If you played 2019’s A Plague Tale: Innocence, you probably remember the rats. Scratch that, you definitely remember the rats. They poured through streets like a furry tsunami, devoured soldiers in seconds, and made journey in the shadows a guaranteed death sentence for Amicia and Hugo. That was not enough, A Plague Tale: Requiem cranks that horror up several notches. There are more rats, even more than its predecessor, nasty swarms, and set pieces that make you think you’re about to be buried alive under a tide of squeaking teeth.
Just after a few minutes into the game, one question will come to your mind, “Can I kill these rats in Requiem?” You now have new weapons, big maps, and a slightly more battle-hardened Amicia at the helm. Surely the sling, crossbow, and a little alchemy can thin the herd, right? Let’s talk about it.
Can You Kill the Rat Swarms in A Plague Tale: Requiem?
No, you can’t kill rats in A Plague Tale: Requiem in any permanent or satisfying way. The swarms aren’t a usual enemy you can whittle down like guards or armored brutes. They’re more of a natural disaster kind of like “living lava flow with teeth.”
If you were hoping for a magic crossbow that mows through rodents like medieval pest control, you’re going to be disappointed. The game doesn’t give you any mechanics to kill rats en masse. The swarms are infinite, respawning, and introduced to funnel you into stealth and puzzle-solving rather than brute force.
You’ll notice early on that they behave more like terrain hazards, like pools of death that decide where you can and can’t walk. Trying to fight them is a quick way to get eaten alive, stick and all.
What Works Against Rats in Requiem
While you can’t kill them, you can manipulate the rats through fire, alchemy, and Hugo’s unsettling party tricks:
- Fire & Light – Torches, braziers, or even hanging lamps are the best picks. Rats scatter instantly when lit sources are nearby, sticks burn out in about 15 seconds, so be quick.
- Alchemy Mixes:
- Ignifer: Lights up torches, arrows, jars, and clears space.
- Extinguis: Puts out flames, which sounds counterintuitive unless you want rats to attack guards carrying torches.
- Tar: Boosts fire’s brightness or creates a sticky fuel patch that burns longer.
- Odoris: Lures swarms to one spot to clear your path.
- Environmental Tricks – Swing lanterns with your slingshot, drop chandeliers, or bait soldiers into the dead zone.
These tools don’t destroy rats, but they redirect or delay them.
Hugo’s Rat Abilities
Later chapters let Hugo show off his macula “gift”, which means you get to control the very thing that’s been trying to eat you. You can ping the area and highlight enemies based on the blood in their veins. Further, enter first-person swarm view and steer the horde into hapless guards. Use it too often and he’ll stress out and put himself and Amicia in danger. So, you can kill with rats in Requiem, but you can’t kill the rats.
Some of the most interesting moments in the game are the scripted chase sequences where the swarms flood tunnels or streets, forcing you to sprint. A few tips:
- Hold sprint for life. Don’t pace yourself; the rats won’t.
- Watch the camera shifts. They like to jerk the perspective right before a corner.
- Hit prompts quickly. Don’t miss a jump or crawl input, or you’ll be their prey.
Think that in Requiem, guards are obstacles, but rats are inevitable, and inevitability doesn’t die.
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