Author note: Written by Jachin, a 23-year Resident Evil series fan based in Seoul, South Korea. This guide is based on 6 full RE9 playthroughs on PS5 and Steam (Casual → Insanity → NG+ Insanity completions). All strategies, timings, and locations have been personally tested across the v1.02 patch. AI tools were used only for grammar review and note organization; no AI-generated content appears in strategy analysis.
Verified on: v1.02 + DLC patch · Last reviewed: May 30, 2026 · About the author · Editorial policies
The 990-TAC is the secondary shotgun in RE9 — higher single-shell damage than W870 Police (500 vs 400) but smaller magazine (4 vs 5). Best for hordes and one-shot kill builds. Slug round upgrade extends effective range. Found in Chapter 7 Raccoon City.
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Base damage (point-blank) | 500 per shell |
| Damage at mid-range (5m) | 200 per shell |
| Magazine size | 4 → 7 (T3) |
| Reload speed | 3.5s → 2.5s (T3) |
| Slug round upgrade | Single-projectile, ×1.8 damage at range |
| Unlock location | Raccoon City Square (Chapter 7) |
| T1 → T3 upgrade cost | 10,000 + 8,000 + 10,000 = 28,000 currency |
| Best use case | Horde clearing, slug round vs Titan Spinner |
Buy from Raccoon City alley shop (Chapter 7) for 10,000 currency. Higher base cost than W870 Police but stronger per-shell damage.
Slug round upgrade FIRST — adds long-range capability. Then T2 magazine. Skip T3 if W870 Police is already T3.
Predator (+10% to wounded enemies) + Iron Skin + Crafter’s Touch. AR-style charms don’t apply.
990-TAC wins per-shell damage and slug round range. W870 wins magazine size and post-v1.02 spread buff. Pick 990-TAC for boss-focused builds, W870 for general use.
Titan Spinner Phase 1 (slug rounds at range), Chunk Phase 2 (close-range burst), Plant 43 spore phase (single high-damage shot to core).
990-TAC + Crafter’s Touch = sustainable per-shot damage. Smaller magazine makes Iron Skin charm mandatory for survival between reloads.
Was this guide helpful? Let us know — we update tier rankings monthly based on community feedback and balance patches.
If this guide helped, consider supporting more guides like this on Ko-fi. Every little bit means the world.
☕ Support on Ko-fi