Resident Evil 4 Remake: Weapon Guide and Shotgun Location
We're going to need a bigger boomstick...
Update: We've added the locations of two awesome later-game weapons in Resident Evil 4 for you to add to Leon's arsenal - make sure to pick them up!
With a town full of infected, mutated monsters to contend with, Leon S. Kennedy will need a gun belt full of the best weapons he can find if he’s to have any chance of saving Ashley in Resident Evil 4 Remake.
But like most games in this legendary series there are secrets concealed around every corner, with exciting hidden guns you can grab to save money or offer a radically different option in a pinch.
Here’s where to find every weapon in Resident Evil 4’s main game. You can find a few more bonus weapons in the Extra Content Shop in the main menu, but since they require full completions of the whole story with an A rank to obtain, there are more useful options to hunt down on your first playthroughs.
While it’s technically possible to finish the whole game with your starting kit, grabbing new gear is an essential part of the Resident Evil experience and gives you a vital power boost against Valdelobos’ toughest enemies.
Although we will keep story details brief and the weapon locations specific, take this as a spoiler warning for a couple of locations, as well as late-game weapons. If you’re worried, the shotgun and Red9 are both in the first quarter of the game, so stick to those first two if you don’t want to know any more.
- Which weapons should you upgrade in Resident Evil 4?
- Resident Evil 4 Shotgun location
- Resident Evil 4 Red9 Pistol location
- Resident Evil 4 CQBR assault rifle location
- Resident Evil 4 LE-5 SMG location
Which weapons should you upgrade in Resident Evil 4?
While there’s a relatively tight roster of weapons to find throughout Resident Evil 4, you still come across multiples of the same type of gun throughout your mission.
So when there are a few different shotguns, a slew of pistols and even a couple of rifles to choose from, it can be tough to make the decision to commit to upgrading one over the other.
Because, of course, you don’t have room for all of them thanks to the hard limits on inventory space.
However, once you've upgraded a weapon you can sell it back to the Merchant for almost the same amount as you've invested into it. This means you can feel free to upgrade any weapon you wish without fear of losing out too much.
That means you should spend your money on upgrades whenever possible because you can easily recoup the cost and plough it into another weapon later if you wish.
Resident Evil 4 Shotgun location - W-870
You can find the W-870 shotgun almost immediately in chapter 1 of Resident Evil 4, but it’s very easy to miss.
Once you reach the Village Square, head upstairs in the last house on the left.
At the top of the stairs, you find the W-870 shotgun hanging on the wall, just asking for you to take it.
Don't worry if you've already passed the Village Square, you can revisit it at multiple points throughout your adventure, but the shotgun is worth grabbing as soon as possible!
Resident Evil 4 Red9 Pistol location
Once you reach Chapter 4 and have free reign of the lake, power your speedboat to the middle of the “lago” and look for a derelict boat.
Press the prompt to pull alongside and disembark, then grab the gem and items from inside the ship’s bridge.
But before you leave, exit out of the other side of the bridge, turn left and go around to the front of the boat. Here you find a chest containing the powerful Red9 “mauser” style pistol.
It’s one of the best pistols you can find in Resident Evil 4, even at this early stage, and once fully upgraded can easily become your main weapon all the way up to the final boss.
If you’re a decent shot, its damage potential and stopping power make it an essential asset. Plus it can be upgraded with a stock from the Merchant to drastically improve its accuracy and recoil.
Resident Evil 4 CQBR assault rifle location
In Chapter 10, once you reach the castle and Leon gains access to the Library, you can take the Cubic Device you found in the Armoury and unlock a cabinet for the super-cool CQBR assault rifle.
This M4-style assault rifle is one of the fastest firing weapons in the game but, crucially, packs enough power to make it an undisputed damage hose.
The CQBR is very easy to miss hidden back here, but is well-worth picking up.
To get the CQBR assault rifle, go through the door down from the three-headed statue in the Great Hall and keep going down the corridor towards the Mausoleum.
Take the turn into the Library, then turn towards the bottom of the room where the treasure icon is. From here, go between the shelves - avoiding the wandering knights by sprinting - then climb the stairs and interact with the machine.
To open it, position the Cubic Device so the square facing you has two triangles pointing down at the top, one triangle pointing up at the bottom, and half of a square on the left-hand side.
This clicks open the cabinet door and grants access to your new CQBR assault rifle!
Resident Evil 4 LE 5 SMG location
As you make your way through the tough test of chapter 13, if you find yourself in need of some more rapid firepower, seek out the hidden LE 5 submachine gun.
In the upper lab section, you will eventually find yourself in the Freezer.
While the machine you need to activate your keycard is at the back of the room, don't ignore the electric locked door on your right as you enter. Despite being optional, it contains a sweet prize.
Switch up the tiles on the screen so that the power flows to all five nodes. The screenshot below shows the correct solution:
This will slide open the door, revealing the LE 5. It's a great weapon for the coming challenges, particularly when combined with a scope you're going to get soon, so it's not one to miss!