To parry in Resident Evil Requiem, play as Leon and press the Parry/Ready Melee Weapon button (L1 on PS5, LB on Xbox, L on Switch 2, Space on a PC keyboard) just before an enemy’s attack lands. Press it at the last possible moment for a perfect parry, which staggers the enemy, and keep his hatchet sharp, because a blunt hatchet cannot parry at all.
Resident Evil Requiem is the ninth mainline game, which is why so many players search for it as Resident Evil 9. Below: the buttons, perfect parries, sharpening, and the weapon that makes the timing far easier.
Who Can Parry (and When You Get It)
Only Leon can parry. Capcom’s official web manual files the move under “Parrying/Perfect Parrying (Leon Only)”, and the official site describes him as fighting with “an array of firearms and his trusty hatchet,” plus “melee attacks, parries, and even enemy weapons.” Grace, the game’s other playable character, fights up close with a knife and can use one to break free of a grab, but she has no parry.
Leon first becomes playable in the story’s second section, Elbridge, right after Grace’s opening at the Wrenwood Hotel, and he carries the hatchet from the start of his sections. Director Koshi Nakanishi has said in interviews that Leon accounts for roughly half of the game, so there is plenty of time to learn the timing. He is 49 here, per our guide to Leon’s age in every Resident Evil game.
Parry Buttons on Every Platform
These are the default inputs from Capcom’s official web manual, which labels the button “Parry/Ready Melee Weapon”:
- PS5: parry with L1. Hatchet attack is R2, and holding L1 then pressing R2 does a stronger attack.
- Xbox Series X|S: parry with LB. Attack is RT, stronger attack LB + RT.
- Nintendo Switch 2: parry with L. Attack is ZR, stronger attack L + ZR.
- PC with a controller: same as Xbox (LB to parry).
- PC keyboard and mouse: parry with Space. Left mouse attacks and right mouse aims.
Every input can be remapped. Go to Options, then Controls, then Controller for Button Configuration, or Keyboard and Mouse for Key Configuration.
Normal Parry vs Perfect Parry
Capcom’s manual describes two tiers. A normal parry lets you “parry certain enemy attacks.” A perfect parry happens when you “time it just right,” and it “will stagger your enemies.”
Guides agree on the details. A normal parry blocks the hit and shoves the enemy back a step. A perfect parry, which has a noticeably smaller timing window, knocks a zombie down to its knees and sets up a follow-up. The manual explains that follow-up: once a melee hit knocks an enemy to the ground or into a wall, you get a short window to press Attack (R2, RT, ZR or left mouse) for a finishing attack.
Players note there is no on-screen prompt telling you a parry is available, so the tell is the enemy’s wind-up. Wait for the swing to commit, then press parry late rather than early.
Keep the Hatchet Sharp or You Cannot Parry
Every hatchet swing and every parry wears down the blade. The manual is blunt about it: “If the hatchet’s durability reaches zero, the blade will dull and become unusable,” and “you can’t parry with a blunt hatchet.”
The fix is free. While the hatchet is dull, the manual gives two ways to sharpen it:
- Hold Parry and press Reload: L1 + Square on PS5, LB + X on Xbox and PC controller, L + Y on Switch 2.
- Press Attack while it is blunt: R2, RT, ZR or left mouse.
On keyboard, several guides report a dedicated sharpen key (E by default), which you can check or rebind under Key Configuration. The PlayStation Blog’s preview notes that the sharpness meter “doesn’t break when depleted,” and guides agree that sharpening in the main story is unlimited.
What You Can and Cannot Parry
Capcom only promises “certain enemy attacks.” Here is what guides and previews add:
- Zombie swings, weapon attacks and thrown objects: parryable, according to multiple guides and player reports.
- Chainsaws: parryable. The PlayStation Blog preview says “a well-timed press of L1 allows Leon to parry the shredding teeth of the chainsaw.”
- Some late-game projectiles: guides report Leon can bat these away too.
- Explosions, area attacks and traps: most guides list these as unparryable, though one outlet disagrees, so dodge them.
- Grabs: guides disagree. Treat a grab as something to avoid rather than something to parry.
How to Make Parrying Easier
Hatchet upgrades bought with Credits raise power (Fortified Blade) and durability (Improved Grip), according to several guides. Neither widens the timing window, but more durability means more parries between sharpenings.
The real help is a second hatchet, the Mortal Edge. Several published guides report that it has a much wider parry window. They say it drops from a boss in the game’s final area and, after you finish the story, can be bought in the Special Content shop for 3,000 CP.
Capcom has not said that difficulty changes the window, and the manual’s Casual mode notes only mention wider aim assist and easier enemies. Some Steam players say parrying feels tighter on Insanity, and the manual’s accessibility presets list no parry assist. As of the current patch, none of Capcom’s official update notes (through the June 25, 2026 update) mention parry or the hatchet.
Requiem also appears on our list of the best horror games of 2026, and Capcom’s other big 2026 release has its own timing system, covered in our Onimusha Way of the Sword parry and deflect guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Grace parry in Resident Evil Requiem? No. The official manual lists parrying as Leon only; Grace fights with a knife.
Why did my parry suddenly stop working? Your hatchet is probably blunt. Hold Parry and press Reload, or press Attack, to sharpen it.
Does sharpening the hatchet cost anything? Not in the main story. Guides agree it is free and unlimited there. The Leon Must Die Forever minigame, added in a May 2026 update, reportedly treats hatchet repair as a limited resource.
Can you change the parry button? Yes. Options, then Controls, then Button Configuration (controller) or Key Configuration (keyboard and mouse).
Is there a setting that makes parrying easier? There is no parry assist in the accessibility options. The practical shortcut is the Mortal Edge hatchet, which guides report has a much wider parry window.