How to Beat The Commander in RE9: Parry Strategy
The Commander is one of the hardest boss fights in Resident Evil 9: Requiem, and learning how to beat The Commander in RE9 demands complete mastery of the hatchet parry system. This imposing, Hunk-like operative confronts Leon inside the ARK facility, and unlike every other boss in the game, The Commander is immune to firearm damage. Guns, grenades, and explosives do nothing. The only way to deal damage is through perfectly timed hatchet parries followed by counter-attacks. This RE9 Commander boss guide provides the complete parry timing breakdown, attack pattern analysis, and phase-by-phase strategy for this grueling encounter.
Before attempting this fight, you must be confident with hatchet parrying. Read our how to parry guide thoroughly and practice on regular enemies. Our best weapons guide also covers hatchet durability management, which is critical for this encounter.
Who Is The Commander in RE9?
The Commander is a heavily augmented human operative who serves as Victor Gideon's personal enforcer within the ARK facility. Wearing tactical gear and a gas mask that evokes the iconic Hunk from Resident Evil 2 and 4, The Commander is not a mutated bioweapon but rather a combat-enhanced human who has undergone cybernetic modification.
Key characteristics of The Commander:
- Health pool: Approximately 6,000 HP on Standard (9,000 HP on Professional), but damage can only be dealt through parry counters
- Gun immunity: Takes zero damage from all firearms, explosives, and throwable weapons
- Damage source: Only hatchet parry counter-attacks deal damage (approximately 400 per successful counter)
- Fighting style: Close-range martial arts combos with a combat knife, mixing feints and delayed attacks
- Hatchet durability cost: Each parry consumes durability. You need at least 2 hatchets for this fight
🚨Hatchet Requirement
You MUST have at least one hatchet in your inventory to fight The Commander. If your hatchet breaks during the fight and you have no backup, you cannot deal damage and must restart from your last save. Carry two hatchets into this encounter. There is one hatchet pickup in the room before the boss arena if you missed collecting extras earlier.
How to Beat The Commander: Parry Timing Guide
Understanding the Parry Window
The parry window for The Commander's attacks is tighter than for regular enemies. You must hold L2 to ready the hatchet, then press the parry button within a 0.4-second window just before his attack connects. On Professional difficulty, this window shrinks to 0.25 seconds.
Visual and audio cues:
- The Commander's knife glints with a brief flash 0.4 seconds before each strike
- A sharp metallic sound effect plays at the moment you should press the parry button
- His shoulder dips slightly on feint attacks, allowing you to distinguish real strikes from fakes
Phase 1: Testing Ground (100% - 60% HP)
The first phase serves as a structured introduction to The Commander's attack patterns. He uses deliberate, well-telegraphed strikes that give you time to learn his timing.
Phase 1 attack patterns:
- Single Knife Slash - A straightforward horizontal slash. Parry window is generous at 0.5 seconds. Counter-attack deals 400 damage.
- Double Slash Combo - Two quick slashes in succession. Parry the first slash only, then dodge backward to avoid the second. Attempting to parry both is extremely risky.
- Overhead Stab - A downward thrust with a 0.6-second windup. Easiest attack to parry. Counter-attack deals 500 damage due to the overhead bonus.
- Feint into Slash - He fakes a horizontal slash then delays the real attack by 0.3 seconds. Watch for the shoulder dip to identify the feint. Only parry the real attack.
Phase 1 strategy:
Focus on parrying the Single Knife Slash and Overhead Stab, as these have the widest parry windows. After each successful parry counter, Leon automatically swings the hatchet for damage and creates distance. Do not chase The Commander. Let him come to you, parry, counter, and repeat.
| Attack | Parry Window | Counter Damage | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single Knife Slash | 0.5 sec | 400 | Easy |
| Double Slash Combo | 0.4 sec (first hit) | 400 | Medium |
| Overhead Stab | 0.6 sec | 500 | Easy |
| Feint into Slash | 0.4 sec (real hit) | 400 | Hard |
| Triple Combo (Phase 2) | 0.3 sec (third hit) | 600 | Very Hard |
| Dash Stab (Phase 2) | 0.35 sec | 450 | Hard |
Phase 2: Escalation (60% - 25% HP)
At 60% HP, a brief cutscene shows The Commander removing his outer tactical vest, increasing his speed. His attacks become faster and he introduces two new patterns.
New Phase 2 attacks:
- Triple Combo - Three rapid slashes ending with a heavy thrust. The first two slashes are too fast to reliably parry. Wait for the third hit (the thrust) which has a 0.3-second parry window. A successful parry counter on the third hit deals 600 damage.
- Dash Stab - The Commander dashes forward and thrusts his knife. This covers distance quickly. The parry window is 0.35 seconds, timed to the moment he plants his front foot.
Phase 2 strategy:
Be more selective about which attacks you parry. The Triple Combo is the highest-risk, highest-reward opportunity. If you are not confident in the timing, dodge backward through the entire combo and wait for a Single Slash or Overhead Stab. Patience is more important than aggression.
💡Hatchet Durability Management
Each parry consumes approximately 5% of your hatchet's durability. A full-durability hatchet can survive roughly 20 parries. The fight requires approximately 15-18 successful parry counters on Standard difficulty. Keep your backup hatchet ready and switch the moment you hear the cracking sound that indicates low durability.
Phase 3: Final Assault (25% - 0% HP)
Below 25% HP, The Commander becomes relentless. He chains attacks with minimal recovery time and introduces a grab attack that must be parried or it deals massive damage.
Critical Phase 3 attack:
- Kill Grab - The Commander lunges forward with both hands. If this connects, he performs a cinematic takedown dealing 60% of Leon's max health. The parry window is 0.4 seconds. A successful parry triggers a unique cinematic counter where Leon disarms him, dealing 800 damage.
Phase 3 strategy:
The Kill Grab is actually your best opportunity in Phase 3 because the parry window is relatively generous and the counter damage is massive. Bait this attack by standing at medium range and waiting. Two to three Kill Grab parry counters will finish the fight.
Why The Commander Is RE9's Skill Check Boss
The Commander is widely regarded as the hardest non-final boss in Resident Evil 9 because it strips away all conventional weapons and forces you to rely on pure skill. While bosses like Plant 43 test strategic thinking and bosses like The Girl test stealth, The Commander tests reflexes and pattern recognition exclusively. Many players consider this the defining boss fight of RE9.
For strategies on every boss encounter, including the final fight that follows this one, visit our RE9 Boss Guides hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you use guns at all against The Commander?
No. The Commander takes zero damage from all firearms, explosives, grenades, and environmental hazards. The only way to deal damage is through successful hatchet parry counter-attacks. This is the only boss in RE9 with complete gun immunity.
How many hatchets do I need for The Commander fight?
You need a minimum of 2 hatchets at full durability to complete the fight on Standard difficulty. On Professional difficulty, the fight requires more parry counters due to higher HP, so bring 3 hatchets if possible. There is one hatchet pickup in the corridor immediately before the boss arena.
What happens if I fail a parry?
A failed parry (pressing too early or too late) results in Leon taking the full damage of the attack and losing hatchet durability. On Standard difficulty, most attacks deal 20-25% of Leon's max health. On Professional, attacks deal 35-45%. The recovery animation after taking a hit is long enough that The Commander may follow up with another attack, so failed parries can cascade quickly.
Is there a way to heal during The Commander fight?
Yes. You can use healing items between The Commander's attack chains. He pauses for approximately 2 seconds between combos, which is enough time to use a First Aid Spray or herb. Keep your healing items on quick access so you do not waste time navigating menus.