Resident Evil 4 was initially released as a GameCube exclusive, which is funny to think about now as it has since come to virtually every modern system under the sun. The game has also since been considered as not just one of the greatest survival horror games of all time, but one of the greatest games of all time, period.
Resident Evil 4 has such a large arsenal, that it can be hard to keep track of every weapon and decide what to use during a playthrough. This list should help anybody going through the game for the first time plan ahead on what to use. Knowing what weapons to upgrade is vital to saving money and making sure players have enough resources.
Updated on July 20th, 2022, by Jack Pursey: Following months of rumors and speculation, it has finally been confirmed that the iconic survival horror game Resident Evil 4 is set to follow in the footsteps of its predecessors and receive a modern remake. Many people believe that the horror game holds up well, though it will still be great to play a modern take on the classic game.
For those wanting to replay the game before the remake arrives, we've updated this list of Resident Evil 4's best weapons to include the special guns that are unlocked after beating the game.
19 Shotgun
- Found in a house in the first chapter during the first big attack in the village
- Costs 20,000 pts from the merchant
- Final upgrade prevents damage dropoff with range
- Costs 277,000 pts to complete its upgrade path
The Shotgun is found early on in the adventure during the first stand in the small village. It does not let players down during the first chapter but is better left at the wayside once better shotguns come along. Regardless of power, the Shotgun is always good for staggering enemies.
In a first playthrough of Resident Evil 4, the Shotgun feels like a saving grace during an extremely desperate time. Leon is being attacked by all sides, but after finding the Shotgun, he is able to even the odds.
18 Rocket Launcher
- Costs 30,000 pts from the merchant
- Found in chapter 3-3 in the castle
While it may seem like this weapon is too low on the list, several disadvantages make the Rocket Launcher less than ideal. It only fires once and takes up a lot of inventory space. Only one is found in the environment during the castle chapter. It is better to sell than use.
Leon disposes of Saddler with a special Rocket Launcher. If only he had this before Saddler killed Luis. Rocket launchers are a common motif in the series, with many games ending with the protagonist earning a rocket launcher during a losing battle and destroying the antagonist with it.
17 Rifle
- Costs 7,000 pts
- Final upgrade increases the attack power
- Costs 289,000 to complete its upgrade path
Players should definitely buy the Rifle once it becomes available to purchase from the Merchant, but there is no need to upgrade it. The range is nice, but it becomes obsolete once Leon reaches the castle and the semi-automatic Rifle becomes available.
When Leon first gets it, he is able to snipe numerous enemies from where the merchant is, which marks a first for the franchise. Players manually aim for one moment in Code Veronica, but it is only during a boss and not a sniping sequence.
16 The Knife
- Especially effective against the final Krauser fight
- Not upgradable
Do not underestimate the Knife. While it is not very powerful, the Knife is vital to saving ammunition, especially early on. In pre-release demos, the knife was a separate item players had to equip before using, as opposed to it being a different command on the controller.
When an enemy is knocked to the ground, walk up to them and knife them instead of shooting them. Maybe it is just a few shots, but they add up. The knife is also great against Krauser during his boss fight.
15 Matilda
- Unlocked after beating the game
- Costs 70,000 pts
- Final upgrade provides a 100 Round Magazine
The Matilda is the first weapon on this list that can only be purchased after beating the main campaign. Unfortunately, the gun isn't the greatest of rewards.
The Matilda is a handgun that is unique in the game for its burst fire. In most games, burst-fire is a great benefit, but that's not the case in Resident Evil 4, as ammo is precious, and every shot counts. Thankfully, the other unlockable guns are worth the effort.
14 Mine Thrower
- Bought In Chapter 3-1 for 9,800 pts
- Cost 28,000 pts in the original GameCube release
- Final upgrade makes the bullets homing and gives them a bigger blast radius
- Costs 211,000 pts to complete its upgrade path
As cool as the Mine Thrower is, players do not need it. It is good for clearing a crowd, but other weapons fulfill a similar purpose.
The ammunition is also valuable, so one strategy is buying the weapon and selling the ammo Leon collects. At the end of the day, the Mine Thrower is simply a cool weapon.
13 Punisher
- Can also be bought for 20,000 pts
- Final upgrade pierces through five enemies
- Costs 276,000 pts to complete its upgrade path
The Punisher is a pistol obtained by shooting at least ten blue medallions in the first chapter. It is relatively easy to find all of these and a good thing to do even if players do not plan on using the gun.
It pierces through enemies, allowing Leon to damage multiple Ganados at once. It is best to use it until Leon gets the Red9. In terms of long-term use, either the Handgun or Red9 are more desirable.
12 Broken Butterfly
- Costs 38,000 pts
- Found in the castle once Leon finds Ashley again
- Costs 455,000 pts to complete its upgrade path
This magnum is available to buy from the Merchant, but it is better to collect it during the castle chapter. Of the two magnums Leon gets, it is the worst. All the same, it gets the job done until players can purchase Killer 7.
There is a segment with the monsters in the knight's armor where the Broken Butterfly comes in handy. It also just feels cool to use. Any Resident Evil fan knows to save Magnum ammunition for the bosses.
11 Riot Gun
- Costs 32,000 pts
- Final upgrade simply increases its firing power
- Costs 415,000 pts to complete its upgrade path
Taste in shotguns ultimately depends on personal preference. While the Riot Gun is weaker than the Striker, it has a longer range and is easier to aim.
It ultimately depends on what players value in a shotgun. Its special ability is nothing to write home about either. Regardless of which shotgun the player wants to use, they should always have one in the inventory.
10 Killer 7
- Costs 77,700 pts
- No special final upgrade, but it is a supremely powerful weapon
- Costs 337,700 pts to complete its upgrade path
This magnum should replace the Broken Butterfly immediately after obtaining it. Starting at a base firepower of 25, it eventually goes up to 35, making it an ideal power weapon for any boss fight. The name is obviously an homage to the Capcom game Killer 7.
On a first playthrough, try to buy it before the Salazar boss fight since it can take him out in just several shots. Any Resident Evil fan knows to save the magnum for the boss fights, and the fourth mainline entry is no exception.