The Resident Evil series hasn’t just become one of the crown jewels of Capcom, it’s one of the most popular video game series of all time. Resident Evil has been able to transcend beyond video games. The Resident Evil titles have shifted their focus over time, but there’s been a lot of debate over two of the series’ biggest characters, Chris Redfield and Leon S. Kennedy.
Both of these characters have accomplished tons and defeated unbelievable evils, but there are still many differences between the two. Hopefully, Chris and Leon will never need to engage in a full-on deathmatch, but if they had, their unique talents would result in some interesting results.
Updated June 25, 2021, by Tom Bowen: Though he may not be the main protagonist in Resident Evil Village, Chris' appearance in the game serves as an excellent reminder of just what he's capable of. Leon will also be returning to the spotlight incredibly soon, with Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness now just a matter of weeks away. These two zombie-smashing heroes have demonstrated their proficiency in combat time and time again, but were the two to ever lock horns for real, it's difficult to predict which of the two men would emerge victorious.
Basic Information: Leon Kennedy
Date of Birth: Circa 1977
Occupation: DSO Agent
Height: 5'11"
Mass: 75 KG
First Appearance: Resident Evil 2 (1998)
Most Recent Appearance: Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness (2021)
Though Leon is a rookie cop when first introduced to players, he has since grown into an incredibly proficient fighter. He's more than capable of protecting both himself and those around him and is willing to go out of his way to help others; even if it means putting his own life at risk. He's overcome seemingly insurmountable odds on multiple occasions and can think quickly and clearly when under extreme pressure.
Basic Information: Chris Redfield
Date of Birth: Circa 1973
Occupation: BSAA Operative
Height: 6'1"
Mass: 98 KG
First Appearance: Resident Evil (1996)
Most Recent Appearance: Resident Evil Village (2021)
Chris' U.S. Air Force training and his time with S.T.A.R.S. prepared him for the zombie outbreak far better than most of the other survivors. He's shown to be a total badass right from the get-go and is willing to do whatever is necessary to keep himself and those around him alive. He can come across as being a little cold at times and his motivations aren't always clear, but this arguably makes him a far better fighter and one who invariably comes out on top.
10 Leon: Better At Escorting & Keeping Cover
The Resident Evil series is all about survival, but a handful of the games feature a helpless companion as a prime component to success. In Resident Evil 4, and to a lesser extent, Resident Evil 2, Leon has to safeguard Ashley Graham and Sherry Birkin. This task may be irritating for some, but it highlights how well Leon can multitask.
This level of strategy leaves Leon very prepared against Chris and he should be able to persevere, whether it's a team battle or not. It marks a level of focus that could surprise Chris and overwhelm him.
9 Chris: He Can Destroy Boulders
Resident Evil 5 and 6 are commonly seen as the nadir of the series and they’re largely the reason Resident Evil 7 returned to the franchise's horror roots. Some memorable QTE sequences in Resident Evil 5 involve Chris breaking some huge boulders to bits with his bare hands.
Admittedly, this moment has become more of a meme for how silly Resident Evil has become, but it's hard to deny the raw power that Chris possesses in this destructive gesture. Leon is tough, but he's never shattered a boulder before. That said, like most people, he's probably never actually tried.
8 Leon: He Can Take A Beating
The physical strength and aptitude of Leon and Chris are important factors to consider, but something else that shouldn't be discounted is their durability and defense. Both Leon and Chris have taken massive beatings throughout the series, but the film Resident Evil: Degeneration shows just how much Leon can really take.
Leon is assaulted by a mutated T-013– which doesn't just knock him through the air, but smash him against a pillar– and survives to tell the tale. If he can handle this, then he can easily withstand anything that the boulder-breaking Chris dishes out without breaking much of a sweat.
7 Chris: He Has More Professional Training
In Resident Evil, experience is more important than any level of training, so it's important to remember that Leon Kennedy enters Resident Evil 2 as a rookie cop that's new to the job. Leon learns a lot, but his inexperience is a big part of his character and holds him back a little at certain points.
Chris, on the other hand, has tons of different training. Before he was leading STARS, he was a valued member of the Air Force. Even post-STARS, he joins the BSAA and is later a captain of the Silver Dagger. All of this diverse training leaves Chris incredibly well-prepared for whatever he faces.
6 Leon: He Survives The Las Plagas Infection
Both Leon and Chris face dangers that put their lives in jeopardy. Resident Evil has even teased its audience with the idea that its protagonists could get infected and turn evil. Resident Evil 4 pushes Leon very close to the brink after he gets infected by the new Las Plagas virus.
Leon is able to persevere and survive the scare and he seems even more resilient as a result. Considering what Leon survives, his body may be better equipped to survive against Chris when they're around undead threats. It still may have affected his body in ways that aren't yet known, however.
5 Chris: He’s A Better Fighter
There's a lot to consider in a fight between Chris and Leon, but despite their many skills, pure fighting ability is going to be the deciding factor between them. The two briefly come to blows in Resident Evil 6, but all of the media implies that Chris is just the better fighter.
In fact, Chris even appears as a fighter in the Marvel Vs. Capcom series. Leon almost made it into Tatsunoko Vs. Capcom, but he didn't, which speaks even more to Chris' expertise in the area. Leon definitely has the edge when it comes to snowboarding though, having taken to the slopes in Capcom's 1999 game, Trick'n Snowboarder.
4 Leon: He’s Faced Distinct Types Of Monsters & Viruses
Every Resident Evil game is full of dangerous enemies and increasingly massive threats. Both Leon and Chris have faced their fair share of Tyrants and biological weapons, but Leon has had to deal with far more diverse beasts.
Leon has to dispose of a giant alligator, the lake monster El Lago, and can conquer El Gigante with just a knife and a handgun. Chris needs a lot more support to take on these kinds of dangers and even though the bosses he fights are nothing to shortchange, it seems like Leon faces true monsters that force him to get creative.
3 Chris: He Has More Experience With Umbrella & The Supernatural
The Resident Evil series has done incredible work with how it's expanded its narrative to different points of view while featuring a whole roster of rotating protagonists. Despite these many different heroes, Chris Redfield has been there from the start and arguably seen more of Umbrella than anyone else.
It feels like Chris will be around when Resident Evil comes to a close and because he's so well versed with these dangers, he could likely persevere against Leon and maybe even use Umbrella's many threats against him. It feels like nothing will surprise Chris anymore at this point.
2 Leon: He Takes Down The Entire Los Illuminados Organization
Chris Redfield may help introduce the Resident Evil franchise, but Leon has been involved in some of the best and biggest adventures. Resident Evil 4 marks a major shift for the series and it brings back Leon in a big and somewhat unforgettable way.
Resident Evil 4 beautifully shows off Leon's talents. Not only does he emerge successful, but he also nearly single-handedly takes down the entire Los Illuminados organization and takes on an entire village of danger. Many Resident Evil characters experience wins, but not on as impressive and thorough of a scale as this.
1 Chris: He Fights And Kills Wesker
The Resident Evil series is full of extremely evil antagonists, both of the monster and human variety. Wesker is the perfect combination of these two extremes and he views Chris as his biggest rival and threat. Resident Evil 5 goes out on one of the biggest battles of the entire franchise, showing players exactly what Chris is capable of.
Chris dukes it out with the overpowered Wesker, yet against all odds, he manages to survive. He figures out how to not only survive against this biological threat but also how to beat it. Not many heroes can use a volcano effectively in battle, but Chris almost makes it look easy.