Resident Evil 7’s down to earth tone and grounded game design meant that weapon upgrading didn’t exactly have a place. Ethan could still craft like in previous games, but RE7 was going for a smaller scope that called back to the original game alone. Resident Evil Village is the other side of the Lei, embracing every little oddity that’s made Resident Evil the franchise it is. 

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Resident Evil Village is as much a love letter to the series as it is a breathtaking sequel to Resident Evil 7. Weapon upgrading returns in Village, giving Ethan a wider armory of weapons to choose from than in Resident Evil 7. Since there are so many guns in Resident Evil Village, it helps to know which weapons to upgrade right away. 

10 LEMI Handgun 

The LEMI Handgun isn’t worth holding onto for the whole game, but it’s going to be your main weapon in Castle Dimitrescu during a fresh run, so it’s worth upgrading. Lei isn’t abundant during the early game, but money isn’t particularly hard to come by after the Castle. Make sure to prioritize the LEMI’s Power and Rate of Fire for upgrades. The LEMI’s default Reload Speed isn’t too hot, but it’s serviceable for the Castle. The best way to use the LEMI is to damage enemies and then swap to a stronger gun for the kill. 

9 M1897 Shotgun

The M1897 Shotgun will be found in East Old Town right before Ethan is attacked by the swarm of Lycans. The M1897 is the weakest Shotgun in the game and should be replaced as soon as possible, but it has the potential to be absolutely lethal during the early game. Upgrading the M1987’s Power and Ammo Capacity will eat up a fair bit of cash in the Castle, but enemies will drop dead fast. 

8 F2 Sniper Rifle

The F2 Sniper Rifle will be found inside of Castle Dimitrescu as part of the story and requires straight up carelessness to miss. Despite being obtained so early into the game, the F2 Sniper Rifle is one of the absolute best guns in Resident Evil Village. Fully maxed out, the Sniper Rifle is about as strong as a base Magnum – which is already beastly. 

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You’re going to want to fully upgrade the F2 Sniper Rifle by the end of your playthrough (especially to unlock Infinite Ammo in the Bonus Shop), but prioritize Power and Rate of Fire first. It also helps to purchase the Cheek Rest attachment from the Duke to reduce the Sniper Rifle’s aim when aiming down the scope. 

7 M1911 Handgun

The M1911 Handgun can be found in the Village Workshop after completing Castle Dimitrescu. It’ll be hidden in a locked cabinet in the northwest house. Type in the lock’s code (070408) and the Handgun should be inside. The M1911 is a considerably better weapon than the LEMI, lacking only when it comes to Ammo Capacity. The M1911 will be Ethan’s main Handgun up to the final area, so get cozy and don’t shy away from upgrading everything. (The resell value will be enough to buy the V61 Custom later). 

6 W870 TAC Shotgun

The W870 TAC Shotgun can be found in the Garden on the way to House Beneviento (though Ethan will only be able to explore this area properly after defeating Donna Beneviento). The W870 TAC Shotgun Shotgun is in a shack you’ll pass after completing House Beneviento. Make sure to sell the M1897 immediately and start getting accustomed to the W870. The Shotgun’s weight will take some getting used to, but it’s far stronger. Like with the M1911, aim to upgrade everything and use the resell value to your advantage later. 

5 V61 Custom Handgun 

The V61 Custom Handgun becomes available to purchase after entering Heisenberg’s Factory and is the strongest Handgun Ethan can obtain in the main game. The V61 Custom can be bought from the Duke for 120,000 Lei, which is quite a lot at any point during a first playthrough. Fortunately, an upgraded M1911 fetches a nice profit. Aim to upgrade Ammo Capacity and Reload Speed first, as that’s where the V61 is most lacking. From there, invest into Power, but keep in mind that New Game Plus has other Handguns to try out. 

4 SYG-12 Shotgun

Like the V61 Custom Handgun, the SYG-12 Shotgun is available to purchase after entering Heisenberg’s Factory. The SYG-12 costs a whopping 180,000 Lei, which your W870 resell is doubtful to fully cover. The SYG-12 is worth investing in, though. It’s the strongest Shotgun in the game and as unreasonably strong as it is fast. A fully upgraded SYG-12 is a multiple playthrough endeavor in the making, but it's worth it.

3 M851 Wolfsbane Magnum

The M851 Wolfsbane Magnum can only be obtained after defeating Moreau. With your new Crank in hand, you’ll be able to access Moreau’s Lab and home. The Magnum will be labeled as Moreau’s Hidden Treasure on the overworld map. It’s in a treasure chest inside a locked house that you need to enter through the back. 

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Kill the Lycan inside and grab your Magnum. The Wolfsbane is extremely expensive to upgrade, but it’s the strongest gun you’ll find before New Game Plus. The Magnum wipes the floor with most enemies at its base, so invest in Power if you want the rest of the story to be a breeze (though don’t expect to find much ammo). 

2 WCX Assault Rifle

Challenges and Bonus Shop unlock after beating the game once. By completing in-game Challenges (some tied to Trophies and Achievements), players can earn CP to unlock Figurines, Concept Art, or new weapons and even Infinite Ammo for subsequent playthroughs. 

The WCX Assault Rifle costs 30,000 CP and can then be bought at the Duke for 200 Lei. The WCX has two attachments players should purchase ASAP, but get ready to spend a lot of LEI. The Red Dot Sight increases the WCX’s Power and costs 140,000 Lei whereas the Foregrip reduces recoils by a fair bit and costs 80,000 Lei. 

1 STAKE Magnum

The STAKE Magnum is the strongest weapon in Resident Evil Village, but is only available for purchase in New Game Plus. The Duke will sell the STAKE for 300,000 Lei on any cleared files. The STAKE has two expensive attachments worth buying as well: the Extended Mag for 180,000 Lei and Improved Grip for 120,000 Lei. The STAKE is a weapon that will take a few playthroughs to buy, let alone upgrade, but it’s the perfect weapon to take on the higher difficulties. 

Next: Resident Evil Village: 10 Pro Tips For The Game's Combat