Resident Evil Requiem’s New Weapon Has A High Bar To Clear

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Even though details about Resident Evil Requiem were revealed early, the game still had some surprises to offer when it was officially shown at The Game Awards 2025. The reveal trailer showed Leon returning, and while he appears to be infected with a virus or parasite, he’s also using a brand new weapon.

It’s typical for the Resident Evil series to introduce new weapons, but while most are just okay, some really stand out. The axe in Resident Evil: Revelations could become a truly memorable melee weapon, especially considering how quickly Leon’s use of an enemy chainsaw became famous with its impressive animation.

Resident Evil Is All About Its Iconic Weapons

The Resident Evil series is known for its flexibility, consistently trying out new genres and gameplay styles. While it started as a survival horror game with plenty of action and shooting, Resident Evil has become famous for its impressive variety of weapons – each game features iconic firearms and memorable characters who use them.

Certain guns are strongly associated with specific games and locations. For example, the Red9 pistol is iconic to Resident Evil 4, and the Samurai Edge appears frequently in the RPD, STARS, and Gun Shop Kendo. Similarly, some characters have unique weapons – Claire Redfield uses a grenade launcher in Resident Evil 2, while Leon Kennedy prefers a shotgun.

Looking back, you could argue the series started leaning into action with Resident Evil 2, but Resident Evil 4 really cemented that shift. I remember being blown away by the Merchant and all the stuff he had for sale! Plus, being able to upgrade my weapons in different ways meant I had so many options for how to play. They also ditched those frustrating fixed camera angles and made inventory management way less of a pain – I didn’t have to obsess over every little space anymore!

While guns usually get most of the attention in Resident Evil games, melee weapons haven’t been as prominent. That might be changing with the new game, Resident Evil Requiem. If the axe Leon uses is as effective as the series’ knives—and early gameplay suggests it could be—melee combat could become a more significant part of the experience.

Resident Evil Requiem’s Axe Is A Neat Melee Evolution

From the small amount of gameplay footage of Resident Evil Requiem that’s been shown, the axe seems to work similarly to the breakable knives in the remakes of Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 4. The evidence is in the heads-up display (HUD) – the axe appears in the same spot as the knives did in those games, and even has its own durability meter, suggesting it will break after repeated use.

It’s strange that Capcom gave Leon an axe when knives already work fine. Perhaps the axe has a hidden use that isn’t obvious from the game’s interface. For now, we can only hope the axe is better than the combat knives in past Resident Evil games and that it’s actually worth carrying around.

The parry system added to the Resident Evil 4 remake was a surprise hit, and it’s become the best use of knives in the entire series. It’s currently unknown whether the upcoming Resident Evil Requiem will include this feature, or if parrying will remain unique to the Resident Evil 4 remake as a way to set the two games apart.

If parrying is indeed a feature in the game, it will be interesting to see how Capcom implements it with Resident Evil Requiem‘s optional first-person view. If players use the axe to parry attacks along with knives, hopefully it will have a special effect or an additional function.

Allowing players to throw their axe at enemies, then retrieve it, would be a great new feature for keeping opponents at a distance. Also, making the axe much more powerful than a knife, even if it wears down faster, would give it a real advantage, particularly when you’re low on other resources.

If the axe in Resident Evil Requiem can break, and there’s only one, it suggests a character like the Merchant from Resident Evil 4 or the Duke from Resident Evil Village might be able to repair it for a fee. This opens up the possibility of Grace or Leon being able to buy other weapons and items as well, though we don’t know how many there might be.

The initial trailers for Silent Hill f showed the main character using a metal pipe as a weapon. However, although it was the first weapon players got, it didn’t become particularly memorable. Other, more powerful melee weapons and the protagonist Hinako’s ability to transform overshadowed it.

For the axe in Resident Evil Requiem to become a truly memorable weapon, it needs to be more impactful than the knife has been – it needs to feel useful and fit naturally into the game’s world.

Resident Evil’s Knives Probably Aren’t Going Anywhere

Knives have been a part of the Resident Evil series since the beginning, but for a long time, they weren’t very useful as weapons. Players mainly used them to finish off enemies already on the ground to save ammo. However, newer versions of the game have made knives much more effective, allowing players to use them for both attacking and defending, just like any other weapon or item.

As a huge Resident Evil fan, I’ve always appreciated how the simple knife really adds to that feeling of desperate survival. It’s not just a weapon, it’s a last resort when you’re totally out of bullets! And honestly, a lot of us love taking on the challenge of beating the games using only the knife. It’s incredibly hard, but the feeling of accomplishment when you finally do it is amazing – it really shows just how tough those games can be!

Knives have always been a classic weapon in Resident Evil, even though they’re not usually very powerful. Introducing an axe could be a fun new addition, perhaps even improving hand-to-hand combat like in Resident Evil Requiem. However, it probably won’t revolutionize the game or make players forget about knives.

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2026-01-10 23:11