What is a Resident Evil game without great boss fights? Even Resident Evil 4 retains the thrilling special encounters despite all the changes it makes from the original formula. The game is filled with tough enemies who periodically show up, but this list focuses purely on the big bosses who only show up once or have a part in the plot.
Resident Evil 4: 10 Mysteries Surrounding The Merchant
Those that played Resident Evil 4 will surely remember the mysterious merchant. Here are some things you need to know about the character.
In addition to ranking them from easiest to hardest, there will also be a tip or two on how to defeat them. For the most part, experienced players should not have too much trouble besting even the tougher bouts in the campaign.
Updated on March 25 2024, by Mara Cowley: Even months following the release of the Resident Evil 4 Remake and its subsequent DLC, Separate Ways, the game still remains a widely-discussed and popular topic among gamers. Its popularity has endured largely thanks to the fantastic polish the game was created with, improving upon all the beloved parts of the original such as the characters, gameplay, and of course, its bosses. All Resident Evil games shine when it comes to monster design, and the Resident Evil 4 bosses are second to none. This article has been updated to further demonstrate Capcom's design prowess, and include some of the RE4 bosses that were previously omitted.
14 Armored El Gigante
Despite its Armor, the El Gigante Can Be Defeated with the Cannons
This is a new elite enemy introduced in the RE4 Remake, that saw players having to contest with an armored El Gigante while they are still on the outside area of the castle. Despite its terrifying appearance, this boss might just be the easiest in the entire game.
How To Beat Armored El Gigante
As he is immune to bullets, it is better not to waste any ammo, and instead quickly duck behind the wooden shields on the way to the cannon. These wooden shields will be interspersed across the entire path, which will allow quick players with precise timing to take 0 damage. Once they reach the cannon, one well-aimed shot should immediately end the boss, and allow players to proceed.
13 Ramon Salazar
What Could Have Been a Tough Battle Can be Ended Instantly with an Exploit
Ramon Salazar is a ridiculous villain, but fits right in with the over-the-top tone that seeps through most Resident Evil games. Leon interacts with him more than most of the other villains in the franchise, including Saddler, the main antagonist who is also the last boss. Leon's terrible one-liners and Salazar's decadence and arrogance are a match made in heaven.
How To Beat Salazar
With the right equipment, players can beat Ramon Salazar without even moving. The tricky part is being accurate enough to hit the moving eye enough times for Salazar's shield to come down. Use either a shotgun or a TMP to hit it. Once Salazar reveals himself, use a magnum to unleash serious damage against him. With the power of a Broken Butterfly or Killer 7, Leon should only have to do this two times or so to beat Salazar. Considering the lead-up to Salazar, it is surprising how easy he is.
12 The Test Subject
Countless Experiments Have Made this Creature Unkillable, Save for Powerful Lasers
Separate Ways brought a slew of new content, and of course, new monsters. One of the most terrifying and formidable is the Test Subject, a creature subjected to experimentation to create the ultimate monster, one that could not be killed. Ada first encounters it in the comms, where it chases her until she makes her escape, encountering it once more in the laser room. Its unkillable status renders it a tough boss, but the one glaring weakness it has also makes it surprisingly easy.
How to Beat the Test Subject
Players will need to keep moving at a swift pace to escape its clutches as it chases them down, and only once they reach the laser room can they put a stop to it. Players will be challenged to a series of QTEs they must successfully execute in order to avoid falling victim to the lasers themself.
11 Garrador
Though Blind, His Super-Hearing Makes Him a Formidable Opponent
The Garrador stars as a boss in his first debut at the castle, encountered in the dungeon level, locked and chained in a cell. Players will gain an all too terrifying close-up of this monstrous foe, before they are forced to fight him in a confined room full of noisy equipment.
The Best Games That Revolve Around Music And Sound
Music and sound design are the most important things in the following games that focus on audio more than the visual.
How to Beat the Garrador
The Garrador is blind, with a strong sense of hearing. He is nearly impervious to all weapon attacks, unless players aim at the weak point at his back. Players can turn his strength into a weakness, luring him with noise to one end of the room, then quickly and quietly getting out of his path of destruction to get a clear shot at the weak point on his back.
10 Chainsaw Sisters
Taking on Two at Once While Frightening, is Doable Thanks to the Generous Map
Double the chainsaws equals double the trouble. RE4 players will be all too familiar with Dr. Salvador, or Chainsaw Man as most of the players dub him. He is one of the most terrifying enemies in the entire game, as not only does he wield a chainsaw, but he soaks up damage like a sponge. And the Chainsaw Sisters are no different, other than that there are two of them.
How To Beat The Chainsaw Sisters
Though this duo is rather terrifying, fortunately, they aren't too tough to defeat. Players are given a rather generous place to fight them, with several loops allowing players to kite them. Just make sure to keep the two of them grouped to avoid pincer maneuvers, and this boss fight should be a breeze.
9 Del Lago
Players Just Need to Find a Rhythm, and Then it's Smooth Sailing
Del Lago is interesting for how uniquely the encounter plays. Leon, who is first introduced to fans in Resident Evil 2, is dragged by the beast while on a small canoe and must throw harpoons in order to do damage.
There is a cool easter egg before the fight where if Leon stands by the lake and shoots into the water enough, the monster will jump up and eat the player. This level of detail and hidden environmental interaction is just one-way Resident Evil 4 separates itself from the rest of the pack.
How To Beat Del Lago
Dodging Del Lago's can be difficult and it easily knocks Leon off the boat upon making a mistake. Get knocked off too many times and the button-mashing minigame to climb onto the boat gets harder. Once the attack patterns are recognized, dodging Del Lago is a breeze.
8 The Black Robe
A Relentless Monster that Returns for More
One of Salazar's right-hand men, the Black Robe is a terrifying and strong enemy that serves as a prominent antagonist in Separate Ways. Players will need to face it more than once in order dispose of it for good. Players will first encounter it in the Church, and once again in the Village.
How to Beat the Black Robe
During the first encounter, players need to ensure they have precision aim, landing headshots while making sure to avoid the clones. Once it retreats, look for the one with the glowing eyes, and shoot it.
As for the second encounter, players can dispose of the copies using any flash bangs they have, making the fight much easier. As with the first battle, players should be on the lookout for glowing eyes, as that is their target.
7 El Gigante
This Damage Sponge Required Patience and an Entire Armory's Worth of Bullets
Several El Gigantes pop up throughout the story, and one of them is even optional. However, each time Leon encounters it, it is intimidating enough to count as a boss encounter. The first fight in an open area is quite simple.
The second, optional fight is in a narrow space and with Ashley in tow. The second, optional fight is in a narrow space and with Ashley in tow. This time, the play area is more narrow, making it harder to dodge.
The Most Iconic Giants In Video Games
Giants in games often have way more power than simple brute force and are some of the most skilled and mighty magic users in video game history.
How To Beat El Gigante
As long as Leon saves the dog at the beginning of the game from the bear trap, players should have no problem taking El Gigante out. The fight with El Gigante is all about just dealing as much damage as possible until it stumbles. Then, Leon jumps on its back and stabs the Plagas that sprouts from it. For the optional fight, there is a boulder trap Leon can use to do some extra damage.
6 Dos El Gigante
Though the Lava Pit in the Middle Evens the Odds, the Timing is Difficult to Nail
Two is always better than one, but that phrase may not hold true when confronted with El Gigante. This boss fight has appeared in both the original and the remake and has remained largely unchanged and still remains a slight challenge, with the lava pit in the center evening the odds.
Resident Evil 4 Remake: 5 Biggest Changes Compared To The Original
Capcom's second rendition of the survival horror classic has led to a resounding success and its drastic changes play a significant part in it.
How To Beat Dos El Gigante
These two giants can be whittled down with bullets, but this will see players burn through a lot of resources, especially on harder difficulty. For players that want an easier and quicker experience with the two giants, they need to corral them onto the metal center of the room and press the button that will cause it to open, dropping them inside the lava. Timing is everything with this, as there are a few seconds between presssing the button and the floor opening.
5 Chief Menendez
Avoiding Close Quarters is a Must, but Tough as the Fire Consumes the Boss Arena
Chief Menendez serves as the big boss of the first chapter. At first, he is in his trench coat, but eventually sheds his legs and becomes more agile. As long as Leon is accurate with the rifle, he should have no problem staggering him quickly, preventing him from getting too close.
How To Beat Chief Menendez
Players need to be aware of which of Menendez's attacks they need to dodge. Climb to the second level of the battle area and keep Leon's back to the wall. The play area has two levels, so stay on the top level so Leon has a place to run away to if Menendez gets in too close.
4 U-3
Its Ability to Burrow Can Mean it Get the Jump on Leon
This boss curiously has almost no introduction other than a line of dialogue from Lord Saddler. U-3 has two phases. At first, all Leon has to do is unlock the doors of the hanging rooms and progressively make his way through them. Afterward, he fights the beast in a small arena.
10 Resident Evil Characters Who Don't Get Enough Love In The Franchise
There are a lot of amazing characters in the Resident Evil franchise that don't get enough love. Here are some prime examples.
Even though it is a cool fight, it would have been nice to have more of an introduction in the story. Considering most of the bosses do have things to do before the fight, this one feels weird.
How To Beat U-3
It is difficult to stay still without getting hit, but Leon can trap U-3 momentarily by activating the gates with a switch. Use the red explosive barrels to do extra damage. It momentarily burrows underground which will then prompt a dodge, leaving itself momentarily vulnerable. Occasionally, Leon has to dodge its attacks with a quick-time event.
3 Verdugo
Stealthy and Agile, the Verdugo can Ambush Leon in a Number of Locations
More memorable than the boss fight is Leon's dumb quip towards Salazar beforehand. When Salazar says he is sending his right-hand man to deal with Leon, the protagonist says "Your right hand comes off?".
Before the proper fight, Leon spends some time dodging its ambushes. As long as players know what is coming, these attacks are super simple to dodge. Once the enemy makes its presence known, then the real battle starts.
How To Beat Verdugo
The best way to do damage is by knocking off canisters that freeze Verdugo. Shoot the enemy while it is incapacitated. There are more than enough canisters to dispose of the boss. The hardest part is the narrow hallways where it is quite easy for the enemy to push Leon into a corner.
2 Lord Saddler
The Various Attacks and Massive Amounts of Damage Make this Fight one that is Tricky and Lengthy
Of course, the last boss is going to be one of the hardest. Even so, Lord Saddler is not too troublesome as long as Leon is well-equipped. Despite the battle and how well-received the game is, Saddler is not that compelling of a villain.
Resident Evil: 10 Hilarious Leon Kennedy Memes That Prove He's The Best Protagonist
The battle continues over who's truly the best Resident Evil protagonist. For those who favor Leon Kennedy, here are a few memes for a good chuckle.
He could have been replaced with any other character and the game would have been exactly the same. When prior games had villains like Albert Wesker, Saddler's character is sorely lacking.
How To Beat Lord Saddler
He moves fast and some of his attacks do major damage, so Leon should keep his distance. He also throws steel beams at Leon occasionally. Shoot at the eyes on his legs which will stagger him. In this staggered state, he exposes his eye. From here, either approach the injured saddler and attack him with the knife or shoot at it with a powerful weapon. The final blow traditionally comes from an RPG rocket Ada Wong throws at Leon.
1 Jack Krauser
An Expert and Dodging and Hand-to-Hand Combat, Leon Finds his Match in Krauser
Jack Krauser and Leon Kennedy have a past together. The game does not fully explore exactly what their history is, however. The spin-off Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles gives a little more detail to their history together. The segment of the game with Jack Krauser is one of the more interesting narratives of Resident Evil 4.
How To Beat Jack Krauser
Before the main fight, run around the area while Krauser chases the protagonist. Leon may need to use some ammo to keep him off his back during this phase. In the final phase, Krauser is not difficult but tricky to hit. The time limit puts another layer of pressure on the player.
Even if Leon manages to kill Jack before the explosive goes off, the protagonist still has to leave the area with the remaining time. Players need at least an extra thirty seconds to escape. Surprisingly, the knife staggers him quickly. Grenades also help drop him to his knees fast.
