As a Resident Evil speedrunner and bolt thrower aficionado boasting a dozen Normal mode clear times under 2 hours, I‘ve truly mastered this unique weapon. Newcomers and experienced players alike often underutilize the bolt thrower‘s advantages and overlook its lethal potential.
In this definitive guide, you‘ll learn insider strategies, best practices, and even some little-known secrets to wield the bolt thrower effectively. You too can gain an edge across every stage of gameplay – from the initial Village encounters to the climactic Mercenaries duels.
Unmatched Ammo Sustainability
While most firearms outside of your basic handgun rapidly drain resources, the reusable bolts set the crossbow apart. Let‘s analyze the crafting costs both for standard bolts and higher-tier explosives:
| Ammo Type | Ingredients | Crafting Yield | Cost Per Bolt |
| Standard Bolt | 1 Knife + 1 Leather | 4 Bolts | 2 Leather per Bolt |
| Standard Bolt | 1 Durable Knife + 1 Leather | 6 Bolts | 1.33 Leather per Bolt |
| Explosive Bolt | 1 Standard Bolt + 1 Gunpowder | 1 Explosive Bolt | 1 Knife + 1 Leather + 1 Gunpowder |
As you can see, basic bolts only set you back 2 resources per 4 projectiles. That‘s exceptional even compared to handgun ammo! Explosive bolts do drain your gunpowder reserves rapidly, but can be deployed strategically against priority threats.
This ammo efficiency lets you eliminate enemies and farm cash/items without touching your magnum or shotgun reserves. Against standard foes like Ganados, one bolt retrieves one bolt – enabling essentially infinite usage if you have ample healing items and play safely.
Upgrading for Max Damage
While the default bolt thrower packs mediocre stats, comprehensive upgrades can transform it into a powerhouse rivaling your endgame firearms:
| Upgrade Type | Default Stats | Maximum Stats |
| Power | 1.2 | 2.4 |
| Ammo Capacity | 5 | 10 |
| Reload Speed | 0.35 sec | 0.15 sec |
As illustrated above, a fully upgraded bolt thrower strikes twice as hard per bolt and reloads in half the time! It also boasts double the ammo capacity, reduced firing interval, and heightened durability. This requires a hefty 153,000 pesetas investment, but pays dividends across all encounters.
I‘d prioritize power and reload speed first – then capacity and rate. Precision only reduces sway for aimed shots, which matters little for close foes. The exclusive upgrade after hitting max level further bumps ammo cap, ensuring you can drop 10 bolts on demand before reloading!
Employing Explosive Bolts Strategically
Once acquired in Chapter 4, explosive bolts can cripple or kill beefy enemies that quickly overwhelm standard bolts:
I recommend saving these costly munitions for priority targets like:
- Garradors: Blast their backs to expose the Plaga weak point
- Colmillos: Detonate under their torsos to inflict massive injury
- Novistadors: Removing invisibility and hind wings in one shot
- Oven Men: High blast radius lets you ignore shield exposure mechanics
- Bosses: Adds precious damage during brief vulnerability windows
You can use explosives more liberally on lower difficulties. But limiting consumption lets you stockpile bolts to sell for major profit!
Efficiency Tactics and Gotchas
While mastering the basic firing mechanics is simple, employing the bolt thrower effectively requires forethought and positioning. Here are some key tactics I‘ve honed across a few thousand hours of Resident Evil 4:
Stick to Mid-Range – Bolts lack hitscan properties and have pronounced gravity drop-off. Don‘t try long-distance sniping!
Focus Body Shots – With sufficient power, body hits stun foes for follow-up attacks. Far faster than lining up headshots!
Don‘t Spam Fire – While swift firing is possible, pace your shots to avoid getting surrounded while stuck reloading.
Watch Your Six! – The long reload leaves you very vulnerable. Don‘t let crowds creep up behind you!
Mine Live Enemies – Explosive bolts sometimes fail to detonate on corpses. Use them only on stunned living targets.
Retrieve or Lose ‘Em – Bolts that hit the ground or water cannot be reused. Fire carefully and collect bolts whenever feasible.
Master these key pointers in addition to quickscoping and you too can clear entire rooms with the underrated bolt thrower! Now let‘s discuss how to integrate this weapon into some advanced strategies.
Dominating Random Encounters
While most players overlook the bolt thrower as soon as flashier firepower unlocks, I leverage it in nearly every encounter to save ammo. The reusable bolts and high reload speed let you alternate headshots and blast foes while they‘re stunned. Employ these sequences:
Zombie Swarms: Headshot – Pistol Headshot – Suplex/Kick – Repeat
Masked Zealots: Leg Shot – Flash Grenade – Magnum Headshots
Ravens: Standard Bolt – Collect Bolt & Item – Repeat
This sustain can let you completely trivialize Standard difficulty! As an expert player, I‘ll offer a behind-the-scenes developer tip as well: bolt thrower shots don‘t degrade your end-level rank even if enemies take damage. So you can farm 5-star ratings with ease on Mercenaries using the strategies above!
Let me wrap up by reiterating that few weapons promote efficiency and enable major skirmishing exploits like a well-upgraded bolt thrower. Resist the urge to sell it the moment sniper rifles drop. A little familiarity with the bolt thrower can carry any gamer to victory on Resident Evil 4 Remake!
