What Weapon and Charm Combinations Are Most Efficient for Speed Runs in Resident Evil 9 Requiem

In Resident Evil 9: Requiem, choosing efficient weapon and charm combinations is essential for Speed Run challenges. These combinations allow you to compress gameplay time and effectively deal with high difficulty encounters. Based on expert strategy guides, here is the ultimate weapon setup for optimal speed run performance.

How a Speed Run Loadout Is Different

A normal playthrough loadout is built for flexibility — something for every situation. A speed run loadout is built for decisions already made: you know which fights are mandatory, which enemies get skipped entirely, and which three weapons will carry the whole run. That changes the shopping list:

• Damage per second beats damage per bullet for crowd rooms; the reverse is true for the handful of elite fights.
• Inventory space is time. Every extra weapon you carry is seconds spent managing the attaché case instead of moving.
• Charm slots are your real build. The weapon gets the kill; the charm decides whether you had to stop and scavenge for ammo first.

With that framework, here are the picks.

Part 1: Recommended Core Weapons for Speed Runs

1. Sharpshooter A: This is the most powerful weapon in the mid-to-late game, located inside a BSAA container in the city area (requires the BSAA Locker Key to open). Its high single-shot damage is ideal for handling elite enemies, making it an essential weapon in the speed run route.
2. Requiem: A powerful weapon provided by Lee to Grace. It is specifically designed for high-threat targets. When fighting the elite monster “Grier”, using it with a pistol for finishers can quickly end the battle, making it the best choice for handling specific bosses in speed runs.
3. Pursuit Gun / Tracking Gun: Excellent for dealing with the “Tumor Beast.” By targeting the tumor on its back or tail, you can achieve massive damage output and significantly reduce boss fight time.
4. Gayle SMG: Acquired in the underground parking garage, this weapon has an extremely fast rate of fire. When combined with specific charms that boost SMG firepower, it becomes highly effective for clearing groups of zombies or blocking enemy attacks.

Part 2: Optimal Charm Combinations for Speed Runs

The charm system is crucial in speed runs, offering essential numerical bonuses. The following combinations are most effective:

• Ambition Charm: Core of speed run tactics. This charm not only increases the power of the last bullet in the magazine but also has the potential to simulate infinite ammo, greatly reducing the time wasted on resource gathering.
• BSAA Badge Charm: Obtained from the third BSAA container, it offers significant combat power boosts and is a must-have for maintaining output in high difficulty.
• Badge Charm (for SMG and Assault Rifle): Acquired by opening a specific locker, it directly increases the firepower of SMGs and assault rifles. When used with the Gayle SMG, it allows for fast clearing of combat zones.
• Knife Charm: Enhances the damage and durability of the knife, making it a valuable tool in early game or during low ammo situations to save time on gathering supplies.

Part 3: Key Accessories and Tactical Optimization

1. Overseer’s Scope: Dropped after defeating Grier, this accessory significantly increases damage multiplier after a critical hit, making it ideal for pairing with high-precision weapons like Sharpshooter A to achieve one-hit kills and reduce follow-up shots.
2. Hip Pouches : Collect hip pouches from the archive room and forklift area. By increasing inventory space, you can reduce the frequency of inventory management during safe box interactions, indirectly improving overall speed.
3. Legendary Tracking Module : Obtained from the BSAA locker, this mod further enhances weapon performance and ensures consistent damage output in high-pressure speed run scenarios.

Editor’s Tip: Before attempting a high difficulty speed run, make sure to go through the first playthrough to unlock and collect all recommended charms and weapon blueprints. During the speed run, avoid unnecessary combat, and only engage elite enemies with Requiem or Sharpshooter A for quick eliminations.

Route Discipline: Where Runs Actually Win or Lose

Equipment is only half the run. The time losses that kill speed attempts are almost all decision errors:

1. Memorize the key item order. BSAA Locker Key → Sharpshooter A is the highest-value sequence in the city section; if you arrive at the container without the key, you’re backtracking minutes.
2. Pre-clear your route on a practice save. Run the parking garage and archive room loops once casually so the Hip Pouch pickups become muscle memory.
3. Never craft mid-run if you can avoid it. Crafting benches are time sinks; the Ambition Charm setup exists precisely so you can skip them.
4. Knife only when safe. The Knife Charm makes it viable, but a failed knife attempt costs more time than a bullet ever would.

Quick Reference: The Speed Run Shopping List

Priority	Item	Location	Role
1	Ambition Charm	Charm system progression	Ammo economy
2	Sharpshooter A	BSAA container (city)	Elite removal
3	Hip Pouches	Archive room, forklift area	Inventory capacity
4	Gayle SMG + Badge Charm	Underground parking garage / locker	Crowd clearing
5	Requiem	Given by Lee	Boss finishers
6	Overseer’s Scope	Grier drop	Crit multipliers

Grab them in roughly this order and the run assembles itself.

For the broader picture of every weapon available, see our RE9 weapon and attachment guides on the hub, and if your run keeps dying in the same boss fight, the boss guide and attack techniques page breaks down each phase.

Resident Evil 9 Requiem - Complete Guide Hub