In this Resident Evil 4 remake Mercenaries S++ Rank guide, we’ll be going over what you need to do in order to score as many points as possible to get the highest rank in the recently released Mercenaries DLC. We’ll include general tips that will help no matter what character you use, as well as a brief rundown on each Mercenaries character to give you an idea of how to play them.

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Resident Evil 4 Remake Mercenaries S++ Rank Guide:

WHAT IS MERCENARIES MODE?

In summary, Mercenaries Mode is an alternate game mode for Resident Evil 4 that allows players to tackle up to three different stages with four unique characters to play as. The goal of Mercenaries Mode is to score as many points as possible within the given time frame by killing enemies, with various ways to increase the rate of earning points and extend your remaining time. 

While playing through the stage, your character will build up a resource that unlocks Mayhem Mode, a special ability that gives your character access to powerful buffs that last for a certain period of time. Players can use their character’s Mayhem Mode to deal with multiple enemies at once for huge bonuses (more on that in a bit).

GENERAL TIPS

• Grab the orbs – When playing Mercenaries mode, you will find green and yellow orbs scattered across the stage, and these can help you increase your overall score. The green orbs extend the time limit of the stage whereas the yellow orbs increase your Mayhem Mode energy.
• Go for melee kills and headshots – You can gain extra time by killing staggered enemies with melee attacks or with headshots. Try going for both if you want to maximize your remaining time as much as possible.
• Kill the chickens – Killing any chickens you come across in a stage may reward you with extra points. Some chickens drop Gold Chicken Eggs, and these give you a 50,000-point Egg Bonus that you can also use as a max HP recovery item after picking it up.
• Parry – Parrying is extremely effective in Mercenaries mode, as you build your Mayhem Mode energy whenever successfully parrying an attack. If you’re confident enough, going aggressive and parrying attacks is an easy way to unlock your Mayhem Mode more often.
• Go fast – Speed is key when it comes to the Mercenaries mode. If you manage to kill all 150 enemies in a stage, the round will end, with every extra second remaining netting you a bonus of 1,000 points each. 
• Make use of combos – Performing combos in Mercenaries mode will increase your point multiplier up to 1.5 times the usual rate. To increase your combo counter, you simply need to kill enemies consecutively and consistently. You can do this by gathering all enemies in a single area and taking them down at once, as this will make it easier to keep the combo going.
• Save elite enemies for high multipliers – If possible, try saving elite enemies for when you’ve got a high enough combo going. Doing this will allow you to multiply the elite enemy’s points by the multiplier you currently have.

CHARACTER OVERVIEWS

Leon 

Unlock Condition: Unlocked by default
Mayhem Mode Ability: Attack and speed buff
Loadout: SG-09 R, Stingray, Riot Gun

Leon is an all-rounder and is the first Mercenaries character you start with. He boasts good close-range attacks and a decent weapon arsenal, with his Mayhem Mode ability giving him an increase to his attack and speed. Be sure to make use of his shotgun when dealing with elites, as it is highly effective at close range.

Luis

Unlock Condition: Score rank A or higher as Leon
Mayhem Mode Ability: Timed explosive
Loadout: Red9, SR M1903

Luis excels at taking down enemies from a distance. His kit makes him far more effective at playing from afar, so try not to get too close to enemies whenever possible. Luis’ Mayhem Mode ability allows him to place a timed explosive on the ground up to three times, and this has the potential to do some serious damage, so you’ll want to gather enemies together before planting the explosives on the ground.

Krauser

Unlock Condition: Score rank A or higher as Luis
Mayhem Mode Ability: Monster transformation
Loadout: TMP, EJF-338 Compound Bow

In stark contrast to Luis, Krauser works best when he’s up close and personal with the enemy, as his melee attacks are far more effective than other Mercenaries characters. While his weapons aren’t the best at long-range attacks, his Mayhem Mode ability lets him easily deal with enemies, elites included, though you’ll need to be within range of the enemies to swing your monster arms at them. 

Hunk 

Unlock Condition: Score rank A or higher as Krauser
Mayhem Mode Ability: Infinite ammo
Loadout: LE 5

Hunk is an interesting Mercenaries character, with only one weapon to work with, the LE 5. His melee attack allows him to instantly kill any staggered enemy, while his Mayhem Mode ability gives him infinite ammo for a certain duration. This gives Hunk plenty of options when fighting up close or from afar, though he may have trouble dealing with larger groups of enemies, so try not to let them overwhelm you.

Mercenaries mode gives players replayable content with a system that rewards mastery over the character and stage you choose. While the new game mode may seem overwhelming to some, this guide should give you a general idea of how you can improve your runs. Good luck with your S++ rank attempts!