Handguns are THE staple of any game that includes guns. Typically the starting weapon, they can range from underpowered to moderate to devastating. Resident Evil usually has a small assortment of them to pick from, and it’s important to know which to choose for how far into the game you are (if you want an easier time, that is). Some of them are undoubtedly more powerful than others, though, so here's the 5 best handguns to use from the early to late portions of the game.

5. G19 (Early)

Everybody needs a good starter weapon

Stats: 

• 15 bullet magazine
• Single-Fire
• Average damage

The G19 is the 1st weapon (and therefore the 1st handgun) that you acquire in the game. It is taken off the corpse of a police officer in the opening sequence. Perhaps the most basic weapon, it takes up the same type of ammo as some of the other handguns, so it’s not recommended to have several of them on your person at the same time. It’s upgradeable (red dot sight, extended mag, moderator), but none of those are enough to make it leapfrog the other handguns on this list.

G19 advantages 

• Large resource pool. You’ll find more handgun ammo than any other type of ammo in the game, so this gun will almost always have a good amount if you conserve ammo at least semi-carefully.
• Last resort weapon. Though not the most powerful, this weapon is decent if you just need a few more shots to finish off an enemy you’ve already bombarded. It’s large ammo pool ensures that you’ll have quite a few shots left if you play your cards right.
• Regular encounters. As the starting handgun, it doesn’t do staggering amounts of damage. It’s therefore best used on regular mob zombies, who will still go down with a reasonable amount of shots (especially if you hit a critical shot).

Your basic starter pistol. It will kill a regular zombie on Standard difficulty after 7-9 shots (if no critical hits were made), but lacks the necessary power to kill enemies that are any tougher. Basic as basic can be and only useful in the very beginning. Lethality Score: 60/100

4. Infinite MUP Handgun (Early)

For all your post-apocalyptic needs

Stats: 

• Infinite Ammo
• Single-Fire
• Average Damage

The MUP Handgun is an item you can buy out of the shop after you complete your 1st playthrough of the game. There isn’t much of a difference between it and the G19. This gun is good for when you need accuracy. Bobblehead collectibles, threading the needle on enemies, and hitting weak spots are what you want to aim for with it. Infinite ammo is also a bit nice to have. 

Infinite MUP advantages: 

• Infinite ammo. You don’t need to worry about ever being hard-locked into a section if you run out of ammo in your other guns (though it will take awhile if you’re on harder difficulties as the damage is average). 
• Good accuracy. This is one of the more accurate guns in the game, allowing you a better chance at hitting small objects or swaying zombies. 
• Good last resort. If you run out of amo in every other weapon, you can pull this out either until you find more or get through the section (unless you're using the other infinite ammo weapons). 

This is a slightly better version of the G19, for all intents and purposes. The stats are the same (it will kill in 7-9 shots), but you simply never run out of ammo. For that reason, it's best used in the early game and as a fallback weapon. Lethality score: 65/100. 

3. Samurai Edge (Mid-Late)

Sleek and deadly

Stats: 

• 15 bullet magazine
• Single-Fire
• Increased Damage

The Samurai Edge is another shop weapon that you can unlock after your 1st playthrough. It is Jill’s own personal, customized handgun. This is the 1st handgun where the damage takes a noticeable ramp up. Zombies fall in about half as many shots as with the other handguns before it on this list, and it has all the general perks of a handgun in this game (fast reload, lightweight on inventory slots, etc). 

Samurai Edge advantages: 

• Damage. The last two guns on the list did average damage, but the Samurai Edge practically doubles their output. 
• Faster reticle focus. Its reticle will zoom in faster than any other handgun, thus allowing for quicker shots with pinpoint accuracy.  
• Special enemy encounters. Its damage and fast focus ensure that this gun can be used on even tougher enemies to good effect if your other heavy hitters aren’t fully stocked. Not the absolute best, but it'll work in a pinch if you have enough ammo. 

This is a very solid handgun all around. Normal zombies will go down in 4-5 shots, and its ammo pool is the same as the previous two guns, so it’s abundant. Tougher enemies will also go down in a reasonable timeframe with some extra persuasion from a shotgun or a grenade launcher, so this gun is a good fallback for mid to late parts of the game. Lethality Score: 80/100

2. G18 (Late)

18>19, I'll explain later

Stats: 

• 33 bullet magazine
• 3-round burst
• Extended Mag

The G18 is found after regaining control of Jill in the hospital. It is the only 3-round burst weapon in the game. Don’t let the “18” in its name fool you, though. This gun is a huge upgrade over its sibling, the G19. The damage, rate of fire, and extended ammo count all blend together to make this one lean, mean, zombie killing machine. 

G18 advantages: 

• Rate of fire. As a 3-round burst, the G18’s rate of fire is the best among the handguns. In the same time it takes the others to fire 3 rounds, the G18 will have fired 9. 
• Built-in extended magazine. The G18 comes by default with an extended mag when it is found in the hospital (this makes it the only gun that is upgraded by default in the game). 
• Low recoil. The recoil on the gun is almost non-existent compared to most other guns in the game.  

The G18 will down normal zombies rather quickly, has a good chance to crit enemies, and is even good for the last boss fight's mechanics. It has just about everything going for it relative to it's crop of weapon... but it still isn't the best. Lethality Score: 85/100.

1. .44 AE Lightning Hawk/Magnum (Late)

The Deagle of Resi-Evil

Stats: 

• 8 bullet magazine
• Single-Fire
• Upgradeable 

The Lightning Hawk is a magnum that you can only access as Jill after regaining control of her in the hospital. It is a hidden weapon like the grenade launcher, so you have to take a few extra steps to acquire it. It’s based on the real life Desert Eagle. It’s well worth the headache, though (just ask Jill). This is the single most powerful handgun in the game and one of the most powerful weapons overall. It’s almost a waste to use it on normal zombies instead of tougher enemies or bosses.  

Lightning Hawk advantages: 

• Big boy damage. The mag packs more punch than any other handgun and most other weapons in general (even the shotgun), so if you need something to die fast, this is the weapon to use. 
• Piercing damage. This is one of the only weapons that will do piercing damage in the game, so you can get 2 enemies for the price of one if they’re lined up. This aspect of it also comes into play on the final boss of the game, as you can shoot through his limbs to hit his weak points. 
• Its upgradeable. Its great to begin with, but you can even upgrade it with an extended barrel. 

This is hands down the best handgun in the game. It has a few downsides (low ammo capacity, on the slower side for firing rate), but those can be mitigated by things like the crafting companion (which awards more ammo for crafting) and the S.T.A.R.S Field Combat Manual (which makes perfect dodging easier, in turn giving increased firing rate on the equipped weapon). A masterpiece of a weapon. Lethality Score: 100/100

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