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
All 18 RE9 collectible items and treasures ranked S to D by lore value, currency yield, NG+ unlock potential, and completion rate impact. Includes exact locations for every item, NG+ exclusive drops, and which items are required for the Platinum trophy run.
| Rank | Item | Type | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Eveline's Locket | Lore + Insanity unlock | S-tier |
| #2 | Master Key | Universal door access (NG+) | S-tier |
| #3 | Antique Coin | Currency × 10 (rare) | A-tier |
| #4 | Family Photograph | Vivien lore reveal | A-tier |
| #5 | Quartz Fragment Set | Puzzle progression | A-tier |
| #6 | Silver Pendant | NG+ charm slot unlock | A-tier |
| #7 | Bronze Key | Chapter 4 door access | B-tier |
| #8 | RPD Master Key | Mr. X arena bonus rooms | B-tier |
| #9 | Care Center Pass | 3rd floor PT room | B-tier |
| #10 | Brass Whistle | Aggro misdirection (situational) | B-tier |
| #11 | ARK Security Badge | Chapter 8 elevator | B-tier |
| #12 | Vintage Pen | Currency × 3 (uncommon) | C-tier |
| #13 | Old Diary | Vivien Ashcroft journal lore | C-tier |
| #14 | Stained Photo | Marcus Halverson lore | C-tier |
| #15 | Ceramic Doll | Orphanage easter egg | C-tier |
| #16 | Tarnished Necklace | Currency × 1 (common) | D-tier |
| #17 | Rusty Spoon | RE7 reference (no value) | D-tier |
| #18 | Worn Notebook | Filler lore (no value) | D-tier |
Each item scored across 5 dimensions:
| Dimension | What it measures | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Lore value | Story revelations, codex unlocks, character context | 25% |
| Currency yield | Resale value at vendor / shop currency | 25% |
| Gameplay unlock | Doors, rooms, charm slots, equipment | 25% |
| Trophy / completion | Required for Platinum, missable status | 15% |
| Acquisition difficulty | Hidden location, NG+ exclusive, conditional | 10% |
Why #1: The most lore-significant item in RE9. Hidden in ARK Facility Vivien lab. Opening it unlocks the Eveline-Vivien connection codex (the franchise's most important lore reveal in years). On Insanity, possessing this locket triggers Eveline's whisper audio during boss fights. See our Eveline complete profile.
Why #2: NG+ exclusive. Opens every locked door in the game. Unlocks 7 previously-inaccessible rooms across all chapters. Essential for the "Completionist" trophy and exposes the 3 hidden lore documents not findable on first playthrough.
Why A-tier: The single most valuable currency item. 6 total Antique Coins exist in the game (3 in Chapter 5, 3 in Chapter 8). Collecting all 6 = 60,000 in-game currency, enough to buy 3 tier-3 weapon upgrades or 4 high-tier charms.
Why A-tier: Found in Care Center records office. Shows Vivien Ashcroft holding a child labeled "E—" (Eveline). This is the smoking gun connecting Grace to Eveline. Trophy-required (Platinum).
Why A-tier: Required for the Quartz puzzle. 5 fragments scattered across chapters. Completing the puzzle unlocks the Insanity-only Eveline reference photo and the Chunk family audio.
Why A-tier: Hidden in Chapter 6 orphanage attic. Equipping this unlocks the 4th charm slot in NG+. Massive build flexibility upgrade — see our charms tier list for optimal 4-charm loadouts.
Bronze Key, RPD Master Key, Care Center Pass, ARK Security Badge — all gateway items that unlock chapter-specific rooms. The Brass Whistle is unique: throwing it generates noise that distracts enemies. Useful on Insanity stealth segments.
Vintage Pen, Old Diary, Stained Photo, Ceramic Doll — these unlock codex entries but provide minimal gameplay value. Worth collecting for lore completionists but skippable on speedruns.
Tarnished Necklace, Rusty Spoon, Worn Notebook — sell to vendor for 100-500 currency each. No lore value, no gameplay impact. Rusty Spoon is a reference to RE7's starting inventory (easter egg only).
| Chapter | Items found here | Best route |
|---|---|---|
| Chapter 1: Wrenwood Hotel | Worn Notebook, Rusty Spoon | Skip — only D-tier items |
| Chapter 2: Care Center | Family Photograph, Care Center Pass, Vintage Pen, Quartz Fragment 1 | Records office detour mandatory |
| Chapter 3: Basement | Quartz Fragment 2, Old Diary, Tarnished Necklace | Anatomy lab + boiler room |
| Chapter 4: Courtyard | Bronze Key, Brass Whistle, Ceramic Doll | Greenhouse + fountain area |
| Chapter 5: Water Treatment | Antique Coins ×3, Quartz Fragment 3 | Control room + catwalks |
| Chapter 6: RPD & Orphanage | RPD Master Key, Silver Pendant, Quartz Fragment 4, Stained Photo | Evidence locker + attic |
| Chapter 7: Raccoon City | Quartz Fragment 5 | Clock tower top |
| Chapter 8: ARK Facility | Eveline's Locket, Antique Coins ×3, ARK Security Badge, Master Key (NG+) | Vivien lab + sterilization chamber |
To achieve Platinum, the following items must be collected:
See our NG+ complete guide for the optimal collection order across 3 playthroughs.
Three items only appear in NG+ runs:
Q: Can I collect all 18 items in one playthrough?
A: No. Master Key, Silver Pendant 2nd location, and Eveline's Reference Photo are NG+ exclusive. Minimum 2 playthroughs (1 standard + 1 NG+) required for 100% collection.
Q: Are items missable?
A: Yes — most are missable if you skip optional rooms. The exceptions are Eveline's Locket (mandatory pickup in Chapter 8) and Quartz Fragments (required for puzzle progression).
Q: Which item is hardest to find?
A: Antique Coin #6 in Chapter 8. Hidden behind a secret panel in the ARK Facility executive office. Requires the ARK Security Badge to access the office first.
Q: Do items respawn in NG+?
A: No. Items collected in NG don't respawn — but NG+ adds 3 new items not present in the first run.
Q: What's the best item to sell?
A: Vintage Pen (1,500 currency) and Old Diary (1,200). Both have low lore weight and good resale. Skip selling Antique Coins — keep them as currency multipliers.
Q: Are there hidden items not on this list?
A: The Insanity-only Eveline Reference Photo isn't a standard item — it's a special unlock. Beyond that, no hidden items exist.
Q: Can items break or be lost?
A: No. Items persist in inventory across all playthroughs. Collecting one in NG carries to NG+ as "owned."
Q: Will RE10 keep this collection system?
A: Director Nakanishi confirmed collection systems will return. Form unconfirmed.
Was this guide helpful? Let us know — we update tier rankings monthly based on community feedback and balance patches.
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