Complete Guide to Acquiring All Weapons in Silent Hill 2 Remake

In the Silent Hill 2 Remake, the terrifying creatures are relentless, demanding that James Sunderland be perpetually on guard. The selection of weapons you choose significantly affects your strategy for both regular foes and formidable bosses. With a total of six weapons at your disposal, it’s wise to equip James with the best gear possible to face whatever challenges arise. Below, you’ll find an overview of all the weapons in the Silent Hill 2 Remake along with instructions on how to locate them.

Complete List of Weapons and Their Locations in Silent Hill 2 Remake

James Sunderland wielding weapons in Silent Hill 2 Remake — Screenshot by Prima Games

Silent Hill 2 features a set of six weapons: three melee options and three ranged. Below is a detailed list of all the weapons available in the Silent Hill 2 Remake along with their exact locations.

Wooden Plank
Handgun
Steel Pipe
Shotgun
Hunting Rifle
Chainsaw

Location of Wooden Plank

The Wooden Plank is the introductory melee weapon in the Silent Hill 2 Remake, and its discovery is unavoidable. You’ll come across it immediately after stepping into the first building in Silent Hill. When a monster appears in the vicinity, James retrieves the Wooden Plank from a window to protect himself.

A standout attribute of the Wooden Plank is its durability; it never breaks, allowing for endless usage against enemies. It also serves as a great tool for conserving ammunition for other firearms, such as the handgun.

Location of Handgun

While the Wooden Plank is adequate for early encounters, you will soon require a ranged weapon to deal with tougher adversaries. This leads you to seek out the Handgun, an essential item for progressing the story, which you cannot ignore.

As you advance through the narrative and reach the Woodside Apartments, you’ll find a note regarding a noise complaint linked to a gunshot from Room 217. This hint encourages you to investigate that specific room on the second floor, where you are likely to discover the Handgun. However, to gain access to the second-floor hallway, you’ll first need to acquire the key.

The key can be located in the eastern hallway of the first floor, positioned near the barred section on the south side. After obtaining it, make your way to Room 217, where a red shopping cart will reveal the Handgun waiting for you.

Unlike the Wooden Plank, the Handgun does not come with unlimited ammunition. Fortunately, you’ll find ammo quite frequently scattered across Silent Hill, which makes it the most easily accessible firearm available. Nevertheless, this does not eliminate the necessity of melee weapons, as you will regularly face monsters at close quarters.

Location of Steel Pipe

Another melee option you’ll acquire is the Steel Pipe, which is also impossible to overlook. After encountering Maria on Katz Street, a cutscene triggers, enveloping James in thick fog. He dashes down an alley in the Western South Vale and discovers the Steel Pipe inside a vehicle.

Since this acquisition occurs during a cutscene, you can’t miss grabbing the Steel Pipe in the Silent Hill 2 Remake. It’s crucial to note that James can only hold one melee weapon at a time, so obtaining the Steel Pipe will result in the Wooden Plank being discarded. From that point onwards, you’ll wield the Steel Pipe throughout the remainder of the game.

The Steel Pipe represents a substantial upgrade from the Wooden Plank, enabling you to dispatch foes more efficiently. While this enhancement is delightful, it’s unfortunate that the game restricts you from switching between both melee options as your primary choice.

Location of Shotgun

The Shotgun is the second firearm you’ll find in the Silent Hill 2 Remake, but you won’t stumble upon it until you enter Brookhaven Hospital. Upon stepping into the hospital’s security room, an empty Shotgun locker will catch your eye, suggesting that the weapon is somewhere inside the hospital.

To track down the Shotgun, navigate to the Women’s Locker Room on the second floor, positioned on the western side of Brookhaven Hospital. Inside, adjacent to a teddy bear with a bent needle in its head, an open locker reveals the Shotgun, ready for James to claim it.

Once you acquire the Shotgun, it becomes part of your inventory for the entirety of the game, in contrast to the Steel Pipe. However, finding ammo for it is somewhat more challenging than with the Handgun. Therefore, it’s advisable to conserve your rounds for more formidable enemies, especially during crucial boss battles.

Location of Hunting Rifle

In your initial playthrough of Silent Hill 2 Remake, the Hunting Rifle is the last weapon available.

To obtain the Hunting Rifle, continue progressing through the storyline until you arrive at the Toluca Prison section. Here, you’ll discover the rifle stored inside an Armory locker.

To access the Armory, you need a key which can be found at the endpoint of the Serpent section, located just south of the Witness Checkpoint in Toluca Prison. This checkpoint serves as a connection to the hallway outside the Armory, allowing you to backtrack and collect the key whenever you are prepared to unlock the locker.

Once you’ve secured the key, check your map as James has already marked the Armory Locker’s position that holds the Hunting Rifle. Go to the locker, use the key, and claim your new firearm.

Though the Hunting Rifle inflicts damage comparable to a shotgun, its primary advantage lies in its extended range. Since ammo is limited, it’s wise to reserve it for boss encounters instead of using it against routine opponents. Aim for headshots to maximize efficiency and keep your distance from bosses whenever feasible.

Location of Chainsaw

While all the previously mentioned weapons are easily obtain during your primary playthrough, the Chainsaw is exclusive to the New Game Plus mode. You can access this mode only after completing the game at least once. Then, from the main menu, start a new game in New Game Plus.

In this mode, once you interact with Angela, you will find yourself in the Silent Hill Ranch area, enveloped in dense fog. The Chainsaw will be located embedded in a pile of logs directly across from the “Silent Hill Ranch” sign.

The Chainsaw is an exceptionally mighty weapon, capable of defeating most adversaries with a single blow. An added bonus is that it doesn’t need any fuel, allowing for limitless usage. While it may take several strikes to fell bosses, standard enemies will be quickly dispatched as you traverse through Silent Hill once again in New Game Plus mode.

For additional gameplay tips, consider checking out our guide on Silent Hill 2 Remake Save File Locations for PC.

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