As a long-time Resident Evil fanatic with countless hours unleashing combos in previous Mercenaries modes, I was eagerly anticipating the RE4 Remake treatment of my favorite bonus mode. After delving deep into the additional content upon release, I quickly realized there were layers of strategic nuance that elevated the four playable characters beyond their surface appearances.
While on the outset the protagonists seem straightforward – Leon provides balance, Luis handles range, Krauser excels up close, and Hunk efficiently executes – intricate mechanics and upgrades allow for diverse build crafting and advanced tactics catered to scoring. Once you understand these deeper systems and specializations, you can begin truly mastering the mercenaries.
This guide aims tounpack these advance insights, detailing potent strategies to success with each character. While individual playstyles may differ, the information provided gives a framework to strategically assess your options. Let‘s begin deciphering the elite Mercenary warriors!
Leon S. Kennedy: Balance Redefined
On my first outing with Leon, I focused purely on the satisfaction of unleashing riot gun havoc at close range. Eventually though, the limited range hampered my scoring potential. Returning to Leon after tackling additional content, I quickly learned to appreciate the method behind his balanced loadout madness.
You see, Leon‘s starting arsenal seems straightforward but relatively unimpressive – a basic shotgun, pistol and medium rifle. However, digging into the upgrade systems reveals exciting augmentations enabling unique builds. For example, enhancing his Stingray Rifle clip size and fire rate transforms the weapon into a high capacity bullet hose able to churn out damage at shocking rates.
This epiphany made me re-evaluate Leon‘s role – not as a master of one, but a flexible anomaly able to churn explosions up close, stabily output mid-range damage, or transform into a distanced heavy assault rifleman. Let‘s breakdown Leon‘s advanced stats and upgrades to unearth his potential.
Weapon Statistics & Analysis
Riot Gun Shotgun
- Base Damage Per Bullet: 15
- Max Upgrade Damage Per Bullet: 45
- Reload Speed Boost: 33%
Stingray Rifle
- Base Damage Per Bullet: 20
- Max Clip Capacity: 30
- Max Fire Rate Boost: 42%
SG-09R Pistol
- Base Damage Per Bullet: 10
- Max Clip Capacity: 15
- Max Stability Boost: 18%
While base Leon seems relatively vanilla, analyzing the weapon systems show incredible maxed upgrades that enable diverse builds. Want to spec Leon for overwhelming shotgun CQC carnage? Boost Riot Gun damage and speed. Prefer ranged assaults? Augment the Stingray Rifle instead. Both become beasts once fully upgraded.
This is the heart of Leon‘s weapon mastery – seemingly basic tools that transform into tactical powerhouses when upgraded. Let your style preferences dictate which weapons receive your limited currency resources.
Ability Upgrades & Analysys
Roundhouse Kick
- Base Damage: 10
- Base Radius: 2 meters
- Max Damage: 100
- Max Radius: 5 meters
Leon‘s signature roundhouse kick receives similar exponential improvements from upgrading. At base functionality, it modestly supplements weapon attacks against nearby targets. However, maximum investment vastly increases the kick into a room clearing explosion of damage able to crush dense formations. I often use the upgraded kick to enable retreats from overwhelming situations, obliterating all pursuing enemies to enable my escape.
Advanced Tips & Analysis
Here are some advanced Leon tactics I‘ve gathered from besting the insane post-game mercenary challenges:
Riot + Kick Combo Chains
When specing for close range shotgun chaos, interspersing weapon blasts with kicks is crucial for meter maintenance. Consistently alternating between the inputs without delays maintains combo chains. My go-to methods:
- 2 Riot Shots -> Kick -> 2 Riot Shots -> Kick
Keeps multiplier climbing rapidly while showcasing Leon‘s extensive crowd control toolset!
Distance Stingray Management
When playing Leon as a distanced rifleman, maintaining space from enemies is key to utilizing the Stingray efficiently. I like to kite targets while strafing, causing them to cluster into favorable formations for piercing penetration streaks. After corralling into groups, dance between bursts while relocating to avoid encirclement.
The most common cause of failure during these phases is becoming overwhelmed by sheer enemy numbers in tight spaces. Be sure to keep distance and use roundhouse kicks liberally to escape entrapment scenarios.
While Leon‘s flexibility takes time mastering, once internalized he transforms into a versatile Swiss army knife able to handle any mercenary threat. Allow your personal preferences to guide weapon upgrade path prioritization tailoring his loadout towards your style. The payoff speaks for itself – Leon obliterates!
Luis Sera: Longshot Decimation
As a crackshot sniper across numerous TPS titles, I gravitated instantly towards Luis in RE4 Remake thanks to his specialized distanced kit. Boasting a high powered rifle and pistol pairing, Luis excels when keeping enemies at range while doling punishment. Those attempting close quarters combat quickly discover his glaring weakness – an extremely puny knife…
However, through upgrading crafting andlesiurely gameplay, I eventually overcame this limitation, discovering methodss to Luis‘ madness. While masters like Krauser and Hunk shine up close, Luis provides sanctity from the chaos, able to selectively eliminate targets like a surgeon precisely excising enemies. There’s immense satisfaction nullifying distant threats before they breach your perimeter.
Let’s examine Luis’ arsenal and upgrades to showcase what enabling such lethality from afar requires, starting with the longshot lynchpin:
Weapon Statistics & Analysis
SR M1903 Rifle
- Base Damage Per Bullet: 80
- Max Clip Capacity: 7
- Reload Speed: 2.5 seconds
Red9 Pistol
- Base Damage Per Bullet: 15
- Max Clip Capacity: 15
- Max Fire Rate Boost: 60%
At first glance, the rifle’s dps seems hampered by slow reloading. However, upgrading transforms the weapon into a 14 bullet death laser able to dump extreme damage ceaselessly. Combined with the pistol‘s augmented firehose-like output, Luis becomes a constant distanced damage dealer able to remotely shred waves.
The key is recognizing and enabling this ranged potential requires an upgraded SR rifle and patient playstyle focused on securing space allowing safely lining up kills. Charge capacity and keep distance!
Ability Upgrades & Analysis
Weapon Attack
- Base Damage: 20
- Base Radius: 3 meters
- Max Damage: 300
- Max Radius: 10 meters
As mentioned earlier, Luis‘s base knife is laughably weak, making close enemies extremely problematic. However, his weapon attack allows securing precious space when enemies inevitably infiltrate your position. Upgrading the pipe smash enables deleting entire groups in single explosions of damage should they breach the perimeter.
Use liberally whenever crowded by enemies to secure positioning freedom and continue ranged onslaughts. Treat as a “get out of jail free” card!
Advanced Tips & Analysis
The biggest hurdle playing Luis is balancing ranged slaying uptime with pushing overly aggressive enemies seeking melee combat. Here are key methods I utilize:
Rifle Choke Points
When enemies initially spawn, quickly positioning between them and the nearest choke point allows methodically picking them off as they funnel through predictably. Manipulate AI pathing patterns to force clustering favored for penetration kills.
Check Your Six!
Inevitably enemies will infiltrate your rear lines. Often when focused downfield, you’ll suddenly take damage from behind… Keep spatial awareness and listen for audio ques telegraphing flanks. Don’t be afraid to spawn weapon attacks preemptively knowing threats are looming!
The joy of Luis comes from tactically dismantling waves at a distance and having contingencies prepared for when enemies come crashing into your world. Embrace control through ranged gameplay, push back melee timers, and indulge in longshot decimation!
Jack Krauser: Melee Maestro
Having tackled RE4 professional mode knife only runs in the past, Krauser instantly sang to me as the notable melee maestro of mercenaries mode. Wielding slick knife combos augmented by a lethal lunge attack, Krauser lives for the thrill of close quarters combat. I specifically appreciate how his kit encourages aggressive, risky skirmishing dramatically contrasting cautious ranged contemporaries.
My first sorties attempted maximizing bow utility for distanced versatility. However, low ammo reserves soon made conserving resources priority over functionality. Krauser’s strength become apparent charging headfirst towards danger rather than fleeing it – he shreds hardest when deep inside the melee, able to endlessly twist between targets exploiting unique movement mechanics.
Let’s overview Krauser’s weapons and upgrades rewarding such ruthless aggression:
Weapons Statistics & Analysis
TMP Machine Pistol
- Base Damage Per Bullet: 4
- Max Clip Capacity: 60
- Max Stability Boost: 33%
EJF-338 Bow
- Base Damage Per Arrow: 50
- Max Ammo Capacity: 25
Knife
- Base Combo Damage: 20
- Max Combo Damage: 100
While serviceable at range with bowel and TMP pestering, Krauser really thrives deep inside enemy mobs able to churn combos. Maxing out his base knife attack allows delivering lethal 100 damage 6 hit chains Mac capable of rapidly burst down multiple foes when weaving between targets.
Combined with mobility upgrades detailed shortly, Krauser transforms into a steel cyclone able to shred a room nearly instantly. Never has RE Mercenaries enabled such viscerally satisfying melee flow. Embrace the blade braveheart mentality fully!
Ability Upgrades & Analysis
Thrust Attack
- Base Damage: 30
- Base Radius: 2 meters
- Max Damage: 250
- Max Radius: 10 meters
The thrust attack embodies Krauser, allowing launching across a room into lethal lunge engaging new targets instantly. Chaining into further combos produces a slick ballet of death Krauser effortlessly dancing between enemies with cruel efficiency.
Upgrades increasing area of effect allows shredding entire groups per plunge. When mastered, manage to constantly teleport from target to target chaining murder.
Advanced Tips
After hours mastering Krauser’s ceremony of slaughter, here are my key tips for fellow pupils:
Lead With Launch
Ideal engagements start by thrust launching towards largest enemy cluster, allowing huge initial damage on multiple targets. Quickly dance into knife combos distributing remaining health bars for kills before thrusting onwards.
Remember Your Bow
When groups thin, utilize the bow to conserve knife durability. Even with limited ammo, the arrows can provide supplemental ranged damage assisting multi kills between thrust cooldowns. Just be cautious not to spam and suddenly be left empty!
Krauser epitomizes a specialized chaotic neutral perfectly suited for those who enjoy complex melee systems with high skill caps. Managing his unique combo chaining and motion produces a satisfying symphony of severed limbs… ^_^
HUNK: Clinical Exterminator
Finally there’s HUNK – the enigmatic cleaner with a ghastly skull mask and simple subtitle objective: survive. And survive he does thanks to a toolkit catering to rapid enemy execution. Wielding a hard hitting SMG perfect for landing initial damage and a brutal neck snapping finisher, HUNK‘s MO is clinically moving between staggered targets erasing them.
While Leon tackles crowds with splash weapons, Luis maintains distance picking foes methodically, and Krauser dances within the melee, HUNK operates via execution – a lethal grim reaper quickly harvesting single targets from the horde surrounding him. There’s immense satisfaction literally tearing heads off…
Let’s explore HUNK’s proficient arsenal enabling his grisly rampages:
Weapons Statistics & Analysis
LE5 Submachine Gun
- Base Damage Per Bullet: 7
- Max Clip Capacity: 40
- Max Stability Boost: 26%
Knife
- Base Damage Per Swipe: 20
- Max Damage Per Swipe: 34
HUNK’s primary Lucille SMG provides rapid suppression able to quickly stagger enemies for finishing executions. While lower individual damage than Leon’s shotgun or Luis’s rifles limits multi kills, the generous magazine and rate of fire make landing crippling blows easy.
The true highlight however is HUNK’s unique neck breaker – an instant kill activated on any staggered targets from behind. This allows effortlessly eliminating waves when chaining between crippled enemies. Mastery revolves around efficiently maneuvering HUNK behind weakened targets as the grim reaper himself…
Ability Upgrades & Analysis
Neck Breaker
- Base Animation Speed: 2.5 seconds
- Upgraded Animation Speed: 1.5 seconds
HUNK’s signature also receives a massive upgrade, cutting necessary animation time drastically for quick systematic eliminations. Minimizing time between sequences allows faster murder rhythms critical to maintaining high combo scores before enemies can overwhelm.
Advanced Tips & Commentary
Having tackled multiple mercenary pursuits with HUNK, here are key tips that aided my success:
Target Critical Health Enemies
When selecting enemies to cripple for execution, make eliminating almost dead enemies priority. This prevents wasting SMG ammo over killing while allowing keeping combo chains.
Master Flanking Routes
Memorize level layouts, especially clustering points near walls. When groups corner themselves, quickly shred 1-2 enemies then sprint behind mobs for subsequent breaking. Ideal formations have several staggered enemies between HUNK and walls protecting his back.
Carousel Of Death
The most satisfying HUNK moments occur when totally surrounded yet consecutively eliminating the horde. Dart between crippled targets while avoiding attacks through precise movement and breaker timing. Embody the eye of the storm by clinically finishing enemies despite the calamity!
For those who enjoy technical gameplay rewarding execution efficiency, HUNK is extremely fulfilling. While more challenging requiring advanced positioning than other warriors, the sheer style of functionally dismantling crowds makes the investment worthwhile. Put on some atmospheric synthwave, don the mask, and indulge clinical murder artistry!
Despite sharing baseline qualities, RE4 Remake‘s mercenary characters prove more nuanced than initial impressions suggest thanks to diverse gear and upgrades. Catering playstyle to leverage individual strengths is critical for success.
I hope this guide helped demonstrate advanced dynamics beyond surface level observations. Now you can better specialize your warrior of choice through tailored upgrades and specialized tactics. Mix and match these insights with your own experiences while battling for high score supremacy!
Of course mastering the mercenaries is an ongoing journey. I continue tweaking my strategies daily to eke out performance advantages. Please share any of your own tips in the comments so we can all level up together! Until then, may your massacres reign merciless 😈
