SMGs

SMGs

Submachine Guns (SMGs) are rapid-fire weapons ideal for crowd control, quickly dispatching weaker enemies, or applying sustained damage to larger threats. They excel in close-to-medium range engagements and are particularly effective when dealing with groups of Ganados or when you need to stagger an enemy quickly. All SMGs utilize the dedicated SMG Ammo type, which can be crafted at the typewriter or purchased from the Merchant.

While their individual power per shot is lower than shotguns or rifles, their high rate of fire compensates, making them highly resource-efficient when used correctly. Understanding each SMG's unique characteristics and optimal upgrade path is crucial for maximizing their potential in the challenging world of Resident Evil 4 Remake.

TMP

• Acquisition: Available for purchase from the Merchant starting in Chapter 3 for 10,000 Pesetas.
• Initial Stats (approx.):
  • Power: 0.5
  • Firing Speed: 2.50
  • Reload Speed: 0.80
  • Capacity: 30
• Description: The TMP is your earliest accessible SMG and serves as a reliable workhorse throughout the early and mid-game. It boasts an incredibly high rate of fire, making it excellent for staggering enemies, especially when aiming for legs or heads. Its compact size also makes it a good choice for inventory management.
• Strengths:
  • High Rate of Fire: Unmatched in its class for sheer bullet output, perfect for quickly stunning or overwhelming enemies.
  • Ammo Efficiency: Despite its rapid fire, SMG ammo is relatively common and cheap to craft, making the TMP a good option for conserving more powerful rounds.
  • Stagger Potential: Each shot contributes to an enemy's stagger threshold, allowing for easy follow-up melee attacks.
• Weaknesses:
  • Low Per-Shot Damage: Requires sustained fire to take down tougher enemies, which can lead to over-expenditure of ammo if not careful.
  • Poor Accuracy (Unupgraded): Without the stock, recoil is significant, making precise shots difficult beyond close range.
• Upgrade Recommendations:
  • Exclusive Upgrade (100,000 Pesetas): Increases Firing Speed by 1.5x. This makes the TMP an absolute bullet hose, further enhancing its stagger potential and DPS against single targets. Highly recommended for end-game content.
  • Power: Prioritize upgrading Power to increase its damage output, making it more viable against tougher enemies.
  • Capacity: Essential for sustained fire without constant reloading.
  • Firing Speed: While the exclusive upgrade boosts this significantly, early upgrades can still improve its responsiveness.
• Optimal Use:
  • Crowd Control: Sweep across groups of Ganados to stun multiple targets.
  • Staggering Elites: Aim for the head or legs of Plagas-infected enemies or armored foes to create openings for melee attacks or critical hits.
  • Boss Fights (Early Game): Can contribute sustained damage during vulnerable phases of bosses like Del Lago or Bitores Méndez.
• Attachments:
  • TMP Stock: Available for purchase from the Merchant for 4,000 Pesetas. Significantly reduces recoil and improves accuracy. Highly recommended as soon as possible.

LE 5

• Acquisition: Found in the Freezer room of the Incubation Lab in Chapter 13. To access it, you must solve the electronic lock puzzle by matching the power output to the correct frequency. The solution involves activating the top-left, top-right, and bottom-right nodes.
• Initial Stats (approx.):
  • Power: 0.6
  • Firing Speed: 2.00
  • Reload Speed: 0.90
  • Capacity: 25
• Description: The LE 5 is a more refined SMG compared to the TMP, offering a better balance of power and accuracy. It sacrifices some of the TMP's raw firing speed for increased precision and damage per shot, making it more effective at slightly longer ranges.
• Strengths:
  • Higher Base Damage: Hits harder per shot than the TMP, reducing the number of rounds needed to down weaker enemies.
  • Improved Accuracy: Naturally more accurate with less recoil, even without a stock, allowing for more consistent headshots.
  • Penetration Power: Unique among SMGs, the LE 5 has a natural penetration attribute, allowing its bullets to pierce through multiple enemies or thin cover. This is incredibly useful for clearing lines of Ganados.
• Weaknesses:
  • Slower Firing Speed: Less effective at instantly staggering multiple targets compared to the TMP.
  • Later Acquisition: Obtained much later in the game, limiting its overall utility compared to the TMP.
• Upgrade Recommendations:
  • Exclusive Upgrade (100,000 Pesetas): Increases Penetration Power by 5x. This makes the LE 5 an absolute beast for clearing hallways and groups, allowing you to hit multiple enemies with a single burst. Essential for its unique role.
  • Power: Prioritize to capitalize on its higher base damage.
  • Capacity: Important for sustained fire, especially with its penetration ability.
  • Reload Speed: Can be useful to minimize downtime during intense encounters.
• Optimal Use:
  • Hallway Clearing: Its penetration power makes it devastating in narrow corridors where enemies line up.
  • Targeting Weak Points: More accurate bursts allow for easier targeting of enemy weak points, even at a moderate distance.
  • Armored Enemies: Can chip away at armored foes effectively due to its higher damage and potential to hit weak points through gaps.
• Attachments: None.

Chicago Sweeper

• Acquisition: Unlocked by completing the main story on Professional difficulty with an A Rank (completion time under 7 hours). Once unlocked, it can be purchased from the Extra Content Shop for 1,000 CP. After purchasing, it becomes available in the Merchant's inventory in new game cycles for 777,777 Pesetas.
• Initial Stats (approx.):
  • Power: 0.4
  • Firing Speed: 2.50
  • Reload Speed: 0.80
  • Capacity: 50
• Description: The Chicago Sweeper is a powerful, high-capacity SMG that embodies the classic Tommy Gun aesthetic. It's primarily a post-game weapon, designed to make subsequent playthroughs, especially on Professional difficulty, more manageable and fun. Its true potential is unlocked with its exclusive upgrade.
• Strengths:
  • Massive Capacity: Starts with 50 rounds and can be upgraded to an astonishing 150 rounds, minimizing reloads.
  • Incredible Firing Speed: Matches the TMP's rapid fire, ensuring constant pressure on enemies.
  • Infinite Ammo (Exclusive): The game-changer. Once fully upgraded, it provides unlimited ammunition, making it incredibly powerful for speedruns and high-difficulty challenges.
• Weaknesses:
  • Low Base Damage: Its per-shot damage is the lowest among SMGs, requiring the exclusive upgrade to truly shine.
  • Late Game/Post-Game Acquisition: Not available during a first playthrough, requiring specific achievements to unlock.
  • Expensive: Both the initial purchase and the exclusive upgrade are costly.
• Upgrade Recommendations:
  • Exclusive Upgrade (100,000 Pesetas): Grants infinite ammunition. This is the single most impactful upgrade for any weapon in the game. It completely transforms the Chicago Sweeper into a relentless, unstoppable force. Prioritize this above all else.
  • Power: Once infinite ammo is unlocked, upgrading power is the only way to increase its damage output, making it more efficient.
  • Capacity: While infinite ammo negates the need for reloading, maxing capacity is a prerequisite for the exclusive upgrade.
• Optimal Use:
  • Professional Difficulty Runs: The infinite ammo makes it invaluable for managing resources and pushing through tough encounters without fear of running out of bullets.
  • Speedruns: Eliminates the need for ammo crafting or scavenging, streamlining gameplay.
  • Merciless Crowd Control: Mow down hordes of enemies with sustained, endless fire.
  • Boss Shredder: While not as powerful as a fully upgraded Magnum, the sheer volume of infinite bullets can make short work of many bosses.
• Attachments: None.

SMG Comparison Table