This has been something as part of a discussion for a while now and I'm not sure if there was a post on this before (apologies if there was) but as I was talking to Furetto last night and SnakeSocom today, the idea of these runs do seem very interesting. I tested LAS Shotgun Only a while ago and it's very possible to defeat all bosses using only the shotgun. It's possible. I tested CBS SMG Only today and it is also possible.

If they were to become categories I think even from a viewer's standpoint it would be interesting to see. We never see the shotgun/SMG in speedruns, and also we don't see certain areas of the game but here we would. Shotgun only would be the only run that would require the runner to do the portable safe puzzle too and to use powder. Even deciding if shooting zombies in the legs instead of the head could be a strategic conundrum because it's a bigger time loss shooting that weapon, or just baiting enemies could be a choice. And killing them with headshots raises DA also. Or crippling a zombie for a freer pass later.

Even the original RE2 has categories such as shotgun only and bow gun only so I believe it makes perfect sense for the remake to honor this with the equivalent. Unfortunately grenade launcher only isn't possible. Another thing is that I don't think shotgun only is possible for B scenarios as there's less ammo and higher DA. So LAS 120 Shotgun Only and LAS 60 Shotgun Only are 100% doable runs.

I'm open to being corrected here but I think SMG Only is only possible on CBS because you can acquire the weapon before G1. In CAS this isn't the case I don't think. Now I finished a run of SMG Only just now and I really went on the hunt in every corner of the game and I finished the game with around 40-50 bullets left which is tight. But I do believe strats could become more advanced and more controlled. The fact is though that the runs are perfectly possible. CBS 120 SMG Only and CBS 60 SMG Only are possible.

If there are Handgun Only category extensions then I think it would be so cool to have these with identical rules to Handgun Only.
So overall, 4 categories are just waiting to be made and ran. I would run these absolutely.

Perhaps we could get a vote going? I'd really appreciate it if the moderators could consider this with some seriousness as I believe it would be an interesting addition to the boards. If ultimately the votes decide against making these categories then I would be at least satisfied that this was voted on and put to bed.

I'd be happy for these to be added as long as the interest is there and they certainly be something im interested in as i love the shotgun haha!

The shotgun is such a fun weapon and I do occasionally see people saying they were disappointed that there's no way to use the shotgun in regular runs. Renyth said this.

You'd be very surprised how quick G1 is on SMG only. And G3 is somewhat intense

Not a speedrunner myself, but certainly a no damage challenge runner and as such I can confirm that this would make a very good speedrun. STARS Redfield and others have numerous no damage playthroughs such as pistol only, and seeing these challenges made into speedruns would be very interesting as well as enjoyable to view. Hope it is seriously considered and made a reality.

I mean I don't want to bite off more than I can chew but I'd be keen on pushing for a no damage category too as even the original has those categories. DA management would be interesting. But that's maybe for another day lol. Mods will hate me

did shotgun only before on LAS sub hour definitely possible too

Anybody has a VOD yet for a full run? Thanks Lucy for sticking with 2R.

I posted a 01:04:09 of SMG that needs to be verified. It's on my twitch as a highlight. That run is with a death and danger in labs. Sub hour is possible. It might be the scariest G5 there is lol.

I've yet to finish an official shotgun only run. G1 is a challenge but I think I have it down. Here is my SMG Only run

i found my old notes i did for shotgun only (they're rly old) strat for g1 was to get da low via zombie bites cuz otherwise ud need to pick up a lot of shells

route:
-get gas key, get back bitten once by zombie
-get to RPD, meet elliot, meet marvin
- get FAS after using switch and discard gas key and knife
- go to the staircase room to 2f and get portable safe in valve room, solve it (its RNG everytime it sucks)
- go to 3f to get spade key and go left through hallway to bomb room
- get gunpowder and hip pouch in bomb room, fall through library, exit and get the lion medal (lion leaf bird)
- go to the waiting room on 2f and get the weapon locker card from statue room, meet claire
- get bolt cutters, get into east office and get valve walk forward to get yellow powder(combine with blue for shells) and fuze, get out of the east wing with fuze
- go through reception again, get back bitten by zombie(optional)
- enter the detonator room, discard bolt cutters then pick up detonator, exit
- get into weapons locker room a, use spare key and unlock 208
- go to back to get shotgun, shells and more shells in locker
- go up to 2f to valve room, use valve handle, pick up shells from locker with passcode 'CAP' and pick up shells on the right locker, use valve handle
- pick up blue powder from locker in the other side of the room, exit to stars hallway
- pick up shells on the couch, go into stars office
- pick up battery and combine with detonator, pick up shells at left side of room and yellow powder from right side (combine), exit
- get unicorn medal (fish scorpion loot), exit to library
- move bookshelf once, go up ladder and enter bomb room
- use detonator on bomb, solve maiden puzzle (head bow snake) and exit through library
- go back to goddess statue and put in medals, go into the secret room
- pick up shells on left, enter the lift and fight G1 (aim head and big eye)
- go up ladder, go right, open locker, pick up herb then pick up powder in locker, go to parking garage
- meet ada, go to prison and get crank, go back through parking garage to other side
- go to dog cage room and take yellow powder at the right side of door
- get the first electronic part in gen room, solve puzzle, escape dogs
- go up to break room, take yellow powder from locker, get fuze, exit and take shells outside the room
- dodge zombies and escape using fuze, go up through fire escape
- use the crank on other end of hallway go upstairs to 3f
- get the shells on left side of room, and get the large gear, exit
- go to balcony, fall down the ladder and go down the stairs, activate the lever, move into the misty room
- pick up shells and get club key in safe room, exit, activate water
- dodge mr x, go back down fire escape, go through east office, go back into reception and use club key and get jack handle, exit
- go back through hallway and reception, go upstairs to the library, use jack handle, move bookshelves twice, go up ladder
- exit the library and go into clock tower room while baiting zombie at the door, solve the gears puzzle and exit
- go back through east storage room at other side of the whole room, go down the balcony ladder, go through fire escape
- go through breaker room hallway and down into basement, go to firing range to pick up shells at the end of the room, exit
- dodge dogs and go to prison, solve puzzle, get keycard, take FAS
- yolo prison dodge babyyyy good luck
- use card and get out with ada
- go into gunshop and get shotgun upgrade
- sewers, bank pistol and spade key, use shotgun to kill big alligator man
- on ada, get back bitten by fatty on the way back from hack
- take control of leon, get shells at the left side of the sewer tunnels (optional just 2 shells, can skip out on if did g1 well)
- go through the right tunnel and do the regular sewers shit until u reach the control room, pick up shells and go down and find ada
- activate bridge, get T bar on left side, go to the safe on the other side and solve to get shotgun stock (left 2, right 12, left
- go down the stairs activate the gate, get yellow powder right outside the gate, use t bar on handle and get shells before going into the lift
- go out and get rook and go back to lift
- go back to room with the 2 zombies, go through pool room and solve chess puzzle, get out and go back to ada
- solve the chess puzzle, get green herb downstairs, combine with red herb at switch puzzle
- fight G2 by standing at specific spot near switch and shoot his claw once
- finish off G2 with 2 crane hits and let him put u to danger once and heal
- time for labs
- go into cafe room go up ladder go into kitchen, get the red powder on left and make shells, go get the blue band and more shells, get out
- pick up shells from sherry room
- go to big lab atrium room thing, go to the ivy place
- pick up yellow powder in specimen room, go into puzzle room and do the codes (2067 3123) get the dispensa thing go out into greenhouse
- go into drug lab, pick up red powder and do the puzzle,
- shoot ivy and go down ladder in greenhouse, get red powder and make shells
- go into orgy room, pick up shells, go past lickers and go upstairs to store room
- pick up yellow powder and signal modulator, go back down
- go through orgy room to get the power on with signal mod and go into cooling room
- cool the dispensa thing and pick up blue powder on table
- get out through orgy room and up the ladder
- shoot ivy in greenhouse and put the dispensa in and kill the plants
- get the purple band and get out
- go to g3, pick up yellow powder in changing room, pick up yellow powder and red powder in safe room and fight g3
- get out of the labs by lift, dodge ivys by using shotgun if enough ammo, dodge mr x, pick up big plug, fight naked Mr X, stagger 3 times
- pick up rocket and kaboom him, use last shells to stun/kill zombies at the door and GG

g1 24-26 shots
g2 1 shot
g3 40-50 shots
overall picking up 87 shells, leftover 10 shells usually so can use on ivys

9 high grades
-valve room
-stars office
-dog room baskets
-fuze safe room locker
-sewers gate
-first ivy room
-signal mod room
-before g3 locker room
-before g3

4 large powder
-labs kitchen
-drug puzzle room
-labs ladder room
-before g3

5 powders
-maiden room
-shower room
-after g1
-misty room
-freezing room lab

12+2 shells
-weapon locker
-valve locker room
-stars hallway
-stars office
-secret room
-firing range
-outside fuze safe room
-large gear room
-sewers tunnel
-sewers control room
-sewers lift room
-labs sherry room
-blue band room
-orgy room

total
48 picked up shells + 15 from powder + 24 from large powder= 87 shells

Thanks Joydurn. Jesus that's good work. So I guess it might be faster to just take a lot of damage in RPD1 instead of doing that bajej portable safe puzzle. Making G1 possible with 23 shells instead of 26

I guess I'll ask here. Was there ever any interest in the grenade only run? grenadelauncher and grenades?

@kniferunkniferun if its possible - noones ever asked for it so i dont think the interest is there if enough people have interest its something we can consider but not guranteed, id like to know if its possible first and foremost

ill try it

possible for both Claire scenarios. you really need to save the grenades for G4 and G5 especially G4 as the grenadelauncher does nothing to G4 very unfortunate.. Magnum only leon 2nd run is also possible. The runs are quite fun.

edit: more than 3 years ago I threw a run of nade only on youtube.

only recently have I ran claires 2nd run. and leon magnum only so no vids.