RE9 Leon S. Kennedy Combat Guide: Master the Action-Oriented Playstyle

Leon S. Kennedy is back in Resident Evil Requiem, and his chapters are a completely different beast from Grace’s survival horror sections. Leon is a seasoned agent — he comes loaded, he fights hard, and his chapters are built around action-oriented combat with a satisfying arsenal of weapons. If Grace’s sections are about surviving, Leon’s are about dominating.

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Leon’s Combat Style: Third-Person Action

Leon’s chapters default to the over-the-shoulder third-person view — the same perspective that made RE4 and RE2 Remake so satisfying:

• Precise aiming: Easy to target weak spots like heads and limbs
• Fluid movement: Shooting, melee, and dodging all chain together naturally
• Wide field of view: You can actually see what’s coming at you

Note: You can switch to first-person in settings if you want, but most players prefer third-person for Leon’s action-heavy sections.

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Weapons Arsenal

Primary Firearms

Weapon	Type	Best Use
Alligator Snapper	Handgun	Reliable main weapon for most encounters
MSBG 500	Pump Shotgun	Devastating at close range, great for crowds
Assault Rifle	Auto Weapon	Mid-range crowd control
Magnum	High-Power Handgun	Boss fights and heavily armored enemies

Melee: The Hatchet

Leon’s Hatchet is one of the most satisfying tools in the game:

• One-hit decapitation on standard zombies
• Ammo-free kills — huge deal when resources get tight
• Requires close range — don’t try to melee a group

Upgrade Priority

Recommended Upgrade Order:
1. Handgun magazine capacity → More shots, fewer dangerous reloads
2. Shotgun damage → Better crowd clearing
3. Reload speed → Reduces vulnerability windows
4. Accuracy → Improves weak-spot hits

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Combat Techniques That Work

1. Precision Shooting

Go for the head — always:

• Headshots stagger or kill most enemies in fewer shots
• Limb shots can knock enemies down for follow-up melee
• Precision shooting is the single best way to conserve ammo

Shooting tips:

• Plant your feet before firing for better accuracy
• Use cover to break line of sight and reset enemy aggression
• Prioritize the most dangerous enemy in a group first

2. Melee Combos

Hatchet timing:

• Shoot an enemy in the legs to drop them, then hatchet
• Use the hatchet on stunned enemies after a grenade
• Keep your distance from groups — melee one at a time

Body mechanics:

• Shooting a zombie’s knee drops them for a stomp or hatchet
• A staggered enemy is a free kill — don’t waste it

3. Crowd Control

When multiple enemies close in:

1. Position yourself: Doorways and narrow corridors limit how many can reach you at once
2. Weapon switching: Handgun for distant singles, shotgun for close clusters
3. Grenades: Save them for dense groups — one grenade can clear a room
4. Keep moving: Circle-strafing prevents getting surrounded

4. Defense and Dodging

• Block incoming attacks to reduce damage — timing matters
• Perfect dodge triggers a brief slow-motion window — punish it immediately
• Don’t stand still: Static targets take more punishment

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Ammo Management

Leon’s chapters are more generous than Grace’s, but you still need to be smart:

Ammo Type	Usage Advice
Handgun Ammo	Main resource — use freely on standard enemies
Shotgun Shells	Reserve for emergencies and tight corridors
Magnum Rounds	Boss fights only — don’t waste these
Grenades	Dense enemy groups or creating escape routes

Healing Items

• Green Herb: Basic heal
• Red Herb: Combine with green for enhanced effect
• First Aid Spray: Full recovery — emergency use only
• Mixed Herbs: Green + Green = moderate heal, Green + Red = full recovery

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Boss Fight Strategy

Universal Boss Tips

1. Watch the patterns first

   • Every boss telegraphs attacks — learn the tells
   • Find the safe window to deal damage
   • Don’t get greedy; back off when the boss winds up

2. Weapon selection

   • Magnum for maximum single-hit damage
   • Shotgun for close-range burst windows
   • Grenades to create openings or interrupt attacks

3. Use the arena

   • Environmental objects can block attacks
   • Some arenas have interactive elements — use them
   • Keep track of where the boss is at all times

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Grace vs. Leon: The Full Comparison

Category	Leon’s Chapters	Grace’s Chapters
Style	Action horror	Survival horror
Weapons	Extensive arsenal	Very limited
Ammo	Relatively plentiful	Scarce
Combat	Aggressive, offensive	Avoidance-focused
Melee	Hatchet decapitations	Hemolytic Injector
Pacing	Fast, intense	Slow, tense

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Advanced Techniques

Combo Chains

• Shoot legs → Hatchet: Drop an enemy with a leg shot, close in for the kill
• Environmental kills: Explosive barrels, traps, and hazards are free damage
• Perfect dodge counter: Nail the timing and you get a free punish window

Speedrun Tips

• Learn enemy spawn locations to plan routes
• Skip optional fights when the reward isn’t worth the ammo cost
• Optimize your upgrade path before starting a run

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Tips for New Players

1. Upgrade your handgun first — it’s your most-used weapon
2. Hoard Magnum ammo — it’s for bosses, not regular enemies
3. Learn melee — the Hatchet saves more ammo than you’d think
4. Stay mobile — standing still gets you killed
5. Listen for audio cues — you can hear enemies before you see them

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Wrapping Up

Leon’s chapters in Resident Evil Requiem are a blast — a well-paced action horror experience with a satisfying weapon sandbox. Master precision shooting, get comfortable with the Hatchet, manage your ammo wisely, and you’ll tear through Raccoon City like the veteran agent Leon is.

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