How to Parry in RE9: Leon's Hatchet Combat Guide
The parry system in Resident Evil 9: Requiem is one of the most rewarding and skill-intensive mechanics in the game. Learning how to parry in RE9 can mean the difference between burning through your entire healing supply and walking out of an encounter untouched. This guide breaks down the exact parry timing, which enemies can be parried, hatchet durability management, and advanced techniques that will elevate your combat game.
How Parrying Works
Parrying in RE9 uses Leon's Hatchet as the primary tool. To perform a parry, hold L2 (PlayStation) / LB (Xbox) to enter guard stance, then press the button again when an enemy attack commits forward. The timing window is tight, requiring you to react after the enemy begins their attack animation but before the hit connects.
A successful parry staggers the enemy, opens a critical hit window, and reduces incoming damage to zero. A failed parry still blocks partial damage but does not create a stagger opportunity.
💡Practice in the Hotel Basement
The Wrenwood Hotel basement contains slow-moving enemies with telegraphed attacks. Use this area to practice parry timing before facing faster opponents later in the game.
Parry Timing Breakdown
The parry window varies by enemy type. Here is a breakdown of the timing for common enemies:
| Enemy Type | Parry Window | Telegraph | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Zombie | ~400ms | Arm raise, lunge forward | Easy |
| Armored Zombie | ~350ms | Shoulder charge wind-up | Easy |
| Molded (Basic) | ~300ms | Arm swipe from side | Medium |
| Molded (Blade) | ~250ms | Overhead blade swing | Medium |
| Licker | ~200ms | Tongue flick before lunge | Hard |
| Commander Soldiers | ~250ms | Weapon swing, varies by weapon | Hard |
| Boss Attacks | ~200-350ms | Varies by boss | Varies |
Step-by-Step Parry Guide
Step 1: Enter Guard Stance
Hold L2/LB to raise Leon's Hatchet into guard position. While in guard stance, Leon moves slower but can block incoming attacks for reduced damage even without timing a perfect parry.
Step 2: Watch for the Attack Commit
Every enemy attack has a two-phase animation: the wind-up (preparatory motion) and the commit (the actual forward strike). You want to press the parry button during the commit phase, not the wind-up. Pressing too early is the most common mistake.
Step 3: Time the Press
Press L2/LB again at the moment the enemy's attack moves toward you. You will hear a distinct metallic clang and see a visual flash if the parry succeeds. The enemy staggers backward, exposing their weak point.
Step 4: Follow Up with a Critical Hit
After a successful parry, press R2/RT to deliver a powerful critical hit. This deals approximately three times normal melee damage and often kills standard enemies outright. Against bosses, critical hits after parries are your primary damage window.
⚠️Hatchet Durability Cost
Every parry attempt (successful or failed) consumes Hatchet durability. An unupgraded Hatchet can handle roughly 15 parries before breaking. Always repair at workbenches and prioritize Hatchet durability upgrades. See our best weapons guide for the full upgrade path.
Advanced Parry Techniques
Chain Parrying
Some enemies, particularly Molded variants, chain two or three attacks in quick succession. After parrying the first attack, stay in guard stance and parry each subsequent hit in the combo. Chain parrying awards bonus damage on the critical hit follow-up.
Directional Parrying
Attacks from different directions require slightly different timing. Side swipes have a marginally wider parry window than overhead strikes. When facing groups, prioritize parrying the enemy directly in front of you and dodge sideways to avoid flanking attacks.
Parry Canceling
You can cancel a parry stance into a dodge roll by pressing the dodge button during the guard animation. This is essential against unparryable attacks, which are telegraphed by a red flash on the enemy. If you see the red flash, cancel immediately into a dodge.
Attacks You Cannot Parry
Not every attack in RE9 is parryable. The following attacks must be dodged:
- Grab attacks (enemy grabs Leon directly, telegraphed by both arms extending)
- Area-of-effect attacks (ground slams, acid pools)
- Projectile attacks (thrown objects, ranged acid)
- Red-flash attacks (powerful unblockable strikes from bosses)
Learning to distinguish parryable from unparryable attacks is critical, especially on Insanity difficulty where mistiming a parry against an unblockable attack results in massive damage.
Can Grace Parry?
Grace cannot parry in the traditional sense. Her first-person gameplay focuses on evasion and stealth rather than direct combat. However, Grace has a timed block mechanic using her knife that reduces incoming damage if activated at the right moment. This is less effective than Leon's parry system and does not create critical hit openings.
For Grace's combat strategies, focus on the crafting system to produce injectors and defensive items rather than relying on melee encounters.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you parry in RE9?
Hold L2/LB to enter guard stance with Leon's Hatchet, then press the button again when an enemy attack commits forward. The timing window is tight, typically between 200ms and 400ms depending on the enemy type.
Does parrying use Hatchet durability in RE9?
Yes. Every parry attempt, whether successful or failed, consumes Hatchet durability. Upgrading Hatchet durability at workbenches is essential, and it should be your first upgrade priority in the best weapons upgrade path.
Can you parry boss attacks in RE9?
Yes, most boss melee attacks can be parried. Boss attacks telegraphed by a red flash are unparryable and must be dodged. Parrying boss attacks creates the longest stagger windows in the game, making it the most efficient damage strategy for skilled players.
What happens if you fail a parry in RE9?
A failed parry still blocks partial damage (approximately 50% reduction) but does not stagger the enemy or create a critical hit opening. You still lose Hatchet durability on a failed parry.
Is parrying required to beat RE9?
No. You can complete the game without parrying by relying on firearms, dodging, and stealth. However, parrying is highly recommended on Standard Classic and Insanity difficulties where ammo is scarce and enemies are more aggressive.
Now that you understand RE9's parry system, combine this knowledge with the best weapons tier list to optimize Leon's loadout, or revisit the beginner tips for a comprehensive overview of all core mechanics.