As a passionate Resident Evil 4 player with over 200 hours across multiple playthroughs, I‘ve become intimately familiar with all of the weapons and their combat capabilities. In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll be sharing my meta analysis on definitive best-in-class guns along with key recommendations so you can obliterate Los Illuminados more effectively.
Rating Criteria for Best Weapons
First, let‘s establish the criteria that I carefully judged each weapon against as a hardcore gamer and expert RE4 player:
- Power: Raw per-shot damage dealt, especially when upgraded for end game
- Speed: Rate of fire and reload times to maximize damage per second
- Accuracy & Handling: Ease of scoring critical hits under pressure
- Ammo Efficiency: Damage dealt per unit of scarce ammo
- Crowd Control: Capability to damage multiple enemies with splash or penetration
- Versatility: Effectiveness across various enemy types and engagement ranges
- Obtainability: Ease of acquiring the weapon earlier on
I compared all unlockable weapons against these core criteria, favoring those that provide tactical versatility to take on Los Illuminados forces.
Now let‘s dive into the cream of the crop top tier weapons and why they belong in your arsenal!
S-Tier Best Weapons
These god-tier weapons have the optimal balance across all rating criteria. They should form the core of your loadout.
Red9 Handgun
The Red9‘s combination of damage, accuracy, low recoil, and great upgrade potential make it my choice sidearm. Equip the exclusive stock to transform the Red9 into an absolute headshot machine.
Upgraded Red9 Stats:
- Power: 4.2
- Rate of Fire: 1.77
- Reload Speed: 1.15 s
- Precision: 4.8
With the stock attached, I can rapid fire nail consistent weak point hits. The improved precision tightens bullet spread, extending its effective range.
The Red9 lacks AOE penetration, but still shreds individual enemies with surgical headshots. I rely on this versatile handgun in 90% of encounters. It deserves a permanent place in your loadout.
Obtainment Difficulty: Easy
Bolt Action Rifles
These high-powered sniper rifles enable safely eliminating enemies before they become threats. Their extreme precision allows scoring instant kill headshots, even through multiple surfaces by penetrating cover.
With proper positioning, you can completely tilt the odds in your favor. Their stealth also allows quietly thinning enemy numbers as they search for your location.
Upgraded Bolt Action Rifle Stats:
- Power: 8.5
- Fire Rate: 0.26 s
- Reload Speed: 1.8 s
- Precision: 6.0
However, the slow fire rate punishes missed shots and the low capacity mandates carrying a secondary weapon for crowd control when enemies close distance. But when used properly, few weapons can compete with their raw stopping power.
Obtainment Difficulty: Easy
W870 Shotgun
As an RE4 veteran, I consider mastering shotgun proficiency an essential skill due to their immense close-quarters damage. The W870 brings enemies to their knees as its spread tears through limbs and torsos.
And when enemies bunch into groups, each shell pulverizes the entire crowd. Just be wary of its slower pump action compared to the Semi-Auto‘s rapid sustained fire.
Upgraded W870 Stats:
- Power: 10.2
- Fire Rate: 0.77
- Reload Speed: 0.49 s
- Spread: 36 pellets
The Shotgun‘s limited effective range and reload times mandate carrying a versatile secondary. But whenever swarmed at close range, the W870 absolutely demolishes packs of Ganados.
Obtainment Difficulty: Very Easy
A-Tier Weapons
The weapons below have specific roles where they excel. While perhaps not as universally versatile as S-tiers, they provide tactical options to counter challenging enemies the top guns can struggle with.
Killer7 Magnum
While the most expensive merchant firearm, the Killer7‘s ludicrous damage compensates by dropping any foe (besides Regenerators) in 1-2 shots even on higher difficulties.
Its penetration can kill multiple staggered enemies when aligned. Nailing consecutive weak point shots puts bosses down hard.
Upgraded Killer7 Stats:
- Power: 30
- Fire Rate: 1.03 s
- Reload Speed: 0.9 s
- Precision: 3.0
However, its substantial recoil and low ammo check your accuracy. Missing shots severely punishes you. I recommend reserving the Killer7 exclusively for punishing powerful enemies and bosses your primary weapons struggle defeating. It serves as an essential insurance policy.
Obtainment Difficulty: Hard
Riot Gun Shotgun
Sporting faster fire and reload rates than the W870 but less per shell damage, the Riot Gun better suits rapidly exterminating clusters at close range when being overrun. The wider spread and larger magazine facilitate quickly shredding mobbed up enemies before needing to pump.
Upgraded Riot Gun Stats:
- Power: 9.6
- Fire Rate: 1.12
- Reload Speed: 0.35 s
- Ammo Capacity: 10
- Spread: 32 pellets
As a tactical tradeoff, the Riot Gun lacks the raw stopping power to reliably halt charging giants like the W870. But when confronting relentlessly aggressive hordes in tight spaces, the Riot Gun allows violently cutting down their numbers to regain control of the engagement.
Obtainment Difficulty: Moderate
Punisher Handgun
An inexpensive starting weapon, the Punisher provides early game utility through its penetration rounds able to eliminate aligned enemies.
Upgraded Punisher Stats:
- Power: 1.56
- Fire Rate: 1.32
- Reload Speed: 0.99 s
- Penetration: 6 targets
Its solid ammo capacity and rate of fire facilitate quietly dispatching small packs. However, the low per-shot damage warrants headshots to conserve ammo.
While eclipsed in power by late game weapons, the Punisher‘s dirt cheap ammo keeps it a viable mob-clearer for conserving high grade rounds when swarmed by basic enemies. I still quickly swap to the Punisher when mobbed in a corridor or needing to break shields.
Obtainment Difficulty: Very Easy
Weapon Combat Recommendations
Based on their unique strengths, certain weapons fare better against specific enemies and tactics. Follow these best practices:
Ganados & Zealots: Headshot with Red9 or spray with shotguns/SMG up close
Cultists: Punisher to pierce their shield then Red9 headshot
Attack Dogs: Shotgun their mouths as they leap
Regenerators: Burn with flame rounds
Novistadors: Snipe with bolt-action rifles
El Gigantes: Bolt-action rifle or magnum weak point shots
Del Lago: Harpoon gun to the eyes
Garradors: Shotgun to break armor then bolts/knife the parasite
Verdugo: Shoot knees to stall then damage with magnum
U3: Use heavy weapons on its weak points when they emerge
Saddler: Pump Killer7 shots during his transformations
Special Unlocks: Unlimited Ammo Weapons
By completing Mercenaries mode stages under the target time with a 5-star rating, you permanently unlock unlimited ammo variants for Leon‘s strongest weapons along with alternate costumes:
- Handcannon (Inf Ammo): Complete The Mercenaries with 5-Stars
- Chicago Typewriter (Inf Ammo): 5-Star every stage with Leon
- P.R.L. 412 (Inf Ammo): 5-Star The Mercenaries with every character
These can help immensely during later New Game+ difficulty runs when ammo conservation becomes very challenging.
Speedrunner Weapon Tiers
For those attempting minimum time speedrun completions rather than firepower, these Any% tier weapons allow completing RE4‘s key fights fastest by exploiting certain damage mechanics:
S-Tier: Blacktail, Striker, Killer7 Magnum
A-Tier: TMP, Bolt Action Rifle
The raw DPS powerhouses become unnecessary when manipulating intended combat sequences. Check speedrunning guides specializing in these routing tricks.
Closing Thoughts on Best Weapons
Ultimately RE4 arms you with an expansive toolkit, enabling creatively conquering scenarios based on preferences. This guide focused on highlight proven, reliable weapons to confidently defeat Los Illuminados.
I believe mastering the S-Tier and situational A-Tier firearms provides the most consistent path for first-time players. Make upgrading their capabilities a priority after initial acquisition.
Their versatility should carry across all core gameplay. Swap between them fluidly as combat conditions dictate.
With proper mastery of these armaments, you‘ll accessorize Leon to dominate Los Illuminados and uncover the truth behind their cult! Let me know in the comments your favorite RE4 weapons.
