- What to know
- Overview of all Hip Pouch locations in RE9
- #1 Parlor Hip Pouch using antique coins and the red jewel
- #2 Care Center Hip Pouch with the Level 1 ID Wristband
- #3 Care Center Basement Hip Pouch after the plug puzzle
- #4 Hip Pouch in The Ark late-game area
- How Leon increases his inventory space
- Maximizing inventory efficiency after upgrades
What to know
- There are four Hip Pouches for Grace, increasing inventory from 8 to 16 slots.
- Each pouch is tied to specific story progression points.
- Some require keys, ID wristbands, or plugs to access locked areas.
- Leon upgrades inventory differently—through credit purchases at Supply Boxes.
In Resident Evil Requiem (RE9), inventory space can make the difference between surviving a boss encounter and scrambling to discard healing items. Grace begins the game with just eight slots, which fills up quickly with ammo, herbs, key items, and crafting materials. If you collect all four Hip Pouches, you’ll permanently double her inventory capacity to sixteen slots.
Below is a complete, up-to-date guide to every Hip Pouch location and how to increase Leon’s inventory as well.
Overview of all Hip Pouch locations in RE9
| # | Location | Area | Requirement | Inventory After |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Parlor | Mansion section | Antique Coins + Red Jewel | 10 slots |
| 2 | Care Center | Ground Floor | Level 1 ID Wristband | 12 slots |
| 3 | Care Center Basement | Story progression | Two Plugs + Star Quartz segment | 14 slots |
| 4 | The Ark | Late-game area | Main story progression | 16 slots |
#1 Parlor Hip Pouch using antique coins and the red jewel
This is usually the first Hip Pouch you can obtain and requires a small chain of item pickups.
Go to the central corridor save room and collect the Antique Coin found inside.
Progress to the Chairman’s Office and obtain the Red Jewel key item.
Use the Red Jewel to unlock the Parlor door.
Search the Parlor carefully to find additional Antique Coins hidden in drawers and containers.
Use three Antique Coins on the first slot machine inside the Parlor. The machine dispenses the first Hip Pouch, permanently increasing Grace’s inventory to 10 slots.
Make sure you don’t spend those coins elsewhere—three are mandatory for this upgrade.
#2 Care Center Hip Pouch with the Level 1 ID Wristband
The second upgrade is located in the Care Center section and requires security clearance.
Find the Level 1 ID Wristband near the Lead Researcher’s Office.
Return to the Filing Room on the ground floor. Use the wristband to unlock the secured door previously inaccessible to the Restroom.
Inside, you’ll find the second Hip Pouch, increasing your inventory to 12 slots.
This one is easy to miss if you move too quickly through the Care Center, so double-check locked doors once you obtain the wristband.
#3 Care Center Basement Hip Pouch after the plug puzzle
This Hip Pouch becomes available later in the story. Progress the main story until you’re tasked with locating the Star Quartz.
Collect and insert two plugs to unlock the next basement section of the map.
After the new pathway opens, explore the area thoroughly.
You’ll find the third Hip Pouch in this newly unlocked basement section.
This brings Grace’s inventory up to 14 slots and is tied directly to story progression—you cannot access it early.
#4 Hip Pouch in The Ark late-game area
The fourth and final Hip Pouch is located in The Ark, a late-game, spoiler-heavy area.
You will encounter frog-like monsters and numerous Umbrella containers while playing as Grace near the end of the story. Advance through The Ark during the main storyline.
In the section populated by amphibian-like enemies and storage containers, carefully search side rooms. Locate and pick up the final Hip Pouch.
This permanently increases Grace’s inventory to the maximum of 16 slots.
Because this area appears near the end of the game, missing it means you’ll have limited use of the extra space—so explore thoroughly before pushing forward.
How Leon increases his inventory space
Leon does not use Hip Pouches.
Instead, his inventory expansion works through a credit-based upgrade system.
You earn credits by defeating enemies and progressing through combat encounters. These credits can then be spent at Supply Boxes to purchase Inventory Extensions.
Unlike Grace’s fixed collectible upgrades, Leon’s system is tied to combat efficiency and resource management. If you want faster upgrades, focus on eliminating enemies and conserving ammo to maximize credit gain.
Maximizing inventory efficiency after upgrades
Even with 16 slots, inventory management remains critical. Combine herbs early, craft ammo only when needed, and store key items once they become obsolete. If you’re playing on higher difficulties, those extra slots significantly reduce backtracking and risk.
Leon players should prioritize early inventory extensions if they rely heavily on grenades or multiple weapon types.
