Resident Evil 4was a huge break-off for the series when it was released for the Nintendo GameCube in 2005. One of the most unique things it added was a store from which players could purchase items and upgrade their weapons. At the core of this store wasthe mysterious Merchantwho had no name.
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His eagerness to please Leon through sales made him one of the most memorable characters inResident Evil 4and the same is true in the remake. There are a lot of things to buy from the Merchant but some of them are a lot more useful than others. This does not include weapon upgrades, because that is a whole other ball game.
1Case Upgrades
TheResident Evilseries has always had a way for players to store items.Resident Evil 4changed that with the introduction of the suitcase, wherein all items could be stored on Leon for easy access. Also, key items no longer took up inventory space. This still made it tricky to keep everything organized though, which is why there were suitcase upgrades.
These upgrades return in the remake and should be purchased ASAP whenever they come up even though there is a new storage facility accessible at save points. Cases can also be equipped withcharms in theResident Evil 4remake, but the Merchant doesn’t sell those.
2Bolt Thrower
The Bolt Thrower is a new weapon in the remake. It is a crossbow that uses arrows, or bolts specifically. It’s a slow weapon to use and reload before upgrading it. However, the ammo is reusable, meaning it is super valuable in the early hours when ammo is scarce.
Players can also attach mines to bolts, which is great against bosses or when dealing with crowds of regular enemies. With this in mind, players should also be sure to grab the recipe to make mines and bolts from the Merchant.
3Blacktail
The Blacktail gun is the only pistol that players need to purchase from the Merchant. The Red9 is a cool-looking pistol too, that Luis uses, but it’s not as strong as the Blacktail. Once it is fully upgraded, this puppy can fire off rounds like there is no tomorrow.
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There is one extra piece of pistol advice here. There is a DLC pistol called Sentinel Nine. Players should pick up theSentinel Nine when they buy theResident Evil 4remakebecause it will hold them until the Blacktail becomes available. $2 is a steal for the Sentinel Nine.
4Stingray
Even though it will be useful, players should ignore the first rifle available from the Merchant. There is simply no need for the SR M1903. Once the Stingray becomes available, that is when things will get more hectic in combat.
A long-distance weapon will eventually be necessary to pick off enemies cleanly from a distance, especially if Ashley gets kidnapped. Players should also ignore the SR M1903 as that uses the same ammo despite being a completely different weapon. As far as the Merchant’s best rifles go, the Stingray is at the top of the class.
5All Shotguns
Players canfind the first shotgun, the W-870, in theResident Evil 4remake in that opening village. It’s a great weapon to get for free. The first shotgun players can buy, if they grab the W-870 in the village, is the Riot Gun. It’s a bit faster and packs a heftier punch compared to the W-870.
However, the best shotgun that the Merchant sells overall is the Striker. This thing looks like a Tommy Gun, which is also in the game, but it is indeed a shotgun. Once a new shotgun is purchased, players can sell the old one and get to upgrading.
6All Magnums
Players should also make a habit of buying the two magnum pistols that the Merchant sells. The first will be a revolver called the Broken Butterfly. This puppy will absolutely destroy enemies and bosses too.
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That’s why the magnum is such a revered weapon type in the series. The second magnum in theResident Evil 4remake is called the Killer7, which is a reference to another Capcom game of the same name and is just as deadly as it sounds.
7Body Armor
Body Armor will eventually unlock in the Merchant’s shop. It will protect Leon from damage but the Body Armor will take damage just like the durability of theCombat Knife in theResident Evil 4remake. It’s also cool that it will change Leon’s costume as the armor will go over his normal shirt.
Players need to remember to look at the Body Armor’s durability meter when they go into the shop. It won’t cost much, so they should always be prepared to fork over a little gold to keep Leon protected in battle.
8Spinel Items
Spinels were low-tier gems that players could sell to the Merchant in the original game.Spinels return in theResident Evil 4remakebut their use has changed. There is a separate trading menu with the Merchant wherein players can buy rare items using Spinel gems.
Two of the best ones to get right away are the Laser Sight, which can be attached to the aforementioned Sentinel Nine pistol, and the Yellow Herb. The Laser Sight will improve accuracy for the chosen pistol while the Yellow Herb, when mixed, can upgrade Leon’s health.
TheResident Evil 4remake was released on July 25, 2025, and is available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, and Xbox One.
