Honestly, the first time I realized there weren't going to be any guns in Silent Hill f, I panicked a little. We've spent decades as Harry Mason, James Sunderland, and Heather Mason, eventually finding that comfortable shotgun or handgun to create some breathing room between us and the nightmare. But Hinako Shimizu doesn't get that luxury. In the rural, floral-choked streets of 1960s Japan, you aren't a marksman. You're a teenage girl with a metal pipe and a crumbling sense of reality.
It's a bold move by NeoBards and Ryukishi07. By stripping away the firearms, they've forced us into a much more intimate, terrifying dance with the monsters. You can't just kite a "Kashimashi" from across a courtyard. You have to get close enough to smell the rot and the lilies.
The traditional arsenal and why it feels different
Most of the Silent Hill f weapons you'll find early on are exactly what you’d expect to find in a post-war Japanese town. You start with the series staple: the Steel Pipe. It’s sturdy, reliable, and has that classic reach we all love. But then things get weird. Because the game is set in the 1960s, the "everyday" items feel distinct. You'll find a Sickle in the crop fields of Ebisugaoka, which is fast but has the durability of a wet cracker.
The weight of the combat is what really hits home. Every swing feels like a commitment. If you miss a heavy attack with the Sledgehammer, Hinako is left wide open for a painful amount of time. It’s not like the fluid action of a modern hack-and-slash. It’s clunky, desperate, and feels like someone fighting for their life with a tool they weren't meant to use as a weapon.
The Light Weapons: Speed vs. Fragility
- Kitchen Knife: This is basically your "panic" button. It's incredibly fast and deals surprising damage, but it'll shatter after a few kills. There’s a really dark, domestic symbolism to using a kitchen knife in a game that focuses so heavily on the "horrors of womanhood" and marriage.
- Kaiken: You find this ceremonial dagger in the Dark Shrine. It’s intentionally dull. The damage is pathetic, honestly. But it’s the only thing that doesn't break in the Otherworld sections early on. It's more of a tool for survival than a tool for hunting.
- Crowbar: A shorter, meaner version of the pipe. You have to get uncomfortably close to enemies to use it, which is a massive risk when the "Licker-like" enemies start lunging at you.
Why the Naginata is the real star
If you’re looking for the best weapon in the game, it’s the Naginata. Historically, this was a "woman’s weapon" in Japan, used to defend the household. In the context of Silent Hill f, it's a traditional wedding gift from the Tsuneki Clan.
💡 You might also like: Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time is Still the Series' Most Controversial Gamble
Using it feels like a total game-changer because of the range. You can poke at enemies from a safe distance, which is a godsend when you're trying to manage your Sanity meter. In this game, staring at the monsters for too long actually drains your Sanity, so being able to end a fight quickly from six feet away is a tactical necessity.
Dealing with the durability nightmare
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: weapon degradation. It’s back, and it’s more aggressive than it was in Silent Hill 4: The Room. Your weapons will break. Often at the worst possible time.
I’ve seen people complaining on Steam that the toolkits (used for repairs) aren't frequent enough. But that’s sort of the point. You aren't supposed to get attached to a specific pipe or bat. You’re supposed to use what’s at hand, break it over a monster's head, and scramble for the next piece of junk on the floor.
One cool detail: the Baseball Bat actually changes its stats as it breaks. When it’s at full durability, it’s a blunt club. Once it hits 50%, it splinters into a sharpened stake. It actually becomes faster and does more piercing damage, but you know it’s only a few swings away from being totally useless. It’s a brilliant bit of mechanical storytelling about things falling apart.
📖 Related: Nancy Drew Games for Mac: Why Everyone Thinks They're Broken (and How to Fix It)
The weird stuff (New Game+ and Secrets)
For the completionists, the Silent Hill f weapons list gets a bit more "classic Silent Hill" once you finish the first playthrough. If you manage to get the UFO ending, you can unlock the PP-8001. It’s a plasma saber—basically a lightsaber. It's ridiculous, it glows, and it totally ruins the atmosphere, which is exactly why it’s great.
Then there’s the Sacred Sword. This involves a massive, multi-part fetch quest involving Jizo statues across the entire game. It’s the only way to get some of the "True" endings, but interestingly, if you "purify" the sword through a specific bell-ringing puzzle, it actually loses its malevolent power and becomes a standard, non-magical blade. It’s a weird subversion of the "ultimate weapon" trope.
Tactical tips for the melee-only life
- Master the Focus Attack: Since you can't shoot, you have to use the Focus system. Holding the trigger slows things down and lets you hit multiple enemies with a wide swing.
- Save the Axe for the "Pregnant" enemies: There are these hulking, flower-meat monsters that just soak up damage. Don't waste your knives on them; pull out the Axe or the Sledgehammer.
- The Fox Arm is a weapon too: Later in the game, Hinako’s arm is... well, replaced. It functions as a permanent melee option that doesn't use durability but drains Sanity. Use it sparingly.
Is the lack of guns a mistake?
Some fans are genuinely upset about the lack of firearms. They feel it makes the game feel more like a "souls-like" than a traditional survival horror. I get it. The combat is harder. It's frustrating to have a pipe break while you're surrounded by three screaming schoolgirls with flower heads.
But honestly? It fits the 1960s Japanese setting perfectly. Guns were (and are) incredibly rare there. Having Hinako stumble across a shotgun in a rural village would have felt cheap and "video-gamey." By forcing us to use a Naginata or a Sickle, the game feels grounded in its own specific cultural nightmare.
👉 See also: Magic Thread: What Most People Get Wrong in Fisch
The combat in Silent Hill f isn't about being a hero. It's about the frantic, clumsy reality of trying to hit something scary with a piece of wood before it hits you back.
What to do next
If you're just starting your run, prioritize finding the Naginata in the Dark Shrine as soon as possible; the reach will save your life during the early boss fights. Also, keep an eye on your Sanity meter while using the Fox Arm—it’s easy to get carried away and find yourself in a "soft-lock" state where Hinako becomes too unresponsive to dodge.