Resident Evil Requiem is divided into two playable characters, Grace Ashcroft, whose segments are straight out of a horror movie, and Resident Evil’s iconic Leon S. Kennedy, where action takes precedent.
When playing as Leon, it’s clearly meant to be a power trip after having dealt with unimaginable horrors, a built-in tension-and-release with the gameplay. That being said, if you aren’t used to action horror, there is a lot that make things difficult for players when it shouldn’t be.
Resident Evil Requiem: Where to Find All Detonator Parts
Trying to figure out how to track down the detonator parts to get to Raccoon City Center in RE9? We’ll make it easy.
So when you do get around to playing as Leon, an old man in a field where everyone dies young, there are a few things to keep in mind that will make things much easier for you down the line.
Raccoon City in particular is relentless, so it’s good to go in with somewhat of a gameplan.
This article will contain minor spoilers for the game’s happenings, but no spoilers for the story.
10
Have a Decent Weapon Variety
You Never Know What You’ll Need
Resident Evil games have always had the five main essentials for weapons: something melee, a handgun, a shotgun, a rifle, and something just for fun (such as grenade launchers, SMGs, or even Requiem itself). It’s a good idea to keep one of each in Leon’s attaché case, which you can upgrade to be a little bigger only once.
If you don’t want to have a ton of weapons on you, that’s understandable, but it’s good to have some kind of variety with distance at the very least. There is even a designated sniping section in the game, after all, so at the very least, you need something for far away.
Not to mention, you’ll need to have something for crowd control, because you deal with hoards at a time while playing as Leon. It’s not like Grace having to sneak around one or two zombies; it’s an entire swarm, and they’re incredibly aggressive. So if you don’t want to carry around a shotgun (even though you’ll need one or something with similar firepower to defeat the other Chunk in the Attic), you’ll still need something like grenades for handling large crowds.
You truly never know what situation you’re going to get into, so just be the tired old man and pull out the perfect tool for the trade.
9
Body Armor is a Must
Upgrade it ASAP Every Chance You Get
When you first get to an upgrade box while playing as Leon, you’ll see some of the more expensive options being Body Armor, and it’s crucial that you do nothing else except save up for that, and then the second upgrade for it immediately after. No exceptions.
Your Body Armor truly shields you from a significant amount of damage, especially on Standard and Insanity difficulties. Something that would normally be fatal damage would be cushioned, allowing you to fight off the enemy and immediately taking whatever recovery item you need to. Without that armor, you’d be starting from your last checkpoint.
So in all seriousness, prioritise your Body Armor, and from then on, repairing it should be the first thing you purchase above all else. Thankfully, the repair costs aren’t expensive, even if it’s been completely worn out.
And also, Leon’s just hot in it. You’ll thank me later.
8
Check All of Your Surroundings
The Environment is Your Friend
Listen, I’m a loot goblin and as a result I will always encourage players to check every single nook and cranny in a video game, but Requiem is one of those games where you actually really need to pay attention to everything around you.
Obviously, the environment will hide resources that you can use to tip combat into your favor, but there are parts of the game where you can easily miss how you’re supposed to progress if you’re not paying attention. There’s a makeshift slide you’ll have to go down in Raccoon City, but you’ll likely run past it a couple times before you realise you can interact with it.
Simply put: assume you can interact with it.
Resident Evil Requiem: Where to Find All Raccoon Memoriam Statues
Trying to catch the little rascal in Resident Evil Requiem? He’s a sneaky and mischeivious one — but thankfully, we know where he’s hiding.
Even if something is blocked off or hidden away, you’ll be able to interact with it at some point. One example is the Chunk boss fight in the Attic. He will slam into various parts of the environment that you’re able to now climb up and loot, or expose parts of the wall that you can now reach into and loot.
So basically, keep track of everything around you, your environment is your fiend so long as you pay attention to it.
7
Shoot to Stagger
Combat is More Dynamic and Intuitive
It’s incredibly easy to fly through bullets in a Resident Evil game, especially when you’re playing as Leon in Requiem. However, with the inclusion of the Hatchet and other ways you can melee kill a zombie, it would actually save you some ammo if you aimed for the legs rather than center mass or even the head.
You should aim your pistol with the intent to stagger your enemy rather than kill them; that way, you’re able to just run up and complete the execution without wasting any precious ammo. This is especially helpful on Insanity mode where the enemies are bullet sponges.
Not to mention, you’ll really get to enjoy the combat and the fluidity of gameplay this way. The combat itself is incredibly dynamic, so don’t get caught up in static habits while killing zombies.
6
Your Hatchet is Your Best Friend
Sharpen it Every Chance You Get
The Hatchet is, unironically, the best weapon in the whole game. It parries attacks (including from bosses and chainsaws … somehow, but it’s Resident Evil, so it doesn’t matter) and is going to get a lot of use if you shoot to stagger as mentioned earlier.
Because of this, it’s important to sharpen your Hatchet every chance you get to. After killing an enemy, sharpen the Hatchet. After breaking open a door or box, sharpen the Hatchet (even though most of the time you won’t need to). Before you enter through a door, sharpen the Hatchet just in case.
Seriously, this Hatchet is going to get so much use, you need to stay on top of its condition.
But on the flipside, it’s going to save you from so many scenarios, it’s going to become your best friend throughout the game; especially once you nail the parry timing.
5
Loot Everything, Sell What You Don’t Use
Everything is Currency
What’s nice about Resident Evil Requiem is when you’re playing as Leon, literally everything is currency. Once you get the Tactical Tracker, enemies even become a form of currency that you can spend at the upgrade box.
This includes all the random loot and resources that you gather. Ammo, healing items, weapons, even scrap and gunpowder can be sold at the upgrade box for whatever you need.
Resident Evil Requiem: All Files Locations
To obtain the Case Closed trophy in Resident Evil Requiem, you need to read all files in the main story … and there are a lot of files.
Because of this, it’s good to just loot everything on sight. Even if it’s an item you won’t use, and you know you won’t use it, you can pick it up and rest assured that you’re going to be compensated for the trouble.
Even if you managed to unlock infinite ammo already like I have, it’s still worth collecting all the loot you can store in your case, because it adds up that quickly when you go to spend it.
4
Upgrades, People! Upgrades!
Scale With the Enemies
Speaking of the Upgrade Box, you really have to remember to upgrade your weapons as you earn money. Enemies get tougher and tougher to kill as you go on, so it’s a good idea to make sure that you scale with the enemies you encounter.
Not to mention, the box just has other weapons that you can use instead of an upgrade to what you already have equipped — you can upgrade to a new weapon entirely. So if you don’t like what the game defaults you with your weapon stash, you can switch it for something a little more your size and speed.
Just don’t forget to return to the box frequently so you can upgrade these weapons. Your Hatchet is one of the more crucial weapon upgrades to pay attention to, increasing not just power but overall durability.
3
Pay Attention to Button Prompts
You Have to be Opportunistic in Combat
When getting into combat in this game, the magic lies in the chaos — and opportunity. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: you have to be incredibly opportunistic in combat, so you need to pay attention to everything around you in and outside of combat. Your environment will have hazards you can shoot or throw, zombies can stagger which gives you a melee opportunity; it’s all started with a button prompt.
It can be easy to be caught up in the chaos of combat in this game, but these prompts open up all kinds of cool, dynamic actions that keep combat from feeling repetitive and stagnant. If it feels looping and boring to you, that’s because you aren’t playing the combat to its full potential, and you aren’t utilizing button prompts.
Of course, there are also standard hazards that you can obviously see in-game (such as red flammable barrels), but it’s all the different things you can do with these standard hazards that really let this game shine.
Just get in the habit of clicking the interact button whenever you see a white bubble pop up. You’ll have a ton of cool moments while you’re fighting zombies this way.
2
Be Aggressive
You’re a Seasoned Hero, Don’t be Afraid
When you’re playing as Grace, you’re limited on what you can do, and you’re absolutely terrified by everything around you. This promotes slow, cautious gameplay, where you need to think carefully before moving forward.
Cut to Leon, where you can throw literally all of that out the window in favor of aggression.
Resident Evil Requiem: Where to Find All BSAA Crates
Discovering all these crates in Raccoon City will grant you the Crate Expectations trophy, and we know exactly where to find them all.
Being aggressive while playing as Leon, rather than being slow and cautious, will actually work out better for you with his gameplay. Plus, it makes combat way more fun, especially since you have nothing to be afraid of as a veteran hero.
Again, everything is currency, including the enemies. So if nothing else, be aggressive to make some money.
1
Go Crazy! Go Stupid!
It’s a Power Trip, So Have Fun!
Playing as Leon is meant to be a power trip, especially after being mostly powerless while playing as Grace. Yet, it’s easy to hold back to try and be resourceful — and to that, I have to say: don’t be.
Seriously, the game is really generous to you while you’re playing as Leon; you’re meant to have fun more than anything else, so don’t be selfish and clingy with the items you have. You’re bound to get more within the next minute, especially since zombies drop things for you while you play as Leon.
When you play as Leon, just go crazy. Don’t leave any surviving enemies, don’t try to sneak around (you literally have the Hatchet), just don’t treat any ounce of his gameplay like Grace’s gameplay. You’re meant to be the monster now, not hiding from them.
So don’t sweat the small stuff, just relax, and have a joyride. Just avoid the potholes.
Resident Evil Requiem Review
Capcom has finally mastered the balance of horror and action in the series’ most melancholy and anxiety-inducing work yet.
- Released
-
February 27, 2026
- ESRB
-
Mature 17+ / Intense Violence, Blood and Gore, Strong Language, In-Game Purchases
