⚠️ SPOILER WARNING: This article contains major story spoilers for Resident Evil Requiem (RE9). Read on only if you want the full answer.
It is the question every Resident Evil fan has been asking since the very first Resident Evil Requiem trailer dropped: does Leon S. Kennedy actually die in RE9? Leon returns to the series older, battle-worn, and infected with a condition far more dangerous than anything he has faced before. So here is the complete, confirmed answer to what happens to him, and more importantly, what you can do about it.
Does Leon Die in Resident Evil Requiem?
Yes and no. Leon S. Kennedy does die in Resident Evil Requiem, but only in the game’s Bad Ending. Resident Evil Requiem features two distinct endings, and Leon’s fate differs completely between them. In the canonical Good Ending, Leon survives after Grace cures him using Elpis. In the alternate Bad Ending, Leon sacrifices himself to save Grace and is killed by Zeno.
What Is the Raccoon City Syndrome?
Throughout Resident Evil Requiem, Leon shows signs of infection early in the game. The condition he carries is called the Raccoon City Syndrome, and it is considerably more dangerous than Las Plagas, the parasite Leon dealt with in Resident Evil 4. By the time the events of Resident Evil Requiem take place, his infection has progressed to a near-terminal stage. The clock is running out for him from the very beginning of the game, which gives his entire storyline a sense of urgency that makes both endings hit extremely hard.
How Does Leon Die in Resident Evil Requiem? (Bad Ending)
Leon’s death occurs in the Bad Ending, which triggers when Grace chooses to destroy Elpis by entering the code “Destruction” at the ARK facility terminal.
When the self-destruct sequence activates, the central platform begins to collapse. Zeno, furious at Grace for destroying Elpis and ending his dream of world domination, moves to kill her. Leon steps in, burying his axe into Zeno’s body to give Grace enough time to escape onto the bridge. He pushes her to safety and tells her he will follow.
However, the platform gives way before Leon can reach her. Zeno tackles the already-weakened Leon to the ground and beats him down relentlessly. Leon’s infection-ravaged body cannot withstand the assault, and he falls to the ground coughing up blood. He looks up at Grace and delivers his final words:
“At least… I could save you.”
Those words carry the weight of decades. Leon’s line reflects his grief over everyone he could not protect throughout his career, including Kendo’s daughter during the original Raccoon City outbreak, Kevin Branagh, Adam Benford, and Annette Birkin. The flashback sequences throughout Resident Evil Requiem build deliberately toward this moment.
Zeno then shoots Leon in the head. Grace escapes via helicopter, and the game ends with no final boss fight, no post-credits scene, and no resolution.
Bad Ending Outcome Summary:
| Character | Fate |
| Leon | Dies, shot by Zeno |
| Grace | Escapes; carries deep survivor’s guilt |
| Zeno Wesker | Dies in the platform collapse |
| Elpis | Destroyed; true antiviral nature never discovered |
| Emily | Stays dead |
| Sherry Birkin | Likely succumbs to her infection |
How to Save Leon in Resident Evil Requiem
Leon’s death is entirely avoidable. To keep Leon alive, you need to choose to Release Elpis rather than destroy it when Grace reaches the central console of the ARK facility. The terminal requires a code, and the only correct code is “Hope.” Entering any other code, including “Destruction,” triggers the self-destruct sequence and locks you into the Bad Ending.
When Grace enters “Hope,” the Elpis device activates and releases its vials. Grace uses one of them to cure Leon’s Raccoon City Syndrome infection, restoring his strength in time for the game’s true final boss fight against Dr. Victor Gideon.
Step-by-Step: How to Save Leon
- Reach the central console of the ARK facility’s Pandora section with Grace and Leon
- When prompted to enter the terminal code, select or input “Hope”
- Watch Zeno inject himself with Elpis and lose his superhuman powers
- Allow Grace to use a vial of Elpis to cure Leon’s infection
- Defeat Dr. Victor Gideon in the true final boss fight to complete the Good Ending
What Happens When You Save Leon? (Good Ending)
Choosing to Release Elpis sets off a very different chain of events. Zeno, believing Elpis to be a weapon that will enhance his powers, injects himself with a vial. However, Elpis is not a weapon at all. It is an antiviral agent created by Oswell Spencer as his final act of atonement, designed to cure virtually any bioweapon infection. Zeno’s superhuman abilities immediately begin to fade and his mutation reverses entirely.
Dr. Victor Gideon then enters the room and kills the now-powerless Zeno before moving to destroy Elpis himself. Grace uses a vial to cure Leon’s Raccoon City Syndrome infection. With his health fully restored, Leon faces Victor Gideon in the game’s true final boss fight. Gideon’s final phase sees him mutate into a form closely resembling Nemesis from Resident Evil 3, making it one of the most memorable boss encounters in the series.
After defeating Gideon, Leon and Grace are rescued by BSAA Alpha Team. Leon tells Grace that Emily can still be saved, as he deliberately avoided hitting any of her vitals. He also carries a vial of Elpis for Sherry Birkin, offering the possibility of her recovery as well.
Good Ending Outcome Summary:
| Character | Fate |
| Leon | Survives, cured by Elpis, and returns to duty |
| Grace | Survives; saves Emily |
| Zeno Wesker | Powers removed; killed by Victor Gideon |
| Victor Gideon | Killed by Leon in the final boss fight |
| Elpis | Partially released; vials preserved |
| Emily | Savable, as Leon avoided her vitals |
| Sherry Birkin | Potentially cured thanks to Elpis |
Is Leon’s Death Canon in Resident Evil Requiem?
No. Leon’s death is not canon in Resident Evil Requiem. The Good Ending, where Grace releases Elpis and Leon survives to defeat Victor Gideon, is the canonical conclusion that continues the Resident Evil storyline.
Capcom makes this clear within the game itself. If you reach the Bad Ending first, the game immediately offers you the option to reload from your last major save point so you can experience the canonical conclusion. However, if you reach the Good Ending first, the game does not show this prompt at all. That distinction confirms the Good Ending as the intended sequence of events.
Leon’s survival in the canonical ending also ensures he remains a part of the Resident Evil universe going forward.
Should You Experience Both Endings in Resident Evil Requiem?
Yes, and the game actively encourages it. Since Resident Evil Requiem lets you reload from your last autosave after either ending, you can experience both without losing any progress. The Bad Ending, despite being non-canon, is genuinely worth seeing once. Leon’s final words are one of the most emotionally powerful moments the series has ever delivered, and the stark, unresolved way the story closes without him makes the Good Ending feel even more meaningful when you return to it.
If you want the full experience, reach the Bad Ending first, then reload and enter “Hope” to see the canonical conclusion, the true final boss fight, and the post-credits scene that sets up the future of the Resident Evil franchise.
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