Weapon Stats & Effectiveness

Welcome to the definitive guide on Raccoon City's most effective zombie-dispatching tools! In Resident Evil 3: Nemesis, understanding your arsenal is crucial for survival, especially when facing the relentless Nemesis. This section breaks down each weapon's stats, optimal usage, and where to find them, ensuring you're always prepared for the horrors that await.

Handguns

Your bread-and-butter sidearms, reliable for standard zombie encounters and conserving precious heavy ammunition. Always aim for headshots to maximize efficiency and conserve ammo.

Weapon	Character	Damage	Fire Rate	Capacity	Effectiveness & Usage	Location & Acquisition
M92F Custom (Jill's Standard Handgun)	Jill	Low	Moderate	15 rounds	Best for single zombies or clearing a path when you need to conserve other ammo. Against Nemesis, it's largely ineffective; use only as a last resort or to create minor stagger. Conserves more powerful ammunition for tougher threats.	Jill starts with this weapon.
SIGPRO SP2009 (Carlos's Standard Handgun)	Carlos	Low	Moderate	15 rounds	Similar to Jill's M92F. Carlos will use this for his segments. Focus on headshots. Reliable for standard zombie encounters.	Carlos starts with this weapon.
Glock 20 (Carlos's Enhanced Handgun)	Carlos	Moderate	High	15 rounds	A significant upgrade to the standard handguns. Its higher fire rate makes it more forgiving for body shots and better for quickly dispatching groups of zombies. Still not ideal for Nemesis, but can chip away at his health if you have no other options. Excellent for crowd control among standard zombies.	Carlos starts with this weapon. It is his standard sidearm, not an upgrade Jill acquires.
M92F Custom (Enhanced Handgun)	Jill	Moderate	High	15 rounds	This is Jill's upgraded handgun, offering a noticeable boost in damage and fire rate over her standard M92F. It becomes much more viable for sustained combat against multiple zombies. While not a primary Nemesis deterrent, it can contribute to staggering him.	To obtain this, you need to combine the M92F Custom with Handgun Parts A and Handgun Parts B. Handgun Parts A: Found in the Raccoon Police Department's Office, on the desk near the typewriter. You'll access this area after escaping the restaurant. Handgun Parts B: Located in the Clock Tower's Main Hall, on a small table near the entrance, after solving the clock puzzle.

Shotguns

The quintessential zombie stopper. Excellent for crowd control and dealing significant damage at close range. Always aim for the chest or head for maximum impact and potential decapitations.

Weapon	Character	Damage	Fire Rate	Capacity	Effectiveness & Usage	Location & Acquisition
Remington M870 (Standard Shotgun)	Jill	High (close range)	Slow	7 shells	Devastating at close quarters. One well-placed shot can decapitate a zombie. Essential for clearing tight corridors or dealing with multiple enemies. Against Nemesis, it's a solid choice for staggering him, especially when he's charging.	Inside the Raccoon Police Department's Armory. To access, you must solve the "Blue Gem" puzzle in the Main Hall. The Blue Gem is found in the safe in the RPD's West Office.
Benelli M3S (Enhanced Shotgun)	Jill	Very High (close range)	Moderate	7 shells	A powerful upgrade. The Benelli M3S fires faster than the standard M870, making it even more effective for quickly eliminating threats. This is your go-to for Nemesis encounters when you need to create distance or interrupt his attacks. Its increased fire rate allows for quicker follow-up shots.	To obtain this, you need to combine the Remington M870 with Shotgun Parts A and Shotgun Parts B. Shotgun Parts A: Found in the Clock Tower Plaza, near the fountain after the first Nemesis encounter there. Shotgun Parts B: Located in the Dead Factory's Control Room, on a workbench.

Grenade Launchers

Versatile weapons capable of dealing area-of-effect damage or specialized elemental damage. The Grenade Launcher is a critical tool for crowd control and dealing with specific enemy types, including Nemesis.

Weapon	Character	Damage	Fire Rate	Capacity	Effectiveness & Usage	Location & Acquisition
Grenade Launcher (Standard)	Jill	Varies by ammunition type	Slow	6 rounds	Highly versatile. Different grenade rounds offer unique tactical advantages. Essential for dealing with groups, Hunters, Drain Deimos, and Nemesis. Always carry several ammo types if possible.	Found in the Raccoon City Sales Office, on the counter. You access this area after the initial downtown segment, typically after solving the power cable puzzle.
Grenade Launcher Ammunition Types: Grenade Rounds: Standard explosive, good for groups of zombies or general damage against Nemesis. A reliable all-purpose round. Flame Rounds: Excellent against Drain Deimos and other insect-like creatures (e.g., Giant Spiders). Also effective for continuous damage against Nemesis, causing him to recoil. Acid Rounds: Particularly effective against Hunters and other biological mutations. Can cause Nemesis to recoil and deal sustained damage. Often considered the most powerful against Nemesis in his early forms. Freeze Rounds: Can temporarily freeze enemies, including Nemesis, allowing for free hits or escape. Very useful for boss encounters, especially when you need to create distance or line up a powerful shot.

Magnums

The ultimate in raw stopping power, reserved for the toughest threats. Magnum rounds are scarce, so make every shot count, especially against Nemesis and other large, resilient enemies.

Weapon	Character	Damage	Fire Rate	Capacity	Effectiveness & Usage	Location & Acquisition
S&W M629 (Magnum)	Jill	Extremely High	Very Slow	6 rounds	Your best friend against Nemesis and other large, resilient enemies like Hunters. Each shot consumes precious Magnum Rounds, so make every bullet count. Aim for critical points on Nemesis (e.g., his heart when exposed) for maximum impact. Crucial for boss fights.	Found in the Clock Tower's Main Hall, on the altar, after solving the clock puzzle. You'll need to retrieve the three clock parts (Bronze, Silver, Gold) from various locations in the Clock Tower and combine them to repair the large clock.

Assault Rifles

Automatic weapons offering high rates of fire, ideal for sustained damage against multiple targets or suppressing powerful enemies. Ammo consumption can be high, so controlled bursts are often recommended.

Weapon	Character	Damage	Fire Rate	Capacity	Effectiveness & Usage	Location & Acquisition
M4A1 Assault Rifle (Carlos's Standard Weapon)	Carlos	Moderate	Very High (automatic)	60 rounds	Carlos's primary weapon during his playable segments. Excellent for sustained fire against multiple enemies or for keeping Nemesis suppressed. Consumes a lot of ammo quickly, so burst fire is recommended for standard zombies. Very effective against Hunters and other mid-tier threats.	Carlos starts with this weapon.
M4A1 Assault Rifle (Enhanced)	Carlos	High	Extremely High (automatic)	60 rounds	An upgraded version of Carlos's standard assault rifle, offering increased damage and a slightly faster fire rate. This makes it even more devastating against Nemesis and other tough enemies during Carlos's sections, particularly in the Hospital.	To obtain this, you need to combine the M4A1 Assault Rifle with Assault Rifle Parts A and Assault Rifle Parts B. Assault Rifle Parts A: Found in the Hospital's 2F Storage Room, on a shelf. This is the room where Carlos would typically find the standard M870 Shotgun in other RE games, but in RE3 it holds this part. Assault Rifle Parts B: Located in the Hospital's B1 Sub-Level, in the power room, after restoring power. It's on a workbench or crate near the power controls.

Special & Bonus Weapons

These weapons are either acquired during specific story events or unlocked through achieving certain game completion criteria. They offer immense power and can drastically change your approach to combat.

Weapon	Character	Damage	Fire Rate	Capacity	Effectiveness & Usage	Location & Acquisition
Rocket Launcher	Jill	Instant Kill (most enemies)	Very Slow	1 round per reload	The ultimate weapon for story progression. One shot will obliterate almost any enemy, including Nemesis (though it takes multiple shots for final forms). Save these for the final confrontations. Critical for defeating Nemesis's final mutations.	Acquired automatically during the final boss fight against Nemesis. Jill will find it conveniently placed to aid in the battle.
Gatling Gun	Jill	High (sustained fire)	Extremely High	Unlimited	A bonus weapon unlocked by achieving an A rank on Hard difficulty. Pure overkill, makes subsequent playthroughs a breeze. Excellent for speedruns or simply enjoying the game without ammo concerns. Shreds through all enemies, including Nemesis.	Unlocked after achieving specific game completion ranks (typically A rank on Hard difficulty). Becomes available in the item box for new game+ playthroughs.
Infinite Rocket Launcher	Jill	Instant Kill (most enemies)	Very Slow	Unlimited	The most powerful bonus weapon, also unlocked by achieving high ranks. Makes the game trivial, perfect for speedruns or stress-free playthroughs. Every shot is a guaranteed kill for most enemies, and it makes short work of Nemesis.	Unlocked after achieving specific game completion ranks (typically S rank on Hard difficulty, or A rank on Nightmare/Inferno if applicable in a specific version). Becomes available in the item box for new game+ playthroughs.
Mine Thrower	Jill	High (explosive)	Slow	6 rounds	A unique weapon that fires mines that stick to surfaces or enemies and detonate after a short delay or upon proximity. Useful for setting traps or dealing with slow-moving, powerful enemies like Nemesis. Can be tricky to use effectively in fast-paced combat.	Found in the Dead Factory's Power Room, on a control panel. You'll access this area towards the end of the game.

Weapon Upgrades & Customization: A Quick Guide

Enhancing your weapons is crucial for survival in Resident Evil 3: Nemesis. Most upgrades are found as "Parts" that can be combined with their respective base weapons in your inventory. Here's a summary of how to get the most out of your arsenal:

Handgun (M92F Custom) Enhancement:
- Handgun Parts A: Raccoon Police Department's Office, on the desk near the typewriter.
- Handgun Parts B: Clock Tower's Main Hall, on a small table near the entrance.
- Combine both parts with Jill's M92F Custom to create the Enhanced Handgun.
Shotgun (Remington M870) Enhancement:
- Shotgun Parts A: Clock Tower Plaza, near the fountain after the first Nemesis encounter there.
- Shotgun Parts B: Dead Factory's Control Room, on a workbench.
- Combine both parts with Jill's Remington M870 to create the Benelli M3S (Enhanced Shotgun).
Assault Rifle (M4A1) Enhancement (Carlos Only):
- Assault Rifle Parts A: Hospital's 2F Storage Room, on a shelf.
- Assault Rifle Parts B: Hospital's B1 Sub-Level, in the power room.
- Combine both parts with Carlos's M4A1 Assault Rifle to create the Enhanced Assault Rifle.

Always prioritize collecting these parts as they significantly boost your firepower, making subsequent encounters, especially with Nemesis, much more manageable. Remember to check every nook and cranny!