we used to create this ranking below.

Quick Overview

Best Handgun Red9
Best Shotgun Riot Gun
Best SMG LE5
Best Assault Rifle Stingray
Best Magnum Broken Butterfly
Best Knife The Primal Knife
Best Bonus Weapon(s) Handcannon & The Infinite Rocket Launcher

RE4 Remake Weapon Tier List Criteria

  • Return on investment.
  • Power and practicality.
  • Ease of use (ammo efficiency, accuracy, recoil, etc.).
  • Gameplay impact (sound design, effects, appearance, and feel).

These weapon rankings are based on how much they cost, how well they work, and how much they improve the game. Top-ranked weapons are worth the money, pack a serious punch, and make playing more enjoyable.

This list excludes weapons you have to pay extra for as downloadable content, such as the Sentinel Nine and Skull Shaker.

13. TMP SMG

Best Feature: High Damage Plus Stock for Less Recoil

  • How to Get: Can be bought from the Merchant starting from Chapter 3.
  • Best Stopgap: Given that TMP SMG is actually the first in its class that players can get, there are few other options other than choosing LE5 (available much later) or using the Matilda handgun with a stock for a three-round fire mode.
Max Power 1.65 (with an exclusive 1.5x perk)
Upgrade Cost 243,000

The TMP SMG is a reliable weapon, especially considering how early in the game you can obtain it. It performs well against groups of weaker enemies – a common situation in Resident Evil 4. While it doesn’t excel in any particular area, it also doesn’t have any significant flaws, making it a worthwhile investment for players.

The TMP SMG is a reliable and well-rounded weapon in RE4, though it doesn’t excel in any one area like the LE5. Its attachable stock significantly improves accuracy and control, making it incredibly effective against groups of enemies at close and medium ranges. It really proves its worth in challenging sections, such as defending the cabin with Luis, offering a good balance of power, usability, and ammo conservation. Surprisingly, it can even be useful against bosses – a quick, spray-and-pray approach can be very effective for hitting their weak spots and dealing damage quickly.

The TMP SMG is a much better investment than the LE5. It costs considerably less to fully upgrade, yet performs just as well, with even higher damage and a larger magazine. This makes it a highly effective weapon in most situations, except for specifically dealing with Regenerators later in the game.

12. Punisher Handgun

Best Feature: Penetration Power to Greatly Reserve Ammo

  • How to Get: Can be traded with the Merchant for 5 Spinels starting from Chapter 2. To get Spinels, players need to complete optional tasks.
  • Best Stopgap: If players are not into reserving ammo or positioning enemies for max efficiency, they can simply use and upgrade SG-09 R or Red9 instead.
Max Power 1.90
Upgrade Cost 209,000

Many Resident Evil 4 players consider the Punisher handgun to be the best in the game, and it’s easy to see why. It’s a powerful choice for experienced players, featuring a unique ability to pierce through enemies. Using the Punisher is particularly satisfying because players can carefully aim before shooting for maximum impact. Beyond its special perk, the Punisher also boasts good damage and a large ammo capacity.

The Punisher handgun is unlocked fairly early in the game and can be a reliable choice throughout the entire story. What makes it special is its ability to pierce through enemies – a single shot can hit up to five! While it takes skill to consistently hit multiple targets, players can easily learn to line up two or three, effectively staggering and damaging them with each shot and saving valuable ammunition.

The Punisher pistol makes it much easier to achieve perfect accuracy in the game. It’s a great replacement for the initial SG-09 R handgun, and can even be used with a laser sight. Upgrading it is affordable, costing just over 200,000 Pesetas, and it offers good damage and a large magazine. Combined with its ability to pierce through targets, skilled players can often avoid reloading entirely, even during chaotic battles.

11. Bolt Thrower

Best Feature: No Real Alternative, Combines Stealth-Focused and Explosive AOE Weapon

  • How to Get: Can be bought from the Merchant starting from Chapter 3.
  • Best Stopgap: Bolt Thrower is a pretty unique weapon in the game that has no real alternative. However, players can master various grenades in the game to use them effectively instead of their attachable mines.
Max Power 2.40
Upgrade Cost 230,000

The Bolt Thrower is a unique and valuable weapon that most players will want to learn how to use. It’s especially useful for stealthy gameplay, letting you silently eliminate enemies. Beyond that, it’s a strong area-of-effect weapon thanks to its explosive mines. The Bolt Thrower really shines during boss fights – you can place mines where bosses will appear, potentially killing them instantly or skipping their initial attacks, making the fight much easier.

Okay, so at first, the Bolt Thrower in Resident Evil 4 doesn’t seem like much. Trust me though, it’s totally worth sticking with! Once you upgrade it, it becomes a really useful tool. What I love is that it fires silent arrows – perfect for taking down weaker enemies without alerting everyone around. It doesn’t do a ton of damage on its own, but that’s not really the point – it’s all about how you use it!

Most players prefer using the Bolt Thrower to lay mines. Its special firing mode lets you attach proximity mines to arrows, which then stick to walls, floors, or even enemies. While it takes some time and skill to master, the Bolt Thrower is incredibly powerful. With upgrades, it can deal massive area-of-effect damage, wiping out groups of enemies. It’s also particularly effective against tough enemies like those with shields, as you can shoot mines underneath them. Skilled players can even use the Bolt Thrower to strategically prepare boss arenas, potentially skipping entire boss fights.

10. ​​​Primal Knife

Best Feature: Indestructibility

  • How to Get: Destroy all clockwork castellans.
  • Best Stopgap: Players who don’t own the Primal Knife can invest in the Fighting Knife instead, as it is the second-best blade in the Resident Evil 4 Remake.
Max Power 1.2 (indestructible at max level)
Upgrade Cost 260,000

Knives are incredibly helpful in Resident Evil 4 Remake, often getting players out of tough spots. But they break down quickly and cost a lot to maintain. Getting the Primal Knife, which never breaks, fixes this problem completely and makes the game much more enjoyable – most players won’t want to use regular knives again after that.

The Primal Knife is a powerful weapon you can find near the end of the game in the Remake. To get it, you need to destroy 16 Clockwork Castellans – one hidden in each chapter. What really sets this knife apart is its special ability, called The Indestructibility.

Once you’ve fully upgraded the Primal Knife, you can pay the Merchant 10,000 pesetas to unlock its final ability. This ensures your blade will never break, allowing for unlimited parries and stealth attacks.

When it comes to raw power, the Fighting Knife is the strongest melee weapon. It deals up to 3.6 damage per strike, significantly more than the Primal Knife’s maximum of 1.2. However, the Primal Knife allows for unlimited rapid attacks, potentially leading to a higher total damage output over time.

9. SG-09 R

Best Feature: Compatibility with Laser Sights

  • How to Get: It’s a starting weapon.
  • Best Stopgap: The Blacktail is an ideal replacement for the SG-09 R since it comes with consistent accuracy and firepower.
Max Power 2 (with 5x Critical Rate at max level)
Upgrade Cost 304,000

The SG-09 R, especially when used with the Laser Sight, offers a gunplay experience very similar to the original Resident Evil 4. It’s also a great value because you start with it for free and it doesn’t cost much to fully upgrade. While its base damage isn’t the highest, its unique perk—a five-times increase to critical hit rate—more than makes up for it.

No discussion of the best weapons in Resident Evil 4 is complete without mentioning the Silver Ghost. This unique pistol, given to Leon by the renowned gun designer Joseph Kendo, is incredibly versatile and effective against all enemies. It boasts a high power level, reaching 2.00, and a 5x critical hit chance, making those headshots against zombies extra rewarding.

While the SG-09 R pistol in the Resident Evil 4 Remake isn’t the most powerful weapon later in the game, it offers the best sound design and feels incredibly realistic when firing, making it a great choice for players who prioritize those aspects.

Get the Laser Sight for the SG-09 R quickly to improve your aim and recapture the classic aiming feel of the original game.

8. LE5

Best Feature: Compatibility with Biosensor Scope

  • How to Get: Complete the Freezer Puzzle (Chapter 11).
  • Best Stopgap: The Chicago Sweeper is a must-have for RE4 fans who love SMGs. It’s rapid and reliable, but more importantly, shooting with the Sweeper feels much better than all othersubmachine gunss.
Max Power 1.2 (with 5x Penetration at max level)
Upgrade Cost 353,000

The Biosensor-equipped LE5 is the best weapon against Regeneradors. It’s precise, fast, and allows you to react quickly to fast-moving enemies. However, it doesn’t have much stopping power, so it takes longer to kill enemies, making it less effective when facing large groups.

Submachine guns are really helpful in Resident Evil 4, particularly when dealing with large groups of enemies. You’ll encounter many of these groups as you progress through the game, making this weapon a valuable asset. The best one, the LE 5, can be found in a locked freezer during Chapter 13.

The LE 5 isn’t the most powerful weapon, but it fires quickly and holds a lot of ammunition, which balances things out. What really sets it apart, though, is its special ability: bullets can penetrate enemies. Combined with its rapid fire rate, the LE 5 is a dependable choice for handling groups of enemies in the RE4 Remake.

7. CQBR Assault Rifle

Best Feature: High Rate of Fire

  • How to Get: Complete the Cubic Device puzzle in Chapter 10.
  • Best Stopgap: The only other rifle that can match up to CQBR’s stats is the Stingray.
Max Power 5.1 (with the Exclusive Perk)
Upgrade Cost 430,000

The CQBR is a powerful assault rifle in the RE4 Remake, capable of dealing significant damage at long range with its fast fire rate and 32-bullet capacity. While its strong recoil can be a challenge, it could be one of the best ARs if it weren’t for that. It’s especially effective against enemy weak points, dealing triple damage – making it a great weapon for boss battles.

Okay, so the CQBR Assault Rifle is a fully automatic beast. It plays a lot like an SMG, but honestly, it’s better – it hits harder and is way more accurate. The downside? It’s a bigger gun, so it takes up more room in my inventory. Gotta make some tough choices about what else to carry!

The CQBR Assault Rifle is incredibly powerful and can easily penetrate enemies, making it perfect for taking on large groups. With enough ammunition, players can quickly clear out enemy camps using this weapon. You can find the CQBR Assault Rifle locked in a box within the Library during Chapter 10, or you can buy it from the Merchant starting in Chapter 11.

6. Broken Butterfly

Best Feature: High Penetration

  • How to Get: Buy from the Merchant starting from Chapter 7.
  • Best Stopgap: For those looking to use a more accurate heavy-duty handgun, the Killer7 would be a better option.
Max Power 40.5
Upgrade Cost 514,000

The Broken Butterfly is one of the most powerful handguns in the Resident Evil 4 Remake. When fully upgraded, it can deal a massive 40.5 damage with each shot, allowing you to instantly defeat even the toughest enemies. However, it fires slowly and has a lot of recoil, meaning a missed shot can be devastating, particularly against quick opponents.

The Broken Butterfly is the first powerful magnum players can find in Resident Evil 4. While the Rocket Launcher is the strongest weapon, magnums pack a serious punch. However, ammo for these guns is very hard to come by. The Broken Butterfly isn’t perfectly accurate, and because magnum ammo is so rare, using it can be a gamble.

The Broken Butterfly is a very powerful weapon once you get the hang of aiming it. You can buy it from the Merchant starting in Chapter 7.

5. Stingray

Best Feature: Extra Damage Against Weak Points

  • How to Get: Buy from the Merchant starting from Chapter 7.
  • Best Stopgap: Players who don’t like the Stingray for whatever reason could replace it with the CQBR AR, the only other weapon that can match up to Stingray’s stats.
Max Power 4.90
Upgrade Cost 416,000

For accurate shooting in the Resident Evil 4 Remake, the Stingray is a top choice. It’s more precise than many other weapons, and landing shots on enemy weak points triples the damage. Starting in Chapter 13, the Stingray really shines as the game features more long-distance fights.

The Stingray is a semi-automatic assault rifle known for its long range, making it ideal for taking out enemies from a distance. Adding a scope greatly enhances its capabilities, effectively turning it into a sniper rifle.

The Stingray is a powerful weapon, especially against enemy weak points, dealing triple the normal damage. It also has solid overall damage, making it a great choice for boss battles. You can buy the Stingray from the Merchant starting in Chapter 7.

4. Rocket Launcher

Best Feature: The Ability to One-Shot Bosses

  • How to Get: Buy from the Merchant.
  • Best Stopgap: The only other group of weapons that could rival the Rocket Launcher is magnums, as no other weapon in the Resident Evil 4 Remake can one-shot a boss.
Max Power N/A
Upgrade Cost N/A

The Rocket Launcher is a top-tier weapon in the Resident Evil 4 Remake, even though it’s expensive. It’s so effective because it can essentially let you skip difficult boss fights – one shot is often enough to defeat even the toughest monsters, but you only get one use of it.

The Rocket Launcher is an incredibly strong weapon capable of instantly defeating most enemies. However, it’s quite costly to obtain and can be dangerous to use. Firing it at close range can even harm the player due to the explosion.

The Remake, like the original game, features an Infinite Rocket Launcher available for purchase from the Merchant. It costs a massive 2,000,000 Pesetas in New Game+. While incredibly expensive, this extremely powerful weapon ensures Leon can overcome any enemy in the game.

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2026-05-25 17:14