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No. Opening the Special Weapons Case in Resident Evil 2 (2019) does not lower your scenario rank, cancel an S or S+ result, or prevent the Leon S. Kennedy or Sizzling Scarlet Hero trophies. The case gives a character-specific weapon upgrade. The restrictions that can prevent an S+ grade are separate: you must finish within the scenario’s S-rank time limit, make no more than three saves, and avoid using an infinite bonus weapon (with the Combat Knife exception described in the unlockables rules).
What opening the case changes
The Special Weapons Case is an optional reward container in the underground facility of the Raccoon Police Department. Opening it improves one of your character’s weapons; it does not add a penalty to the scenario-grade calculation. The documented rank rules focus on completion time, save count for S+, and infinite bonus-weapon use—not on whether this case was opened.
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Leon’s reward
Leon receives the Long Barrel for the Lightning Hawk. The upgrade reduces recoil and increases the weapon’s damage. That can make magnum shots easier to place and more effective, but it is still simply an equipment upgrade. Taking it does not mark the run as ineligible for an S or S+ result.
Claire’s reward
Claire receives an MQ-11 upgrade. It reduces recoil and makes the submachine gun quieter. As with Leon’s attachment, the reward affects combat performance rather than the scoring rules.
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- zombies are brought to life with a horrifyingly realistic wet gore Effect.zombies react in real time taking instant visible damage, making every bullet count.engage in frenzied combat with enemies, explore dark menacing corridors & solve puzzles.a terrifying constant fight for survival.enjoy separately playable campaigns for both Leon and Claire
How to open the Special Weapons Case
You cannot open the case with the badge in its initial form. The S.T.A.R.S. Badge’s USB key must first be retracted. The item sequence documented by the case guide is:
- Use the Red Book with the statue to obtain the scepter.
- Examine the scepter and take the Red Jewel.
- Combine the Red Jewel with the Ornate Box to reveal the S.T.A.R.S. Badge.
- Examine the badge and retract its USB key.
- Use the badge with the Special Weapons Case in the underground facility.
The Ornate Box is found in the Observation Room on the first run and in the Men’s Shower Room on the second run. “First run” and “second run” refer to the two scenario routes, so the room containing the box depends on which route you are playing.
If the case will not open
- Confirm that you have the S.T.A.R.S. Badge rather than an unexamined Ornate Box.
- Open the inventory description for the badge and retract the USB key.
- Return to the Special Weapons Case and interact with it again.
- Check that you are using the character whose reward you intend to receive: Leon’s case reward is for the Lightning Hawk, while Claire’s is for the MQ-11.
What actually determines a scenario rank
Chris Williams’s ranking guide describes completion time as the criterion that matters for ordinary scenario grading. The unlockables reference likewise ties the S, A, and B grades to scenario time limits. In practical terms, optional exploration is acceptable when it does not make you miss the time target; opening the case itself is not listed as a deduction.
The important distinction is between an S grade and the stricter S+ grade. An S result is the grade required for the character-specific trophies discussed below. S+ adds restrictions beyond the time target.
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| Goal | Time requirement | Save requirement | Infinite bonus weapons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal completion | Finish the scenario; the grade depends on the resulting scenario time. | No additional save condition is part of the documented S/A/B criteria. | The case-opening action is unrelated to this issue. |
| S rank | Finish within the applicable scenario’s S-rank time limit. | The cited S-rank trophy criteria do not add an S+ save restriction. | Opening the case does not disqualify S. |
| S+ rank | Finish within the scenario’s S-rank time limit. | Save three times or fewer. | Do not use an infinite bonus weapon; the unlockables reference identifies the Combat Knife as the exception. |
The exact time target is scenario-specific. Because the case is an optional detour, account for the walk to the underground facility, the inventory interaction, and any combat you choose to perform when planning a timed run. The case action itself is not a separate scoring event.
Trophy requirements and the case
Leon S. Kennedy
The GameFAQs trophy guide identifies the Leon S. Kennedy trophy as requiring an S rank in one Leon scenario. It does not list opening the Special Weapons Case as a restriction. You can therefore collect the Long Barrel and still earn the trophy as long as the run meets the S-rank requirement.
Sizzling Scarlet Hero
The same guide identifies Sizzling Scarlet Hero as requiring an S rank in one Claire scenario. Claire can open the case and take the MQ-11 upgrade without invalidating that trophy. The relevant check is the final scenario grade, not whether the case was opened.
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S versus S+
Do not confuse an S-rank trophy requirement with an S+ challenge. A run can qualify for an S-rank trophy even though it would not qualify for S+ because of its save count or weapon use. Conversely, opening the case is compatible with both grades because it is neither a save nor an infinite bonus weapon.
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- Terrifyingly realistic visuals - Built on Capcom's proprietary RE Engine, Resident Evil 2 delivers breathtakingly photorealistic visuals in 4K whilst stunning lighting creates an up-close, intense and atmospheric experience as players roam the corridors of the Raccoon City Police Department (RPD)
- Face the grotesque hordes - Zombies are brought to life with a horrifyingly realistic wet gore effect as they react in real time taking instant visible damage, making every bullet count
- Iconic series defining gameplay - Engage in frenzied combat with enemies, explore dark menacing corridors, solve puzzles to access areas and collect and use items discovered around the environment in a terrifying constant fight for survival
Can you open it during an S+ attempt?
Yes. The case is safe to open during an S+ attempt. The decision is strategic rather than rule-based: the Long Barrel or MQ-11 upgrade may help your combat, but reaching the case and managing the item takes time. If the detour helps you avoid deaths or finish fights faster, it may be worthwhile. If you are already close to the time limit, skip optional actions based on your route and consistency—not because the case carries a hidden penalty.
The three-save limit
S+ allows no more than three saves. Opening the case does not consume a save. The limit applies only when you manually save, so plan save locations before starting the run and count every save you make. If you have already used three saves, do not create another save merely to record the case pickup.
Infinite bonus weapons
The documented S+ restriction concerns using an infinite bonus weapon. The unlockables reference states that any infinite bonus weapon except the Combat Knife negates S+. The case upgrades are not infinite weapons: Leon’s Long Barrel modifies the Lightning Hawk, and Claire’s upgrade modifies the MQ-11. Picking up or equipping either reward therefore does not trigger the infinite-weapon restriction.
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A practical decision guide for rank-focused runs
When you are pursuing a first S rank
- Open the case if you want the weapon improvement.
- Prioritize the scenario’s S-rank time target over optional rooms and fights.
- Use the upgraded weapon normally; no case-related trophy penalty is documented.
When you are pursuing S+
- Decide whether the detour improves your expected completion time, not whether it is technically allowed.
- Track saves from the beginning and stop at three.
- Do not use an infinite bonus weapon other than the Combat Knife exception identified in the unlockables rules.
- Keep the case interaction quick: have the badge ready, retract the USB key in the inventory, and avoid unnecessary inventory rearrangement.
When you are only completing the story
There is no rank or trophy reason to avoid the case. Take the upgrade whenever it makes your current section easier. If you later replay the scenario for an S or S+ result, you can choose a faster route and leave the case unopened.
Common misunderstandings
“The case is optional, so opening it must reduce the grade.”
Optional does not mean penalized. The case is optional because the game does not require the upgrade to finish the scenario. The documented grading criteria do not include a penalty for opening it.
“Any extra weapon use blocks S+.”
The restriction is about infinite bonus weapons, not ordinary weapons or the case attachments. Leon’s Lightning Hawk with the Long Barrel and Claire’s MQ-11 with its upgrade remain regular character weapons.
“The trophy requires S+.”
The cited trophy guide lists an S rank in one scenario for the relevant character. S+ is a stricter grade with additional save and weapon rules; it is not the stated requirement for these two character S-rank trophies.
“The badge should open the case immediately.”
The badge has a retractable USB key. If you have not examined it and retracted the key, the case will not respond even though you possess the correct item.
Bottom line for your run
Open the Special Weapons Case whenever its upgrade is useful. Leon’s Long Barrel and Claire’s MQ-11 upgrade do not lower your rank and do not block the character S-rank trophies. For S+, concentrate on the rules that actually matter: meet the scenario’s S-rank time, make no more than three saves, and avoid using disallowed infinite bonus weapons. The case is a tactical choice, not a scoring trap.
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