Quick Answer

For a first run, do not upgrade every weapon evenly. Stabilize one main handgun, one close-range emergency weapon, one precision weapon, and knife durability. Money should go into weapons you use every chapter, not tools that appear in only one or two fights.

Upgrade Priority

PriorityUpgradeRole
SMain handgun power and reloadHighest full-run use rate
AShotgun powerEmergency crowd control and close burst
ARifle powerWeak points, ranged threats, and special enemies
AKnife durabilityParries, escapes, and execution safety
BRate of fire and capacityFeel-based, not always urgent
BExclusive upgradesBest after the main weapon route is clear

Beginner Weapon Structure

  • Handgun: ordinary enemies and resource efficiency.
  • Shotgun: emergency space-maker, not every small target.
  • Rifle: ranged threats, weak points, and specific dangerous enemies.
  • Knife: survival and counterplay, not only melee damage.
  • Grenades: save for groups and hard fights.

Common Mistakes

  1. Buying new guns constantly without upgrading any of them.
  2. Spending money on weapons you rarely fire.
  3. Ignoring knife repairs before important fights.
  4. Selling treasures without gemstone inlays.
  5. Over-saving ammo so hard that you take extra damage.

Merchant Stop Logic

At every Merchant, ask three questions: what enemies are next, whether your main weapon is falling behind, and whether completed treasures can fund an upgrade. If the next segment is a hard fight, upgrade the weapon that solves that fight.

Related guide: Inventory and resource management.