Best Weapons for Leon

If Grace Ashcroft’s campaign in Resident Evil: Requiem has you cowering in corners and flinching at every rustle, Leon S. Kennedy’s episodes are an entirely different game. Leon’s return to the ruins of Raccoon City is explosive, fast-paced action at its best – a direct spiritual heir to RE4.

But the local mutants are faster, stronger, and more aggressive than ever. Your starting pistol will last roughly 30 minutes. This spoiler-light guide will show you exactly where to find the best weapons in your first 2–3 hours and how to invest your upgrade resources for maximum return.

Starting Arsenal & Early Pickups

Leon starts with a basic loadout: the SG-09 R pistol and a combat knife. That will carry you through the first 15 minutes – until you reach the Village Square. Your first serious upgrade is available within 40 minutes of starting the game.

Weapon	Type	Location	Why Get It Early?
SG-09 R	Pistol	Leon’s starting weapon	Reliable at range. First candidate for a merchant upgrade – firepower and reload speed pay off immediately.
W-870 Tactical	Shotgun	Ruined Police Outpost – weapon locker in the main hall. Use the Officer Keycard found in the guard tent out back.	Devastating at close range. Clears groups and staggers mini-bosses. Must-have for the Village siege.
Tactical Survival Knife	Knife	Guaranteed drop after defeating the first major enemy – The Butcher in the alleys before the sewers.	Three times more durable than the starter knife. The Parry mechanic from RE4 Remake returns – keep this repaired.

💡 Pro Tip: Pick up the W-870 before the final wave of the Village siege – it will save you against group rushes and make the first mini-boss encounter far more manageable.

Expanding Your Arsenal: Locations & Secrets

LE-5 “Nightbird” – Crowd Control

Leon frequently faces new types of infected that lunge and attack in packs. In those situations, fire rate matters more than raw damage per shot. The LE-5 staggers enemies with ease, giving Leon the opening to land his signature spinning heel kick.

📍 Where to find: “BSAA Evacuation Convoy” – a large open area with abandoned military vehicles, accessed after the Police Outpost. Solve the electrical panel puzzle on the side of an armored truck (reroute power until all three switches turn green).

M1911 “Raccoon Custom” – Armor Piercer

The starting pistol lacks the stopping power needed against armored enemies and mutants with growths. The M1911 fixes that: high damage, excellent critical headshot chance, and when paired with a laser sight from the merchant it becomes a pocket sniper rifle.

📍 Where to find: Jack’s Bar (a nod to longtime series fans) – a large safe in the owner’s office on the 2nd floor. The code is not given directly. Head downstairs, find a faded photograph on the bar counter – the founding year of the establishment is the combination. Note: the numbers appear to be randomized per playthrough, so check in-game.

Red 9 – The Best Pistol in the Game

If there’s one weapon worth going out of your way for, it’s the Red 9. Highest damage among all pistols, excellent accuracy, and the strongest upgrade potential at the merchant. Once you have it, you’ll never look at the SG-09 R again.

📍 Where to find: Mural Cave area in Chapter 4 – take the boat to the sunken ship, blue chest on the stern. Roughly ~2 hours into the game.

Weapon	Type	Location	Key Advantage
LE-5 “Nightbird”	SMG	BSAA Evacuation Convoy – armored truck (electrical panel puzzle)	High fire rate. Staggers enemies perfectly for Leon’s heel kick follow-up.
M1911 “Raccoon Custom”	Magnum Pistol	Jack’s Bar – 2nd floor safe (code = founding year on bar photo)	Pierces armored enemies. High crit headshot chance. Laser sight turns it into a pocket sniper.
Red 9	Premium Pistol	Mural Cave – sunken ship, blue chest on stern (Chapter 4)	Best pistol in the game. Highest damage and accuracy. Permanently replaces SG-09 R.

💡 Pro Tip: Red 9 is your absolute priority. The moment you find it, head straight to the merchant and invest your resources in its Firepower upgrade first.

Upgrade Strategy: Where to Spend Your Resources

Don’t pour all your early resources into fully upgrading the SG-09 R – the investment is partially wasted once you find better weapons. Follow this priority order instead:

Priority	What to Upgrade	Reasoning
1	W-870 Firepower	The shotgun is your main weapon for the first 2 hours. Damage returns instantly.
2	SG-09 R Reload Speed	Speeds up combat rhythm until you acquire the M1911.
3	M1911 Firepower (after finding it)	Highest ROI among all pistols in the early game.
4	Knife Durability at the merchant	Your knife breaks at the worst possible moment – repair is non-negotiable.

Financial Strategy

• Sell every treasure you find (gold, gems, jewelry) to the merchant – don’t hoard them in your inventory.
• Don’t buy early-tier weapons if you already have the W-870 or M1911.
• Shotgun + a penetrating pistol = the optimal combo for the Village and Valley areas.
• The Bolt Thrower is an optional purchase for leftover funds – silent, reusable bolts, great for stealth.

💡 Pro Tip: Collect Spinels for the Punisher pistol by shooting Blue Medallions in buildings during Chapters 1–2. The Punisher penetrates multiple enemies in a line – ideal for tight groups of Ganados.

Leon’s Combat Tactics: Core Principles

• SR M1903 Rifle (12,000 pesetas at the merchant, Chapter 2) – essential for precise headshots from a safe distance and dealing with bosses.
• TMP (10,000 pesetas, Chapter 3) – best for clearing groups: high fire rate with an exclusive ×1.5 damage upgrade.
• The Knife – not just for parrying. Practice drawing it to finish downed enemies (zero ammo cost).
• Stagger loop: shot to the knee → close in → heel kick → knife finish. Saves 60–70% of ammo on standard enemies.

Conclusion

With this arsenal, Leon’s first hours transform from chaotic scrambling into controlled, rhythmic combat. Resident Evil: Requiem is a true evolution of the genre – every bullet and every peseta count. Collect treasures, keep your knife in good shape, and save your heavy firepower for mandatory encounters.

What’s your favorite weapon in the Resident Evil universe? Are you a classic shotgun fan or do you swear by Magnum precision? Share your finds and first impressions in the comments!