As a longtime Resident Evil fanatics with over 300 hours across the original game and remaster, I‘ve been eagerly awaiting the RE4 remake. The expanded arsenal did not disappoint!
Veterans will find old favorites revamped alongside new death-dealers. Newcomers have an awesome lineup to carry them through this landmark survival horror game.
In this guide, I‘ll be highlighting my personal recommendations along with key stats and details on all 30+ weapons Leon can wield against Los Ganados. Let‘s get to the goods!
Melee Weapons – Last Resort Lifesavers
It‘s easy to underestimate melee weapons – I sure did on my first run years ago. But creative knife-work helps whenever you‘re low on ammo and overrun with enemies. These lifesavers have saved my hide on the higher difficulties.
While their damage is low, infinite durability and ammo gives them permanent staying power in your loadout. Fortunately, Capcom kept the satisfying crunch of knife impacts. Upgrades make them speedy disemboweling tools!
Combat Knife – Reliable Backup
Still the ol‘ reliable fallback 15 years later. Quick slashes keep swarming Ganados from overwhelming you. I highly recommend investing spinels into damage and durability upgrades. Nothing‘s worse than your last line snapping in the middle of a horde!
Kitchen Knife – Common Early Find
The slightly longer range helps score backstabs on unaware enemies. No statistical differences otherwise. It‘s easily discovered as a collectible near the starting village – handy until you unlock better options!
Boot Knife – Deadly Hidden Gem
I almost missed this jagged-edged dagger tucked away in Chapter 7 my first go-around! Once found, its lightning-fast speed let me jackhammer enemies with impunity…at least for a short while before breaking. Use sparingly and it‘s a deadly asset.
Fighting Knife – Essential Endgame Knife
The pinnacle of RE4‘s blades – obtained after that epic Krauser knife-fight. This folding Karambit knife surpasses all other melee weapons. A ludicrous 2x damage multiplier even shreds late-game enemies and majini mutants! It immediately became my permanent backup.
Handguns – Reliable Firepower
What classic RE protagonist doesn‘t wield a handgun? I‘m thrilled Capcom kept the flexibility of pistols as your bread-and-butter firearms. The array of semi-autos, magnums, and revolvers offer balanced firepower for all occasions.
Favoring one or two sidearms and upgrading them over a playthrough really helps boost their viability for the endgame. Nothing beats eliminating regenerators in two shots with a fully-upgraded Killer7!
SG-09R – Ol‘ Reliable
The SG-09R source: capcom continues RE4‘s tradition of providing Leon a trusty semi-auto pistol from the start. It served me well until acquiring more advanced sidearms. Upgrading magazine size, fire rate, and stability turned it into an accurate headshot-popper!
Matilda – Customizable Hand Cannon
The Matilda‘s old-timey lethality still shines. Slower fire rate but substantially more punch per shot than typical pistols – enough to drop militia goons in 1-2 bullets! An exclusive stock attachment further boosts accuracy. Easily my favorite once fully customized and upgraded!
Blacktail – Controllable Machine Pistol
Fans of spray-and-pray will love the Blacktail. It spits bullets rapidly thanks topolymer framing and a lighter slide. Easy to control in full-auto compared to similar machine pistols. A customizable all-rounder!
Red9 – Vintage Stopping Power
I‘ve got a soft-spot for historic firearms like the Mauser Red9. WWII origins and methodical fire-rate reflect its age, but hot damn its stopping power! Combined with the exclusive stock for pinpoint shots, it‘s among my top picks.
Killer7 – High-Risk Magnum/SMG Hybrid
This custom magnum rifle by Joichiro Tomino lives up to its namesake. Killer7‘s blistering fire rate and high damage synergize into a lethal close-quarters firearm. Small ammo capacity and high recoil demand mastery however. Risk big to win big!
Handcannon – Unmatched Damage
It took beating RE4 on Professional with only the starting knife, but the payoff was incredible – a Handcannon firing .600 Nitro rounds. Nothing compares to this monster‘s damage output – capable of one-shotting just about everything! Just mind the slow handling…
Submachine Guns – Bullet Hoses
While guzzling ammo quickly, SMGs overwhelm foes with sheer bullet saturation. Upgrading magazine sizes turns them into powerful horde-shredders! I break these out whenever Ganados start flooding my position.
TMP – Reliable Burst-Fire Shredder
The TMP machine pistol enjoys surprising availability early-on for a fully-automatic weapon – it can be purchased after the first few chapters. Upgrades removing recoil turns it into a stable bullet hose. Reliable and controllable!
LE-5 – All-Rounder SMG
Discovered mid-game, the LE-5 improves upon the TMP‘s firepower while retaining stability. The large ammo capacity feeds its bullet-spewing hunger longer than other SMGs. It became my goto for overwhelming crowds with lead!
Chicago Typewriter – Infinite Power Trip
Unloading infinite .45 caliber rounds from this M1A1 Thompson is a power trip like no other – and rightfully earned through dedicated play. I cackle madly whenever deep bassy gunshots echoes while zombies and militia alike disintegrate before its barrage!
Shotguns – Crowd Control Kings
Few things ruin a Ganado‘s day faster than 12-gauge buckshot to the torso! Shotguns received noticeable love in RE4 Remake compared to the original. Their crunchy damage and wider spread turns rooms into fun houses full of ragdolling limbs and spurting blood.
Deliver satisfying overkill by blasting Plaga parasites mid-burst from a host‘s head – one of many little details elevating RE4‘s weapons above typical shooters! Upgrades expanding shell capacity turns the streets into bullet-hell…for your enemies!
Striker – Rapid-Cycling Meat Grinder
My favorite shotgun hands-down. Striker churns out pain rapidly thanks to automatic cycling between shells after each pull of the trigger – faster than all other shotguns! Upgrading its already ludicrous 14 round capacity to 30 means anything caught at medium-range transforms into a fine meat paste in seconds.
Riot Gun – Single Shot Carnage
When overkill is the only option, the Riot Gun scratches that itch. Sacrificing capacity and fire rate gifts it the largest per-shell damage of any shotgun. One or two shells blows enemies into next week – often literally! Excellent as an anti-mutation takedown tool.
W870 – Reliable Stopping Power
Sometimes you just want a solid pump-action shotgun that kills things good. That‘s the reliable, free W870 found early on. Tighter spread than the Riot Gun or Striker makes it equally viable against single targets or mobs. It‘ll carry you far until acquiring better options.
Rifles – Versatile Firepower
Few feelings match eliminating distant targets with precise rifle fire. RE4 Remake expands the selection with a mix of semi-auto precision, hard-hitting sniper variants, and even fully-automatic assault killers!
Most models feature 4x zoom optics for engaging far-off hostiles. Upgrades enhancing damage, fire rate, and magazine capacities transform ordinary militia into blood splatter pin cushions!
CQBR – Bullpup Balance
This bullpup AR platform strikes an excellent balance of automatic firepower and stability thanks to its proprietary recoil mitigation system – perfect for skirmishing at mid-range. Obtaining it for free mid-game makes it a frequent new addition in my loadouts on repeated playthroughs!
Stingray – Bullet Storm
When you absolutely need to saturate an entire area in high-velocity lead, break out the Stingray. 600 rounds per minute ensures everything visible disintegrates post-haste. Just mind the recoil requiring occasional bursting outside of shotgun ranges!
Bolt-Action Rifles – Boom Headshot!
Bolt-actions may fire slowly, but their staggering damage makes each shot count. Upgrade the standard rifle for 10x zoom optics and it becomes the ultimate infiltrator‘s tool for eliminating lookout targets before they spy your approach! Nothing beats the power trip of explosive headshot kills.
Explosives – Crowd Control and Carnage
Explosives provide invaluable versatility when regular weapons fail. Tossing grenades around corners or into the ceiling to rain shrapnel from above breaks stalemates against entrenched Los Illuminados.
Proximity Bombs – Nefarious Traps
A new addition, proximity bombs stick to surfaces for makeshift mines. Luring enemies into their blast radius works flawlessly! Remote detonation mid-firefight also offers creative solutions to hairy encounters. Fighting in a corridor? Toss bombs overhead then rain death with the push of a button!
Rocket Launcher – Overkill Satisfaction
Sometimes you just need to erase something with maximum prejudice. At the cost of scarce ammo, the RPG obliterates groups, explodes eye-catching setpieces, or removes boss adds quickly. For when there‘s too much hell and you HAVE to kill it all!
Special Weapons – Skillful Rewards
I love how Capcom hid ultimate weapons behind challenging unlock conditions. They incentivize mastery and offer intoxicating power for the most dedicated devil hunters!
Infinite Launcher – Ultimate Power Fantasy
This infinite ammo rocket cannon is appropriately only available in New Game+. It serves no other purpose beyond letting your inner child eradicate everything with wanton explosive destruction! Use it to speed-run levels in record time or erase powerful foes instantly.
Handcannon – Peak Stopping Power
Beating RE4 on Professional with minimum weapons seems impossible…until that first time a massive Handcannon round splays a Ganado across the wall. Firing unique .600 Nitro Express rounds, nothing compares to this behemoth‘s raw damage output – capable of dropping bosses with just a few shots!
Final Thoughts
I still fondly remember booting up RE4 for the first time years ago. Now in 2023, this remake revitalizes the masterpiece survival horror game with today‘s hardware. The expanded weapons armory adds so much variety to your anti-Ganado crusade!
Veterans will be dropping skulls with familiar firearms enhanced beautifully. Meanwhile new players now have a staggering and deep pool of death-dealers to explore!
I hope this passionate gamer‘s guide gives you insight into formulating your ideal loadout against Los Illuminados. Now grab Leon‘s threadbare jacket and get to blasting, stranger! The president‘s daughter isn‘t saving herself!
