One of the most stressful moments early in Resident Evil Requiem is realizing that Grace Ashcroft — one of the game’s two playable characters — starts out completely unarmed. No gun, no knife, nothing. Meanwhile Leon S. Kennedy is packing serious firepower from the very first moment you control him. Grace is left to sneak, run, and pray her way through the opening sections of the Care Center while Leon handles threats with ease.
The good news is that Grace doesn’t have to stay defenceless for long. There are actually three guns available to her in the Care Center, and you can get the first two fairly early once you know exactly where to go. This guide covers every step — from surviving the unarmed opening to picking up the B934 handgun, recovering Grace’s own stolen S&S M232 pistol, and understanding how the Requiem revolver fits in.
Why Does Grace Start Without a Gun?
Grace begins Resident Evil Requiem as a civilian who gets caught up in the horror at Rhodes Hill Care Center. She had her own handgun — the S&S M232 — when the game starts, but it gets taken from her during the chaotic early events before she reaches the main Care Center building. This leaves her completely defenceless as she navigates one of RE9’s most terrifying early sequences.
When Leon eventually finds Grace and rescues her, he hands over his powerful Requiem revolver to help protect her. The problem? Requiem bullets are extremely rare, making it one of the most powerful but least practical everyday weapons early in the game. You need a reliable handgun with accessible ammo as fast as possible — and the Care Center has two waiting for you.
Grace’s Weapons in Resident Evil Requiem — Quick Overview
Before diving into locations, here’s a breakdown of every gun Grace can get during her time in the Care Center:
Requiem (Revolver) — Given to Grace by Leon automatically through story progression when she reaches the Central Hall. Extremely powerful, one-shots most enemies, but ammo is very hard to come by. Best saved for tough situations.
B934 (Pistol) — The first standard handgun you can find. Located on the floor in the Dining Room on the first floor of the West Wing. Solid, dependable, and uses common handgun ammo.
S&S M232 (Pistol) — Grace’s original gun that was taken from her. A straight upgrade over the B934 with more stopping power. Found in the Bar & Lounge on the second floor of the West Wing. This is the best all-around weapon for Grace throughout the Care Center.
Step 1 — Survive Without a Gun (The Opening Section)
Before you can get any weapon at all, you have to survive Grace’s unarmed opening. This section is entirely stealth-based. There is nothing you can do to fight back, and attempting to stand your ground will get Grace killed quickly.
The key rules for this section are simple: stay out of sight, move slowly past enemies, and run whenever there’s a safe opening. If an enemy spots you, sprint around them and put distance between you. Grace is quick on her feet, and most of the monsters in this section won’t pursue her indefinitely if she breaks line of sight.
Once you connect with Leon and he hands you the Requiem revolver, the immediate threat subsides. Hold onto those bullets — don’t fire the Requiem unless you absolutely must, because there’s a regular handgun nearby that will serve you much better for routine encounters.
Step 2 — Get the Keycard and Access the West Wing
Once Grace has the Requiem and reaches the first save room, the path to your first proper handgun opens up. Here’s what to do:
Head downstairs from the save room, move through the red hallway, and watch the cutscene. After it ends, pick up the keycard from the area. Use this keycard to unlock the West Wing door, which gives you access to the part of the Care Center where both guns are waiting.
If you need help navigating this area, our West Wing Keycard Location guide covers the exact path.
Step 3 — Find the B934 Handgun (Dining Room, First Floor)
With the West Wing unlocked, follow the hallway to the left and enter the Kitchen. This room has a large chef zombie patrolling it — a big, intimidating enemy carrying a cleaver. You do not need to fight him. Instead, wait for him to turn his back and walk toward the counter, then push the cart out of the way to clear your path. If he becomes aware of you, stop pushing and find somewhere to hide until he settles down, then continue. Keep going until you reach the next hallway.
From that hallway, run to the right, take the first left, and enter the Dining Room. This room has zombies inside, so hug the right side of the room and keep moving. On the floor, just to the right of the zombies gathered around a table, you’ll find the B934 handgun. Pick it up.
One important note: the B934 doesn’t come with any ammo loaded inside. Head out through the northern exit of the Dining Room and vault into the small room immediately on your left. There’s a table inside with a few handgun bullets on it. Grab those right away. While you’re in here, also check the locker — it contains a Makeshift Knife, which is useful for taking out Mr. Raccoon statues without wasting bullets. Continue down the hallway and smash the box near the stairs for additional ammo.
You now have a working gun. The B934 is basic, but it gets the job done and uses standard handgun ammunition that you’ll find scattered throughout the Care Center.
Step 4 — Recover Grace’s S&S M232 (Bar & Lounge, Second Floor)
The B934 is a temporary solution. Grace’s actual gun — the S&S M232 — is waiting for her in the Bar & Lounge on the second floor of the West Wing, and it’s a meaningful upgrade in terms of stopping power.
After picking up the B934 and any ammo you can find in the nearby rooms, make your way back through the Dining Room, exit through the other door, and head down the hallway. Take the stairs up and work your way through the Bar & Lounge area.
The Bar & Lounge has enemies inside, so be cautious moving through. Work your way around to the left and get behind the bar counter. On the bar counter itself, you’ll find the S&S M232 handgun — Grace’s original weapon, sitting right there waiting for her.
Once you have it, consider holding onto the B934 until you’ve used up its remaining ammo. Given how tight resources are in RE9, wasting any bullets you already have chambered is not ideal.
The Bar & Lounge is also where you’ll find the first safe in the game. Check our Bar & Lounge Safe Code guide to crack it and claim the three Antique Coins inside.
Understanding the Requiem Revolver and Its Ammo
The Requiem revolver that Leon gives Grace is by far the most powerful weapon she carries, but its ammunition is almost impossible to find in the wild. To get more bullets for it, you need to craft them using the 12.7×55 Ammo Recipe, which requires Rare Metal and Blood.
You won’t unlock the crafting recipe until you reach the East Wing and complete the Blood Specimen analysis in the Blood Lab. Rare Metal itself is found behind locked drawers — you’ll need a Lockpick to access them. Given all of this, the Requiem is best treated as an emergency weapon or a tool for taking down tougher enemies, not something to blast casually at every zombie you meet. The S&S M232 and B934 are your everyday workhorses.
Tips for Playing as Grace Without Wasting Ammo
Grace’s entire experience in the Care Center is defined by scarcity. She doesn’t have Leon’s supply boxes, she can’t upgrade her weapons, and her inventory space is significantly more limited. Here are a few ways to stretch your resources as far as possible:
Craft Makeshift Knives when you can. Grace can craft knives from scraps found around the Care Center. These are crucial for melee situations and for destroying Mr. Raccoon statues without spending a bullet.
Use the storage chest in safe rooms. If you’re carrying a weapon you don’t currently have ammo for, stash it. There’s no reason to waste an inventory slot on a gun you can’t shoot.
Leave tough enemies for Leon. Because Grace and Leon share the same spaces at different points, killing every enemy you see as Grace isn’t always necessary. Some of the harder ones are better left for Leon’s superior firepower to handle when he passes through the same area.
Don’t fire the Requiem at basic zombies. That ammunition is precious. Save it for moments where a one-shot kill genuinely matters.
Use the quick turn. Pressing back and Circle (PS) or B (Xbox) makes Grace do a fast 180-degree turn. This is essential for running away from enemies and repositioning quickly, and it’s easy to forget it’s there if you’re not used to RE-style controls.
What to Do After Getting Grace’s Gun
Once you have the S&S M232, you’re in a much better position to explore the rest of the Care Center. At this point, the West Wing opens up a number of additional objectives — puzzle rooms, locked doors, collectibles, and more.
Some key things to tackle next:
The Examination Room Safe Code is nearby and worth cracking for its rewards. You’ll also want to work on finding the Level 1 ID Wristband to start opening the blue access doors around the building. If you haven’t yet dealt with the locked doors throughout the wing, our guides on how to open Level 3 Doors and the Isolation Ward will help.
For collectibles, the Antique Coins guide covers every coin in the Care Center, and spending those coins in the Parlor will get Grace upgrades like the Hip Pouch and Steroids that make a real difference to how she plays.
All of Grace’s Weapons at a Glance
Requiem (Revolver) — Automatic story pickup, Central Hall. Extremely powerful. Ammo requires crafting with Rare Metal. Best saved for emergencies and boss encounters.
B934 (Pistol) — Dining Room floor, first floor West Wing. Grace’s first standard handgun. Uses common handgun ammo. No ammo included — find bullets in the nearby Filing Room.
S&S M232 (Pistol) — Bar & Lounge counter, second floor West Wing. Grace’s original personal weapon. More powerful than the B934. This is your main weapon for the majority of the Care Center.
Unlike Leon, Grace doesn’t get access to shotguns, rifles, or heavy weapons during her Care Center sections. Her entire arsenal revolves around these pistols and whatever knives she can craft, which makes every bullet count.
Explore More of Resident Evil Requiem
The Care Center is a big place with a lot going on beyond just finding Grace’s gun. Here are more guides to help you get through every corner of it:
- VIP Suite Puzzle Guide – Hourglass & Double Helix Explained
- Chairman’s Office Puzzle Box Solution
- How to Complete the Corpse Puzzle – Examination Room
- How to Open the Organ Transport Box
- Basement Safe Code Guide
- Bar & Lounge Safe Code
- Examination Room Safe Code
- How to Open the Isolation Ward
- How to Open Level 3 Doors
- How to Open the Pantry
- How to Break Open Warped Closets
- How to Open the Door Without a Handwheel
- How to Destroy the Sturdy Padlock in the Researcher’s Office
- Level 1 ID Wristband Location
- East Wing Keycard Location
- West Wing Keycard Location
- Care Center Fuse Location
- Joint Plugs Basement Locations
- Antique Coins – Care Center & Parlor Prizes
- RPD Scavenger Hunt Puzzle Solution
- How Long to Beat Resident Evil Requiem
- Resident Evil Requiem PC Requirements
Get Resident Evil Requiem
Ready to play? Resident Evil Requiem (RE9) is available now on all major platforms:
If you’re planning to play on PC, check our Resident Evil Requiem PC Requirements guide first. And if you’re wondering how much time you’ll need to complete the game, our How Long to Beat guide breaks it all down.
