Resident Evil Village is packed with mechanics that can make or break your survival. While newcomers might struggle at first, mastering the game’s deeper systems will give you a significant advantage against Lady Dimitrescu and the horrors of the village. Whether it’s maximizing combat efficiency, optimizing inventory management, or uncovering hidden riches, these tips will give you the edge you need.

---

Ethan’s Invincible Feet: How to Use Landmines Effectively

One of the lesser-known quirks in Resident Evil Village is that Ethan takes zero damage from his own landmines. This means you can plant them right in front of yourself and still remain unharmed when they detonate. This makes landmines an excellent tool for crowd control against fast-moving enemies and Lycan hordes. However, the same cannot be said for pipe bombs, which can hurt Ethan if thrown too close. To avoid self-damage, aim higher when throwing pipe bombs to ensure a safe blast radius.

---

Speeding Up Melee Combat with Animation Cancels

The knife attack in Resident Evil Village consists of two quick swipes, but there’s a significant delay before you can swing again. Fortunately, you can cancel this animation lag by tapping the block button immediately after attacking. This allows you to chain together faster melee strikes, making the knife a more viable tool for conserving ammunition. On a controller, the rhythm is:

➡ Right Trigger (attack) → Right Trigger (attack) → Left Bumper (block) → Repeat

While the knife won’t replace your firearms, this trick is great for finishing off stunned enemies or attempting a melee-only challenge.

---

Treasure Hunting: Don’t Sell Combinable Items Too Soon

Throughout the game, you’ll find valuable treasures, some of which can be combined with other pieces for a significantly higher resale price. If a treasure is labeled “valuable / combinable,” do not sell it immediately. Instead, wait until you find its matching component—doing so quadruples its value when sold to the Duke.

---

Map Completion and Hidden Gems

For players aiming for full completion, Resident Evil Village provides a useful red/blue room system:

• Red rooms indicate that items are still hidden in the area.
• Blue rooms mean you’ve fully cleared them.

If you believe you’ve grabbed everything and a room is still red, chances are it contains a flashing gemstone embedded in a wall or ceiling. These gems can be shot down and sold for a solid amount of Lei.

---

Golden Cages and Crows: Easy Money Sources

• Golden Bird Cages hang from trees and ceilings throughout the game. Shooting them down always rewards you with cash or resources.
• Crows are a great, often-overlooked source of Lei. If you see them, it’s worth spending a pistol bullet to take them out, as they drop money upon being killed. The rewards might seem small individually, but over time, they add up significantly.

---

Using Flower Bags for Tactical Stuns

You may notice large sacks of flour in some areas—these can be broken to create a temporary smoke screen, stunning nearby enemies for a few seconds. This trick is useful for both escaping tough encounters and setting up easier shots. However, these do not respawn, so use them wisely.

---

Inventory Management: Selling Guns Isn’t Permanent

As your arsenal expands, inventory space becomes a premium. If you replace an old gun with a better model, you can sell the previous one without losing it permanently. Any gun sold to the Duke can be repurchased later, complete with all of its attachments and upgrades intact. Keep in mind, though, that you’ll have to pay a bit extra to get it back.

---

Hunting for Permanent Stat Upgrades

Hunting animals like fish, chickens, and pigs provides ingredients for permanent stat boosts via the Duke’s cooking system. These can increase your health, defense, and movement speed.

➡ Pro Tip: Never sell raw meat, fish, or poultry for quick cash. Instead, save them for when the cooking system unlocks later in the game. The long-term benefits far outweigh any short-term financial gain.

---

Final Thoughts

These advanced strategies will help you maximize your survival, efficiency, and Lei farming in Resident Evil Village. Whether you’re utilizing landmines for safe crowd control, speeding up melee attacks, or mastering treasure combinations, these techniques will make your playthrough smoother and more rewarding.

If you found this guide helpful, stay tuned for more deep dives, including Mercenaries mode strategies!