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In the Resident Evil 4 remake, the Minimalist is an end-game trophy or achievement granted to players who beat the campaign using only handguns and knives. It’s a silver trophy on PlayStation and a 30-Gamescore achievement on Xbox.

But, beginner RE4 players might need help to get this achievement. It limits them to only two weapon types—pistol and knives—equally inadequate in boss fights. If that’s the case, use the following tips to get the Minimalist trophy or achievement with the least hassle.

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Tips for Getting the Minimalist Achievement

Because the goal is to avoid anything but pistols and knives, players are better off without carrying any other weapons. But they are also advised to go for the Minimalist achievement in an Assisted New Game+. (Read on for more tips.)

1. Get the Minimalist in an Assisted NG+

resident evil 4 remake difficulty options

2. Keep a Pistol and Knife, and Store Away Everything Else

image showing the attache case in the resident evil 4 remake.
  • Using any gun other than pistols and knives ends the Minimalist run, which is why players should store away all other guns in advance. Sensibly, having only handguns and blades in the Case leaves no room for mistakes.

Skip any collectible guns like the LE 5 when aiming for the Minimalist.

3. Unlock Infinite Ammo for the Handgun

image showing the cat ears accessory in the resident evil 4 remake.
  • Specific guns like Chicago Sweeper get unlimited ammo when maxed out. But for the Minimalist trophy/achievement, players need infinite pistol ammo. For that, they must complete the Leon “S+” Kennedy challenge—beat the campaign with an S+ rank. The challenge unlocks the Cat Ears apparel, a wearable accessory that gives all pistols infinite magazines. Needless to say, having this attachment would facilitate getting the Minimalist achievement because it would eliminate ammo.

4. Carry a Maxed-Out Primal Knife

  • Getting the Minimalist achievement requires a solid knife, and Primal is just that. A maxed-out model of this blade is unbreakable, allowing for unlimited melee kills—which comes in handy when the player can only rely on pistols and knives.

If possible, combine the Primal Knife with the Deer Antlers Apparel. The accessory sharpens the blade, increasing its power beyond all other knives.

5. Exploit Case Charms that Increase Handgun Ammo Drop

resident evil 4 remake case charm perks stat bonus reward shooting range
  • The Charms are tiny accessories for the Attaché Case with various perks. Players who want the Minimalist achievement should get the ones that boost handgun ammo drop and craft. Handgun Ammo, Leon with Handgun, Don Jose, and Soldier with Hammer are excellent choices.

The Resident Evil 4 remake is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.

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