Tips for Surviving and Masterminding in Resident Evil Resistance

The world of survival horror has two sides – the Survivors, and the evil forces pulling the strings. Resident Evil Resistance’s online 4v1 asymmetrical multiplayer lets horror fans experience both sides of the nightmare.

Ahead of the game’s April 3 launch (it comes with Resident Evil 3), I’ve collected some tips to help you succeed as both a plucky Survivor and malevolent Mastermind.

Survivors

Four players team up to find key items, collect life-saving resources, and outlast the monsters (and a ticking clock). It’s the classic survival-horror player experience, but with a multiplayer twist: Each Survivor can wield standard firearms and melee weapons, but character specializations, from hacking to brute force melee, set them apart.

• Stick together to survive. Don’t become a horror movie stereotype.
• Connect your mic and communicate as a team.
• Experiment with your Survivor’s unique skills. Use ‘em when you got ‘em. You may not live long if you wait for the perfect moment.
• Keep moving! Every wasted second is more time the Mastermind can use to lay traps. When time expires, so do the Survivors – you’ve got to escape to win.
• Tap into January’s hacking skills to disable the Mastermind’s technology, restricting their surveillance and control.
• Tank it up with Tyrone. Manage single enemies with his powerful kick and buff teammates’ defense with his rallying yell.
• Becca’s firearm skills let her take a knee for powerful (stationary) potshots, and unload infinite ammo. Use the latter on Mastermind’s boss-type monsters.
• Martin Sandwich’s robust support skills let him craft proximity mines and wield a stunning Flash Baton to stop enemies.
• Pummel threats with ex-boxer Samuel’s flying fists. Use his Dash Punch to close the gap on enemies and deal damage.
• Valerie can heal fellow players with her Modified First Aid Spray, which leaves a lasting buff. She can also highlight nearby pickups and enemies.
• Love inventory space? Valeries’ backpack gives her 10 slots instead of the standard 8.
• Melee weapons are useful. Bats and sledgehammers are great for taking out single targets and dismantling key objectives.
• All ammo is general use for all weapons. No worrying about separate pistol or shotgun ammo.
• Stock up for the final escape. Save ammo, grenade-type weapons, and healing items for the end. The Mastermind will likely throw powerful monsters at you while you wait for the final door to open.
• Try out all the survivors until you find the one that suits your playstyle.

Mastermind

The bad guys hold all the cards – literally. Control the battlefield by observing the Survivors’ progress through security cameras. Spend energy points to activate trap and monster cards in your hand to run down the clock and wipe them out.

• Think ahead when setting traps and monsters for Survivors. Plan for the next two or three rooms they’ll be exploring.
• Mastermind newcomers should consider starting with the straightforward power of Daniel or Annette. Once you’ve got the basics, Alex and Ozwell offer more specialized tactics.
• Pulverize Survivors with Daniel Fabron’s high-powered monsters, including RE2’s bruiser Tyrant (a.k.a. Mr. X). Be wary of his cards’ high energy costs.
• RE2’s Annette Birkin specializes in buffing her monsters’ potency, and can call in the hulking G-Birkin form of her mutated husband to devastate Survivors.
• Alex Wesker specializes in setting traps and manipulating the battlefield. Drop her deadly, stationary plant monster, Yateveo, in front of an important objective to disrupt the Survivor’s escape.
• Ozwell Spencer’s obstructing Disintegration Field is on a short cooldown. Use it frequently to slow Survivor progress, and place it near monsters, which can pass right through it.
• Identify every map’s choke points and drop boss monsters like Mr. X and William Birkin there when the Survivors approach.
• Corner Survivors in a single, tight room when summoning boss monsters. Area-of-effect attacks dominate in tight spaces.
• Build a defense of traps and monsters around the Supply Zombie – a special monster Survivors can take out to earn valuable items. If this special zombie survives, the Mastermind is rewarded a powerful card.
• Close the dang doors! Even this minor bit of housekeeping adds up to slow Survivor progress. You can also lock doors and turn off lights to throw off Survivors.

Reading this after getting hands on with the game post-Beta or after launch? Share your own tips in the comments below. Resident Evil Resistance drops on PS4 April 3, bundled together with the stunning Resident Evil 3 remake.