Resident Evil 4

Welcome! We are going to be getting 4 achievements in this one run. This run will be done on Assisted Difficulty and recommended to be done after at least 1 run of the game on a NG+ save to have a fully upgraded pistol (I used the Red9). Let me know if there's areas I can improve on the guide and hope this is helpful!

Sprinter: Complete the main story within 8 hours

Silent Stranger: Complete the main story without talking to the Merchant once.

Frugalist: Complete the main story without using a recovery item.

Minimalist: Complete the main story using only knives and handguns. (Excluding specific battles.)

For frugalist, we're playing on Assisted Difficulty because once your health is very low you'll recover health back up to about 1/5 of your maximum health. (I found you only recovered when out of combat, but it may be time-based). It can make boss fights toward the end stressful, but usually not too bad as I did Ramon, Krauser and Sadler on the health you recover up to. Regardless, try to get hit as little as possible.

Regarding minimalist, if you're able, it's very useful at the end of your first run to sell everything you have except for your desired handgun(s), ammo for them, and any gunpowder/small resources then buy as much material as possible to create handgun ammo as this is the limiting factor for handgun/knife run. Also, you're able to use any cannons or machine gun emplacements present in the game without voiding out minimalist. You'll need one of the rifles and the biosensor in order to have an easier time killing 1 regenerator in chapter 13. I'd also highly recommend having shot all the Clockwork Castellans can unlock and fully upgrade the Primal Knife for an infinite durability knife. For my run I had over 900 rounds of handgun ammo at the start, and ended with around 300ish by the end without scavenging a ton.

Things you're able to do without voiding the handgun/knife restriction:
1. Using the harpoons during the Del Lago fight
2. Using cannons in the Castle to kill enemies, catapults/gates
3. Using turret enplacements in the Island to kill enemies and destroy the AA turret
4. Blowing up red barrels to kill enemies
5. Using the (special) rocket launcher at the final part of the Sadler boss fight
6. Equipping another weapon, but not firing it (really necessary for the 1 regenerator we need to kill in Ch. 13)

For time it’s worth noting that pausing the game is the only action that pauses the timer. Looking at the map or being in your inventory keeps the time rolling so always make sure you pause if needed. Also, if you reload a save or die your time will continue being added. The only way to go back to the time you had on a previous save is quitting out fo the game then loading up that save manually. You can also pause and check in the bottom left for what time you're currently at in the run.

I'd recommend checking periodically in the "Challenges" menu and pressing to go to the bottom of the list and look at the challenges for Frugalist, Minimalist and Silent Stranger and make sure the progress is at 0 throughout the run. I've also made sure to add my time at the beginning of each chapter.


My main aim with this guide is to give general point to point objectives to complete the game as easy/quick as possible. I've split it up by chapter and major areas you visit in the game. I'll sometimes point out treasures if they're really easy to pick up, but feel free to ignore this if you don't want/need them. I'll also usually skip over boss tips as you should have an idea on how to beat them on this run.

With those disclaimers let’s get through this awesome game as quick as possible!

---Village---
Chapter 1 (0:00)
1. Follow linear path to the house and head around to the end of the hallway and enter a door on the right. Pick up the Hunter's Lodge Key and exit this room opening the door directly to the right and to the back of the basement for a cutscene. Afterwards, dodge Mr. Zomboi and go to the end of the hallway out the door the enemy came out of. Go upstairs and interact w/ the door for another cutscene. Head down this linear wooden path to make your way to the village and get ready to start and complete village fight (I recommend heading to the house that starts a cutscene then defending on the roof out the window at the top of the stairs).

2. Head north to Farm, up ladder in mill then going left around through the door, then dropping down and moving into the barn (easy chest treasure before the barn) and grab the Wooden Cog on the table and put in mill spot then pull lever to open the gate.

3. Cross the bridge, go right to move cart, down path (watch out for ambush B to evade then move around the right side). Make it through Lakeside Settlement and through a cabin to save Luis and end the chapter.

Chapter 2 (15:21)
1. Make way through linear stealth section, recover gear (WATCH OUT FOR BEAR TRAPS IN FRONT OF DESCENDING DOOR)
2. Go down path heading East to grab key item Hexagonal Emblem at top of ladder room directly ahead in the Valley. Go up path on left side of area to turn wheel to exit.
3. Put Hexagonal Emblem in, rotate left once then flip to move on.
4. Watch out for chainsaw man ambush, then move toward house and go in door on left side.
5. Go to the dresser through the living room, the code on the padlock is |Wheat | Pig | Baby|. Use the Crystal Marble key item upstairs (recommend moving LS until you have the symbol THEN rotate into place) then grab Insignia Key into far corner desk to end the chapter.

Chapter 3 (27:49)
1. Head downstairs and out the front door, go around the path on the right to save Mr. Wolfy (you better) then use the Insignia Key on gate you just passed.

2. Head down linear path, back to the Village Square for big explosion (watch out for zombie wolfs). Go into house on right, through to the Town Hall building to use Insignia Key. Move down the path to the church.

3. Head up to church (destroy twin gravestone) and around the right side for an easy treasure (elegant headdress) (also to left of church front door a treasure if you have expanded treasure map). Head to door on right side of church and then down hatch to continue on.

4. Move through linear wooden trellis section into tunnel then left to the Quarry (el gigante boss fight arena later). Open chest in merchant room for Hexagon Piece A. Go through door, then left after dropping down and through tunnel into Fish Farm to go grab Boat Fuel.

5. In Fish Farm, at the end grab the Hexagon Piece B in water on right side of area before grabbing Boat Fuel in shed at the end. Then backtrack by going up right ladder (facing away from shed) then through to the boat dock. Put Boat Fuel in boat then proceed to Del Lago boss fight to end the chapter.

Chapter 4 (40:04)
1. Leave boat house, go down linear path for plaga reveal. At end, open chest on right for Old Wayshrine Key.

2. Get in boat, head straight north east on the lake to the Small Cave Shrine. Open door directly ahead in shed by inputting symbol Left, Bottom Left, and Bottom Right. Grab Blasphemer's Head and Hexagonal Piece C in this room. Head to the south east area of the lake where we originally got on the boat and insert the Hexagonal Pieces into the stone pedastal A then B then C. (Move the bottom left piece once, then the top one once).

3. Head into the south caves to the Large Cave Shrine area. Head around the right side to the end, at door puzzle enter Top Left, Top Right, Bottom Middle. Grab Apostate's Head in subsequent room.

4. Head back to Mural Cave and insert the two heads to obtain Church Insignia. Go back to the boat and head west directly through Merchant (use wayshrine key on box for Butterfly Lamp on the way to the Quarry) area back to the Quarry for the el gigante boss fight.

5. Head back to the Church through the linear path, use Church Insignia on the door. Go on the right of the church to the end and grab the Blue Dial in the cupboard. Go back to the center podium, activate switch on the left then insert the blue dial. (For each color turn until a piece lines up with the background symbol then move to the next color)

6. Move to the left opened gate, and up the ladder then around to a door to end the chapter.

Chapter 5 (54:38)
1. Use ashley to get the ladder on the left side, up and out the close-by window. Head down through the graveyard, through the Town Hall, back to the Village Square.

2. Head north through the village fight cutscene house, into the Farm (use wayshrine key on chest left of big barn). Go across big wooden bridge and get ready for cabin holdout fight to end the chapter.

Chapter 6 (1:05:31)
1. Head down the linear pathway (grab treasure in room to the left once you make it through a door you push) into the Checkpoint area. Go up the stairs into the enclosed building (order Ashley to hide) then go downstairs for a mini-boss fight w/ two chainsaw ladies for the Checkpoint Crank.

2. Head through linear path, run from the big cheese, down to the Slaughterhouse for the Mendez boss fight.

3. After this boss fight, follow the linear path to the bridge to finish the chapter and move on to the Castle.

---Castle---
Chapter 7 (1:19:33)
1. Head up the left stairs, through the hallways to the first Castle plaga. Go through to the catapult arena, over to cannon and down, knife weight to send it up and then go around back to the cannon. Use cannon to bust through the gate (and destroy/kill remaining catapults)

2. Head through the busted gate into the audience chamber and over to the left to give Ashley a boost to open the gate (go around for a treasure). Head through the hole in the wall and down to the dungeon area and around to the left to pick up the Dungeon Key then get ready for Garador boss fight.

3. Head up the ladder and back into the central room and use the Dungeon Key on the central door to move ahead. Move through into the Treasury, shoot the two right bells (snake + eagle) and pull the switch on the left bell (deer) to move through the gate and pick up the Bloodied Sword. Put the Bloodied Sword in the third slot, the Iron Sword in the first slot, the Golden Sword in the second slot, and the Rusted Sword in the fourth slot to move on.

4. Once in the upper audience chamber, activate the fish bell to the left, go across the 1st chandelier, then activate the snake bell to the left to continue on down the stairs and down the hall to WATER HALL.

5. Go to left side of water hall to go down, on the underside grab the Halo Wheel from the center and go over to the right side to lower the stairs. Go back upstairs and use the Halo Wheel on central podium, then go further in. Send Ashley up to the higher area and protect her while she turns the 2 gears up here then leave WATER HALL.

6. Send Ashley up to move through the gate then into a cutscene to move into the next chapter.

Chapter 8 (1:39:18)
1. Move left and up the stairs, go down into the wine cellar and take out the red priest ASAP (skip cutscene then shoot him to stop plagas). Grab Crimson Lantern from red priest body (grab treasure at back of room behind where the priest was standing). Head back out of Wine Cellar and use the Crimson Lantern on statue to progress.

2. After the Ada cutscene, grab Lithographic Stone B in front of you on bookshelf, grab Lithographic Stone D in glass case by the table behind you, and Lithographic Stone C across the room from fireplace (treasure to the left of the fireplace.)

3. Put the stones in C > D > B. Flip the bottom tile and put it in the left slot. Move the now held tile into the right slot. Flip this next tile and put in the bottom slot. Flip the top tile and place back in top slot to complete puzzle.

4. Move forward through the hallways to encounter the last main plaga, then down the stairs to the Castle Battlements.

5. Move into the first battlement, go upstairs and down the ladder and through the Sun door. Once you drop down, turn around and go through this area and use the switch to go to Moon to progress through the next gate. Head up, left to go down, then move forward up another ladder. Head upstairs twice to meet our adversary Mr. Armored Gigante.

6. Go down to the left, dodging his rock throws in time with his roars, and keep moving forward until going down again by two crossbow guys and continue forward to the cannon. Keep going up in levels, either by ladder or stairs, and hitting the rock bags to move the cannon up. Use the cannon on the giant then turn left to use it on the minions and the gate. Head down to the left of the cannon and move forward to make it to the Courtyard and through a door to end the chapter.

Chapter 9 (1:58:41)
1. Head into the Courtyard, left and start going clockwise around the area until you get to the ladder spot in the bottom right on the map to bring down Banner 1. Go through the gate near the ladder, and across the bottom of the Courtyard to the bottom left and order Ashley to hold the switch allowing you to go through another gate to Banner 2. Head back, and go down the nearby opening to go and protect Ashley. Now activate Banner 3 near the center of the Courtyard to move on.

2. In the Grand Hall, head upstairs in front of you then to the left door to end up in the Dining Hall. Have Ashley sit in the top left chair on the close table. You sit in the chair on the bottom left of the far table and ring the bells to get the Serpent Head.

3. Leave the dining hall and head up the closest stairs and through the door on the right. Head through here and drop down to grab the Lion Head and start the armor arena fight. After the fight, interact with the cavalry statue to move forward and grab the Cubic Device from the chest directly ahead.

4. Head up the stairs on the opposite side now, heading south down to the Gallery. Kill the red priest and deal with the rest of the enemies then head to where the red priest was to activate a switch bringing the platform back up. Go up the stairs at the north side of the gallery and grab the Goat Head at the end. Head back to the grand hall and place all the heads in the headless statue to begin Ashley's section.

5. Grab the lantern as Ashley and move through the sliding wall and straightforward hallway. Head left once you get to the clock to enter the library. Head south to find a podium to place the lantern in to open a section to turn a lever lowering a staircase. Go up those stairs and grab the Bunch of Keys item. Cross the opposite side of the room and use the 3rd key from the left to open the elevator then go up. Enter 11:04 on the clock to the right (7:00 on hardcore/pro) then go down, use the lantern on the armor plaga, then interact with the lever to make your way straight across the library to another clock and enter the same time as before

6. Go down and activate all 4 bells, 2 on the left and 2 on the right to continue, and place the lantern you're carrying in the far back slot. Take this one and put it in the slot for the crescent moon (left from where you came in). Put the last lantern in the right slot and pick up the Salazar Family Insignia. As you make your way back to the elevator, hug the right side then go back mid to make it. Go up the stairs (ring around the rosey w/ the armor plaga), back through the library and up the hallway you opened w/ the clock door back to place the Salazar Family Insignia and through the door ending the chapter.

Chapter 10 (2:19:51)
1. Head for the doorway opposite of where Leon leaves the cage and go through the door on the left. Go up the leftside staircase and go through this room to enter the Ballroom. Head down the stairs and around the corner to go up a ladder go to the end to activate a switch. Head back to the center then up the other stairs and go to the end to activate the 2nd switch to leave through the big gate.

2. At the drawbridge, shoot the right weight and the weight at the bottom left to move forward to double garador room. After the enemies are disposed of, grab the 2 unicorn horns one on each garador body and place at the end of the room to leave. After the cutscene, you'll be in the Depths.

3. Go through the linear pathway (watch out for invisible bugs) and kick out the wall next to a treasure you can pick up. Head straight ahead through a door, and you'll enter the underground lab for the Verdugo boss fight.

4.Head to the other side of the lab and go through a door on the right hitting a power switch. Head through the opened gate and hit another switch at the far end. Freeze Mr. Verdugo once and then go back to the beginning of this room to turn a wheel opening the door. Use the various green buttons throughout the area to stun and deal damage to Verdugo (you can also shoot his face to hurt him when not iced up or wait out the elevator using the liquid nitrogen and various knife parries). Once defeated or enough time has passed, use the elevator we were waiting on to leave to end the chapter.

Chapter 11 (2:46:10)
1. Head up the nearby ladder and go down the tunnel. Head down a right path into the Mines, make your way to the top left room and pull a switch to put a path into place. Cross this path and go into a room on the left to pick up the Dynamite.

2. Head back to the previous room to place the dynamite and move on to the double El Gigante fight. Afterwards, use Luis to open the door. Continue on and complete the first minecart section, then head up the stairs through Stopover to do the second minecart section.

3. After the minecart sections, head forward to have the floor fall out then go down. Head into the Hive and continue moving counterclockwise in this room to now go up a lift and start the first Krauser fight, once he's beaten this will end the chapter.

Chapter 12 (3:14:04)
1. Head to the lift at the other end of the room and go up. Use this trolley to go to the clocktower. Make your way to the top of the clocktower, using a lift in the center about halfway through. Make your way along the scaffolding, and down to the right to the Salazar boss fight.

2. After the fight, go out the door behind you, down the path, and down the lift. Head down this linear path, and hop in the boat to end the chapter and go to the Island!

---Island---
Chapter 13 (3:28:44)
1. Make your way forward, past the red sensor turret, and turn left to go behind the turret and turn it off. Head through where the turret was blocking off, go into the middle building and up the ladder turning this turret. Make your way around counterclockwise to turn the last turret blocking the way forward. Make your way through the right building, go back through the middle building, then out the exit.

2. Go through this linear path and continue forward where a rocket launcher enemy is and continue this way. Head up the left side and through a door then up a ladder. Go forward and around in this room hitting a button to open a door downstairs.

3. Head down then up a ladder on the left. Start making your way through Utilities (watch out for burning enemy in kitchen area), pass the merchant, and over to the Dissection area. Make your way to the bottom right room to swap the power over, open the nearby gate w/ a switch, then go to the dissection room.

4. For the dissection room power puzzle hit the outer layer 3 times and the next inner layer 2 times then complete the puzzle. Head inside and grab the Level 1 Keycard. (WATCH OUT FOR REGENERATOR OUTSIDE DOOR AS YOU LEAVE). Go swap over the power at the bottom right room then make your way over to the Freezer.

5. Use your lvl 1 keycard on the door and go to the power puzzle on the right as you walk in. Hit the outer layer 2 times, the next layer 2 times, the next layer 3 times and the inner layer 3 times then complete the puzzle (easy treasure). Now head to the far end of the room, insert your keycard to upgrade it to lvl 2 (get ready for another regenerator coming out of a bag). Once complete grab your lvl 2 keycard and head almost out of this area and use the keycard on a door on the left to go to Systems.

6. Head down the stairs then on right into the Incubation lab, Find which regenerator has the wrench using your biosensor scope (and ideally only fight him) then use the wrench on the panel in the room at the far end then put your keycard in and defend from a load of enemies. Afterwards, grab your lvl 3 keycard (also an easy treasure on the left) and use it on the gate to head back to facility 1 storage. Use the keycard on the door here for a cutscene and the end of the chapter.

Chapter 14 (4:03:23)
1. Exit the room and use Ashley to open the gate on the left and move forward. Head past the merchant, through the door, up the stairs, then to the left down a ladder. Head under the cargo depot moving forward, through a door into a furnace room.

2. Here go up the stairs in front of you, tell Ashley to hold the switch and jump through the window and through the held open door. Go to the left, open this door, save Ashley, then back through the opened door moving forward up stairs then to the right. Make your way through the dirty water to a door you and Ashley open together (water out for Iron Maiden right ahead, lead it away and shoot its leg out to open the door). You and Ashley open another door together and move into Waste Disposal.

3. Here, have Ashley hold a valve creating a bridge. Make your way through the linear path until you pull a switch to swap power over. Run back to Ashley as quick as you can to protect her and she'll deal with the regenerator chasing you! Afterwards look left for another power puzzle.

4. For the waste disposal power puzzle, hit the outer layer 3 times, next layer 3 times, next layer 3 times, innermost layer 2 times then complete the puzzle. Head over to the cargo area and over to the wall then the wrecking machine for 2 cutscenes then get ready to defend Ashley from a bunch of enemies. Once over, head out the newly opened wall and call the lift then head up. At the top move forward and interact w/ the glowing orange rock for a cutscene.

5. Go through the door, up to the right and deal w/ the enemies in the campsite (grab easy treasure in tent). Move through the linear path to the second Krauser fight. After this fight leave the area for a cutscene and the end of the chapter.

Chapter 15 (4:34:43)
1. Go up the stairs, past the merchant, and engage the enemies to summon Mike the CHOPPER GUNNER! After defending from a bunch of enemies, the chopper will open the way forward. Allow Mike to take care of the tower then move forward and up a ladder then forward to an AA gun. Go around the right side, down stairs past some red barrels then to the right and up another ladder. Head around to the right ahead, up multiple stairs to the top and find a machine gun to take out the AA gun.

2. Go back down the stairs and at the bottom Mike will shoot out the way forward to your right. In the next room, take a left and go up the ladder. Make your way out, and around counterclockwise to take out the turret on the right side. Use the room here to get an angle on the other turret and take it out. Pull the switch at the back right of this area (use the right side turret to take out the enemies on the other side before going over) then head to the left side and pull the other switch. Leave this room and head forward for a cutscene, RIP Mike :(

3. Head around to the left and through a door, in the next room watch out for a regenerator in the middle bag (can avoid by sneaking and not hitting bag). In the next room, hold the wheel to open the door and wathc out for a regenerator in the bag next to the 2nd wooden crate. Move left through this area and watch out for an iron maiden in the bag next to the 2 wooden crates, finally getting to a wheel to turn opening a door in front of you to rush towards once you let go.

4. Go through the left door, passing the merchant, out to Sanctuary Approach. At the part w/ a turret blocking your way, go into the left room, up the stairs and around to the right through a door and interact w/ the turret. Head up the middle path, through the big door into the Sanctuary for a cutscene.

5. Afterwards, move forward (albeit slowly) to another cutscene then through the water to make it to Luis's lab and use Luis's key to open and interact w/ the surgery chair to start a cutscene and end the chapter.

Chapter 16 (FINAL CHAPTER!) (5:01:04)
1. Exit Luis's lab, use Ashley to lower the ladder on the left and go up. Go through this linear section (watch out for bugs) and once in Sanctuary go up the northern path and continue on. Pass the blue flames (last merchant) and keep going for the final boss fight.

2. After the fight, run forward through this linear section. Use the Bear Keys on the jet ski and go through this actions sequence avoid the obstacles to end the game congratulations!

Finished with a time of 5:17:14 with plenty of just continuing or reloading and just general wastes of time. The 8 hours has plenty of leeway.

With any luck you completed the run without talking to the merchant, healing, only using the handgun/knife and in under 8 hours. Congratulations and feedback is highly encouraged.

I did this achievement easily after gaining access to the infinite launcher (2m coins cost in NG+), Chicago sweeper (complete professional mode in under 7 hours, can be in NG+) and with Ashley’s armour which makes her invincible (will be unlocked with the Chicago sweeper requirements above).

This can however be done with just the infinite launcher, although you’ll probably end up killing yourself and Ashley a lot with any nearby explosions. Remember to always have your body armour repaired so you take less explosion damage.

To get the achievement, run a new game+ on assisted difficulty and just make sure you never use a healing item (keep checking your challenges to see if you accidentally used one, the progress should be 0 at all times). In assisted difficulty, your health will always be restored to the minimal green setting after almost dying, so you won’t ever need to heal, you’ll have the infinite launcher so everything is a one hit kill. If you die, just return to the last checkpoint and try again (just remember not to heal)!