Resident Evil 4 Beginner Guide — Ammo Economy and Melee Combos

The remake's combat is a resource puzzle disguised as a shooter, and the key insight is that bullets are the most expensive way to kill something. Stagger an enemy instead: a shot to the leg drops them to a knee, and a follow-up melee prompt lets Leon finish them for free. A shot to the head makes them flinch and opens the same window. Against groups, wound one enemy, kick them into the others, and let the resulting pile-up buy you time to reposition. Never stand still to empty a magazine into a ganado who is already charging — back away, use the environment, and close only when they are staggered.

Ammo crafting runs on gunpowder plus resources, and the game quietly scales what you find toward what you use. That means hoarding is not rewarded the way it is in other survival games; if you are sitting on a stockpile while dying repeatedly, craft the ammo and use it. The knife is a genuine tool rather than an emergency weapon — it parries incoming attacks, breaks grabs, and finishes downed enemies — but it has durability, so save the heavy swings for real threats and repair it at the merchant.

Spend your pesetas on upgrades rather than new guns. A fully upgraded starting handgun stays relevant for the whole campaign, and the attaché case expansion is worth buying the moment it appears because inventory space is the true limiting factor in every encounter. Sell treasures only after combining them with the right gems; slotting matching gems into an ornate piece multiplies its value significantly.