Best Weapons: Weapon Tier List

This is a ranking of the best weapons and guns in the Resident Evil 4 Remake (RE4). Learn about the best weapons of each type, such as Handgun, Shotgun, and Rifle, and see our tier list rankings for all 21 guns in the remake!

Best Weapon Guides
Best Weapons List	Best Loadout
Strongest Guns	Weapons to Get First

Best Weapons List

Weapon Type	Best Weapon	Strengths and Reasons for Recommendation
Handgun	Red9	・Highest base power of all Handguns ・Equip with Red9 Stock to improve accuracy ・Can pick it up for free
Shotgun	Striker	・Wide spread ・Highest base ammo capacity and power ・Takes up less space in attache case
Rifle	Stingray	・Most comfortable rate of fire ・Highest base power of all rifles
SMG	LE 5	・Best accuracy and damage output of all SMGs ・Can pick it up for free
Magnum	Killer7	・High base power and accuracy ・Built-in laser sight
Special Weapon	Bolt Thrower	・Reusable ammo ・Attachable explosives ・Stealth weapon great against the Garrador
Knife	Primal Knife	・Indestructible exclusive upgrade

Best Handgun: Red9

Red9
A Handgun that boasts high power but suffers from heavy recoil.
Power	Durability	Attack Speed	Ammo Capacity
1.50	-	-	8
Reload Speed	Rate of Fire	Precision	Inventory Slots
0.85	0.90	3.00	6 (2x3)

The Red9 is our pick for the best Handgun in the Resident Evil 4 Remake. This pistol boasts the highest base power of any Handgun in the game, and you can fit it with a Red9 Stock to improve its accuracy.

In addition, you can pick it up for free in the middle of the lake during Chapter 4, allowing you to spend your Pesetas upgrading it to make it even more powerful instead.

Best Handgun and Pistol

Best Shotgun: Striker

Striker
A semi-automatic shotgun with a wide spread, making it effective at close range.
Power	Durability	Attack Speed	Ammo Capacity
9.00	-	-	12
Reload Speed	Rate of Fire	Precision	Inventory Slots
0.25	1.13	2.00	8 (2x4)

The Striker is our pick for the best Shotgun in the game. While it doesn't have as much range as the Riot Gun, it boasts the highest base power and base ammo capacity of any Shotgun in the game.

It also takes up less space than the Riot Gun, giving you more space to work with in your Attache Case.

Best Shotgun

Best Rifle: Stingray

Stingray
A semi-automatic rifle capable of rapid fire.
Power	Durability	Attack Speed	Ammo Capacity
3.3	-	-	10
Reload Speed	Rate of Fire	Precision	Inventory Slots
0.84	0.73	5.40	14 (2x7)

The Stingray is our preferred pick for the best Rifle in the Resident Evil 4 Remake. It offers the highest base power of any Rifle in the game and provides the most comfortable rate of fire and ammo efficiency compared to the SR M1903 and CQBR Assault Rifle.

Best Rifle

Best SMG: LE 5

LE 5
A medium-sized submachine gun that has good accuracy and penetration power. A scope can be mounted on top.
Power	Durability	Attack Speed	Ammo Capacity
0.80	-	-	20
Reload Speed	Rate of Fire	Precision	Inventory Slots
0.65	2.50	4.50	12 (6x2)

The LE 5 is our pick for the best SMG in the game. Though it has a lower base ammo capacity and reload speed than the TMP, it beats it in base damage output and accuracy.

In addition, you can pick up the LE 5 for free during Chapter 13 by unlocking the Freezer, allowing you to spend your Pesetas on upgrades to make it even more powerful instead.

Best SMG

Best Magnum: Killer7

Killer7
An all stainless steel magnum. It has a laser sight mounted on top as standard and boasts both high power and accuracy.
Power	Durability	Attack Speed	Ammo Capacity
20.0	-	-	7
Reload Speed	Rate of Fire	Precision	Inventory Slots
1.00	0.81	2.50	6 (3x2)

The Killer7 is our preferred pick for the best Magnum in the Resident Evil 4 Remake. Compared to the Broken Butterfly, it offers a higher base power and accuracy and a built-in laser sight, making it immediately more viable without the need for any upgrades.

Best Magnum

Best Special Weapon: Bolt Thrower

Bolt Thrower
A quiet projectile weapon that is great for immobilizing enemies. Bolts can be retrieved and reused.
Power	Durability	Attack Speed	Ammo Capacity
1.20	-	-	3
Reload Speed	Rate of Fire	Precision	Inventory Slots
0.78	0.70	3.00	8 (2x4)

The Bolt Thrower is our pick for the best Special Weapon in the game. While it doesn't have the instant-kill power of the Rocket Launcher, the Bolt Thrower's much lower price, reusable ammo, and attachable mines make it the more affordable and versatile option.

List of All Special Weapons

Best Knife: Fighting Knife

Fighting Knife
A one-of-a-kind knife custom-made for fighting. It is both razor sharp and highly durable.
Power	Durability	Attack Speed	Ammo Capacity
1.00	1.40	1.00	-
Reload Speed	Rate of Fire	Precision	Inventory Slots
-	-	-	4 (1x4)

The Fighting Knife is our preferred pick for the best Knife in the Resident Evil 4 Remake. While the Combat Knife can carry you for most of the game, it's worth upgrading to the Fighting Knife after beating Krauser due to its higher base power and durability.

Best Knife

Weapon Tier List

All Weapons Tier List

S Rank
Red9	Striker	Riot Gun
Stingray	LE 5	SR M1903
Fighting Knife	Killer7	Blacktail
A Rank
Bolt Thrower	CQBR Assault Rifle	Broken Butterfly
Combat Knife	Sentinel Nine	SG-09 R
Punisher	W-870	TMP
B Rank
Rocket Launcher	Skull Shaker	Matilda

List of All Weapons

S-Rank Weapons

Units	Analysis
Red9	When Unlocked: Chapter 4 ・Highest base power of all Handguns ・Equip with Red9 Stock to improve accuracy ・Can pick it up for free
Striker	When Unlocked: Chapter 10 ・Wide spread ・Highest base ammo capacity and power ・Takes up less space in attache case
Riot Gun	When Unlocked: Chapter 6 ・One of the strongest guns in the game when fully upgraded ・Compact spread making it good for locking on weak spots at long range
Stingray	When Unlocked: Chapter 7 ・Most comfortable rate of fire ・Highest base power of all rifles
LE 5	When Unlocked: Chapter 13 ・Best accuracy and damage output of all SMGs ・Can pick it up for free
SR M1903	When Unlocked: Chapter 2 ・One of the strongest guns in the game when fully upgraded
Fighting Knife	When Unlocked: Chapter 13 ・Indestructible exclusive upgrade
Killer7	When Unlocked: Chapter 11 ・High base power and accuracy ・Built-in laser sight
Blacktail	When Unlocked: Chapter 7 ・Well-balanced handgun ・Comes near the top of handguns in terms of damage output ・Has fast reload speed and rate of fire relative to its power

A-Rank Weapons

Units	Analysis
Bolt Thrower	When Unlocked: Chapter 2 ・Reusable ammo ・Attachable explosives ・Stealth weapon great against the Garrador
CQBR Assault Rifle	When Unlocked: Chapter 10 ・Rapid fire rate and high power ・Great against Bosses due to dealing 3x damage to weak spots ・Penetration power
Broken Butterfly	When Unlocked: Chapter 7 ・Can become strongest Magnum in the game when fully upgraded
Combat Knife	When Unlocked: Chapter 1 ・Serviceable starting knife ・Needs upgrades to durability to remain viable
Sentinel Nine	When Unlocked: Bonus Content ・A slightly better version of the SG-09 R ・No need to spend in-game money to get
SG-09 R	When Unlocked: Chapter 1 ・Exclusive upgrade boosts Critical Hit Rate by 5 ・Compatible with laser sight ・Well-balanced handgun for the Village section
Punisher	When Unlocked: Chapter 2 ・Great accuracy for long range handgun use ・Penetration power that can shoot through enemies and wooden shields ・Costly gun to keep viable
W-870	When Unlocked: Chapter 1 ・Strong firepower for early shotgun ・Wide pellet spread and lackluster range ・Slow reload speed and rate of fire
TMP	When Unlocked: Chapter 3 ・Decent damage ・Large magazine size ・Poor accuracy limiting it to only very close range use

B-Rank Weapons

Units	Analysis
Rocket Launcher	When Unlocked: Chapter 5 ・1-hit KOs most enemies ・One-time use per purchase ・Insanely expensive
Skull Shaker	When Unlocked: Bonus Content ・Weak fire power and low ammo capacity increases risk of getting swarmed by enemies
Matilda	When Unlocked: Chapter 8 ・Only offers burst-fire mode and high ammo capacity (when upgraded) ・Not worthy investment due to costing Spinels

Tier List Criteria

Our team considered the factors below during the creation of this tier list. In addition, please note that this tier list is extremely subjective and based on our experience playing the game.

What Is Your Best Weapon?

Do you think a weapon deserves to be higher or lower on the list? Sound off in our comments section and tell us which weapons you think are the best in the Resident Evil 4 Remake!

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Best Weapons for Each Type

Handguns

Rank	Weapon	Analysis
1	Red9	・Highest base power among the other handguns. ・Can be picked up for free in Chapter 4. ・Red9 Stock improves accuracy but takes up more space in the suitcase.
2	Blacktail	・Slightly behind the Red9 in power. ・Higher rate of fire and reload speed makes dealing with multiple enemies easier. ・Takes up less space in the suitcase.
3	Punisher	・Very effective in the Castle for its piercing ability. ・Compatible with the Laser Sight for more accurate shots.
4	Sentinel Nine	・Better base stats than the starting SG-09 handgun. ・Also compatible with the Laser Sight for more accurate shots. ・Exclusive perk increases critical rate by x5.
5	SG-09 R	・Well-rounded stats but does not excel in one. ・Also compatible with the Laser Sight for more accurate shots. ・Exclusive perk increases critical rate by x5.
6	Matilda	・Ability to burst-fire can mop up multiple enemies. ・Will eat through your ammo reserves.

Shotguns

Rank	Weapon	Analysis
1	Striker	・High spread can easily deal with multiple enemies. ・Has the highest base ammo capacity and can store shotgun ammo inside instead of the suitcase. ・Compact size saves space in the suitcase.
2	Riot Gun	・Excellent power when fully upgraded. ・Compact spread can quickly dispatch high-value targets at long range.
3	W-870	・Powerful early on in the game. ・Has a wide spread and poor range. ・Slow reload speed and rate of fire can put you in a tough position.
3	Skull Shaker	・Trades firepower for its compact size. ・Lowest power among the other shotguns.

Assault Rifles

Rank	Weapon	Analysis
1	Stingray	・Highest base power among the rifles. ・High rate of fire for a semi-auto with an Exclusive Upgrades that doubles it.
2	CQBR Assault Rifle	・Highest fire rate and decent power. ・Good for melting down tougher enemies with its ability to deal 3x more damage to weak spots.
3	SR M1903	・One of the most powerful guns in the game when fully upgraded. ・Slow rate of fire may put you in a vulnerable position against multiple enemies.

Magnums

Rank	Weapon	Analysis
1	Killer7	・High base power and accuracy makes it a good purchase right off the bat. ・Built-in laser sight makes it better for longer ranges.
2	Broken Butterfly	・Strongest magnum when fully upgraded. ・Its slow reload speed and lower accuracy will force you to place your shots carefully.

SMGs

Rank	Weapon	Analysis
1	LE 5	・Good penetration and accuracy. ・Can be picked up for free in Chapter 13.
2	TMP	・High ammo capacity and quick reload speed. ・TMP Stock makes it easier to handle.

Resident Evil 4 Remake Related Guides

Tips and Tricks: A Beginner's Guide

All Tips and Tricks Guides

Unlockables
All Unlockables	All Post Game Content
100% Completion Roadmap	New Game Plus Guide
How to Get Infinite Ammo	All Bonus Weapons
Professional Mode	All Exclusive Upgrades
Extra Content Shop	Locked Drawer
Expanded Treasure Map	How to Claim Bonus Content
Mad Chainsaw Mode (Demo)	-
Speedrun Guides
How to Get S+ Rank	Professional S+ Guide
Best Save Points on Professional	How to Skip First Village Fight
How to Skip Gallery Bridge	How to Skip Wrecking Ball Wall
How to Skip the Dynamite	How to Skip the Sun and Moon Switches
How to Raise Cannon Eariler	How to Speed Through Ashley Library Section
How to Skip the Farm: Get Wooden Cog Fast	Speedrun Guide
How to Skip Automatic Turret Lasers	How to Skip AA Turret
Mercenaries Guides
Mercenaries Rewards	Mercenaries Characters Tier List
Best Character for Each Stage	How to Use Mayhem Mode
How to Increase Time Limit	How to Increase Bonus Rate
Does Mercenaries Have Aim Assist?	Best Mercenaries Abilities
Weapon Guides
Best Weapons	Best Equipment for Professional Mode
Best Loadout	Strongest Guns
Best Exclusive Weapon Upgrades	Best Weapons to Upgrade
How to Upgrade Weapons	Best Handgun and Pistol
Best Shotgun	Best SMG
Best Rifle	Best Magnum
Best Knife	Knife Durability
How to Repair Knives	Best Weapons to Get First
Trophy and Challenge Guides
Achievements List and Trophy Guide	List of Challenges
Astute Appraiser	Frugalist
Silent Stranger	Sprinter
Minimalist	Eat This!
Real Deadeye	Smooth Escape
Hope You Like Thrill Rides!	Too Cool For Such Tricks
Capacity Compliance	CP Farming Guide
Settings Guides
Aiming Guide	Best Settings for Consoles
Best Settings for PC	Best Controls for Console
Best Quality-of-Life Settings	Frame Rate or Resolution Priority
How to Turn On Subtitles	How to Change Language Settings
Where to Adjust Brightness Settings	-
Combat Guides
How to Save Ammo	How to Dodge and Avoid Attacks
How to Parry Attacks	How to Stealth Kill Enemies
How Do Critical Hits Work	What to Do When You Have No Ammo
How to Do a Suplex	How to Swap Guns
What Does the Plus 1 Mean?	How to Get Assault Rifle Ammo
How to Repair Body Armor	Knife Only Tips and Strategies
Money and Merchant Guides
All Merchant Locations	Money Farming Guide
What to Buy First	What to Sell First
How to Farm Spinels	What to Trade Spinels For
Limited Time Sale Guide	How to Get Gemstones
Trading Guide	How to Get Exclusive Upgrade Tickets
Charms Guides
Best Charms to Equip	Can You Reroll the Charm Gacha?
Shooting Range Guide	-
Inventory Guides
How to Manage Inventory	How to Rotate Items
How to Increase Attache Case Storage	What to Do With Excess Items
Crafting Guide	All Crafting Recipe Locations
Why Can’t I Store Items?	-
Survival Guides
How to Increase Health	How to Disarm Traps
How to Disarm Tripwires	How to Quick Turn
How to Climb Walls and Ledges	All Yellow Herb Locations
FAQs
Difficulty Differences	Missables and Points of No Return
List of Exploits	All Bugs
How to Save	How to Change Costumes
Can You Turn on the Flashlight?	Can You Throw Back the Dynamite?
Can You Kill the Merchant?	Should You Register a Capcom ID?
Is There Transmog?	How to Get Infinite Knife Durability
Can You Kill Saddler Without the Rocket Launcher?	How to Change FOV
Story Guides
Ending Explained	Post-Credits Scene Explained
How to Get the Wrench	How to Get Past the Village
How to Get Back to the Church	How to Get to Ashley in the Castle
Should You Save or Kill the Trapped Dog?	What Happened to the Dog?
How to Get to the Forest Altar	Where's Everyone Going? Bingo? Meaning
Should You Climb the Bell Tower?	How to Use the Boat
How to Use the Cannon	Minecart Guide
Clocktower Lift Guide	-