How to Get S Plus Rank in Resident Evil 4 Remake

Achieving the prestigious S Plus rank in the Resident Evil 4 remake is the ultimate test of survival instincts, resource management, and map knowledge. This coveted rating requires players to balance blistering speed with absolute mechanical precision across the game's challenging chapters. Mastering this run not only grants immense personal satisfaction but also unlocks some of the most powerful bonus items available in the game.

Understanding the Fundamental Rules of the Run

The most critical requirement for earning an S Plus rank on any difficulty level is that you must start a completely fresh playthrough from a New Game slot. You cannot achieve this ranking on a New Game Plus file, meaning your accumulated weapons and upgraded health pools will not carry over to help you. Additionally, each difficulty setting enforces strict completion time limits that you must beat to qualify for the reward.

For players brave enough to attempt this feat on Professional difficulty, the game adds an extra layer of tension by limiting your total manual saves to fifteen or fewer. Auto-saves are completely disabled on this setting, meaning a single careless mistake can wipe out hours of structural progress. Managing these limited save slots before major boss battles or difficult enemy gauntlets becomes a tactical meta-game in itself.

Optimizing Your Routing and Combat Strategies

To keep your completion time as low as possible, you must learn to completely bypass unnecessary combat encounters and focus entirely on main objectives. Knowing exactly which key items to grab and memorizing puzzle solutions beforehand will save you precious minutes during chaotic chapters. Treasure hunting should generally be avoided unless a specific upgrade is absolutely vital for your current weapon loadout.

Utilizing powerful unlockable accessories can significantly alter the difficulty of your active run. For instance, equipping Ashley with the Armor costume completely eliminates the stress of protecting her from zealous cultists during escort missions. Similarly, earning the Chicken Hat from a Hardcore run reduces the incoming damage Leon takes, allowing you to survive risky maneuvers through dense crowds.

Managing Weapons and Upgrades Efficiently

Since financial resources are highly scarce on a fresh save file, focusing your limited pesetas on a few select weapons is much safer than maintaining a large arsenal. Many speedrunners recommend maximizing the power of your starting handgun or upgrading a high-damage shotgun to clear mandatory pathways quickly. Selling unwanted ammunition types and duplicate treasures ensures you always have enough capital for essential rocket launchers during endgame scenarios.

If you are struggling with the final stretch of the game, completing specific merchant requests in the Village can grant you early access to an Exclusive Upgrade Ticket. This special ticket allows you to unlock infinite ammo for powerful bonus weapons like the Chicago Sweeper or the Primal Knife midway through the campaign. Transforming your run into an infinite ammo showcase drastically reduces the overall difficulty of the remaining Castle and Island chapters.