Resident Evil 2 (2019): Every Weapon, Ranked

Resident Evil 2’s remake boasts a large arsenal of weaponry for dual protagonists Leon and Claire. Some weapons are exclusive to each character, and can only be obtained and used within that character’s specific story. Resident Evil 2 doesn’t skimp out on the fun, as the weapons the player can find all have some utility.

Whatever weapon the player has found should be useful against zombies, lickers, or the ever-stalking tyrant of Mister X. They are bound to be a threat depending on how the player uses them, and what they prioritize upgrading. Leon and Claire can turn from hunted to hunter.

Updated on October 25, 2024, by Jake Fillery: A survival horror as scary as Resident Evil 2 demands players to make willing sacrifices to their inventory. If players want a decent chance of surviving the torment of zombie horrors and Mr. X, then there are a few weapons that are going to be essential for each playthrough. Listed below, is every weapon in Resident Evil 2, ranked in terms of usefulness. Whether it's a late-game unlock, DLC or found at the start, these tools might just save the day.

21 Broom Hc

Ada's Classic and Limited Run of a 9mm Double-Action

• How to Get: Play as Ada during Leon's Sewers Chapter

The Broom Hc may seem small, but it's utterly deadly. Those who want to try it out for themselves will need to reach the Ada segment in Leon's campaign or try their luck as Daniel in his survivor mission. It might not be the strongest pistol that packs a punch against zombies and other grotesque monsters, but it will get the job done in the right hands.

The Broom Hc isn't high on the list due to its appearance being limited, but it's a rare weapon that features in Ada's hands which makes it worthy of featuring. Players who are swarmed might struggle a tad with this weapon due to its lack of power, but its quick aim speed and reload make it an easy gun to pick up and shoot.

20 MUP

Stagger Zombies or Aim For the Head to Drop Them

• How to Get: Play as HUNK or Ghost in their Survivor scenarios

The MUP is exclusive to HUNK and Ghost in their respective Survivor missions, meaning they cannot be played in the campaign for Leon and Claire. However, for those Survivor missions, players can have a relatively easy time thanks to the fact that this gun plays a lot like the JMP Hp3, just without the upgrades and modifications that make that weapon so great.

The MUP can be a reliable choice of weaponry, and its 16-shot capacity makes it a welcome addition to any arsenal, as it gives players the freedom to miss a shot and the freedom to take on multiple foes at once without the fear of reloading, plus, the headshot damage is pretty great.

19 Combat Knife

Cut Tape and Cut Throats

• How to Get: Found in Campaigns

The Combat Knife might just look like a standard military-grade knife, but it's definitely more than meets the eye. The Combat Knife can easily save Leon and Claire in the most difficult situations since it can be used as a melee weapon to stab enemies when ammo is low or to lose even further durability of the knife to plunge it into a lunging zombie's neck to stop their attack from dealing more damage.

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While the Combat Knife isn't going to be able to attack every zombie, and its durability is limited, the fact that it can be used in quick-time events and cut tape to unlock new areas showcases that it's always a good idea to keep a Combat Knife or two in the inventory.

18 Hand Grenade

Explode Zombies For Easy Swarm Kills

• How to Get: Found in Campaigns

A hand grenade is an absolute classic weapon in war, and it meshes very well against zombies. The hand grenade unleashes metal fragments that destroy anything in the surrounding perimeter, making a party of flesh, guts, and limbs for the disgusting zombies that stalk the corridors of Raccoon City’s Police Department.

These weapons can often be dangerous, as the blast zone is rather big, and the throw radius is not the greatest. However, the explosions surely do a lot of damage and are great for eliminating bosses like they are just ordinary enemies in the game.

17 Flash Grenade

Stun Zombies For Easy Takedowns

• How to Get: Found in Campaigns

Up to three flash grenades can be stocked in the players’ inventory. It’s a greatly effective way to get around enemies or disable them so that players can take advantage of their stunned state. It flashes enemies in the blast radius and can be used in a defensive situation if the player gets grabbed, but remains less effective in a counterattack.

It’s a pretty good RE2 weapon to make the game easier, all things considered, as the flash grenade is effective against all enemies, and none are immune to its grand bright blast. Even the player can be affected by it, and somewhat disorientated, like a sucker punch from Mister X.

16 Chemical Flamethrower

Burn Through Enemies That Won't Stop Coming Back

• How to Get: Found In The Supplies Storage Room In The Lower Sewers

The chemical flamethrower can be obtained during Leon’s campaign by solving the queen/king puzzle that can be located in the sewers. What makes the chemical flamethrower a worthy tool, is that it can permanently kill the Ivy-type enemies.

The chemical flamethrower isn’t great against other enemies like regular zombies, but can rather quickly take out stronger foes. However, because the flamethrower takes up two inventory slots, and requires a large amount of gunpowder for ammunition, it isn’t the highest-ranking weapon.

15 Matilda

Leon's Trusty Handgun That Can Do No Wrong

• How to Get: Leon's starting weapon

As Leon’s default weapon, the Matilda holds up to 12 handgun bullets. Although the weapon can be upgraded, its potential never reaches the heights of other weapons.

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The Matilda is known as a relatively weak weapon, but as a starting pistol, it gets the job done. It can help stagger zombies or tear off limbs with a few shots. Ammo is easy to come by, and it has a range that shotguns would deny. Yet, players should not rely on this weapon for the difficult late game.

14 Samurai Edge

Utilize DLC to Unlock a Hard-Hitting Pistol

• How to Get: Beat The Game With An S Rank On Standard Or Hardcore / Purchase "All In-Game Rewards Unlock" DLC

In Resident Evil 2, all weapons also include the pre-order and DLC bonus, Samurai Edge. It’s a sought-after gun and has a long-standing history with the Resident Evil franchise. With a maximum magazine size of 15, it’s already a weapon to conquer, even without the ability to upgrade it.

However, its magazine size isn’t a test feature of the gun, as the real kicker comes from the fact that there are four variants of the Samurai Edge handgun. Each variant has unique advantages for players to bring into the game on their next run.

13 Spark Shot

Stun Zombies to Leave Them Incapacitated

• How to Get: Found In The Supplies Storage Room In The Sewers (Lower)

The spark shot is a stun gun that can be described as Claire’s campaign version of Leon’s shotgun. It can be found on a wall in the Supplies Storage Room in the lower sewers after the player finds the King Plug.

This weapon needs to charge each shot. However, it can cause a large amount of damage to enemies, and slow them down. The gun can be used to zap enemies and leave them stunned so that the player can ignore them and run past them. Unfortunately, ammo is quite scarce, as the player will need Needle Cartridges, which are only in select locations.

12 Quickdraw Army

Embrace the Cowboy-Aesthetics With a Hip-Firing Revolver

• How to Get: Found In 2nd Playthrough In The Police Station's Guardroom

Fans of westerns would be eager to get their hands on this handgun. Sadly, it can only be obtained after completing Claire’s campaign. Players will need to embark on the second scenario, which is more challenging. It can be located in the Guardroom by Claire.

This six-round revolver can fire rapid shots, with low recoil. The moderate damage dealt with each shot makes for an effective tool against the zombie hordes. However, each round needs to be unloaded and reloaded individually, making for a grueling reload time.