The Duke is the instantly recognizable merchant of Resident Evil Village, notable for his cheery demeanor and his rickety Emporium of curiosities. He is an incredibly important asset for protagonist, Ethan Winters, providing him with ammunition, weapons, and important information crucial for him saving his kidnapped daughter.
The Duke is an enigmatic character himself with very little known about his past besides what snippets he provides to Ethan. His addition to the Resident Evil universe is fantastic and he is destined to become an iconic secondary character for the series. Warning potential spoilers ahead!
6 He Seems To Know The Resident Evil 4 Merchant
Perhaps all gun runners in cult-infested villages know each other. At least in the Resident Evil universe, that seems to be true. The Merchant from Resident Evil 4 is an iconic character in his own right, notorious for his snappy catchphrases and seemingly inhuman ability to appear around any corner with guns and ammunition for sale.
In many ways, The Duke fulfills a similar role as a rest stop to sell rare items and obtain weapon upgrades, but apparently they know each other. The Duke will reference the Merchant's penchant for catchphrases and even mentions he is an old friend. It's a small world after all.
5 He Is The Merchant For The Whole Village
The Duke doesn't play favorites when it comes to selling his wares. Ethan might get a lot of the best stuff, but The Duke does business with anyone who is willing to pay his prices, he is very profit driven and isn't afraid to admit it. He even does business with Lady Dimitrescu, setting up shop in her castle. He has extensive information on the village and its history, making him a valuable asset for an outsider like Ethan.
4 He Is Not All About Making Money
Despite his money-driven mannerisms, The Duke is actually quite lively and seems to enjoy his line of work. His cheery quips are a welcome break from the non-stop scares the game delivers. In fact, it is somewhat odd just how unfazed he is by the strange events occurring around the village, perhaps he knows more than he lets on. As the game progresses, he helps Ethan more and more and is eager to assist him on his journey, even though it puts himself in grave danger with the cult of the Four Houses.
3 The Duke Is An Asset For Everyone And Is Not Afraid To Bend The Rules
On the surface, The Duke is a money obsessed mad man with a flair for the extreme, but there is so much more than first glances. Not only does he show sympathy towards Ethan's plight, he also assists the villagers when he can.
He smuggled in newspapers for a villager to let them keep up with the outside world, despite such a deed being prohibited by Mother Miranda. It is unclear how he fully operates within the realms of the village's cult, but he seems to comfortably move around the village with free reign.
2 He Is Faster And Wiser Than Players Might Assume
Similar to the Merchant in Resident Evil 4, The Duke has an almost otherworldly ability to appear and disappear. He is surprisingly fast and has the capacity to set up shop in a manner that no normal human could possibly do. He also has an incredible knowledge of the village's inhabitants, which allows him to guide Ethan throughout his time in Europe. His demeanor suggests he himself might be a part of the village's hierarchy, but his true motives beyond making money are not abundantly clear.
1 There Is More To The Duke Than Meets The Eye
At first glimpse, The Duke is nothing more than a weapons dealer who assists Ethan the way most merchants do in video games, but there is something distinctively bizarre about The Duke. He is knowledgeable of inexplicable things, he is calm and collected despite the terrifying nature of the village, and he is unaffected by Ethan's gunfire or attacks. This suggests he has an immortal quality to his character, similar in many ways to the Resident Evil 4 Merchant's ability to respawn even when killed. It's unclear whether he is a mutant of sorts, or some type of hybrid, but there is a strange quality to his existence. Whether he is a mutated bioweapon himself, an omnipresent being, or just a jolly gun runner, The Duke still maintains a powerful presence in the game and is a critical resource for Ethan in more than one way. It will be exciting to see if he makes any more appearances in the Resident Evil franchise.