What is a Resident Evil game without great boss fights? Even Resident Evil 4 retains the thrilling special encounters despite all the changes it makes from the original formula. The game is filled with tough enemies who periodically show up, but this list focuses purely on the big bosses who only show up once or have a part in the plot.

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In addition to ranking them from easiest to hardest, we'll also give a tip or two on how to defeat them. For the most part, experienced players should not have too much trouble besting even the tougher bouts in the campaign.

8 Ramon Salazar

With the right equipment, Ramon Salazar can literally be beaten without moving. The tricky part is being accurate enough to hit the moving eye in front of you enough times for Salazar's shield to come down. Use either a shotgun or a TMP to hit it. Once Salazar reveals himself, use a magnum to unleash serious damage against him. With the power of a Broken Butterfly or Killer 7, you should only have to do this two times or so to beat him. Considering the lead up to Salazar, it is surprising how easy he is.

7 Del Lago

Del Lago is interesting for how uniquely the encounter plays. Leon, who is first introduced to fans in Resident Evil 2, is dragged by the beast while on a small canoe and must throw harpoons in order to do damage. Dodging its moves can be difficult and it easily knocks Leon off the boat if you make a mistake. Get knocked off too many times and the button mashing minigame to climb onto the boat gets harder. Once you know its attack patterns, dodging Del Lago is a breeze.

6 El Gigante

Several El Gigantes pop up throughout the story, and one of them is even optional. However, each time Leon encounters it, it is intimidating enough to count as a boss encounter. The first time you fight him in an open area is quite simple.

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As long as you save the dog in the beginning of the game from the bear trap, you should have no problem taking it out. The second, optional fight is in a narrow space and with Ashley in tow. The last encounter sees you fighting two at once, though you can kill one immediately by opening a trap in the middle of the room. An enemy who looks exactly like El Gigante appears in Resident Evil 5 too. 

5 Chief Menendez

Chief Menendez serves as the big boss of the first chapter. At first he is in his trench coat, but eventually sheds his legs and becomes more agile. As long as you're accurate with the rifle, you should have no problem staggering him quickly, preventing him from getting too close. Just keep your wits about you, because occasionally you will have to dodge attacks with a button prompt. We recommend climbing to the second level of the battle area and keeping your back to the wall.

4 U-3

This boss curiously has almost no introduction other than a line of dialogue from Lord Saddler. It has two phases. At first all you have to do is unlock the doors of the hanging rooms and progressively make your way through them. Afterwards, you fight it in a small arena.

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It is difficult to stay still without getting hit, but you can trap it momentarily by activating the gates with a switch. Use the red explosive barrels to do extra damage. It momentarily burrows underground which will then prompt a dodge, leaving itself momentarily vulnerable.

3 Verdugo

More memorable than the boss fight is Leon's dumb quip towards Salazar beforehand. When Salazar says he is sending his right hand man to deal with Leon, the protagonist says "Your right hand comes off?". The best way to do damage is by knocking off canisters that freeze it. Shoot it up while it is incapacitated. There are more than enough canisters to dispose of the boss. The hardest part are the narrow hallways where it is quite easy for the enemy to push Leon into a corner.

2 Lord Saddler

Of course the last boss is going to be one of the hardest. Even so, Lord Saddler is not too troublesome as long as you are well equipped. He moves fast and some of his attacks do major damage, so be sure to keep your distance. He also throws steel beams at Leon occasionally. Shoot at the eyes on his legs which will stagger him. In this staggered state he exposes his eye. From here you can either approach the injured saddler and attack him with your knife or shoot at it with a powerful weapon. The final blow traditionally comes from a RPG rocket Ada Wong throws at Leon.

1 Jack Krauser

Before the main fight, you have to run around the area while Krauser chases you. You may need to expend some ammo to keep him off your back during this phase. In the final phase, Krauser is not difficult but tricky to hit. The time limit puts another layer of pressure on the player. Even if you manage to kill him before the explosive go off, you still have to leave the area with the remaining time. You need at least an extra thirty seconds to escape. Surprisingly, the knife staggers him quickly. Grenades also help drop him to his knees fast.

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