Key Highlights:
- The first Garrador encounter takes place in the Castle Dungeon during Chapter 7.
- Throw a Flash Grenade towards the Garrador before turning the wheel beside the exit gate.
- Keep turning the wheel until the gate is fully raised, then crouch underneath it immediately.
Quick Links:
You can skip the first Garrador fight in Resident Evil 4 Remake by stunning the enemy with a Flash Grenade while Leon opens the Dungeon gate.
The skip takes place immediately after Leon falls through the weakened wooden floor in Chapter 7. Instead of fighting the Garrador, run through the Dungeon, reach the wheel beside the exit gate and use the Flash Grenade to create enough time to escape.
How to Perform the Garrador Skip
After the Garrador breaks free from its restraints, run through the Dungeon corridors towards the exit gate.
The hanging chains make noise when Leon touches them. Avoid as many chains as possible because the Garrador uses sound to locate Leon.
Once you reach the wheel beside the gate:
- Turn around and face the corridor behind Leon.
- Equip a Flash Grenade.
- Throw it towards the approaching Garrador.
- Immediately interact with the wheel.
- Continue turning until the gate is high enough for Leon to pass underneath.
- Release the wheel, crouch and move through the opening.
Do not stop turning the wheel when the gate first begins to rise. Leon needs enough clearance to crouch underneath it before the Garrador recovers.
The Flash Grenade does not defeat the Garrador. It only stuns the enemy long enough for Leon to open the gate and leave the Dungeon.
When Should You Throw the Flash Grenade?
Throw the Flash Grenade immediately before interacting with the wheel.
Throwing it too early wastes part of the stun period while Leon moves into position. Throwing it too late gives the Garrador an opportunity to attack while Leon is locked into the wheel animation.
Listen for the Garrador as you approach the gate. If the enemy is already close behind Leon, create some distance before attempting the skip.
A successful throw should detonate within the corridor between Leon and the Garrador. The blast does not require precise contact because the Flash Grenade affects enemies across an area.
Does the Garrador Skip Work on Professional?
The Chapter 7 Garrador skip works on Professional difficulty.
Its value is greater on Professional because the Garrador inflicts heavy damage and Leon cannot rely on automatic checkpoints. Skipping the fight also preserves ammunition, healing items and knife durability for later Castle encounters.
The execution remains the same on every difficulty. The main risk on Professional is losing time or taking damage while reaching the wheel.
I recommend practising the route on a lower difficulty before using it during a Professional S+ attempt. The grenade timing is straightforward, but colliding with the hanging chains can bring the Garrador closer than expected. Players seeking the Never Heard It Coming achievement should instead fight the Garrador on a separate save.
Can You Parry a Garrador?
Leon can parry most of the Garrador’s direct attacks with his knife. A successful parry prevents damage, but it also reduces the knife’s durability.
Parrying is useful if the Garrador reaches Leon before the Dungeon gate opens. However, crouching and avoiding the hanging chains remains the safer approach because the Garrador relies on sound to track Leon.
During a normal fight, a stealth knife attack can expose the Plaga on the Garrador’s back without spending additional ammunition. This tactic still consumes knife durability, so players should check the knife’s condition before attempting it.
What Happens If the Skip Fails?
Release the wheel and move away if the Garrador reaches Leon before the gate opens.
The Garrador is blind and responds primarily to sound. Crouch, avoid the hanging chains and wait for the enemy to lose track of Leon before returning to the wheel.
Leon can also defeat the Garrador normally by attacking the exposed Plaga on its back. Gunfire, stealth knife attacks and loud environmental noises can create opportunities to reach the weak point.
The skip has succeeded once Leon crouches underneath the raised gate. The Garrador does not need to be killed to complete the Chapter 7 Dungeon section.
Resident Evil 4 Remake contains another useful Castle shortcut during the Goat Head objective. Our Gallery bridge skip guide explains how to prevent the Chapter 9 Zealot from lowering the walkway.
How to Unlock Never Heard It Coming
The Never Heard It Coming achievement or trophy requires Leon to defeat a Garrador using only knives. Firearms, grenades and other weapons cannot contribute damage during the attempt.
The first Garrador in Chapter 7 is a suitable target because Leon can use the Dungeon’s open space and hanging chains to redirect the blind enemy. Crouch behind the Garrador and repeatedly use the knife prompt against the Plaga on its back.
Players pursuing the achievement should fight the Garrador rather than perform the skip. A repaired or upgraded Combat Knife reduces the risk of running out of durability before the enemy dies.
