Summary
- Brad Vickers is a cowardly character who avoids fighting mutants but still saves the day.
- Annette Birkin is a terrifying villain who strategically causes chaos without fighting.
- The Merchant in Resident Evil 4 has an army's worth of weapons but never fights, remaining mysterious.
When zombie and B.O.W. Outbreaks are such a common occurrence, it's always best to be prepared for the worst. As a result, most people in the world of Resident Evil will at least be able to hold their own against a zombie or two, but with that being said, not everyone in this long-running franchise enjoys getting into a fight, with some making it a personal mission to actively avoid direct conflict altogether.
Resident Evil: 8 Most Relatable Characters
In a world full of zombies and mutants, these Resident Evil characters still manage to feel grounded and realistic.
As anyone who is familiar with the Resident Evil games will know all too well, those who aren't willing to stand up and fight can often struggle to make it through their respective games alive, considering the odds are always stacked against them. Despite that, though, there have still been plenty of memorable and intriguing characters who, despite not being fighters, are still a lot of fun to watch ay time they appear on-screen.
Spoiler Warning: The following entries will delve into some major story spoilers for their respective games within the Resident Evil franchise.
7 Brad Vickers (Resident Evil)
Brad Is A Lot More Cowardly Than His Fellow S.T.A.R.S. Teammates
Resident Evil HD Remaster
- Released
- January 20, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
In the very first Resident Evil, Brad spends the entire game circling around the Spencer Mansion in a helicopter, desperately trying to contact his teammates via radio to organize an escape plan. Brad earned the name 'Chickenheart' from the other S.T.A.R.S. Members because of his cowardly personality, and this is a prime example of that. Though he does eventually swoop in to save the day at the very end, it's clear Brad isn't someone who is brave enough to go toe-to-toe with the mutants that Jill and the others face off against.
Brad reappears in Resident Evil 3, though, in all honesty, it feels like more of a quick cameo considering he's mauled to death by Nemesis only minutes after he enters the story. He may be a little timid, but Brad is still a much-beloved character who has become especially well-known due to the memes surrounding his character.
6 Annette Birkin (Resident Evil 2)
Despite Not Being A Skilled Combatant, Annette Still Comes Across As A Dangerous Antagonist
Resident Evil 2
- Released
- January 25, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Capcom
- Publisher(s)
- Capcom
- Genre(s)
- Horror
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Though William Birkin acts as the major overarching antagonist of Resident Evil 2, his partner in crime, Annette, also shows up a little later in the game to become a thorn in the player's side. While William causes chaos in a physical sense, Annette messed with Leon and Claire from behind the scenes, preferring to use a strategic approach rather than rushing in head first to fend off anyone who tries to interrupt her work.
Resident Evil: 9 Strongest Characters, Ranked
The Resident Evil games are filled with terrifying monsters, so it's no surprise that there needs to be strong characters out there to beat them.
Despite showing up so late, Annette is still a great character to watch, primarily because of her witty personality, alongside the mysterious aura that always surrounds her. Annette prefers not to get her hands dirty if she can help it, yet still comes across as a formidable antagonist despite not having any fighting experience.
5 Merchant (Resident Evil 4)
He May Possess An Army's Worth Of Weapons, But The Mysterious Merchant Isn't A Fighter
Resident Evil 4
- Released
- January 11, 2005
WHERE TO PLAY
There are a few times in Resident Evil 4, both the original and remake, when Leon will make a quick comment on the absurd amount of firepower the Merchant is packing at his stalls. However, while he may have more than enough to wipe out much of Saddler's army single-handedly, the Merchant never fires a single bullet throughout the entire game.
Instead, he prefers to keep out of sight, providing Leon with weapons and resources along his journey without getting directly involved with the Ganado himself. The Merchant is undoubtedly one of the most mysterious characters in the series, with his backstory and true identity remaining unclear to this very day, which is a big reason why so many fans have become so fascinated by the shady arms dealer.
4 Ingrid Hunnigan (Resident Evil 4)
Leon's Assistant Is Always There To Keep Him On The Straight And Narrow
Resident Evil 4
- Released
- March 24, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Capcom
- Publisher(s)
- Capcom
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Once Leon was forced to become a special agent under direct command from the president, he soon after met his brand-new partner, Hunnigan. Though Hunnigan doesn't directly join Leon on his missions, she instead guides him via radio. Considering Leon can often get a little sidetracked and distracted at times, Hunnigan is always there to keep him focused on the mission at hand, alongside providing a bit of banter to keep things interesting.
Every First-Person Resident Evil Game, Ranked
There are a few Resident Evil games that defied the franchise's traditions by introducing first-person gameplay.
Though Hunnigan only gets a brief amount of screentime, she's still a great character who has proven to be one of the most loyal companions in the entire series. In a franchise where many characters are more than happy to backstab someone if it saves their own skin, Hunnigan is a shining exception.
3 Excella Gionne (Resident Evil 5)
Excella Uses Her Prestigious Position In Tricell To Support Wesker Without Putting herself In Danger
Resident Evil 5
- Released
- March 5, 2009
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Capcom
- Publisher(s)
- Capcom
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
- OpenCritic Rating
- Fair
Excella clearly hadn't taken the time to read up on who Albert Wesker actually is before partnering up with him, considering she genuinely believed that the evil mastermind cared about her and was looking to have her by his side when he created his new world. Of course, Excella's dreams are ultimately shattered when Wesker betrays her, but before that, she acted as a very useful companion who provided a nice contrast to Wesker's dark and moody persona.
Instead, Excella is very upbeat and sarcastic, but she's also someone who means a lot to the wider story, being a major player in the Tricell corporation. Any time she is intercepted by Chris and Sheva, Excella will use one of her many B.O.W. Test subjects to do her dirty work for her, constantly keeping players on their toes as a result.
2 Zoe Baker (Resident Evil 7)
Zoe Never Confronts Her Twisted Family Directly But Is Still Hugely Important To The Plot
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
- Released
- January 24, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Capcom
- Publisher(s)
- Capcom
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror, Psychological Horror, First-Person
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PC, iOS
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
When Ethan awakens at the Baker's dinner table in front of a gross-looking banquet, one member of the family who isn't there to introduce themselves is Zoe. Due to her partial resistance to Eveline's mold infection, Zoe prefers to reside inside a small trailer outside the main estate, which Ethan can eventually enter once he manages to escape. The truth is, if Zoe wasn't around to tell Ethan about the cure to Mia's infection, he never would have been able to rescue her without inevitably being killed.
She also adds a good amount of tension to the game by giving players the option to either cure her or Mia, forcing them to choose whether they pay her back for her assistance, or leave her behind. Zoe is one of the most interesting characters from Resident Evil 7, being much calmer and more considerate than her corrupted family.
1 Ashley Graham
Ashley Still Manages To Help Leon Out Here And There Without needing To Get Blood On Her Hands
Resident Evil 4
- Released
- March 24, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Capcom
- Publisher(s)
- Capcom
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Ashley, the daughter of the President of the United States, is massively unprepared to fight back against Saddler and his Los Illuminados army. After the evil cult kidnapped Ashley as part of a grander plan, Leon was sent to rescue her, but since Ashley can't fight on her own, it means players need to ensure they're always keeping an eye on her to avoid meeting a Game Over screen.
However, this doesn't end up making Ashley annoying, since she's still a very fun character in her own right (especially in the remake). Her childlike enthusiasm and quirky quips keep the tone of Resident Evil 4 light and fun any time it starts getting a little too dark, and she even has an entire section to herself where she successfully solves a bunch of puzzles while being chased down by possessed mutant knights. The remake of Resident Evil 4 also did an excellent job at fleshing out her character and showing just how terrifying these kinds of scenarios can be for the average person who isn't a supercop or special agent.
Resident Evil: 9 Strongest Characters, Ranked
The Resident Evil games are filled with terrifying monsters, so it's no surprise that there needs to be strong characters out there to beat them.