Minimalist Trophy in Resident Evil 4 Remake

Unlock the Minimalist Trophy in Resident Evil 4 Remake! Learn the strict weapon restrictions and allowed exceptions for this challenging achievement.

So, you've beaten Resident Evil 4 Remake once and now you're aiming for that Platinum Trophy? Awesome! The 'Minimalist' trophy is definitely one of the trickier ones, but don't worry, I've got your back. It sounds simple enough: beat the whole game using only your trusty Knife and Handgun. But there are a few specific exceptions you need to know about to avoid messing up the challenge.

Here's what's allowed:

• You can use the Harpoons during the Del Lago boss fight in Chapter 3.
• The Cannons in the castle are fair game for taking out enemies in Chapters 7 and 8.
• Enemies that get taken out by the wrecking ball in Chapter 14 won't void your challenge.
• Feel free to use the turrets in Chapter 15 to thin out the herd.
• For the final showdown in Chapter 16, you can use the Special Rocket Launcher that's given to you specifically for that fight.
• And hey, any explosive barrels you find scattered around? Go ahead and set those off!

Now, here's the kicker – you've gotta be super careful about what else you use. Things like grenades or even throwing eggs count as weapons and will void the trophy. So, unfortunately, you'll have to skip the Salazar Family Request on this run.

Tips for Tackling Minimalist:

This challenge requires you to be on your absolute best game. To make things a little smoother, here are some pointers:

• Don't attempt this on your first playthrough. Seriously, save this for a second run. You can even combine it with the 'Silent Stranger' trophy (where you don't talk to the Merchant at all) for an extra challenge.
• If you're not going for 'Silent Stranger', make sure you fully upgrade your favorite Handgun on your first playthrough. The Red9 is a solid choice, and its Exclusive upgrade is a lifesaver.
• Hunt down all those pesky Clockwork Castellans! Finding them all unlocks the Primal Knife, which is super useful.
• Start a New Game Plus on Assisted difficulty. The difficulty doesn't actually affect the trophy, so make it as easy as possible. Then, buy the Primal Knife from the Merchant (unless you're doing 'Silent Stranger'). The best part? This knife never loses durability!
• Focus your crafting materials solely on Handgun ammo. If you're not doing 'Silent Stranger', buy any First Aid Sprays you need from the Merchant.
• Crucially, save your game at the start of every single Chapter. This is your safety net. If you accidentally use a forbidden weapon, you can just reload. You can check your progress by going to Challenges > Main Story > Minimalist. If it shows zero, you're good. If it's anything else, load an older save immediately.