Resident Evil 5/Items and weapons

Throughout Resident Evil 5, you can find and upgrade weapons. Most can be found in weapon crates in certain levels, while others are only sold in the store. The first weapon of each type, when fully upgraded, unlocks a secret weapon. Each gun has different stats listed in their descriptions. Note that when you upgrade a weapon's capacity it is reloaded to max for free. This can make it quite profitable to end a level with an empty gun then upgrade its capacity.

Handguns
Handguns are your most general weapons. They are accurate and reliable at most ranges. They excel at precision shots (heads, arms, legs) to open up melee prompts. Handgun ammo is also the most plentiful so using one allows you to conserve other ammo types.

M92F
A basic handgun that you receive at the start of the game. For players who are only planning 1 playthrough, you could very well keep it the whole game. If you plan on numerous playthroughs, better handguns are recommended. Upgrading this to max is required to unlock the M93R.
 * Price: ₦2,000
 * Availability: Start of game

H&K P8
Packing a slightly harder punch and trading critical for piercing; this is not much of an upgrade. There isn't much reason to buy or upgrade this except for achievements.
 * Price: ₦4,000
 * Availability: Buy Menu, end of Chapter 2-3

SIG P226
This handgun has the highest damage per bullet, but sacrifices all other stats. In terms of DPS, it is actually 2nd to the M93R, but much cheaper. Its highest damage per bullet and cheaper cost vs the M93R make it a solid choice, even on professional.
 * Price: ₦4,000
 * Availability: Buy Menu, end of Chapter 4-2

M93R
For those seeking the absolute best handgun; the M93R has the highest DPS despite not having the highest damage per bullet. It achieves this by having 1-3 round burst fire. The downside is that it's going to rip through your ammo box much faster than its competitors.
 * Price: ₦30,000
 * Availability: Buy Menu, after fully upgrading M92F

Shotguns
Shotguns are powerful weapons that can hit entire groups of enemies. They are best used when you're cornered. They will knock most enemies away or down to the ground, allowing you to regain control of a situation or run away. Melee prompts open against knocked down enemies, which is common after shotgun blasts.

Ithaca M37
The most basic shotgun and found early in the game. Like the first handgun, it lacks damage but has a critical bonus. Like the starting handgun, it can get the job done, but there are better options. Upgrading this to max is required to unlock the Hydra.
 * Price: ₦2,000
 * Availability: Chapter 1-2

M3
This is the hardest hitting shotgun, but sacrifices all other stats. If you value close range power, as opposed to extended range, this is the best shotgun.
 * Price: ₦4,000
 * Availability: Chapter 3-3

Jail Breaker
This shotgun sacrifices most of its damage for a longer range. Being the weakest shotgun, and actually doing less damage than several handguns; it's hard to justify. It also comes far too late in the campaign. Most players probably won't care about this weapon.
 * Price: ₦4,000
 * Availability: Chapter 6-1

Hydra
It's another extended range shotgun, but much better than the Jail Breaker. Still, its cost is probably hard to justify vs upgrading other weapons to use for longer ranges.
 * Price: ₦30,000
 * Availability: Buy Menu, after fully upgrading Ithaca M37

Machine Guns
Machine guns have the lowest damage per bullet, but come with an automatic rapid fire which produces high DPS. Their recoil however limits their effective range, and they burn ammo quickly. Due to the low damage per bullet, consider using these guns to fire at emblems and treasures on walls.

VZ61
The first machine gun in the game and definitely the most lacking. The damage per bullet is pitiful, and the critical bonus won't help much. However, this gun must be upgraded to max to unlock the Gatling Gun, so you may as well keep using it over the MP5.
 * Price: ₦2,000
 * Availability: Chapter 1-1

H&K MP5
While being better than the VZ61, this is still a weak weapon, and with no unlock attached to it, there isn't much reason to upgrade it.
 * Price: ₦2,000
 * Availability: Chapter 2-1

AK-74
This is the hardest hitting machine gun, uncontested for damage per bullet, but the reload time combined with the small clip size may be annoying.
 * Price: ₦4,000
 * Availability: Chapter 5-1

SIG 556
This machine gun trades raw damage for a better balance of stats.
 * Price: ₦4,000
 * Availability: Chapter 5-2

Rifles
Many players may be surprised to find out that rifles are incredibly useful in Resident Evil 5. Plenty of levels have countless enemies far away which can be sniped before they can become a threat. At medium ranges, you can still get enough time to snipe an enemy before they reach you. Enemies which stay at ranged, such as those shooting crossbows, are prime targets. Some emblems are also positioned so far away that hitting them without a rifle is difficult. If you really don't like using a rifle, consider giving it to the computer partner.

S75
The first rifle is also the hardest hitting. On top of that, it has an amazing capacity which can somehow hold more bullets than its ammo box. The downside is that it isn't automatic. The rate of fire is slow and you will drop out of scope between every bullet. It is a fantastic weapon for the computer partner if you're not using it already. Upgrading this to max is required to unlock the Long Bow.
 * Price: ₦4,000
 * Availability: Chapter 2-1

Dragunov SVD
For those who don't like the bolt action rifle; this is found soon after. However, it's inferior on damage, capacity, and shakes horribly in the scope. That trade probably isn't worth it.
 * Price: ₦4,000
 * Availability: Chapter 2-2

H&K PSG-1
While having a weak damage per bullet; this rifle is automatic, doesn't shake, and has a super scope. Sadly it comes far too late in the campaign so most players probably won't use it.
 * Price: ₦4,000
 * Availability: Chapter 5-3

Magnums
Incredibly powerful but with rare ammo, these weapons are best saved for the most difficult enemies or bosses. Using them for regular enemies is generally a waste of the ammo. It's also recommended to upgrade the capacity while the gun is empty to conjure more of their premium ammo.

S&W M29
The first magnum already hits hard and carries a nice amount of bullets. If you want an even bigger one; upgrading this to max unlocks the M500.
 * Price: ₦4,000
 * Availability: Chapter 3-1

Lightning Hawk
This magnum traded raw damage for other stats which you probably don't care about on a magnum. It's another weapon most players will just want to skip.
 * Price: ₦5,000
 * Availability: Chapter 5-3

S&W M500
Practically a handheld cannon, this magnum will end any enemy quickly, even on the hardest difficulty. The limitation on magnum ammo however might make it less ideal than other specials.
 * Price: ₦30,000
 * Availability: Buy Menu, after fully upgrading S&W M29

Grenades

 * Hand Grenade - Explodes a few seconds after being thrown, damaging all enemies nearby.
 * Incendiary Grenade - Explodes on impact, releasing a short burst of flames that will set nearby enemies on fire.
 * Flash Grenade - Explodes on impact, creating a bright flash that stuns enemies and kills certain parasites instantly.

Proximity Bomb
An explosive device that is planted in the ground and explodes when an enemy gets nearby. It takes a few seconds for the bomb to arm after it's planted, so you can get away before it goes off.

Grenade Launcher
The grenade launcher can fire six different types of ammunition: explosive, acidic, nitrogen, flame, flash and electric. While explosive comes with the gun, each ammo type can also be found or purchased independently. This is the only gun in the game that doesn't have an infinite ammo unlockable.

Rocket Launcher
A single shot rocket launcher. The weapon is discarded after firing. Buying more is generally pointless as it's easy to farm rockets on a certain level.

Knife
The combat knife is generally only useful for breaking open jars, boxes, and barrels without wasting bullets. Trying to use it in combat is largely ineffective in this game.

Stun Rod
The stun rod is similar to your combat knife, but far more effective. It stuns enemies when hit which prevents counter attacks. It does however have to be bought and carried in one of your inventory slots. Consider giving one to the computer partner as they are quite good at using it.

Gatling Gun

 * Unlocked by: fully upgrade the VZ61 machine gun.
 * Price: ₦50,000.
 * Damage: 450.
 * Can be used by: Chris.

This is exclusive to Chris, and has infinite ammo. If it is in his inventory, Chris carries a huge bullet crate which obstructs your view but also blocks enemy projectiles from behind. It has a horrible accuracy and recoil but infinite ammo means you won't care much. It will fire for as long as you hold down the trigger or until something makes you stop. No enemy will last long in front of this monster. Makes for a great weapon on the computer partner.

Long Bow

 * Unlocked by: fully upgrading the S75 rifle.
 * Price: ₦50,000.
 * Damage: 1500.
 * Can be used by: Sheva.

This is exclusive to Sheva, and has infinite ammo. It shoots arrows, which hit quite hard but travel in an arc. This means you have to aim up if you want to hit enemies far away. It also has no laser pointer. This might make most players avoid using it but in that case consider giving it to the computer partner. It has no trouble aiming this.

Healing Items
Healing items will heal both players, but only if your partner is close by. If not, it will only heal the user.

Herbs

 * Green - Heals 25% health.
 * Green + Green - Heals 60% health.
 * Green + Red - Heals 100% health.

First Aid Spray
A can of first aid spray will completely heal, similar to Green/Reb herb.

Eggs
All healing types of Eggs can be dropped by chickens when you chase them, or snakes if you kill one. In order to get the achievement, you have to have all four types of egg in your inventory at once.

The White, Brown and Golden eggs are healing items, but unlike herbs and the first aid spray they will only heal the person who uses them and not their partner.


 * White Egg - Heals the same as one green herb.
 * Brown Egg - Heals the same as two combined green herbs.
 * Golden Egg - Heals the same as a red and green herb combination.

The fourth egg is the rotten egg. This egg is different from the other three in that it is not meant to be used as a healing item. Instead this egg functions like a grenade and is designed to be thrown at enemies. It does 1,000 points of damage when it hits, and it has acidic properties. It drops randomly from enemies starting at chapter 4.