The wait is finally over. Resident Evil Requiem launches tomorrow, dragging players back into the irradiated nightmare of the Raccoon City ruins. With the franchise's bold new direction featuring dual protagonists and a punishing new "Mutating Zombie" system, surviving the first hour is no longer just about aiming for the head. Whether you're navigating the claustrophobic corridors of the Rhodes Hill Chronic Care Center or the bombed-out city streets, early mistakes can be fatal. This Resident Evil Requiem guide will equip you with the essential strategies needed to endure the initial nightmare.
1. Master the Duality: Grace vs. Leon
The most jarring adjustment in Resident Evil Requiem is the shift between its two leads, Grace Ashcroft and Leon S. Kennedy. Unlike previous titles where campaigns were separate, you will frequently switch perspectives, often at cliffhanger moments. It is crucial to understand their distinct playstyles immediately.
Grace’s segments are pure survival horror in the vein of RE7. She is an FBI analyst, not a soldier. Her movement is slower, her aim less steady, and her health pool smaller. When playing as Grace, your priority is stealth and evasion. In contrast, Leon’s sections bring the action-heavy flair of the RE4 Remake. He comes equipped with a tactical parry and higher weapon proficiency. Do not attempt to play Grace like Leon; if you try to melee your way through the hospital ward with her, you will die.
2. Respect the 'Mutating Zombie' System
Capcom has introduced a terrifying new mechanic: the Mutating Zombie System. In Resident Evil Requiem, enemies are not static sponges. If you repeatedly use the same tactic—like kneecapping to set up a melee kick—the T-Virus variant in the Raccoon City ruins will adapt. Zombies will begin to sprout hardened carapaces on their legs or develop erratic lunge patterns to counter your aim.
To survive the early game, you must vary your combat approach. Rotate between headshots, environmental traps, and stealth takedowns. If you notice a specific group of enemies evolving defenses against your handgun, switch to the shotgun or use fire to reset their biological adaptation. Unpredictability is your best weapon.
3. Smart Resource Management: Blood vs. Bullets
Inventory management has been overhauled with a character-specific twist. While Leon relies on the traditional attaché case and gunpowder crafting, Grace utilizes a new Hematic Crafting mechanic. She can harvest infected blood from fallen enemies to synthesize emergency health injectors or temporary stealth buffs.
For Grace: Hoard Vials, Not Ammo
In the first hour, you will find very few bullets for Grace’s snub-nosed revolver. Instead, focus on collecting empty vials. Successfully stealth-killing an enemy allows you to drain them, providing the raw materials needed to craft distractions or health. Never leave a stealth-killed body undrained.
For Leon: Prioritize Space
Leon encounters more enemies and thus more loot. Your first purchase from the merchant (found in the Subway Station safe room) should be the Case Expansion. You will need the space for the heavier weaponry found in the downtown crater.
4. Navigating the Raccoon City Ruins
The setting of Requiem is open-ended but dangerous. The "Ruins" area is an exclusion zone that has been decaying for nearly 30 years. Structural integrity is a real threat. Pay attention to audio cues; creaking metal or crumbling concrete often indicates a floor is about to give way, dropping you into a nest of dormant infected.
Exploration Tip: In the early Downtown section, do not rush for the objective marker. The side alleys containing the ruined shops often hide yellow paint-marked ledges that lead to vital weapon upgrades, including the compensator for Leon’s Silver Ghost, which is essential for controlling recoil against the new "Feral" enemy types.
5. Surviving the Stalker: The 'Palach'
Much like Mr. X or Lady Dimitrescu, Requiem introduces a relentless pursuer known as The Palach (The Executioner). This enemy appears roughly 40 minutes into the game during Grace’s hospital segment. Unlike previous stalkers, The Palach can hear your microphone if you are playing with compatible hardware enabled—a feature you might want to toggle off in settings if you have a noisy background.
When The Palach is near, the music will swell with a distorted industrial screech. Do not run. Running triggers his aggressive lunge. Instead, crouch and break the line of sight immediately. Use the "throw" command to toss bricks or bottles in the opposite direction to lure him away. Fighting him in the first hour is a waste of ammo; he is invulnerable until you acquire the Heavy Grenade Launcher later in the game.
6. Utilize the Environment in Combat
The ruins of Raccoon City are littered with unstable hazards that savvy players can weaponize. Generators can be overcharged to electrify puddles, and decaying walls can be toppled onto pursuing hordes. In Resident Evil Requiem, environmental kills prevent enemies from mutating, making them the most efficient way to clear a room.
Keep an eye out for red barrels, but also look for suspended rebar and unstable ceiling tiles. Shooting the support locks on these traps can crush multiple enemies at once, saving precious ammunition for the boss fight at the end of the prologue.
7. Analyze Files for Hidden Clues
The "Investigation" aspect is heavier in Requiem than in Village. Files are not just lore dumps; they often contain dynamic puzzle solutions. For example, the code to the Nurse Station locker in Grace’s chapter is not fixed; it is randomized based on a patient file you must read in the adjacent waiting room.
Always rotate quest items in your inventory. The new 3D inspection often reveals hidden switches or inscriptions on the back of key items like the "Scorched ID Badge" or the "Family Locket." Missing these details can leave you stuck backtracking through dangerous territory.
