Hatchet
The Hatchet is Leon's most important defensive tool in Resident Evil Requiem. Unlike the franchise's traditional knives which break after a fixed number of uses, the Hatchet uses a durability system — each use drains its condition bar, and it can be repaired at the item shop for Credits. Its primary function is not attack but parry: pressing the parry button at the precise moment an enemy melee attack lands triggers a counter that staggers the attacker, creating a damage window. Every boss in the game has at least one parriable attack. The Hatchet can also be thrown at enemies for a brief distraction or light damage, which is useful for creating space. Upgrading it by destroying all 25 Mr. Raccoon statues throughout the game increases it to Level 3, tripling its durability and adding bonus parry stagger duration.
Stats
Leon's starting equipment. Equipped from Chapter 1.
Parrying boss attacks. Creating safe damage windows. Preserving firearm ammo in mid-tier encounters.
All RE9 Requiem Weapons Showcase — Stats, Reload Animations & Upgrades
Upgrade Tree
| Upgrade | Effect | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Level 2 (Auto) | At 10 Mr. Raccoon statues: Power 2.50 → 4.50, Durability 10 → 18, Parry window +0.1s | Free |
| Level 3 (Auto) | At 20 Mr. Raccoon statues: Power 4.50 → 7.00, Durability 18 → 25, one-hit kill on standard infected, Parry window +0.1s additional | Free |
| Mortal Edge (Replacement) | Drops from The Commander (ARK Chapter 6): Power 7.00 → 8.00, Durability 25 → 30, Parry window maximum, adds bleed effect on counter-strikes | Free |
Expert Tips
The Hatchet upgrades are free — collecting Mr. Raccoon statues is the only cost. At Level 3, the Hatchet one-shots standard zombies and Lickers on Standard difficulty, conserving enormous amounts of handgun ammo. The Mortal Edge is a significant endgame upgrade — its bleed effect adds continuous damage useful for Phase 2 boss encounters.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you upgrade the Hatchet in RE9?
The Hatchet upgrades automatically when you destroy Mr. Raccoon statues: Lv.2 after destroying 10 statues, Lv.3 after destroying all 25. No Credits required — it is entirely tied to the collectible hunt. The Lv.3 Hatchet also contributes to the 'Remarkable Agent' trophy list.
How does parrying work with the Hatchet?
Press the parry button (Circle on PS5 / B on Xbox) at the exact moment an enemy melee attack would hit Leon. Timing must be precise — too early or late will result in the attack landing normally. A successful parry creates a 2-second stagger window. The Hatchet's durability decreases with each parry — repair it at item shops when it gets low.
Can I use the Hatchet to attack normally?
Yes — pressing the melee button swings the Hatchet for moderate damage and a guaranteed stagger on standard zombies. It can also be thrown for light damage and a brief distraction. However, normal attacks drain durability faster than parries, so avoid using it on standard enemies when ammo is available.