Blacktail is the Superior Handgun for Your First Playthrough of Resident Evil 4

As an enthusiast who has studied Resident Evil 4 extensively, I believe the Blacktail is better than the Red9 for your first playthrough. While the Red9 has its benefits, the Blacktail‘s versatility, efficiency, and performance across scenarios make it my top recommendation.

Now let me walk you through the in-depth reasoning and evidence behind this verdict. Grab some ammo and holster up as we settle the Blacktail vs Red9 debate once and for all!

Handgun Fundamentals – How the Blacktail and Red9 Compare

Before analyzing which is better, let‘s first cover the basics of the Blacktail and Red9:

• Blacktail – Leon‘s standard starting handgun. Has a fast fire rate, quick reload speed, minimal recoil, decent power, and upgraded 15 round magazine. A jack-of-all-trades.

• Red9 – Obtained later in the castle. Packs a stronger punch but has slower firing, abysmal reload speed, smaller 10 round capacity, and big 2×2 size un-upgraded.

So in a nutshell:

• Blacktail favors speed, control, and versatility.
• Red9 provides raw stopping power at the cost of performance.

Let‘s look at their key stats and upgrades side-by-side:

Upgrades for both handguns improve power, reload speed, and magazine capacity. The Red9 also gets an exclusive stock to reduce recoil.

Already we see the Blacktail‘s advantages in speed and capacity over the Red9. Now let‘s see how these weapons perform in action.

Stopping Power – The Red9 Has an Edge in Raw Damage

When it comes to putting down enemies, the Red9 objectively hits harder per bullet over the Blacktail – even when fully upgraded:

The Red9‘s superior firepower lets it down enemies with fewer shots. Against normal ganados, it takes:

• Blacktail: 2-3 body shots or 1 headshot
• Red9: 1-2 body shots or 1 headshot

So in raw stopping power, the Red9 outclasses the Blacktail. But this doesn‘t tell the whole story…

Rate of Fire – The Blacktail‘s Vital Edge

Due to its slower fire rate, the Red9 struggles to keep up with the Blacktail in terms of damage per second (DPS). Let‘s run the numbers:

• Blacktail: 150 firepower per second
• Red9: 130 firepower per second

Factor in reloads, and the DPS advantage widens further in the Blacktail‘s favor. This combined with its spread shot and knockback make it better suited for crowd control.

Reload Speed – Blacktail Wins Again

The Red9‘s abysmal 2.5 second un-upgraded reload leaves you vulnerable for huge windows of time:

The Blacktail reloads nearly a full second faster, which adds up over the hundreds of reloads during playthroughs. This further increases the Blacktail‘s DPS lead.

Draw Speed – Blacktail Is More Responsive

An overlooked aspect is draw speed – how quickly you can pull out your handgun and fire. The Blacktail has Leon‘s quickest draw animation, while the Red9 is sluggish.

This affects reaction time in combat. Those split seconds matter when ambushed or swarmed in close quarters. The Blacktail delivers life-saving responsiveness.

Ammunition Efficiency – Blacktail Conserves Bullets

Due to its lower capacity, the Red9 burns through handgun ammo faster than the Blacktail. Let‘s compare consumption rates:

• Blacktail: 150 rounds per 100 ganados
• Red9: 130 rounds per 100 ganados

Upgraded, the Blacktail is even more efficient, needing just 135 rounds for 100 kills. The Red9 requires 185.

When supplies are limited, the Blacktail gives you more bang for your buck. No pun intended.

Scenario Performance – Blacktail Is More Versatile

Now let‘s compare how these handguns perform across Resident Evil 4‘s environments:

• Village – The Blacktail excels here, able to quickly take down mobs in cramped houses.

• Castle – Red9 shines against cultists, but Blacktail still holds its own.

• Island – The Red9‘s power helps conserve special ammo, but its low capacity is frustrating.

• Caves – Blacktail‘s efficiency is key when supplies run thin.

• Military Base – Reliable crowd control and ammo reserves make Blacktail ideal here.

The Blacktail provides consistency across the entire game thanks to its versatility. The Red9 has specific strengths, but also glaring weaknesses.

Inventory Management – Blacktail‘s Compact Size

Another advantage of the Blacktail is its miniscule inventory footprint:

• Blacktail: 2×1 blocks un-upgraded, 3×1 upgraded
• Red9: Bulky 3×2 blocks, reduced to 2×2 with stock

This lightness pairs perfectly with long guns. The Red9 cramps your loadout options, especially early on when space is at a premium.

Upgrades – Blacktail Gives You More Bang for Your Buck

Both handguns require heavy investment to fully upgrade. Let‘s compare those costs:

• Blacktail: 61,500 ptas to max out
• Red9: 76,500 ptas to max out

If also buying the exclusive upgrades, it totals:

• Blacktail: 143,000 ptas
• Red9: 160,000 ptas

You get additional stopping power with the Red9, but the Blacktail unlocks its potential for less. That‘s 17,000 ptas you could spend on other weapons.

The Verdict – Blacktail Is My Recommended Pick

Given all the above evidence, the Blacktail is objectively the best Resident Evil 4 handgun, especially for first playthroughs. Here are the key advantages that set it apart from the Red9:

• Faster firing rate and reload speed
• Superior knockback and crowd control
• Greater ammunition efficiency
• Quickest draw speed for reactive defense
• More flexible performance across all scenarios
• Compact size frees up inventory space
• Cheaper to fully upgrade

The Red9 brings raw damage, but comes with too many crippling drawbacks. For new players, mastering the nimble Blacktail first will set you up for success.

Having both upgraded handguns offers the ultimate combo. But when choosing only one, the Blacktail‘s versatility, efficiency, and reliability make it my top recommendation. Let me know your picks in the comments!