Credit: Capcom

The original version of Resident Evil 4 was packed to the gills with guns to buy and wield, from the laser precision of the Killer7 to the street-sweeping speed of Matilda. Discussions about which of these guns makes for the best run through the game have lasted for decades, well into the release of the remake, which has even more guns to choose from if you can believe it. Taking various factors into account, what is the best handgun in the Resident Evil 4 remake?

Resident Evil 4 Remake: Best Handgun

It turns out the answer to that question is exactly the same as it was all the way back in 2005. With a combination of incredible precision and mildly ridiculous stopping power, the best handgun in this or any version of Resident Evil 4 is the Red9, full stop.

Named for the distinctive crimson numeral emblazoned on the side of the grip, the Red9 is Mauser C96 pistol that fires 9mm cartridges. You wouldn’t think a gun that fires the same ammo caliber as your crummy starter pistol would be all that impressive, but trust me, this thing’s no field mouse.

Getting and Using the Red9

Credit: Capcom

Unlike in the original Resident Evil 4 where you could only get the Red9 from the Merchant, in the remake, you can get the Red9 for free by checking out the sunken ship ruins in the middle of the lake after you get access to the boat in Chapter 4, though you can still buy one from the Merchant in the event that you miss it. Right off the bat, this thing’s damage is terrifying; one well-placed Red9 headshot is far more likely to result in a popped skull than any other handgun in the game, and it’s got a surprisingly long range as well. Its only real drawback is its heavy recoil, but if you toss 9 spinels to the Merchant after the cabin survival bit in Chapter 5, you can get a shoulder stock for it that more or less solves that problem.

As soon as you get the Red9, I would personally advise you to upgrade it exclusively over all other handguns. Once you upgrade its reload speed and max out its strength, it can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with even the meanest rifles and shotguns, with the added convenience of using cheap, widely-available ammo as opposed to the rarer shotgun and rifle bullets. The Red9 is completely untouchable when pitted against any other pea shooter, and I say that as someone who has run through the original Resident Evil 4 multiple times with nothing but the Red9 at my side.

If you make one task in Resident Evil 4 an absolute, do-not-miss priority, make it obtaining the Red9. You’ll be singing this thing’s praises for years to come, just like the original players have been since 2005.