Parrying is back in Resident Evil 9 Requiem, and it builds on the system we saw in the Resident Evil 4 Remake. Parrying is a really powerful defensive tool the player has due to the limited ammo you get, especially while playing on higher difficulties.
If you plan to play on higher difficulties, especially Insanity, learning how to parry and more importantly, how to perfect parry, in Resident Evil Requiem isn’t something that should be considered optional.
Parring is done through Leon’s hatchet and the weapon has durability. You can’t spam it endlessly to take down zombies. Every parry will consume durability but how much depends on the type of attack and game difficulty.
On Standard difficulty, normal enemy attacks barely have impact on durability. However, weapon-based attacks from zombies will drain far more durability when parried.
Meanwhile, the durability loss is significant when playing on Insanity difficulty. Because of this, managing your hatchet durability is required for successful parry attacks.
How To Perfect Parry
Perfect parries require tighter timing than regular parries. Unlike in the Resident Evil 4 Remake, there is no HUD indicator showing the perfect timing window. You must learn enemy animations and attack rhythms manually.
Since there is no visual HUD timing indicator, you need to study each enemy’s attack animations. Keep your enemies at mid-range and slowly back away and watch for the exact moment the attack is about to connect.
Perfect parries also grant invincibility frames. You are temporarily immune during:
- The perfect parry animation
- The finisher animation
- Weapon throws
The game confirms a perfect parry through:
- A distinct animation
- A unique sound effect
Perfect parries still consume durability, similar to regular ones. However, the reward is massive. You can take out enemies with your hatchet immediately after a perfect parry. This makes perfect parries extremely valuable for:
- Ending dangerous enemies quickly
- Conserving ammo
- Saving resources
- Controlling crowd flow
Perfect parry is best for escaping tight situations and push through hordes safely.
How to Parry
The basic parry in Resident Evil Requiem is performed right before an enemy attack. The timing window is generous so most of the time you will be able to land a parry quiet easily.
- On PS5, the default button is L1
- On PC and other consoles, the input can be customized in settings
Parry right before the enemy is about to attack. The timing window is easy to figure out. Here is a demo:
Below is the difference between normal and perfect parry in Resident Evil Requiem.
