Resident Evil 4 Remake Mercenaries: Characters, Stages and Rewards
Resident Evil 4 Remake Mercenaries: Characters, Stages and Rewards
The Mercenaries mode returns in Resident Evil 4 Remake. Here, we explain how to unlock it, obtain every character and achieve the highest rank to unlock a special weapon.
César Rebolledo · Published: 12 Aug 2026, 17:58
The Mercenaries, which first appeared in Resident Evil 3 and returns in Resident Evil 4 Remake, is a special game mode in which you can control supporting characters with unique weapons and abilities. Your objective is to eliminate Ganados in rapid succession, earning points to achieve specific ranks and unlock special rewards. Here, you will find everything you need to know about the available rewards and characters, as well as strategies for achieving an S++ Rank.
Is it free?
Yes. The Mercenaries is available as a free downloadable add-on and can be launched from the main menu.
How to play
The Mercenaries challenges you to eliminate waves of enemies across specific stages taken from the game.
There are 150 enemies in each stage, with special enemies appearing after you reach certain numbers of kills, regardless of whether they are part of a combo.
Your objective is to eliminate enemies consecutively, increasing your combo and earning more points and time for each kill.
You can increase the remaining time by interacting with the green Time Orbs scattered throughout each stage.
Every character has a special ability called Mayhem Mode. You can charge its gauge by eliminating enemies or interacting with the golden Mayhem Mode Orbs scattered throughout the stage.
The more Mayhem Mode gauges you have charged, the longer the corresponding effect will last.
Your score is saved if you die, so you do not need to survive until the timer runs out.
Each stage contains a limited number of enemies. After eliminating all of them, the match ends regardless of the remaining time, and you receive a bonus based on the time left.
Rewards
If you complete all three stages with an S Rank—you will find more information on how to do so below—you will unlock the Handcannon for purchase from the Extra Content Shop. You only need to achieve an S Rank on every stage, not on every stage with every character.
Characters and how to unlock them
There are four playable characters in The Mercenaries. Leon is available from the beginning, while the other three must be unlocked by achieving high scores.
Leon
Leon is available by default.
His weapons are the SG-09 R with a Laser Sight, the Riot Gun, the Stingray rifle with a high-power scope and the Combat Knife. He also carries a First Aid Spray.
His Mayhem Mode increases his damage and speed, making Leon an extremely well-balanced character.
Luis
You will unlock Luis by achieving an A Rank or higher with Leon on any stage.
Luis carries a Red9, an SR M1903 with a Biosensor Scope, a Boot Knife, a Flash Grenade and two First Aid Sprays.
Luis deals less melee damage than Leon, so you should rely on the Red9's power rather than melee attacks to eliminate ordinary enemies.
His Mayhem Mode allows him to place a stick of dynamite with a lit fuse on the ground rather than throwing it. The dynamite explodes after a short time or when shot. Luis can place more than one stick of dynamite during a single use of Mayhem Mode.
Krauser
You will unlock Krauser by achieving an A Rank or higher with Luis on any stage.
Krauser carries the EJF-338 Compound Bow, a weapon exclusive to this character that fires explosive arrows, the Fighting Knife, the TMP, three Flash Grenades and a First Aid Spray.
His Mayhem Mode allows him to mutate and use either a combo or the Stinger, charging forward and tearing through every enemy within his reach.
Krauser is slower than the other characters, but he is far stronger and can perform knife combos, as well as acrobatic moves and evasive manoeuvres while wielding it. He can easily eliminate Ganados with exposed Plagas using nothing but his knife.
HUNK
You will unlock HUNK by achieving an A Rank or higher with Krauser on any stage.
HUNK only carries the LE 5, which fires from a third-person perspective rather than using the first-person aiming view seen in the main campaign, along with three Hand Grenades, a First Aid Spray and a Boot Knife.
His Mayhem Mode grants him unlimited ammunition without needing to reload. This usually means that anything in his path ends up dead.
Although his limited arsenal may appear to place him at a disadvantage outside Mayhem Mode, his melee attack instantly kills any enemy, including chainsaw-wielding enemies.
HUNK is the most overpowered of the four characters and the best choice for achieving an S Rank on all three stages.
Stages and how to achieve an S Rank
There are three stages available in The Mercenaries. Each one is unlocked by completing the previous stage. Below, you will find their characteristics and videos showing how to achieve an S++ Rank, which is more than enough to obtain the rewards.
During this first stage, you will face ordinary Ganados and basic Plagas, along with a few Broken Neck Ganados. Watch out for the crossbow-wielding enemies positioned on the rooftops, but there is little else to worry about. There is a small alley beside the Town Hall where enemies cannot attack you from behind. If you have enough firepower, you can hold your position there, but be careful not to become overwhelmed or you will die.
This stage takes place in the entrance area of the Castle, where you found the first cannon. Before doing anything else, you should destroy the catapults to prevent attacks from above. You then have several defensible positions, including the cannon area and the main gate that you destroy during the story. Watch out for the Staff Zealots. In addition to ordinary Ganados, this stage features Jaw Plagas, and allowing them to approach will often result in instant death. HUNK's unlimited ammunition makes short work of the Garradors.
Things become more complicated in the final stage due to the appearance of every Soldier variant, including those equipped with crossbows, shields, rocket launchers and body armour. Spider Plagas also appear, so be extremely careful if one possesses a Ganado. Overall, the stage is easier than it appears as long as you protect your back. If you see a laser sight, eliminate the Rocket Launcher Soldier immediately. Other than that, there is little more to worry about. By this point, the challenge is easier than it initially seems.
