The Rocket Launcher is one of the most iconic weapons not just in Resident Evil 4, but the entirety of the survival horror franchise. This armament has a single shot, so make it count. Here’s our guide to help you get the Rocket Launcher in Resident Evil 4. Likewise, you can learn more from our weapons hub.

Resident Evil 4 Rocket Launcher guide

The Rocket Launcher in Resident Evil 4 can be found after you’ve cleared the Lake area. Basically, you’ll need to take out the Del Lago boss, then make your way past the Mural Cave Puzzle. Eventually, you should find a boat, one that you can sail back to the docks where the Merchant resides. By the time you get there, your old vendor pal should have the Rocket Launcher as one of his wares, and it costs a whopping 80,000 pesetas.

This amount might seem daunting at first, though the weapon doesn’t really have further upgrades (it won’t need any). Generally speaking, there’s no reason for you to pick up the Resident Evil 4 Rocket Launcher so early in the game. Still, if you do want to grab it, that’s entirely up to you.

Likewise, if you want to lower this amount slightly, you’ll have to acquire the Leon with Rocket Launcher Charm from the Shooting Gallery. This lowers the purchase cost by 20%. However, it’s the fourth in order among the 3x Gold Token combination rewards.

As mentioned earlier, the weapon only has a single projectile, one that causes a massive explosion that will likely kill every regular enemy in a radius. It can even deal tremendous damage to bosses, ending an encounter if need be, though there are some caveats. For instance, during the Verdugo boss fight, if you merely shoot it instantly, it will just run away and reappear later in the tunnel. However, if you freeze it using one of the liquid nitrogen pipes, firing your rocket will cause its body to shatter, leading to an instant-kill.

Moreover, be forewarned that the explosion’s AoE radius can damage both Leon and Ashley. If Ashley is already incapacitated, then taking even a smidgen of damage from the blast would kill her and lead to a game over. Last but not least, there’s also another variant known as the Infinite Rocket Launcher. As the name implies, it’s got an unlimited number of projectiles that it can fire. We discuss this in our unlockables guide.

Resident Evil 4 has more mechanics and secrets for you to discover. You can learn more in our guides hub.