Hi there and welcome. Thank you for checking out this guide.

What exactly can you expect, you wonder?

• Are you familiar with the game or just looking for a nostalgic trip in HD of this amazing classic? This walkthrough includes all cutscenes and dialogues, perfect for a relaxing session.

• In case you need some help, it's a comprehensive and extensive guide for each chapter and section, as well as a wide range of tips across all fronts of gameplay, weaponry and Bosses.

• In case you're a natural treasure hunter, the guide features 100% item collection. This means all treasures, of course, but also all non-random item. Including spinels, enemy drops and many other goodies.

• Timestamps will help you create a coalition between video and guide, so you can jump into the desired time or section in the footage.

To unlock Professional difficulty, you have to complete the game on Normal mode. However, if you expect to conduct a New Game+ (NG+) on Professional by simply using already unlocked weapons and its upgrades from the Normal campaign, it's not possible.

New Game+ is ONLY available if you set the new campaign under the previously played difficulty. If you completed the game on Normal, to achieve NG+ you have to play again on Normal.
New Resident Evil titles have improved from this formula, though.

Like me, you're probably thinking of buying and unlocking every weapon across different campaigns, but such is also NOT possible. Whatever Leon finishes the campaign with, in his inventory, that's what you carry towards a NG+. Thus, even managing items across campaigns is somewhat useless.

Whatever you do, the first time you do a Professional campaign, it's a fresh one. So we might complete it as prolifically as possible. Such is the goal of this guide and walkthrough.

Normal difficulty has something called Adapt Difficulty, which basically works by increasing or decreasing the difficulty automatically depending on how you play. If you're going really well, you might start noticing some changes. Meanwhile, when missing shots, getting hit a lot or dying, will make the game reduce the difficulty a bit.
This will NOT happen in Professional. The difficulty layer is stuck and won't balance based on your performance.

(Random Number Generator)

Early in Resident Evil 4 development, it became clear Capcom was already playing around with RNG. We can see the same programming in Devil May Cry, and within Capcom's golden era titles.
It basically adds a superficial layer of unpredictable behaviour to enemies and/or patterns. This is a nightmare for those whom, like me, expect the game to behave with consistency.

However, you can turn the table and play it to your advantage. Especially when looting. Some random loot contained in boxes may end up being ammo, gold or something else. If you keep reloading the game, you might grab what you need.

The main issue, though, is enemy pattern. Just keep in mind, that their behaviour is not procedurally generated, but rather a combination of zero's and one's that change variant randomly. Doesn't matter how many times it changes, will always be between a few combinations possible.
If you can learn what that movement pattern is, you can use it to your advantage. You'll read more about it in the Walkthrough, as I prefer a certain enemy pattern and I don't mind reloading the game just to achieve it.


Invincibility Frames or to simply put it, I-Frames, are in-game animations that turn Leon invincible. Even if you don't know the technical term, you already realized every time Leon climbs a stair, jumps, or performs one of his brutal melee attacks, he is, in fact, invincible.

Resident Evil 4 did not create this, and simply applies it in animations where players do not have total control over the gameplay. This is highly fair for those playing and we have to take advantage of it.

Either avoiding a dynamite sticker by climbing a ladder, avoiding an arrow by doing an unexpected Suplex, or simply crowd controlling by performing a Kick.
Whatever you choose, it's towards your advantage. It's highly recommended to use I-frames at all time, assuming it's worth the risk.


Technically speaking, you can only truly save your game at the writing machine. But you probably already noticed every time you go through specific doors, you get yourself a Checkpoint.
Obviously, these Checkpoints don't carry over if you exit the game. But they will save the current progress. Every single Checkpoint through a door or passage is signified by a green text.

Here's the fun part: You can return to that same door, and use it as many times as you wish. Having trouble with some enemies? Dispatch a few and go back. Save the progress and enter the area again to continue with your progression. Don't like the result? Load from last checkpoint.
It's not a quick-save, but it's by far the second-best thing. Unfortunately, there are some areas where such is not possible, but those are rare instances.


Each enemy has a very unique way of dealing with, or, a weak spot. Many of them also depends on your preference. Instead of going full-on details about each one of them, I'll leave a few standing points regarding them that might help you on your journey. As always, refer to the video walkthrough for a full guide.

Gold Rule: Here's a well known feature, which sometimes we forget due to how cool it is to kill those Ganados. You can simply run across past them, or sometimes just straight up ignore them. If you're low on ammo, try to just shoot to crowd control, and look for the exit. It's fairly easy to do this when Ashley is NOT around.

Range Enemies: Enemies with scythes or crossbows are perhaps the toughest ones to avoid. I personally find the scythes a bit OP, but that might just be me. Since Leon can't move sideways directly, the trick is to quickly move a bit front or back while choosing a direction. This is really hard to do in the middle of a battle. That's why I prefer to always focus on those enemies first.
If you see someone throwing something, keep an eye on it, because chances are, if you get hit, it's by them!

Plagas: At Chapter 2 you'll start encountering Ganados with a form of parasitic arthropod attached to their bodies. There are three types of Plagas, and all of them are highly susceptible to UV Light, thus the Flash Grenades are optimal to instant kill them.
Ideally, if you're getting some headshots out there, try and get as many as possible, therefore you can dispatch all of them with a single flash. If not, those Plagas have a core spot where it counts as a critical. Using a Rifle will work well, or a Shotgun for a blast.
If you have maxed out Handgun x5 critical, expect some beautiful moments!

Novistador: Those ugly insects have the ability to turn invisible, but even when in such state, you can still spot them afar if you look closely at their mouthparts. You'll notice drippings coming from them. If you use the Rifle right in their little head, it's a one hit kill. Sometimes you can easily fail to hit their head, but still feel like you hit perfectly.

Dogs: Did you know dogs won't attack you if you keep moving around? Their attack pattern requires Leon to stop in any specific position, so they can initiate their attack, which is mechanically a grab-like, even though doesn't behave that way entirely.
It's a popular way to skip them. Just keep moving and all dogs will be around Leon without a clue of what to do!

Extra Tip: Check Leon's head movement, as well as Ashley's. They turn their heads in the direction of Ganados if you pass by them, or if they are present nearby. It's a cool indication of your whereabouts regarding enemies.

(Quick Time Event)

If you're playing on the PC, the QTE is really easy. Just press A + D and Left Mouse + Right Mouse.
The game will randomly choose one of those two combinations. The good part is, it doesn't penalize you for pressing the other option. This way, you absolutely cannot miss any QTE! It's bulletproof.

The Merchant is perhaps one of the most well recognized characters within the game. His help is crucial, but there are two golden rules which you absolutely need to understand:

First: In Professional, he does not re-spawn if you kill him. Sure, who doesn't like to fool around shooting at him? Just remember, he does NOT come back to life in the next area with the blue flames.

Second: When Tuning up your weapons, remember that Capacity upgrade refills the ammo in that specific weapon. If you choose to tune up the capacity, do it when you're low on ammo, and preferably with as low clip as possible.

Regarding Weapons and Upgrades:

There are three weapons you can get for free. The first is the Shotgun in the Village, the second is the Punisher, which can be purchased at zero cost if you hit all the Blue Medallions. Finally, the third is a Magnum, hidden in a treasure. (In the corresponding video walkthrough, you will see their locations.)

Handguns

In Professional, you really need to manage the best approach regarding weapons and which you want to keep or even upgrade.

Most people like to sell Leon's starting weapon, the Handgun, and admittedly the Punisher is better in everything. When maxed tuned, the Handgun has a x5 chance multiplier of delivering a critical headshot.
NOTE: If you're using the HD Project, Leon can in fact grab a Silencer. The item description states an extra x5 multiplier gain. It would be normal to assume, they both stack. But no. That description was a copy-paste from the Mercenaries mode and does not affect the Campaign.

On the other hand, the Punisher's final fire power will penetrate up to 5 bodies. This decision I leave up to you. Since the x5 Silencer is not available to everyone, it is only included in the walkthrough as an item to be sold. Instead, the Punisher will be the choice here. I, personally, prefer the Handgun + Silencer, but everyone is different.

Please, remember that you can also keep selling both the standard Handgun and later the Punisher, while getting yourself a Blacktail in Chapter 3.

TMP

Should you waste space and money on the TMP? It is a good question. I like the TMP especially when dealing with multiple Ganados in the Cabin with Luis. Later, I also find it useful against the dogs in the Castle Garden. The fact you can stock so much ammo in its clip is a plus. If you used it and enjoyed it in Normal difficulty, I'd say go for it.
If you're struggling for space and feel comfortable with Handgun ammo, you might just sell all the TMP ammo and keep the profit. Don't stress too much about, and should only really be a necessary option if Handgun ammo becomes scarce.

Shotgun

Thankfully, like I mentioned above, the Shotgun is indeed a free item in the Village, but only if you enter a very welcoming and cosy house. I personally don't see the point in upgrading the base Shotgun, since Riot Gun will be available in Chapter 3.

If you have the Ptas to spend, and feel like the Riot Gun is a good investment, go for it. Once you start tuning that one, you might as well go all the way.
The only real advantage towards the Striker is the incredibly fast reload speeds.

Rifle

You absolutely can skip the Rifle early on. You might benefit if you're not getting a TMP, that way you really compensate the inventory space.
Whatever you do, avoid tuning the base Rifle, and ignore the extra scope at all costs. I really have yet to find a reason to use it when the based scope works so well. Buy at your own risk, since it's mostly a waste of space.

As soon as the Semi-Auto Rifle shows up in Chapter 3, you know what to do. Sell the base one and update yourself. You'll need a fast and high-damage Rifle at this stage. Again, skip the extra scope for reasons mentioned above.

Magnums

Mentioned above, Leon can indeed grab a free Magnum, which is the Broken Butterfly. Alternatively, you can buy the Killer 7 in Chapter 5. Space wise, they have the same size, and since you can get the Broken Butterfly, you might tune that one for an incredible fire power (50.0 at maximum). Meanwhile, the Killer 7 has impressive reload speed (0.93 at maximum). Again, your call!

Special Weapons

As for Special Weapons, Mine Thrower is a complete waste of space and money, even though it looks pretty cool. But wouldn't you rather have a couple more grenades instead of a launcher? At this phase, space really will become an issue.

Rocket Launcher is expensive but can take down every single boss with one simple hit. You should NOT use it on the first Boss though.
In fact, there are a couple of rooms that are truly more challenging than a few Bosses. Definitely worth picking one of those babies up ONLY if you know when to use it, otherwise it's a waste of space.

Who doesn't like puzzles? Here's a quick and simple solution for every puzzle in the game:












Rotate it UP once and then LEFT.













Click in this order: 3 - 3 - 3 - 4 - 4 - 4 - 3













If you check closely, each rotating circle has a little symbol on the outside.
Red: Down
Green: Left
Blue: Right












Click on the following order: 4 - 3 - 2 - 1












4 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 6 - 3 - 2 - 1 - 4 - 7 - 8 - 9

(Credits to Berserker for the quick solution.)












Click Red 3 times. Green 2 times and Blue 1 time.

The first sequence of the game doesn't offer many challenges. But if you want an extra tip on how to get the early crows at 00:06, make sure you hit them by far. They seem to react to Leon's gun noise in proximity.

After saving the dog, around 13:30, don't forget to pick up that well hidden red herb. Health is always great, and those herbs are rare.

The real challenge of Chapter 1 - 1 starts in the Village at 18:00, where Leon needs to hold on a couple of waves till the Church Bell rings.
Now, if you're going out for treasures like me, you need to kill two Chainsaw Ganados, aka Dr. Salvador. The first drops a Ruby, and the second 10K Ptas. All of this while having a limited time.

Objectively, if you desire the easier and more profitable way to do this, you just want the Shotgun, Explosive Grenade and of course, as many Shells as you can grab. Hide in the house with the metal door, and wait there, hitting all the zombies as soon as the door opens.

However, if you want the treasure and deal with that early Chainsaw Ganado, go towards the left hidden path since no Ganado will spot you. You can and should enter the first house on the path to pick the Incendiary Grenade. It's almost obligatory to do so, if you want to damage the Chainsaw Ganado without being surrounded by a horde of angry Ganados.

As seen in the video, jump the window and ignore that lady on the left. If you waste time with her, you'll quickly be surrounded by enemies. At this point, she will follow Leon, but it's just her alone. Which is good.
Keep going left until you see them. The Chainsaw Ganado and two normal ones.

For this to go the way it did for me, you need a bit of luck with the RNG, but it's totally possible. The idea is for a Ganado to slowly walk towards Leon and throw his sickly. That's the perfect opportunity to perform a Kick to slow everyone down.
If he for some reason doesn't throw the sickly, you have to be extra faster in the whole process.

As seen at 18:48, Leon uses I-frames of the Kick to avoid any possible damage, as well as pushing them all afar. Now, you just throw a grenade. The goal is obviously the Chainsaw Ganado.
As seen in the video, I immediately turn back after throwing, because the previously skipped Ganado lady is usually there.
For some miracle RNG she wasn't, which gave me an extra time to put some damage on the Chainsaw Ganado.

After he goes down, try not to become surrounded by all the other Ganados, and enter the house as soon as possible. As seen around 20:09, quickly grab the Shotgun and the rest of the items and jump the window. Remember, you are under a time limit and the second Chainsaw Ganado needs to go down.
Run towards the house with the metal door, and crowd control those Ganados!

The Farm section starts at 31:41 and it's fairly easy since Ganados won't spawn from any questionable spot, with only a handful of them around. The coolest part about this area is how you can farm Chicken Eggs. If you wait around after clearing the area, chickens will start to lay eggs. Golden ones are an instant heal, and they sell really well.
A quick tip: Eggs spawn every 15 minutes every time you load the map. You can collect more eggs by leaving and re-entering the farm. You can also save and load your game.

This 1-2 segment starts really heavy, with another wave-based section. But first, we finally have access to the Merchant. If you destroyed all Blue Medallions, remember that you can sell your Handgun and grab the Punisher, which comes with an already applied upgrade, completely free.

The real action starts at 06:43, where I run pass every Ganado until reaching the exit gate. Once there, I check if the first of two Ganados with dynamite get off the platform. Once they do, time for Leon to get up there.
This is a great spot because just across Leon's location, on the rooftops, there is another Ganado with Dynamite. However, it cannot damage you, and instead, will clear everyone else in that area.

The Ganado on the rooftop with Dynamite can be useful yet again. If you check the upper platform, there's another Ganado there. If you use the explosion of the dynamite, you can get rid of them both.
If not, be extra careful, because that's our next location at 07:50. Doing so, spawns another wave with a few simple Ganados.

At 09:02 I climb down to trigger another wave by shooting a Ganado on the rooftop a bit far away, and quickly climbing up again.
This part is a bit tricky. This time Leon is not entirely safe. There is one specific Ganado that loves to throw his sickles around. For that reason, I switch between the knife and the handgun, to immediately hit him as soon as possible.

The final wave comes around 11:29. Again, triggers as soon as you climb. Using the dynamite works once again, and as long as you remain on the rooftops, it should go smooth.
The next section starts at 17:46 and is fairly simple. Just be very careful with the traps on the floor.

At 23:18 I go back all the way to the Merchant to gather space for the Bass fish. I vividly recommend you to do so, or if possible, to keep the fish as healing items. Either way, they are somewhat valuable to sell. While backtracking, no enemies spawn, so you're safe to visit the Merchant.

1-3 marks the end of the first Chapter. Another Dr. Salvador awaits with his chainsaw. It's always messy, as seen at 03:27 I once again, use a reliable Incendiary Grenade, which you can pick inside Chief Mendez house.
My favourite approach in this area is to take care of the other Ganados first, and leave the main dish for last. It's just easier that way.
Later in the same path, around 05:00 you'll encounter more Ganados. If you return inside the Chief Mendez house, you can save your game. That way, you can try to dispatch them without wasting any grenade or valuable Shotgun ammo.

When entering the Village at 07:14, you might want to use the Shotgun. Either that, you just run away, but where would the fun be in that? A lot of Ganados will join forces together, so the Shotgun here is a great option.

Cemetary section at 13:37, where I highly recommend you to destroy the rest of the Blue Medallions. There are some Ganados around, but nothing extraordinary.
Puzzle at 17:53. The solution is: 3-3-3-4-4-4-3

I visit the Merchant around 25.00, and if you're like me, all the Blue Medallions were destroyed. This means the Merchant has now a new handgun called Punisher. It contains a free installed update, and it's overall a superior weapon.
Remember though, only sell the original handgun if you do not want to benefit from its x5 headshot multiplier when Tuned to the maximum.

The next tough phase is at the Swamp, around 27:00. There aren't many tips I can give, just avoid exploding the traps. The Ganados will do it themselves, saving you ammo and time.
Just memorize a path you're feeling comfortable with.
One important tip: Once you enter the shack, there's one hidden Ganado inside, and a couple more will approach from outside.
Once you break the boxes inside the shack, it triggers another wave, this time a bigger one. So you might want to retreat if necessary.

Once you reach the lake at 38:27, you will notice some more Bass fish swimming around. If you try and shoot them, the beast Del Lago will show up and eat Leon. You can alternatively throw a grenade or, if you prefer, get on the boat and harpoon them one at a time. These fish will be very useful if you need health against the Boss.
You can alternatively sell them for profit, like I did.

Del Lago boss is pretty simple, as you can see at 40:58. Shoot them with the harpoons and avoid the water obstacles. The trick for the obstacles is to read the boss swimming pattern. If you avoid the first obstacle by turning right, the next one you want to turn left, and vice versa. This is the best method to avoid damage.
Once Del Lago turns around, prepare yourself to choose a direction in order to avoid him. Repeat the process and hit him as many times as possible.

Chapter 2 - 1 starts exactly after Leon gaining conscious in the abandoned cabin. If you check outside, there are plenty of Bass fish to catch. As seen at 02:30 I caught a large one. This time, you can shoot at the lake all you want. To save ammo, you can continue to harpoon them.
Since you might be a bit limited by the inventory space, feel free to visit the Merchant by approaching the blue flame in the cave.

Alternatively, you can meet a very special new enemy if you travel all the way back. A few Colmillos ambush Leon at 03:33, and you can totally skip this section. I decided to pay them a visit because I'm confident I can waste a couple of grenades here.
If you're feeling brave and want to take down those beasts, I recommend using the Shotgun to pack them all around and using a Flash Grenade to stun them while throwing an Incendiary next.

At 05:28 I reach the Merchant to collect loot and sell the Large Bass Fish. I went back and caught all the other Bass fish off-camera. I highly recommend doing so to increase those Ptas.

Around 12:18 starts the first real challenge of this area. After pulling the switch, a large wave of Ganados will show up as soon as Leon jumps onto the middle platform.

My strategy here is to quickly jump back and climb all the way towards the switch.
As always, we have an annoying Ganado that loves to throw sickles. If possible, hit them right away, if not, remember to keep an eye out for him, even when you reach the top of the platform.
For some reason, Ganados tend to get bugged when trying to climb the stairs. Just shoot them a couple of times and they will naturally reorganize.

El Gigante at 19:41, and there are two really fast ways to defeat him. Even though we have saved the cute dog early on, the Boss goes down so fast, the doggo didn't even show up to help us.

- The first way is to do as I show in the video. Throw a Hand Grenade and pump 3 (Not-upgraded) Shotgun shots. The Boss will trigger the Plaga to come out, where Leon can knife it. Repeat this one more to put an end to this El Gigante.
- The second method is to shoot the Plaga with the Shotgun instead of having Leon using the knife. This is a far quicker method if your Shotgun is upgraded. It also depends on the angle you can position yourself to hit the Plaga.

I like to see Leon using his knife, so I chose this traditional method, even though I could have saved an extra Hand Grenade.

When backtracking towards the Church, at 23:49, another wave of Colmillos awaits. You can easily pass by them since they only attack if Leon stops. As long as you keep moving, they can't do any harm. But if you want to take them down, shoot the first one from afar and the whole pack will be running down the road. Just stun them with a Flash Grenade and put them on fire.

Once already inside the Church at 26:43, the third puzzle starts. If you check, each rotating circle has a little symbol on the outside.
Red: Down
Green: Left
Blue: Right

Chapter 2 - 2 starts pretty straight forward at 00:36, as you can shoot the explosive cartwheel to get rid of all those Ganados.
Remember that you can actually enter the Church again for some extra loot, even though there are two Cultists inside, as seen at 01:33. I like to shoot them one at a time, since they have crossbows.

At 03:21 when visiting the Merchant, I decide to buy a TMP, which is going to be very useful for the upcoming areas. Leon and Ashley return to the Village at 05:03 and to the Farm at 12:07. In both cases, I recommend taking your time and dispatching one Ganado at a time. Watch out for traps on the floor, since those always hurt.

The real challenge of this chapter starts at 22:48, where Leon and Luis must defend their position inside a cabin. This is a real struggle. But far from impossible. First, you need to understand that this wave is not time based, but based on how many Ganados Leon can dispatch.

Admittedly, you can even complete this area without ever going to the second floor. I didn't kill that many in the first floor, so I eventually ended up going upstairs.
TMP and Shotgun really make a difference in this area, especially for crowd control.

Once on the second floor, I used the ability to Knock Down ladders to earn I-Frames in case any Ganado tried to grab me, while adding damage to the ones trying to climb up. Eventually, I started to throw Hand Grenades down the windows, since those explosions can really dispatch Ganados easily, which builds up the number we need to finish this sequence.

You can also throw Hand Grenades while being on the first floor, which would have worked even better, since you can accumulate an even bigger number of Ganados being down for the count.

Early in Chapter 2 - 3 you're presented with a choice, or perhaps two if you're brave enough. Left or Right path. I really like both, so we'll be visiting the Left side first at 02:11.

This left side is a bit tricky, but here's what I always do; Use the container to hide Ashley as soon as possible. Also, here's a quick tip: There is a Ganado throwing a sickly in an upper platform. He will start throwing the sickly if you pass through the container. See it as a limit in case you hate being a target.
Usually, taking one Ganado at a time near the entrance gate is a good plan. You can also dispatch that boring Ganado who throws stuff from afar.
Remember NOT to explore the cartwheel at this phase. We want to save it for later.

Once you dispatch all the Ganados on the ground, pick Ashley and leave the area, so you can do a manual save by re-entering the area.

Once you go down the center to meet the Chainsaw Sisters, choose the way I go at 07:10. It's an important path since you'll position yourself in a perfect spot to safely explode the cartwheel you avoided earlier.
The shotgun is perfect for the Chainsaw Sisters as seen in the video.
Note: Even if the cartwheel explosion did nothing to the Chainsaw Sisters, but you still manage to dispatch some Ganados, it's still a major win!

The next area is all about crowd control and rounding as many Ganados as possible together. As seen at 11:45, I leave Ashley behind, or if you prefer, in a nearby container and proceed to crowd control with the TMP. After a bunch of Ganados are together, Incendiary Grenade, it is.
As expected, it won't clean the infestation, but will help to slow down till even more Ganados join the party.
I used another Incendiary Grenade, but in case you don't have any, Shotgun will do the trick.

At 14:19 I head towards the Secret Room included only in the HD Project, which includes a fantastic Silencer for the Handgun. I sell it later on since it takes some extra space in my inventory. But it sure looks great.

Time to check on what's on the Right Side of the camp at 24:04. Spoiler: It's big and it's angry.
This second El Gigante is basically the same as before, but this time the path is really straightforward, plus I did not have many Grenades, and with Ashley around I wanted to play safe.

Right at the beginning, Ashley will be terrified with fear, shoot the balcony above to land a huge rock boulder on top of the beast. Ashley will join you. Now? Just escape him (I like to run across his right side), and shoot him until Leon gets the prompt to knife the Plaga.
Remember, you can also Shotgun the Plaga if you get a decent angle.

Don't mind if you get grabbed a couple of times, sometimes El Gigante detection is a bit weird.
Note: You can skip this fight by getting rid of the chains on the exit door.

At 45:30 Leon and Ashley move towards the Castle. There's a wave of Ganados after the truck. You can just run pass them, but if you want, you can also destroy them with a Hand of Incendiary Grenade.

Chapter 3 - 1 starts with a pretty smooth opportunity to use the Automatic Riffle. If you don't own it yet, I'd say this is a must here. If you think the base Rifle will do it here, I highly recommend you to upgrade. Its automatic reload is quite welcoming.

After leaving the Merchant, you'll encounter a new threat. The catapult range is limited but dangerous. They usually have a red barrel nearby in case you want to dispatch the enemies quickly. Sniping the Cultists is pretty fun though!

You may want to leave Ashley behind, but I advise you against it. As soon as you reach the top area of the Castle, two enemies will spawn near the entrance where you came from. That is why around 05:34, I went up and down again, told Ashley to wait, and prepared myself for those two Cultists so desperate so surprise Leon from the back.

This chapter is filled with challenges, and the first one starts at 10:54. Once inside the house, I tell Ashley to wait will baiting the Cultists upstairs. It's easier to dispatch them this way, without spawning more of them.
The second phase, although, at 12:03 is pure nightmare. They spawn up and down the stairs, so there isn't a safe place for Ashley. The whole thing is messy, but with a bit of luck and some Shotgun shells, you will most certainly do it.

After the cutscene with Luis, at 17:49, I like to track a few steps back and leave Ashley a bit safer. I use the first Cultist to attract the others, while using the door to my advantage. If you're not feeling confident, you can use the Shotgun as soon as they open the door. They'll be all lined up waiting for you. Even if it's just a couple of blasts, you'll do massive damage.
If you feel like fooling around with I-frames, Leon's Kick will work really well.

Don't you dare to think the area is cleared. There is a sneaky crossbow Cultist, which I don't really like to mess with. As seen at 19:43, I even avoid headshots.
Continuing down the path, two shield Cultists will show up. Feel free to use the barrel like I did at 19:59, just be careful because they sometimes like to counter Leon in a different direction, just to mess with your plans.

At 28:11 we meet the first Garrador. He is not really challenging if you're using an Upgraded Rifle. You can see I missed a few important shots, otherwise the fight would have ended much faster. Using a Shotgun is also a good option. Although I didn't have to, you can shoot the little bells to distract him. That is in fact the proper way to fight him. He also appears to have some issues moving around the pillar, so I always use that method.

The real challenge of this Chapter starts now, at 31:57. The door you see, it's a Checkpoint. Like always, go back in and out of the room for a Quick-Save. To make things much easier, start with the Riffle. Once you go in, you have to snipe the two crossbow Cultists. If you fail to do so, I advise you to restart.

I found the best strategy here, is to immediately dispatch the crossbow Cultists, and quickly move right to hit the next Cultist. The idea here is to make sure the 2 Shield Cultists are aligned and chasing Leon from the back. That's where the Shotgun comes in at 32:18. Those shield ones need to go, as soon as possible.
Since I can spare some shells, I keep their heads rolling, even though the next wave of Cultists will not show up until you dispatch the present ones.

32:57 marks the second wave, and if the Shotgun was important before, it's a complete must now! Once you limit their numbers to just a handful of them, circle around the water areas and they'll most likely split. Easier to dispatch them with a TMP, but if you still need the Shotgun, go for it. Just make sure to save ammo for the Shield Cultists.

Once the area seems a bit clearer, be warned, there are still some Cultists around. They are just down below. As seen at 35:06 when I approach the lower floor, more of them show up and they love nothing more than circle Leon in an ambush.

Once in the room with the Puzzle Tiles, at 37:29, you may feel tempted to leave Ashley here, but there are Cultists who fall from above just to take her away. You basically have to keep an eye on the door and the ceiling opening.
If you have a Shotgun like I do, you might want to use it. As seen in the video, a Grenade would have also worked well.

Once the area is cleared, feel free to operate the Crank. I prefer to let Ashley do it, since I can dispatch a few Cultists with an Incendiary Grenade, as seen at 43:44.

At 46:36 starts the Sniping mini-game as I like to call it. It's basically defending Ashley. It should be too hard if you have an Auto Riffle. The base one would place a certain layer of difficulty due to its reloading time. Just be careful with nearby Cultists who want Leon above anyone else.

At the end of the video, I purchase a Rocket Launcher. It's not going to be for any Boss or major enemy. In fact, it's just for an extra mini Cutscene in the next Chapter. The same result can be obtained with one or two Hand Grenades. So if you're struggling for Ptas, do not waste your currency. I prefer to do so, since I'm stacking on half a million Ptas, so why not?

Also, remember to Tune up all weapons, in particular the TMP and Rifle. Essential weapons for the next Chapter.

Chapter 3-2 starts with a lovely chat from our friend little Salazar. He doesn't have much to say, but his funny outfit always makes up for it. He apparently let some of his insects exercising in the sewers, which happens to be the Novistadors!
I enter the Sewers around 01:10. My first tip here is simple: Whatever you do, do NOT reload your Auto Riffle. I have a plan we can and will take advantage of. There are a few enemies where you'll definitely want to use the Rifle, just do not reload it.

Navistadors can be dispatched with one single hit, even if they are invisible. Aim for their little heads and it's one hit kill all the time. Later in this section, you'll see me using the TMP and the Shotgun. TMP is great because as long as you have aim, a 30 ammo clip is enough to stunlock them. If you're really in a tight spot, Shotgun it is.

Remember the Rocket Launcher I purchased in the previous Chapter segment? At 13:57 you'll see why I wanted to use it. If you're also going for the same, make sure you're quick enough because those Cultists can spot you.
The idea is to dispatch them all with style. The mini cutscene is hardly decent, but you can grab a total of 10 Spinels. Using a Hand Grenade maybe end in of the Cultists to run away, but it's the most cost-effective way of dealing with them.

At 17:31 I visit the Merchant and this is why I haven't reloaded the Auto Riffle. Assuming you spent a full clip or maybe just half, once you Upgrade its capacity, the Merchant will offer you a full clip. Sure, it's just a simple bonus, but believe me, there is an upcoming section where you really want to keep every and single Riffle bullet.

Until that one arrives, I moved to the next area around 17:50. Before you open the green door upstairs, it's very important to have the Riffle equipped. You need to snipe two crossbow Cultists, and they have perfect aim.
Don't worry with the red one just yet. The Cultists on each side are the important ones for now.

On the ground level, there aren't many Cultists at this point, just a couple. Up the stairs, there are two Masked ones, which you can easily dispatch (If you also haven't sniped them). Once you reach the platform where the crossbow Cultists were, you'll have a chance to see the Red Cultist fleeing.
He'll hang around a bit, and you can totally snipe him. The more health he loses at this phase, the better. As seen at 23:24 I use the TMP. It does enough damage and I also want to save Riffle ammo for later.

When moving across the corridor, the Red Cultist fled from, you'll come across a door, around 24:30. There is a Shield Cultist inside, ready to smack you. He is really fast and loves to surprise. I like to bait him and use the door to my advantage, as you've seen before.
Going downstairs and opening the door will trigger a cutscene. Quickly go back and climb up, you'll have a better position from up above. Took me two headshots to dispatch him, but in your case, might be less, assuming you reduced his health previously.

Once you grab the Key, head towards the Painting Puzzle at 27:24, with a simple solution: 4 - 3 -2 - 1. Really simple right?

Not so simple is the next section, at 28:57. The best course of action is to quickly get in the door at right. It's a metal door, so we can once again use the same trick. Plus, those Cultists love to throw their scythes.
Once they are done for, I move up at 30:59, and if you do too, remember to randomly check behind you. They sometimes love to sneak upstairs.

As you can see at 31:01, we're in a very dense area, filled with Crossbow Cultists. Since I'm doing this No-Damage, I try to use the geometry to my advantage. Each group of snipers has an explosive chandelier on top of them. Obviously that is the goal, but early on, I try to take a couple of headshots.
Once they are all off, a couple of Rocket Launcher Cultists will show up behind a painting. The better option is to just look for cover.

Unfortunately, those aren't the last ones. Once you activate the first button, they will spawn again, as seen at 34:04, where yet again, I flee, because who wants to face two Rocket Launchers at once?!
Thankfully, they lose after using them once, and become really easy targets. A trio of Scythes Cultists will also spawn, so don't let your arms down.

When proceeding onwards, you'll reach an outside area. As seen at 37:19, Leon will come across a little fountain with crows. If you want an extra bundle of treasure, avoid being too close to the fountain. If you throw a Flash Grenade where I stand, a few extra crows will fall from the roof.

Garden section at 40:33, with the most important golden rule being: You can always go back to save the progress at the door you came. Another tip, less cheesy is to make sure you're careful every time you pick an item.
For some reason, Colmillos love to attack after an item. If they are multiple, the Shotgun works really well. For singular ones, TMP works well, and there is always plenty of ammo for it.

Some specific areas trigger appearances, and in case you need to replay the area a couple of times, there is no shame in it. Learning is a process, and in every game, knowledge is power. Listen to their sounds and remember that Incendiary Grenades work wonderfully.

Chapter 3-3 starts after a fantastic cutscene with Ada Wong, revealing herself officially to Leon after all these years. I take this early opportunity to sell even more items I gathered from the Garden segment.

At 04:55 I stand between two options: either proceed to the intended area, or unlock a shortcut which is going to be very useful to grab a free Magnum. I decide to unlock it right away. Inside the room there are a couple of Novistadors, which shouldn't be much a problem in this phase.

At 07:08 we finally proceed to the next area, by ringing the little bell and shooting the wine bottle. This is not really a puzzle, but still a bit hidden.
The iron bar door becomes available to enter, and that this room really is a challenging area.
After the cutscene, you're probably better by just breaking the locker and exit as soon as possible. But that wouldn't be fun, so we'll be dispatching every Cultist, including a Garrador.

Room starts at 07:38 and my goal is simple: by using the TMP I can break the lock, and delay the advancements of two Cultists which are outside the cage. They would always either grab be or hit me with arrows, so I decided to finish them.
Once the Cultist with the crossbow goes down earlier, things turn much easier. All the others will follow, and you can clean them with a Shotgun. It's vital that the Garrador stains inside the cage, if not, It's really not going to work so well.

After all the initial mess, I throw a Hand Grenade to dispatch the remaining Cultists so I can focus all my attention on the Garrador with a Shotgun. Some extra Cultists will spawn, even after the big guy goes down.

Next area starts at 11:13, and I like to bait the Culstists below towards the ladder, since it's funny, but also works well. Once you go down, feel free to dispatch a few more Cultists, since they'll eventually become a burden, might as well.

Once you pull the lever, and climb back, be prepared. As soon as you go through the bridge, you'll be ambushed, as seen at 13:40.
I tried to quickly turn, and slow the Cultists by hitting their knees. The idea was to turn again and hit the chandelier. I didn't succeed very much, so I had to use an Incendiary Grenade to make up for being slow.

After traversing the bridge, and inside the new room, look closely. You'll see an opening through the wall, like a window. You can snipe a Cultist from the opening. I didn't want to waste ammo, so I went for a close confrontation, as seen at 15:09.

Feel free to pick every item available on the glass expositor. I highly recommend picking the Rocket Launcher, and if you don't have space, do like I did, go to the Merchant, he'll have a new Case Upgrade. Exactly when you need the most!

We finally have a chance to save Ashley in Chapter 3 - 4, but it won't be an easy task. Luis has gone, and we'll have an interesting gameplay segment up ahead.

After collecting all the loot, shoot Ashley, but be careful. If you're not confident with your aiming, you might actually hit her.
After the cutscene ends at 01:41, Leon must save Ashley from the Cultists down below. You can use the Riffle, but if you have a strong enough TMP, it's just as good. The first wave isn't actually that harsh, but the second starting at 02:27 after the cutscene is
I threw a Hand Grenade to dispatch a couple of Cultists, just so it becomes easier to manage them one at a time. A cultist will be firing his crossbow, but if you move all the way back on the little platform, he can't hit you. There's also one spawning on the opposite side.

After Ashley getting the key, she will face her biggest challenge. Starting at 03:34, you can actually kill those Cultists with the oil lamps, but they need to be at a complete stop. If they are running, Ashley can miss. The area is possible to complete without the oil lamps, but why would we let those evil Cultists get away anyway?

The second phase of Ashley's segment starts at 08:50, and there really isn't much danger, just dark and spooky corridors. There is, however, a famous tile puzzle. I tried to explain the order, but it's better by using a scheme:

/-----------------\
| 1 | 2 | 3 |
|-----|-----|-----|
| 4 | 5 | 6 |
|-----|-----|-----|
| 7 | 8 | 9 |
\-----------------/

4 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 6 - 3 - 2 - 1 - 4 - 7 - 8 - 9

(Credits to Berserker, for the Scheme and solution.)

After the puzzle, several knights will spawn. There is no other way but to run back. As you backtrack, more knights will be prepared to swing their axes. This time, Ashley will do a quick-time-event to avoid damage.

Chapter 4 - 1 is absolutely huge. But hopefully I'll be able to break all the important segments. We start with all the items Ashley gathered in her own little quest.

The first thing I do at 00:01:25 is to grab that free Magnum. Broken Butterfly is essential at this point, and it's free. The path is pretty simple, with some enemies in between, but nothing you haven't faced before.

Famous Lava section at 00:07:43. As seen in the video, you can dispatch the first two platforms, and as soon as the third one drops, use your Riffle. Don't even look back, just remain focused on taking down that platform. A considerable batch of enemies will spawn if you delay it.

If you're like me and can't miss those Bottle Caps, the next challenge room is at 00:16:45. It's the B trial.

Leon will face a few interesting challenges ahead. I like to start with the easiest, at 00:20:40
The puzzle is quite simple, and the room with the spikes can be avoided if you shoot the red spots before entering the room. I decided to go in first, because the game actually gives you enough time.

The second room at 25:57, and this is slightly fiercer. Make sure Ashley is left at the entry point, so she won't bother you. The first wave of Knights, the Shotgun will suffice. Aim to their heads, and once their helmets come off, watch out for the Plagas.
The second wave has stronger Knights, as you can tell by the shiny armour, no longer old and rusty. This time use the same method, but you need the Magnum. Take their helmets and use a Flash Grenade for the final blow.
Note: Whatever ammo you have spent with the Magnum, do not reload the weapon. We'll use the Capacity Upgrade trick later.

Now that we own both Grails, at 00:30:51 we're heading towards the objective. Some Cultist Guards are waiting, though.
This is a great time to use the Riffle. Also remember, if you align those Shield Cultists, you can headshot multiple of them through the little hole the shields possess. Actually works really well.

At 00:33:20 you'll most likely face the biggest challenge of this Chapter. After the cutscene, just turn around and exit through the door you just came in. Jump the window and enjoy the Novistadors trying to attack you.
Remember, while they are in the air, their HP is basically of 1. You can dispatch them even with the Handgun. Once they are on the floor, it's a different story.
They sometimes go through the window's geometry, but it should go very smooth overall.

00:44:08 Starts the Tower segment, and early on you can destroy the wood planks, the Cultists used to block the gears. This whole section is far easier than it looks. I went a bit extra careful since I was trying to avoid damage at all costs. The trick is really simple:
Once you pull the lever, approach the ladder, but don't go down. Instead, dispatch the Crossbow Cultists. Their arrows can still hit you though, and they sometimes climb, but as a whole, you're in a better position.

Keep going down until a cutscene triggers. After that, quickly go up and up again. This will give you a great spot to avoid any damage. Just take them out one by one as they climb the stairs to try and get you. The Dynamite Cultist can't even reach you this high.

Once out of the Tower, at 00:51:35, I once again use the Riffle to hit a multiple shot on the Shield Cultists. That, however, is not the real challenge. There is a Saving Typewriter there for a reason. Leon will be ambushed at 00:52:19.
You can technically throw a Flash Grenade and quickly enter the door, but where's the fun in that? I'm using a couple of Hand Grenades, an Incendiary Grenade to get them extra crispy, and the trusty Shotgun. It's enough firepower to take care of both sides of the ambush.

Once you go inside, seen at 00:54:12, make sure you have your Rifle ready. Don't move and hit the two Cultists for a headshot. After, peacefully walk towards the left. Don't run though. One Garrador will follow you. As long as you remain in that same area, no Cultists will spawn.
The Garrador you want to attract is the Armoured one. Use the Magnum on his back, and 2 bullets should be enough.

If you miss a couple of shots with the Magnum it's already too late, the other Garrador will be all over you. The idea is to get them one at a time. The weaker Garrador should go down with the Shotgun, and can easily be stun locked with it.

When both Garradors are down, feel free to exit through where you came from, for a Quick Save. There is still a wave of Cultists to face, but as you can see in the video, shouldn't be too hard.

Once in the Spike Dungeon, the Merchant will have quite a few goodies. If you managed to use the Magnum without reloading it, you'll grab a free ammo refill when Upgrading its Capacity. A great mechanic, as we approach what I consider to be the strongest enemy in the game.
If you've been following the Guide, you probably have a Rocket Launcher. If so, Verdugo won't be any danger. You can also buy one from the Merchant. I highly recommend you so.

Upgrading the Riot Shotgun to the Striker is also obligatory, especially since we'll be using it a lot in Chapter 4 - 2.

01:04:23 Marks the Verdugo appearance, as he bashes against the metal door. He'll show up occasionally, and Leon can dodge his moves. I found the best tactic to be in the Control room, where he can be frozen and exploded with the Rocket Launcher.
After pulling the lever, check the door you came from, and a new cutscene with Verdugo will trigger. Quickly run pass through him and check the best time to knock off the nitrogen tank. Once he freezes, blow him up to pieces.

There are a few other nitrogen tanks scattered around the area, and the idea is to knock them over, freeze Verdugo and hit him. He has a lot of HP, so the Magnum would be the best option. But what's more valuable? Magnum ammo or a Rocket? That is for you to decide.

We start right with another Merchant challenge. This time is the C, at 01:40
Another 6 figurines to collect.

After dispatching the two Ganados, I recommend equipping the Riffle and aiming at that specific Ganado at 06:52. The reason is fairly simple: he likes to throw his axes. All the other Ganados will mostly climb the stairs, but that one loves to show off while remaining inaccessible.

Other enemies will wander around, including some Dynamite Ganados, so watch out.
Once you try to pull the lever a first time, you want to dispatch the axe throwing Ganado behind the huge rock. You can deal with him much earlier, of course, however it's in this phase that he'll start attacking Leon.

After turning the power, you'll face a Chainsaw Ganado after the cutscene at 11:37. He alone wouldn't be that problematic, except a small mob of Ganados getting down the ladder. If you have any Grenade or Shotgun ammo I'm sure you'll be fine.

Fight with both El Gigantes at 14:19. Here's a fun fact: If you dispatch them normally, they both drop a considerable treasure. I still prefer to use the floor trap, and works really well with the Heavy Chained one. You should get him done right in the early phase, if not, feel free to restart.

For the second El Gigante, I didn't want to spend much ammo, so I used my Handgun and TMP, even though I wasted a lot of time. When the Plaga comes out, just shoot it with the Magnum. It should be the free refill from the Merchant, so it's free ammo on my book!

Missing some Novistadors? Worry not, at 19:01 we dive right into their layer. A dark, humid and buzzy cave with nothing but those giant insects everywhere. Remember, when they are flying, their HP is basically 1.
Otherwise, Shotgun your way through them. In case you need, go back for a Quick Save at the El Gigant door.
Avoid being overwhelmed by those nasty things, instead take your path with ease.

Chapter 4 - 3 is another simple but fun segment. Starting off, you can use a Hand Grenade to dispatch a bunch of Ganados around the bonfire, as seen at 02:23. In this whole sequence, I used the TMP without reloading. My idea is simple: We'll have a mine cart section up ahead, where the TMP is excellent. But we need to upgrade its capacity. When doing so, we'll grab a free ammo refill.

Underground ruins at 07:00, with my recommendation of baiting a Ganado at a time. The first on the left will notice Leon and run towards him.
The second Ganado at 07:58 comes from the room below. He is very sneaky, and you might want to wait till he comes over to Leon as well.

At 08:26 I bait two more Ganados. Since they are split, it's much easier to dispatch them, especially when you have traps all over the ruins. You might want to divide and conquer.
There are still two more enemies, but those two Ganados have a very limited range. Leon needs to be really close for them to notice you, as seen at 11:10.

Around 11:49, I'm sure you have noticed the Chainsaw Ganado in the window. He really wants Leon, but can't jump the window, thankfully. Now, you can try and Riffle him all day, but it personally didn't work for me. Either the game bugged or the damage wasn't considerable enough. What works really well, is using the Riffle to give you time to climb the ladder.

Once you climb over the window, switch to the Shotgun. As seen at 12:01, the Chainsaw Ganado was still on the floor, but a small mob of Ganados will try to climb the ladder as well. They spawn just as you enter that house.
My tactic here is to switch between using the Shotgun in the Chainsaw Ganado and Knocking the ladder down. I even used two Incendiary Grenades, and maybe I should have just used a Hand Grenade, or perhaps none.

On the ground floor, there is yet another Chainsaw Ganado. As seen at 12:47, he often joins forces with his friend. The tactic remains, just blast them and Knock down the ladder.

Picking the key at 15:46 will spawn three extra Ganados who once again will try to climb the ladder.

Another spike ceiling room at 18:18, but this time the enemies are the Plagas. If you have a Flash Grenade, one should do the trick as you fire at the red spots.

20:34 Starts the mine cart section, and if you noticed, I was saving TMP ammo for this moment. As the cart rails down the tracks, you'll have Ganados ready to jump on you. The idea is to hit them before they jump. The TMP has a great fire rate, even if your aim is underdeveloped. Don't forget to be on the front cart, it's important for an upcoming section ahead.

At 21:38, a Ganado will stop the cart. You can admittedly stand your ground, fight off all the enemies, particularly, two Chainsaw Ganados. Each drop a nice reward. Or, you can just shoot them all from the first row, and quickly start the cart. I also completely ignored the Shotgun and Handgun Ammo. Might be useful if you stay behind to fight them.

Before going back to the surface, make sure you pick the well hidden Ptas at 23:52. They sure make up for all the enemies you might have left behind, like I did.

Chapter 4-4 starts with a pretty fun section where Leon will have to jump around the floors while using a giant Salazar statue. Starting at 00:50, my plan is, as always, dispatching Crossbow Cultists using the Sniper. As for all the others, controlling their location is the key in this area.
Eventually, as seen at 09:25 the statue will chase Leon. At the end of the hall, there is a door with a lock. You can break this locker at any point, even as soon as Leon enters this big main hall.

At 11:55 we start the tower ascension, with a couple of tricky areas. The first is quite funny, as barrels fall down the stairs. A simple trap that will most likely only hit the Cultist who rushes towards you. Leon can in fact Snipe the culprits, as seen at 12:42

As soon as you reach the lever for the barrel trap, Snipe the Dynamite Cultist. Even if your visibility is poor, like mine seen at 13:54. Now, just operate the trap and enjoy some barrels bashing into those evil Cultists.

At 17:46 the second tricky part arrives, as Leon goes up the lift. Cultists will jump down and try to hit you, however, if you have a good amount of Shotgun ammo, it should go without many problems. Believe it or not, the hardest moment is right at the first few seconds as there are two Crossbow Cultists aiming at you from different balconies.

After collecting all the treasures and loot, at 23:09 I visit our ear old Merchant to sell all the loot and also get rid of the Blacktail. It's a great handgun, but I really want to try out the Red9. If you want to keep your current handgun, I suggest upgrading it to the maximum, damage wise at least.

Boss starts at 24:42. If you want to use a Rocket Launcher, use it when lil Salazar shows up. If not, as long as you keep shooting at the big eye, the lil Salazar will show up pretty regularly. I used a mix between Sniper and Magnum.
I didn't want to reload the Magnum, so I could grab a free refill with the upgrade, so I finished him off with my brand new Red9. Worked pretty well.
The Boss can and will bite Leon or attack him with his arm thingies, but if you're fast enough, he won't have time to elaborate any attack.

After what I consider to be a romantic boat trip under the moonlight, Leon couldn't help himself from... well, checking out Ada's legs. But once we set foot on the Island, the action starts immediately at 00:02:35. If you break the big light, you'll avoid a bunch of Soldier Ganados.
I believe they'll eventually show up after we caught the attention of J.J., that heavy machine gun Ganado seen at 00:03:07.
I like to use a combination of Shotgun and Rifle. The last will stun-lock him, but since we have Soldier Ganados around, we can't really push it that far. J.J. is trigger-happy, but the cover in this whole area works really well.

Next area at 00:11:06, with a pretty linear path. A few ambushes, some small group of Soldier Ganados and my biggest advice is to use the I-frames as much as possible. It saved me a couple of times from explosions or grabs. Take your time and if possible, don't rush, let them do the rushing.

After all that adrenaline, you'll encounter the Merchant, with a good opportunity to Upgrade the Striker and Rifle damage. At 00:21:49 there is a small corridor with a few Ganados rushing towards you. A rifle will do wonders in this area, especially against the Crossbow Ganados.

After a Kitchen area that wouldn't pass in any inspection, the next intense area starts at 00:26:17, with a Heavy Solder Ganado. Avoid going downstairs since you'll be ambushed. Instead, headshot him and use Kick, or Shotgun it is. Before going downstairs, use the door you came for a Quick-Save. Waiting down, there is another Heavy and a handful of Soldier Ganados.

At 32:57 we have the final Shooting Range for the last row of Bottle Caps. It's the D challenge. This one is a bit harder, where Leon position is really important.

At 00:42:34 we face a simple and fun little Puzzle. It's basically click Red 3 times. Green 2 times and Blue 1 time.

We'll be facing our very first Regenerator at 00:44:13. If you think you'll need to waste a lot of ammo, let me tell you, it's not true. As seen in the video, once they are down, proceed to knife him. I recommend you to Shotgun down his legs, so he won't be able to jump attack you so early on.
Starting at 00:45:39, the second and third Regenerator go down with the same tactic. Since I have so many handgun ammo, I try to reduce his health a bit first.

Not all Regenerators look the same, there is a second variant called Iron Maiden. We can't Knife it, but we can spot its weakness. They are also damage based, so you can take them down as you wish. I don't mind using the Infrared Scope, as seen at 00:51:17. But it does take three inventory space.

The path to unlock Ashley's prison door is simple, just a few Soldier Ganados and an Iron Maiden in the lab. Before heading back to her, you can in fact visit the Merchant as seen at 01:04:02. You could do this with or without Ashley, but since my inventory is full, might as well do it now. Don't forget to flash the Crows for some extra Ptas.

Chapter 5-2 is short but filled with intense segments. Starts really well, with Leon having a party of Ganados waiting for him at 00:41. Tell Ashley to wait behind, and you can easily deal with them with your Shotgun.

The next sequence at 01:54 is more challenging. As soon as you enter, tell Ashley to wait and throw a Flash Grenade. No matter what else I did, I always ended up being hit, or Ashley takes damage. Flash them and Shotgun them!
After pressing the button, more three enemies will show up, but the game delivers enough time to act.

After going down the Waste Disposal at 03:53 you can, if you're fast enough, run past the Regenerators, with the help of those levers. I prefer to dispatch them, and I'm confident I can spend the Riffle ammo.

A real challenging area starts at 07:53, the famous Lava Pit room. The easiest way here is to leave Ashley on top of the ventilation during the first wave. Also, when Leon jumps down, walk slowly, otherwise after the cutscene he'll be surrounded with Ganados.

Once the first group of Ganados are down, call Ashley and run towards the Control Panel room. Make sure Ashley is the one operating it. Now, all you have to do is secure both entries with your Striker. Once the exit is open, you can rush towards it, but I stayed to clear out all those evil Ganados.

11:39 Marks the next area, with a pretty simple path containing two Regenerators. At the end of the corridor, you'll find the Merchant. This is the right time to Upgrade the TMP, Striker and Riffle. If you've been collecting all the treasures, you should have enough Ptas to upgrade them. They are all essential weapons for the upcoming Chapter.

Bulldozer section at 19:28. Pretty simple area, especially if you have a TMP with 250 clip capacity. All the Soldier Ganados chasing you can easily be stopped.

Once Ashley stops at 21:47 for Leon to open the gate, climb the ladder, but jump back down immediately. It will trigger some Ganados, and the best stop to protect Ashley is by being in the Bulldozer. If you have a Striker with maximum capacity, this will be easy.

The final Bulldozer sequence is relatively easy, again, if you have a high capacity TMP and Striker. It's smooth sailing through chaos and destruction!

Chapter 5-3 is hardest, honestly feels like someone else did this entire segment. But first things first, and get your fingers ready because this is all about Quick Time events. After the cutscene at 01:31, Leon can Snipe a couple of important enemies from the spot with the Shotgun ammo. Even if the aim is not perfect, those Crossbow Cultists out this early is a bliss.

Inside the office, there will be a Shield Ganado, but don't let your guard down. As seen at 03:31 there will be one slowly climbing the stairs to ambush you

At 04:56 we'll have our first encounter with Jack Krauser. It's basically a Quick-Time event and if you press both possible combinations you'll always hit the mark. Thankfully, the games won't penalize you for it.

You can also apply the same tactic at the laser room, at 08:44.

After organizing my inventory and selling some loot, Leon with be facing one of the toughest areas in the game. U-3 at 14:30. An absolute beast which, thanks to RNG, is almost impossible to predict. They really should have placed a checkpoint after each gate. Nonetheless, if you don't mind learning the pattern, this metallic maze is somewhat simple.

Shot the buttons and press the emergency switches. You have to check both panels in each room, unfortunately. They really want you to go around with that thing after you.
What weapons should you use? First, you can't kill him at this stage. You can stun him, and he'll jump around, leaving you alone for a few seconds. The Striker works well, but again, RNG changes how many hits he takes before being stunned. If only have time for one shot, you're doomed unless the game gives you a Quick-Time dodge event.

The same principle is applied for Incendiary Grenades. Sometimes one work, sometimes has to be two. In the middle of Phase 2, I like to throw one, and it seems to work 99% of the time, as seen at 15:43. At least at this time, it's consistent.

Third phase at 16:25. Here, U-3 will be at his final form. I find it easier to pass through him in this form, at least for me. As seen in the video, the Incendiary Grenade barely leaves him stunned.

Because I'm doing No-Damage, found ways to shoot the buttons, even if not entirely legitimate. I used geometry and detection to my advantage. Considering the lack of proper Checkpoints, this path worked really well.

18:04 Starts the proper fight. Now we can dispatch this beast. If you have a Rocker Launcher, he obviously goes down in one hit. But we're going to endure it just a little extra. Leaving him stuck behind the bars and using the explosives is a good tactic. When that ends, I go for Riffle and finish with the Magnum.

At the end of the Boss, I went back to the Merchant. You will in fact visit him just before the encounter with Krauser. I had to backtrack to sell some loot.
A camp of Soldier Ganados stands before the next Merchant, but nothing that can truly stop you at this point. You truly want to maximize the Magnum damage, especially against Krauser.

Krauser segment at 31:37. Each phase, you need to hit him, in order for him to change spot and move forward. I decided to use the Magnum, but the Riffle when maxed out also works well. If he is close to you, the Knife is a good choice as well. Once he throws the Flash Grenade, you no longer need to shoot him, though. Don't waste ammo like I did! Sections aren't that hard if you know where he'll be. Plus, this time around, you do have checkpoints.

The final battle with Krauser at 40:22. The Knife does an incredible amount of damage, and as long as you're good with the Quick-Time event dodge, you might easily pull this off as well. This is insanely challenge in my opinion, I doubt I could have done it without the magnum. Thankfully, the combination worked, and the battle didn't last long.

Chapter 5-4 starts with a great cutscene introducing Mike, the friendly helicopter pilot. He doesn't help much, but thankfully, Leon should have the arsenal he needs to take care of all those Soldier Ganados.

Starting at 03:09, you should equip the Riffle and get ready to snipe the Ganado in the Machine Gun and a Crossbow one. At least those won't bother you any more.
But unfortunately they are not the only ones. To the left, there is a balcony with all sort of Ganados spawning. From Crossbows to Dynamite ones, and the sooner you dispatch them, the better.

Equip a Flash Grenade and give them hell, as seen at 03:44. Until those enemies are gone, new ones will always spawn from the lower area, near the bridge, at least they did so on my trial runs. I tried many different methods, but this seems to be the most efficient one. Just stun them and get in the balcony to greet them with the Striker.

After taking care of more Ganados in the lower area, a cutscene with another Machine gun will trigger. The path towards it features some ambushes, as seen at 10:09. Once again, our Striker helps a lot. Watch out for enemies from the tunnel sneaking up on you.

At 18:33 I open the gates to one of the most challenging areas of the Chapter. There are 2 machine guns and a few Soldier Ganados with Crossbows. My advice is to go straight into the tunnel with the ladder, and slowly make your way towards the balcony.
Ass seen at 19:44 you can use the Riffle to Snipe one Machine gun Ganado, but the others won't be that easy. What turned out to work well, was the Hand Grenades as seen at 21:10.

You can move forward and Mike will deliver some support fire, but I didn't want to risk it.

34:54 Marks the next point of interest. There will be a J.J, some Crossbow Ganados and the usual Ganados, but nothing you haven't defeated before. The enemies roaming around are pretty simple, but the biggest wave will come after trying to open the door. Use the red barrels to your advantage and rely on the Striker.

Here we are, the very final Chapter of Resident Evil 4. If you missed Saddler's laboratory in the previous chapter, you can still visit and gather some items if you wish to do so.
In fact, up until the final Boss, Leon will be picking up quite the amount of ammunition and healing goodies.

Final Boss at 05:43. The goal is simple: You want him to go down, in order to reveal his weak spot.
To accomplish it, you can hit the eyeballs in his spider-like legs, or use some intense explosions like a Hand Grenade or exploding those Red Barrels. There are also two available cranes that will hit the Boss and put him down as well. But you're limited in using that strategy only twice.

The idea is to use a little bit of everything, including the surroundings, to make sure he shows you his weak spot. A huge eyeball that Leon can interact with, and use the Knife. Now, if you have Magnum ammo, that will provide top damage as well.

Once the Boss goes down, be careful when running through him. The Plaga in his body keeps shaking around, consisting of tentacles with massive spears that will hit Leon. That did manage to hurt me a few times during my trial runs.

If you check at 06:29, after hitting his big eye, I quickly get away from that spot. I must warn you, that spot is terrible. You most likely noticed some huge iron pillar around the area. He will throw them at Leon so fast, I found it impossible to dodge it. I just can't find the timing for the Quick Time event.

If you stay considerably far away from him, you have plenty of time to dodge whatever he throws at you. But those close encounters? 100% impossible to dodge in my opinion. I just don't have such fast enough reflexes. Thus, I always keep away from those iron pillars.

In case you do not own as many Hand Grenades as I did, you'll most certainly need to use the environmental crane, the red barrels and aim for his leg's eyeballs. The Boss is not extensively hard, and I mostly had a hard time dodging every time he threw something. Once in a while, he will jump towards you, in case you're too far away.

As a final note, when Ada drops the special Rocket Launcher, if it's near the Boss, and he happens to be down, make sure you're actually picking the Item and not prompted to hit the Boss. That happened to me twice, ruining my No-Damage run.

Once you have completed the game, you're rewarded with a new campaign. It's Ada's Separate Ways, a five chapter mission occurring at the same timeline as the main game. It adds a new story, some minor areas and a great insight of the events behind Leon's success.

Believe it or not, the first area, starting at 02:31, was perhaps the most challenging area of the whole game. Doing no-damage with waves that keep spawning is terrible, especially when I want to grab every item and interact with everything. Eventually I found a good route. It's still frustrating since there are a lot of interesting items to collect.

Depending on the location around the Village, you'll spot Leon running away from Ganados. When you spot them, they will stop chasing Leon and will focus their attention on you. Based on my account, these encounters are scripted. Some points will definitely trigger their appearance.

The Chainsaw Ganado will spawn when you start entering the houses, or even climbing the tower. When he does spawn, I prefer to be around the house with the metal door. I used the same tactic in the main game, as seen at 12:45. Not my proudest moment, but it's the best way to avoid any damage.
At this point, the amount of Ganados around is just too much. Their spawn rate also increases.

The path towards the Church is pretty simple. One of the Chainsaw Sisters barely presents any danger at this point, especially since we own a Shotgun. Remember to lure her all the way back if you want the Ptas she drops, as seen at 27:32. She easily falls over the platform. The same can be said for the other Ganados.

Church puzzle at 36:56 is different this time around. The solution is very simple:
Red - Left
Green - Right
Blue - Down

Chapter two may look long, but it's rather fun. The first real challenge starts at 00:06:00 with a Chainsaw Ganado. Again, should be simple as the Chainsaw Sister in Chapter 1, we do have the Shotgun after all.

The pathway to reach Luis is simple. The Village is now almost empty, and the same can be said about the Farm area. There's a handful of Ganados in each, but they shouldn't be a problem at all. Take this opportunity to collect items.

At 00:25:18, we reach at the objective, again, same as in Leon's campaign, there are Dynamite Ganados around. As a general rule, in Ada's Separate Ways, I found them to be a bit more aggressive. Shooting at their dynamite sticks is always a golden rule to dispatch them.

After backtracking since Luis wasn't there, the major event is the other Chainsaw Sister at 00:47:17. This fight is exactly like the other, with the help of a red barrel included in the area. The Ganado present has a super high rate of turning into a Plaga once he goes down.

Fight with El Gigante at 00:57:20. This fight is much easier, Ada's weapons are already a few levels ahead in terms of upgrades. You shouldn't have much trouble, as her Handgun can easily stun the beast, exposing his weak spot, the Plaga.

Chapter 3 is quite short, but may prove to be challenging early on. We're in the Castle, right in the middle of the Garden, a memorable area. With Leon, you faced those Colmillos. With Ada, you'll be dispatching Red Robe Cultists in order to progress. Most of them are located with a treasure chest, so you're actually being rewarded for your troubles. There are also Plagas coming out of every single Red Robe Cultist, so be careful.

Once out of the Garden, there are two possible paths. The first is through the Room with the typewriter, the second is through the outside. They both lead the same way, and I explore both, but I start by going through the outside, as seen at 14:57. You can grab a nice treasure right away and dispatch some Crossbow Cultists.

At 25:08 we face the most challenging area of the whole Chapter. The cage room. With Ada, my tactic changed a bit. First, I run towards the door and slash its lock. Notice that sometimes, the Garrador did manage to get me, but usually he isn't fast enough.
When I get out, I immediately throw a Flash Grenade to stun everyone. Meanwhile, getting the Shotgun on and getting rid of all those Cultists around.

The Garrador stays locked inside the cage, or, it should stay. During my trial runs, he only got out once, because I accidentally destroyed both locks. It's very rare for him to get out. With fewer Cultists around and with the big guy trapped, it's time to test out that special Bow with explosives.
Don't worry about wasting all the arrows, next time we'll need, there will be plenty.

At 29:18 we have the same ambush as with Leon with the bridge. I wouldn't get out of there alive if it weren't for the I-frames. Unfortunately, we can't help Leon, but we can grab all the loot around.

Chapter 4 is my favourite! The whole level is crazy, and the soundtrack is marvellous. It gives me such an early 2000s vibe, I can't even describe how happy I was playing it.
The tunnel section should be fairly easy. Soldier Ganados are much stronger, but they still play by the same rules. The problem early on is to manage the inventory. There's just no space for the weapons, and I avoid buying the Riffle at this point.

The Ship section starts at 12:45, and right after the cutscene, you want to run towards the back of the container. Once there, just Shotgun any Ganado that tries to approach you. It's a simple method that works the best to avoid damage from the Ship's Turret.

Once the Turrets are down, you're free to explore and pick up some treasure and precious loot. This is a cool area that doesn't offer much, but it's new and refreshing to see. The Riffle would be useful here, but you don't really need it. The Shotgun is essential, though.

Once you step foot on the Ship, you better explore it before climbing it to the top, because as seen at 22:32, you'll be in a hurry. After you dispatch more Turrets, a timer will appear. You don't really have that much time to waste with Ganados. My advice is to just run and shoot them if needed. The goal is to go back on the ship and climb all the way up again.

Once out, I do end up selling my Blacktail, so I can find some extra space for the Riffle, which I advise everyone to get it at this point on. An essential weapon.

Industrial area at 27:47, with a classic Resident Evil Soundtrack. It's a fun area, and completely new as well, at least for the first part. Nothing you'd have issues with, considering everything you faced so far. Make sure you dispatch Crossbow Ganados with your new Riffle, and you'll have an easy time.

At 38:48 marks the second part of this Industrial area, and it's the exact same as you did with Leon.

Chapter 5 ends Ada's Separate Ways, a short but much appreciated campaign. This, however, is not the last we'll see from Ada.
Starting off, we have a bunch of Soldier Ganados including a J.J, allowing Ada to test her Crossbow, as seen at 02:18. You'll see the Crossbow used in every J.J, as it's a pretty cool weapon to use and delivers a great radius explosion.

At 08:16 Ada will be trapped inside a metal room. There are quite a few groups of Ganados dropping in packs of 2, 3 and sometimes even 4. If you have the Shotgun, this will be a breeze. If not, try to make use of Grenades or I-frames for an advantage by Kicking.
Be careful of your location, as some Ganados will drop and grab Ada, even if she looks somewhat safe. I found the spot I used to be the most reliable, though.

13:32 Is the next segment where Ada will once again be put to the test. It's important you run straight into the tunnel to avoid any cross fire from the Crossbow Ganados. There are a lot of them around. In the video, you'll see a better way to dispatch them while still having a cover.

I highly recommend you to take out the Ganado at 15:15. It's a harmless enemy from afar, but once you climb up, a J.J will start shooting and you'll need a cover. That Ganado is on that cover, waiting for you. Better to deal with him now.

Two J.J's will appear, and again, I use Ada's Crossbow and works really well.

The next major event is Jack Krauser. This fight could have gone much easier, but I wanted to pick up every available item. The rules are simple: If Krauser attacks while exposing his body, you can attack faster and use the Knife for some intense damage.
In some attacks, Ada won't be fast enough, so you're better using the Dodge Prompt. Every time Ada hooks to a new floor, that's one guarantee hit on Krauser, and if you don't care about the items, just keep the Knife going. He won't have time to react.

35:18 marks the final Boss, Saddler. There are two easy ways to defeat him. The first is by using the Riffle, and consists in keeping yourself distant from him. Hit his head right before he begins his attack, and it will stutter him, revealing his weak spot, a large eyeball you can shoot or interact with.
The second strategy, is much easier, as you only need the Knife. Again, I wanted to pick every item, otherwise, just get closer to him and avoid being attacked by Prompting and use the Knife when you can. Don't be greedy and wait your turn.

Also, a very important tip. While in the open space, sometimes the prompt will not appear. It's a very annoying system, that's why I prefer to lure the Boss in the small corridor, as you see at 35:45.
He won't leave the area and the Prompt Dodge will always show, since you don't have anywhere else to run.

On Assignment: Ada, your mission is to collect 5 Plaga Samples. This mode won't have a Typewriter Machine, and doesn't allow you to access the Merchant, thus, blocking any upgrade to the Inventory Case.

Regardless, it's a pretty solid segment, even though it made me feel more as I was playing a Mercenaries mode with some Checkpoints and no time limit.

There isn't anything here you haven't seen or faced in the main campaign or is Separate Ways. Same type of enemies, same type of encounter with Jack Krauser, and almost the same locations you've seen before. Therefore, any tip or advice I would give, based on my experience, would be by repeating myself.

I still hope you can enjoy the video and use it if in need of help in any specific segment. As with the rest of the game, No-Damage was my main objective.
As for my biggest challenge, dealing with limited inventory space was a real struggle. But I just love to collect stuff, even if I had to discard health items. I really do miss the Merchant...