Best Weapons To Upgrade First In RE4 Remake

Resident Evil 4 Remake is a highly anticipated game that surpasses its predecessor, which was already considered a classic masterpiece. The game features a fine balance between action and horror, providing an exceptional experience for both old and new fans. The weapons are a critical part of the gameplay experience. There are many weapons available, ranging from pistols and shotguns to rocket launchers.

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Each weapon has unique strengths and weaknesses, and upgrading them can make a huge difference in how effective they are in combat. Upgrades are available in the merchant shop, which appears throughout the game, allowing players to purchase new weapons, upgrade existing ones, and sell unused items for extra cash. The Resident Evil 4 Remake proves to be an example of how a remake should present itself, and it proves once again the masterful way Capcom treats its fan-favorite games.

Updated January 1, 2025 by Vlad Mazanko: The Resident Evil 4 Remake unsurprisingly delivers exceptional replay value, offering players a range of weapons to unlock and upgrade across multiple playthroughs. Given that players won't have nearly enough money to upgrade everything during their first run, the allure of revisiting the game in New Game+ mode is strong. In NG+, players can steadily grow more powerful, expanding their arsenal of deadly tools to tackle each scenario more efficiently.

This updated list covers nearly every weapon available in RE4 Remake, emphasizing their unique perks that can prove invaluable in specific situations. However, deluxe edition bonus weapons (Skull Shaker and Sentinel Nine), as well as the most challenging ones to unlock — such as the Primal Knife, Chicago Sweeper, and Handcannon — are excluded. These weapons are not considered priorities for upgrading due to the significant time and effort required to obtain them.

18 CQBR Assault Rifle

A Full-Auto Rifle With High Damage Output But Excessive Ammo Consumption

Obtained for free during Chapter 10, the CQBR Assault Rifle in Resident Evil 4 Remake might seem like the ultimate weapon in its category. While it excels in specific situations — boasting full-auto fire, an incredibly fast rate of fire, a large magazine, and the fastest reload speed among rifles — its heavy ammo consumption is a significant drawback. Sure, it's satisfying to unload half a magazine of high-cost rounds into an enemy's face, but in most cases, the CQBR is highly impractical for regular use.

The weapon's special perk, which increases Power by 1.5x, is a nice addition, yet even with this upgrade, the CQBR's damage output is only slightly higher than that of the fully upgraded Stingray rifle. The Stingray, however, is much more versatile and cost-effective, making it the better choice in most scenarios. That said, the CQBR shines in specific combat scenarios. With its rapid-fire capability and compatibility with the Biosensor Scope, it can be an excellent choice for quickly taking down the dreaded Regenerators — perfect for moments when survival matters more than conserving ammo.

17 Striker

Large Magazine Size Offers Limited Advantage For The Shotgun Weapon Class

The Striker is the last shotgun to become available in Resident Evil 4 Remake, appearing in Chapter 10 for 38,000 Ptas. It occupies a rather unconventional niche within its category. While it boasts the highest fire rate and a massive drum magazine, it suffers from the lowest damage per shell among all shotguns. Its unique perk upgrade doubles its magazine size to an astounding 48 shells, essentially eliminating the need to reload — assuming players have enough ammo to fully load it at least once. Despite this, it's hard to find scenarios in the game where the Striker's strengths are genuinely advantageous.

Much like the CQBR Assault Rifle, the Striker's ability to burn through ammo quickly can feel inefficient. In most situations, earlier shotguns with higher damage per round and better accuracy are far more practical. Additionally, the Striker is the most expensive shotgun to fully upgrade, requiring a staggering 374,000 Ptas, making it one of the priciest weapons to max out in the entire game.

16 Broken Butterfly Magnum

A Magnum With Unparalleled Damage

The Broken Butterfly is a Magnum-type weapon that suffers from rather poor accuracy, meaning players have to place each shot very carefully. However, with max upgrades, the Broken Butterfly has the highest damage per shot in the game (40.5), which alone should be enough to make some players heavily invest in this gun to reach its devastating 1.5 power perk.

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As with all Magnums, this revolver offers great penetration, allowing for killing several targets with just one bullet. Due to its accuracy issues, it might be best to save these valuable rounds only for the toughest bosses when players are certain they'll hit their weak spots for maximum damage.

15 Fighting Knife

A Deadly Knife With Almost Four Times The Damage Of The Default

Jack Krauser's battle knife is a deadly weapon that significantly surpasses the default Combat Knife in terms of raw damage. This comes at the cost of being more fragile, which could be the difference between life and death in RE4 Remake.

Considering that knives in Resident Evil 4 Remake are rarely used for damage (except for a few boss battles against Krauser), the Fighting Knife is a somewhat questionable choice for Leon's everyday life. However, some enthusiasts might find it useful when completely out of ammo. Additionally, some might wish to stick to this knife because of its stylish looks.

14 Blacktail

Impressive Damage And Fire Rate Packed Into The Smallest Weapon Size

There's no shortage of solid handguns in Resident Evil 4 Remake, but the Blacktail stands out as a particularly notable option. Available starting in Chapter 7, the Blacktail's most distinct trait is its compact size — it's the smallest ranged weapon in the game. For players who prefer to travel light or carry a diverse arsenal, this makes it an appealing choice. However, its small size comes with a drawback: the Blacktail cannot be outfitted with any gun attachments, including the fan-favorite laser sight.

The Blacktail isn't just about portability; it also delivers impressive firepower. With damage per shot second only to the Red9 and a unique 1.5x Power perk, this pistol packs a punch in a small package. However, players should also consider its cost. The Blacktail is the most expensive handgun to fully upgrade, requiring a hefty investment of 301,000 Ptas — nearly 100,000 more than the SG-09 R or Punisher. It's undeniably a powerful and convenient sidearm, but its high price tag might make some think twice. The choice is yours.

13 Matilda Handgun

An SMG-Pistol Hybrid That Allows For Three-Round Burst Fire

The Matilda is rather unique in its handgun category due to its attachable stock that allows for three-round bursts, placing this weapon somewhat between pistols and SMGs. Considering it's much easier to get handgun ammo in Resident Evil 4 Remake, the Matilda can serve as a great alternative to SMGs, with the downside of chewing through ammo incredibly fast.

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This weapon's benefits include a quick rate of fire, allowing the Matilda to take down weaker enemies extremely fast, and making it very useful against multiple enemies in tight spaces. Don't forget this weapon's extended magazine when fully upgraded, which further blurs the line between a handgun and an SMG.

12 LE 5 SMG

An SMG Capable Of Easily Taking Down Even Regenerators

The LE 5 is a great overall SMG, outperforming the TMP in damage and accuracy, but inferior in other key areas such as magazine size and rate of fire. Yet, some might still opt for this weapon instead of the default choice because of its special traits.

Not only does this SMG have penetration power, but it is also compatible with various scopes, including the Biosensor Scope, making it a great choice for quickly taking down several Regenerators at once. All in all, investing in the LE 5 might prove very beneficial, as it is a very versatile and economical weapon that can come in handy in almost every combat scenario.

11 W-870 Shotgun

A Great Weapon For Crowd Control

The W-870's widespread can hit multiple enemies at once, making it a great shotgun for most of the game. Its limited ammo capacity means players will have to be strategic in when and where they use it. It should be upgraded quickly, as it's accessible to players from Chapter 1 until the end.

To maximize its effectiveness, it is recommended for players to aim for the head or other vulnerable points to deal the most damage possible. With the right upgrades and careful use, the W-870 can be a reliable and powerful weapon throughout the full playthrough of Resident Evil 4.

10 Punisher Handgun

A Unique Pistol With Great Penetration Effect

The Punisher is often overlooked by players, but perhaps it shouldn't be. It's true that without upgrades, this gun is relatively weak, but it has one significant advantage. With its penetration power, this handgun can hit several targets with each shot, making it potentially the most economical firearm in Leon's arsenal. It is also suitable for taking down armored or shielded enemies, and even Regenerators when players know where to place their shots.

That alone could prove valuable on higher difficulties, where resources are severely limited. On top of that is the gun's extended magazine, laser sight compatibility, and great accuracy. Fans might just wish to trade all other handguns in favor of the Punisher, especially given that this pistol is the most affordable to fully upgrade.

9 SR M1903 Rifle

A Deadly Rifle But Only When You Are Out Of Enemies' Range

The SR M1903 is a powerful rifle that offers high-precision damage and is ideal for taking out enemies from a distance. Its cons are, however, the slow firing rate and the reload animation that takes Leon out of the scope view. This can be frustrating in fast-paced combat situations, but the high-precision damage makes up for it.

To make the most of the SR M1903, it's important to keep your distance from enemies and engage them from afar. It's worth noting that the SR M1903 is also the most affordable rifle in RE4 Remake, and its upgrades are just as cheap when compared to other rifles. Its power and precision make it a worthwhile investment, especially during boss fights.