The Mercenaries

The Mercenaries is an extra game mode in Resident Evil 4 (2023), made available through free DLC released 7 April 2023. It is a reimagination of the original Resident Evil 4 minigame of the same name. Additional content for The Mercenaries is scheduled to be released on 21 September 2023 alongside the Separate Ways minigame.

Much like the original version, The Mercenaries pits players in a gauntlet where they must kill enemies within a set time limit to earn a maximum amount of points. The Mercenaries is unlocked automatically upon download and does not require completion of the main game.

Gameplay[]

Players can choose from three stages themed around different parts of Resident Evil 4's campaign, "Village", "Castle", "Island", and "Docks". Each stage features specific enemies that appear within those parts of the story and have unique features that the player can exploit, such as the cannons of "Castle" or the gun turrets on "Island".

In addition to dropped items like ammunition and health supplies from killed enemies, each stage features special pick ups that acts bonuses for each round. "Time Orbs" will award additional time to use in combat upon being collected, while "Mayhem Mode Orbs" are collected to boost the Mayhem Mode gauge.

Each successful kill in a stage awards points and bonus time, both of which can be boosted by multipliers earned through killing enemies in succession in a combo and from collecting "Time Orbs". The combo system will activate when the player kills an enemy and the HUD will show how much time is left to kill another before it resets.

Characters[]

Players can select from a roster of different characters to play as for each stage, with successive characters being unlocked when a high enough rank is earned on a stage. Like the original version, each character in The Mercenaries is differentiated by specific weapon loadouts and unique character stats affecting speed, firearm damage and melee damage.

In addition, each character has a specific Mayhem Mode ability that grants players a boost to their offensive capabilities. The Mayhem Mode gauge slowly fills over time, but offensive actions and kills will increase this rate. The gauge can also be "stocked" with multiple completions in order to make Mayhem Mode last longer.

Leon S. Kennedy[]

Leon is an all-round, balanced fighter. During Mayhem Mode, his abilities including attack power and speed are greatly increased.

Load-out	Unlocked by	Mayhem Mode
SG-09 R Laser Sight Riot Gun Stingray Combat Knife First Aid Spray x1 Handgun Ammo x30 Shotgun Shells x10 Rifle Ammo x5	Default	2 stocks Great increase to attack power and speed.

Leon S. Kennedy (Pinstripe)[]

Leon is an all-round, balanced fighter. During Mayhem Mode, his abilities including attack power and speed are greatly increased.

Load-out	Unlocked by	Mayhem Mode
W-870 Chicago Sweeper Broken Butterfly Combat Knife First Aid Spray x1 Shotgun Shells 5x Submachine Gun Ammo 60x	Get a S rank or above on all stages with Leon.	2 stocks Great increase to attack power and speed.

Luis Serra[]

Luis has good firepower but weak close-quarter abilities. During Mayhem Mode, he can set dynamite, which explodes after a certain amount of time or when shot.

Load-out	Unlocked by	Mayhem Mode
Red9 SR M1903 Biosensor Scope Boot Knife x1 Flash Grenade x1 First Aid Spray x2 Handgun Ammo x30 Rifle Ammo x5	Get an A rank or higher on any stage with Leon.	1 stock Lay down charges of dynamite, increased movement speed.

Jack Krauser[]

Krauser has strong melee attacks and explosive arrows at his disposal. During Mayhem Mode, he mutates and can deal close-quarter attacks or thrust attacks.

Load-out	Unlocked by	Mayhem Mode
TMP EJF-338 Compound Bow Fighting Knife Flash Grenade x3 First Aid Spray x1 Submachine Gun Ammo x30 Explosive Arrows x3	Get an A rank or higher on any stage with Luis.	No stock Mutation, allowing heavy melee and thrust attacks with blades.

HUNK[]

HUNK not only has a high-performance submachine gun but also a unique melee attack that can kill instantly. During Mayhem Mode, he gains unlimited ammo.

Load-out	Unlocked by	Mayhem Mode
LE 5 Boot Knife Hand Grenade x3 First Aid Spray x1 Submachine Gun Ammo x160	Get an A rank or higher on any stage with Krauser.	2 stocks Unlimited ammunition with no reload, increased movement speed.

Ada Wong[]

Ada has a variety of weapons to deal with any situation. During Mayhem Mode, her abilities including attack power and speed are greatly increased.

Load-out	Unlocked by	Mayhem Mode
Blacktail AC Sawed-off W-870 Blast Crossbow Tactical Knife Hand Grenade x1 First Aid Spray x1 Handgun Ammo x50 Shotgun Shells x10 Blast Arrows x10	Default after the Separate Ways DLC released.	1 stock Great increase to attack power and speed.

Ada Wong (Dress)[]

Ada has a variety of weapons to deal with any situation. During Mayhem Mode, her abilities including attack power and speed are greatly increased.

Load-out	Unlocked by	Mayhem Mode
TMP Stingray Scope Rocket Launcher Tactical Knife Hand Grenade x1 Heavy Grenade x1 Flash Grenade x1 First Aid Spray x1 Submachine Gun Ammo x50	Get a S rank or above on all stages with Ada.	1 stock Great increase to attack power and speed.

Albert Wesker[]

Wesker can counterattack using his hands and deliver melee attacks on distant enemies. During Mayhem Mode, he is able to perform melee attacks.

Load-out	Unlocked by	Mayhem Mode
XM96E1 Killer7 Hand Grenade x4 Heavy Grenade x1 Flash Grenade x3 Handgun Ammo x20	Get an A rank or higher on any stage with Ada.	No stock Great increase to attack power and speed and able perform powerful combo melee attack.

Stages[]

Rank Conditions and Rewards[]

Image	Rank	Rank Requirement	Unlocks

	S++	???
	S+
	S
	A
	B
	C

Image	Rank	Rank Requirement	Unlocks

	S++	???
	S+
	S
	A
	B
	C

Image	Rank	Rank Requirement	Unlocks

	S++	???
	S+
	S
	A
	B
	C

Image	Rank	Rank Requirement	Unlocks

	S++	???
	S+
	S
	A
	B
	C

Gallery[]

Further notes[]

Though not initially available at release, datamining of game files of The Mercenaries before launch confirmed that Ada Wong and Albert Wesker would be added to the mode at a later date,^[1] along with a fourth stage.^[2]

Sources[]

[1] ttps://technclub.com/gaming/resident-evil-4-remake-the-mercenaries-mode-leaked/

[2] ttps://mp1st.com/news/resident-evil-4-the-mercenaries-dlc-stages-revealed-in-datamine

[1]

[2]