Resident Evil Requiem Guide: Best Hatchet Upgrades, Blood Crafting, & Wrenwood Coin Locations
After spending hours bouncing between Leon S. Kennedy’s campaign and Grace Ashcroft’s nightmare-fueled survival route, one thing became crystal clear: Resident Evil Requiem isn’t just swapping characters — it’s swapping philosophies. This is the most dramatic gameplay split the series has attempted in years, and honestly? It works far better than I expected.
Leon plays like controlled chaos. Grace plays like anxiety management. And mastering both feels incredibly satisfying.
Leon’s Combat Hatchet: Pure Aggression Done Right
Leon ditching the knife for a Combat Hatchet is more than a cosmetic upgrade. It fundamentally changes how encounters feel. You’re no longer poking and dancing — you’re committing. Every swing has weight, every parry feels earned.
The Sharpness Meter is the mechanic that really sells it. It adds tension without becoming annoying. Let your blade go dull, and suddenly your safety net (parry) disappears. It’s subtle pressure that rewards disciplined play.
If you’re pushing higher difficulties, a few upgrades quickly become non-negotiable.
Hatchet Upgrades Worth Your Resources
- Edge Retention (Sharpness Max)
The MVP upgrade. Longer sharpness = fewer panic moments mid-fight. - Stagger Multiplier
The secret sauce for crowd control. Faster staggers mean faster kicks, which means faster breathing room. - Cleave Damage
Surprisingly useful in tight areas. Corridors stop feeling like death funnels. - Counter-Attack Speed
Makes Leon feel terrifyingly fluid. Parry → punish becomes muscle memory.
What I love most is how Leon’s kit encourages momentum. The game rewards confidence — hesitate, and enemies swarm; commit, and Leon becomes a wrecking ball.
Grace Ashcroft: Survival Horror Turned Into Resource Psychology
Grace’s gameplay is the tonal whiplash I didn’t know I needed. Where Leon dominates space, Grace negotiates with it.
Her Blood Injection system is brilliant because it forces ugly decisions. Healing competes with ammo. Stealth tools compete with survival tools. Nothing feels waste-free.
The constant need to harvest Infected Blood turns exploration into a risk/reward puzzle. Do you detour for resources or conserve safety?
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Injection Recipes That Change the Game
- Hemolytic Injector (Stealth Kill)
Easily the most satisfying ability in Grace’s arsenal. Quiet, efficient, mutation-proof. - Blood Serum (Healing)
A lifesaver — literally. Better efficiency than environmental herbs. - Adrenaline Shot
Underrated. Stabilizing Panic makes difficult fights survivable. - Custom Ammo
Expensive but clutch. Feels like desperation engineering.
Grace’s entire loop feels like managing stress through preparation. You’re not overpowering enemies — you’re outsmarting inevitability.
Upgrade Priorities: Where Smart Players Invest First
This is where playstyle really starts to define your experience.
| Character | Early Priority | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Leon | Edge Retention (Sharpness) | Losing parry = losing control |
| Leon | Stagger Multiplier | Enables aggressive flow |
| Grace | Hip Pouch (Blood Collector) | Expands crafting freedom |
| Grace | Hemolytic Injector | Safest enemy removal tool |
For Leon, survivability equals sharpness management. For Grace, survivability equals inventory flexibility.
It’s fascinating how both characters ultimately revolve around control, but achieve it through completely different systems.
Why This Split Structure Actually Elevates RE9
What surprised me most is how refreshing the constant switching feels. Leon’s campaign delivers adrenaline spikes; Grace’s sections deliver dread and tension.
Instead of fatigue, you get rhythm.
Leon satisfies your power fantasy. Grace feeds your survival instincts.
Few Resident Evil entries have balanced action and horror this cleanly. Requiem doesn’t compromise — it commits to both.
And as a long-time fan? That’s exactly what the series needed.
Resident Evil Requiem: Hunting Every Antique Coin in Wrenwood Hotel (Fan Guide)
If there’s one thing Resident Evil has always nailed, it’s that delicious tension between exploration and survival. In Resident Evil Requiem, that tension gets cranked up hard during Grace Ashcroft’s sections — especially inside the eerie, puzzle-heavy Wrenwood Hotel.
Unlike Leon’s more combat-driven gameplay, Grace’s campaign leans into pure survival horror. Translation: tiny inventory, constant anxiety, and tough decisions. That’s where Antique Coins become your lifeline.
Why Antique Coins Matter More Than You Think
Let’s be honest — your first few minutes as Grace feel brutal. Inventory space vanishes instantly, panic sway messes with your aim, and resources are scarce.
Antique Coins aren’t just collectibles. They directly shape how comfortable (or miserable) your run becomes.
You’ll spend them on:
- Hip Pouches – Because two extra slots feel like winning the lottery
- Stabilizers – A sanity saver when Panic kicks in
- The Requiem Magnum – Expensive, devastating, absolutely worth drooling over
From a survival standpoint, coins are basically progression disguised as loot.
All Antique Coin Locations – Wrenwood Hotel
Community breakdowns and early showcase footage point to seven coins tucked away in this segment. None are outrageously hidden, but several are easy to sprint past when you’re stressed.
| Location | Where to Look | Why Players Miss It |
|---|---|---|
| Hotel Lobby (1F) | Dark corner behind the check-in desk, inside a vase | Most players rush to the first objective |
| Dining Hall (1F) | Side table near the grand piano | Blends into environmental clutter |
| Kitchen Storage (1F) | Locked drawer near freezer (requires Lock Pick) | Classic backtracking bait |
| Grand Staircase (2F) | Decorative cage, mannequin head’s mouth | Easy to ignore mid-tension |
| Room 204 (Laundry) | Southern washing machine | Looks like pure scenery |
| Library (3F) | NW railing on upper walkway | Distracting enemy encounter nearby |
| Manager’s Office (Basement) | Green desk drawer past tripwires | Players focus on trap survival |
Moments That Feel Very “Classic Resident Evil”
What I personally love about this hotel section is how shamelessly it channels old-school RE design philosophy.
A few standout vibes:
- Lock Pick drawer in Kitchen Storage — strong echoes of Resident Evil 7 energy
- Mannequin head coin — weird, creepy, perfectly on-brand
- Library placement — because Resident Evil always makes libraries stressful
It feels deliberate, like Capcom saying: “Yeah, we know exactly why you fell in love with survival horror.”
Coin Spending Strategy (From Someone Who Hoards Everything)
If you’re the type who panic-spends currency the second you see a shop — pause.
Veteran players are already recommending:
Early Priorities
- Hip Pouch first – Inventory pressure is your real enemy
- Stabilizer second – Panic sway gets nasty fast
Long-Term Goal
- Save for the Magnum – Especially if you’re eyeing tougher bosses later
That Magnum isn’t just a weapon — it’s insurance against future regret.
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Difficulty Changes Things (Yes, Really)
Higher difficulties reportedly remix item placement, and coins aren’t immune.
Expect:
- More dangerous routes
- Increased enemy pressure
- Coins nudged toward riskier areas
Which honestly fits Resident Evil tradition. The game punishes autopilot exploration.
Final Thoughts – Why This Section Works So Well
Wrenwood Hotel is peak Resident Evil Requiem design: tight resource pressure, smart environmental storytelling, and that constant “should I go back?” anxiety.
Grace’s campaign feels like Capcom doubling down on true survival horror, and Antique Coins are cleverly woven into that experience rather than slapped on as filler collectibles.
And honestly? That’s exactly what longtime fans wanted.
