Mercenaries Mode Guide and How to Play

Mercenaries Mode is a free DLC minigame in Resident Evil 4 Remake (RE4) where players can use different characters from the Resident Evil universe, like Leon, Krauser, and more! Read on to learn how to unlock and how to play Mercenaries!

Mercenaries Mode Update

Ada and Wesker Arriving on September 21!

The Mercenaries Mode will get a free update on September 21, 2023. In the update, Ada Wong and Albert Wesker will become playable characters. Additionally, judging from the background in the promotional image, the Docks will be added as a playable stage.

How to Unlock Mercenaries Mode

How to Unlock Mercenaries: Steps
Download Latest Version Download Mercenaries DLC add-on from storefront Completing main story is not required

Download as a Free DLC from Storefront

Mercenaries Mode became available on Ver. 1.04 of Resident Evil 4 Remake. Simply download the latest version and select The Mercenaries from the main menu.

Mercenaries comes as free DLC for all who purchased any edition of the game. You need to have a Wi-Fi connection to download the latest version of the base game and the Mercenaries add-on from your respective platform's store.

Mercenaries Mode Release Time

Not Required to Complete the Main Story

Unlike previous iterations of Mercenaries, players are not required to finish the Main Story to unlock it and can start Mercenaries with no save data progress at all. Upon opening Mercenaries for the first time, the game will recommend a player who hasn't finished the game to do so first, but they can choose to continue anyway.

Walkthrough: All Chapters

How to Play Mercenaries Mode

Select a Stage

Stage	How to Unlock
The Village	Unlocked Immediately
The Castle	Unlocked after beating The Village once
The Island	Unlocked after beating The Castle once
Docks	Unlocked after beating The Island once

Players can choose from 4 different maps containing elite and strong bosses to fight, like the Giant Chainsaw Man (Double Chainsaw).

All Mercenaries Stages and How to Unlock

Choose Your Character

Character	How to Unlock
Leon	Default character
Leon (Pinstripe)	Get rank S (200,000 points) or higher in all stages as Leon
Luis	Get rank A or higher in any stage as Leon
Krauser	Get rank A or higher in any stage as Luis
Hunk	Get rank A or higher in any stage as Krauser
Ada	Unlocked by default after Separate Ways DLC Update
Ada (Dress)	Get rank S (200,000 points) or higher in all stages as Ada
Wesker	Get rank A or higher in any stage as Ada

You can choose from any of the 8 playable characters in Mercenaries, namely Leon, Leon (Pinstripe), Krauser, Luis, Hunk, Ada, Ada (Dress), and Wesker. Each character has different abilities and loadout, allowing players to pick one that suits their playstyle or overall preferences.

List of Mercenaries Characters and Abilities

Score High to Get S++ Rank

Rank	Min. Score Requirement
S++	1,000,000
S+	500,000
S	200,000
A	100,000
B	50,000
C	0

Kill all enemies within the time limit to achieve the highest possible score on each stage. Defeating enemies consecutively in a short time frame racks up combos and bonus rates. Make sure to increase the time limit first before gunning down enemies.

How to Get S++ Rank

Mercenaries Mode Rewards

Handcannon for Getting Rank S on All Stages

You can unlock the Handcannon Magnum by getting an S rank or higher in all 3 stages.

After unlock, this Handcannon bonus weapon can be bought in the Extra Content Shop for 1,000 CP and can be used in main story playthroughs.

All Mercenaries Rewards

1 of 2 Handcannon unlock methods

This is a faster way of unlocking the Handcannon, considering the only other method is by completing a full run of Professional Mode without using any other bonus weapons.

Handcannon Location, Weapons Stats, and Upgrades

Mercenaries Mode Tips

Get All the Time Bonuses First

Make sure to get all the time bonus orbs on the map first before killing enemies. This will allow you to extend the time limit of the run to its max right away, while also rounding up all enemies in every area for you to farm for combo points.

Kill Chickens to Get Golden Egg

If you spot a chicken, make sure to kill it, for they sometimes drop Gold Chicken Eggs that give you a 50,000-point Egg Bonus. You just need to pick up the Gold Chicken Egg to get the Egg Bonus. You get to keep the Gold Chicken Egg afterward, and it functions as a max HP recovery item.

Chickens can be found in the Village, Castle, and the Island.

Best Ways to Increase Time Limit

Green Time Orbs	+30-90 seconds
Defeating Elite Enemies	+20-30 seconds
Defeating Enemies with Knives	+4 seconds
Defeating Enemies with Headshot	+2 seconds
Defeating Enemies with Melee	+2 seconds
Defeating Enemies with Explosives	+1 second

Performing the above actions will increase your time limit by the amount listed above.

How to Increase Time Limit

150 Enemies is the Limit

Only a maximum of 150 enemies spawn in each stage per run. After defeating 150 enemies, the round will end, regardless if you still have time left. Make sure to rack up those combos efficiently!

You also get a time bonus score bonus for defeating all enemies that multiplies all remaining seconds by 1,000.

Mercenaries Mode Does Not Have Aim Assist

Aim Assist is disabled for Mercenaries Mode on console, as there is no option to turn it on. This will make the mode more challenging for console players, as they will have to be accurate with their shots on their own, without the help of the Snap and Follow setting.

Aiming Guide for Mercenaries

Mercenaries Mode Enemies

Village Elite Enemies
When 25 Enemies are Killed	Brute (Hammer)
When 50 Enemies are Killed	Chainsaw Man
When 90 Enemies are Killed	Chainsaw Sisters
When 130 Enemies are Killed	Chainsaw Man Chainsaw Sisters
Castle Elite Enemies
When 20 Enemies are Killed	Cultist (Staff)
When 50 Enemies are Killed	Garrador
When 70 Enemies are Killed	Cultist (Staff) (x2)
When 100 Enemies are Killed	Armored Garrador
When 130 Enemies are Killed	Garrador (x2)
Island Elite Enemies
When 20 Enemies are Killed	Brute (Crossbow)
When 70 Enemies are Killed	Brute (No Hammer) (x2)
When 100 Enemies are Killed	Brute (Hammer)

List of All Enemies and Monsters

Resident Evil 4 Remake (RE4) Related Guides

Resident Evil 4 Remake Guide and Walkthrough

Resident Evil 4 Remake Wiki
Separate Ways	Story Walkthrough
Requests	Mercenaries Mode
Puzzles	Collectibles
Interactive Map	Tips and Tricks
Weapons	Items
Bosses	Enemies and Monsters
Keys and Locks	Secrets
Characters	News and Game Info