Exploring the survival horror environment of the Raccoon City Police Department in Resident Evil 2 presents players with numerous environmental puzzles and locked containers. One of the earliest brainteasers encountered in the West Office on the first floor is Leon Kennedy's decorated desk, which is secured by two separate letter dial locks. Unlocking this desk provides valuable weapon upgrades that significantly improve combat performance early in the game.
Understanding the West Office Desk Puzzle
Upon arriving at the West Office, players will notice a welcome sign set up by Leon's fellow officers alongside a memo detailing his initiation task. The puzzle relies on identifying the first initials of the officers assigned to the surrounding desks. Examining the name tags placed on the desks around the room provides the letters necessary to solve both combination locks.
Codes for the Left and Right Locks
To open the left lock on Leon's desk, players need to input the code NED. These letters correspond to officers Neil Carlsen, Elliot Edward, and David Ford. Entering this combination unlocks the left side mechanism immediately without needing any extra key items.
The right side lock requires the combination code MRG. This code is derived from the names of officers Marvin Branagh, Rita Phillips, and George Scott. Once both combinations are successfully set, the main desk drawer pops open to reveal its contents.
Unlocks and Character Rewards
The reward inside Leon's desk varies depending on which character campaign is currently being played. When navigating the story as Leon, opening the desk awards the High-Capacity Magazine attachment for his Matilda handgun. This attachment increases ammo capacity to 24 rounds, drastically reducing reload frequency during intense encounters.
If players tackle the puzzle during Claire Redfield's campaign, the desk contains a Speed Loader for her SLS 60 revolver. This upgrade allows Claire to reload her firearm far faster, making her much more effective when dealing with standard zombies. Securing these items early provides a crucial advantage for surviving the rest of the police station.
