Of all the resources you'll scavenge in the gothic nightmare of Resident Evil Village, Lei is the lifeblood that fuels your survival. This ancient currency, traded by the enigmatic Duke, is the key to upgrading your weapons, expanding your inventory, and purchasing crucial supplies. While slaying monsters and looting drawers yields some return, the true path to wealth lies in the systematic hunting and selling of the game's numerous treasures. However, not all treasures are created equal. Selling them haphazardly is a rookie mistake; a strategic approach maximizes your cash flow exactly when you need it most. This guide provides the optimal selling order for your treasures to ensure you're always financially equipped to face the horrors ahead.
The Golden Rule: Never Sell Immediately (Well, Almost Never)
The first and most crucial principle is patience. The Duke’s prices are fixed, but the value of a treasure can change dramatically once you combine it with other items. Many treasures are not in their final form. You will find treasures that are incomplete, such as a Sword missing its Hilt, or a Crystal Skull that can be combined with other crystals. Never sell a treasure component until you are absolutely certain it cannot be combined further. The Duke’s menu will always indicate if an item is combinable. A composite treasure is always worth significantly more than the sum of its parts. Your inventory is large enough to hold these items, so hold them until they are complete.
Phase 1: The Castle Dimitrescu Run (Early Game Cash Infusion)
Your first major treasure hub is Castle Dimitrescu. The funds you acquire here are vital for your first major weapon upgrades, particularly for the LEMI handgun and the M1897 shotgun.
High-Priority Sells (Sell These First):
- Crystal Skulls & Crystal Fragments: These are pure, high-value cash items. They serve no other purpose. Sell any complete Crystal Skull immediately for a quick and substantial Lei boost. Hold fragments until you have a complete set.
- Maroon Eye Ring: Found in the Dinner Room, this ring exists only to be sold. It’s an early-game cash injection.
- Extra Gunpowder and Chem Fluids (Judiciously): While crafting materials are precious, early on you might need a small Lei top-up. If you have an abundance of 8-10 Gunpowder, selling 2-3 won’t cripple your crafting potential but can give you the last few Lei needed for a critical upgrade.
Hold and Combine:
- Sword & Scabbard: You will find the Sword early and the Scabbard later in the castle. Combine them to create the Sword of Salvation, vastly increasing its value. Sell the combined product immediately.
- Gold Ingots & Silver Ingots: These are components for much larger treasures. Do not sell them individually.
What to Buy: Use this early Lei to get the Weapon Upgrade for your shotgun (increased power) and handgun (increased capacity). Consider buying the Sniper Rifle from the Duke as soon as it becomes available after the castle; it's a crucial tool for the next area.
Phase 2: House Beneviento and the Reservoir (Mid-Game Consolidation)
This phase is less about immediate selling and more about collection and combination. You’ll acquire several high-value components.
High-Priority Sells:
- Any complete, non-combinable treasure: This includes items like the Golden Lady Statue from the Beneviento house or the Crystal Axe.
- The Sniper Rifle Scope: Once you’ve attached it to your rifle, the treasure item itself is used up. Sell the now-useless "Sniper Rifle Scope" inventory item for pure profit.
Hold and Combine (The Critical Phase):
- Four-Winged Unborn Key: This is your most important asset. DO NOT SELL IT. You will use it to open the four-winged Unborn Chest in the Duke’s workshop area later, which contains the Giants Chalice.
- Gold Ingots + Silver Ingots + Giants Chalice: This is the single most valuable combination in the game. Once you have the Giants Chalice from the Unborn Chest, combine it with one Gold and one Silver Ingot to create the Crystal Chalice, worth a staggering 110,000 Lei. This is your end-game financial goal.
- Necklace with Two Holes + Two Red Jewels: Combine these to form the Ruby Necklace.
- Gold Bar + Silver Bar: Found in the Reservoir, combine these to create the Gold Bar (Combo), significantly increasing its value.
What to Buy: Funds here should go towards upgrading your Sniper Rifle's power and your shotgun’s capacity. Also, strongly consider investing in the SYG-12 shotgun from the Duke if you have spare Lei, as it’s a powerhouse.
Phase 3: Return to the Village & Heisenberg's Factory (Late Game Power)
By now, you should have a inventory full of combined treasures and the components for the Crystal Chalice. This is your payday.
The Big Payday (Sell in this order for maximum effect):
- Sell all "junk" treasures: Any remaining Crystal Skulls, statuettes, and completed necklaces. This should give you a healthy amount of Lei.
- Craft and Sell the Crystal Chalice: This 110,000 Lei windfall is your key to dominating the endgame. Do this as soon as you have all three components.
- Sell the Crystal Chalice and other high-value composites: This massive cash injection will leave you flush with Lei.
What to Buy: This is where you max out your arsenal. Focus all funds on fully upgrading the power of your preferred main weapons:
- STAKE Magnum: The most powerful weapon in the game. Its upgrades are extremely expensive but worth every Lei.
- SYG-12 Shotgun: A fantastic alternative for close-quarters devastation.
- WCX Assault Rifle: Excellent for dealing with fast-moving enemies in the factory. Also, purchase all available rocket ammo and first aid meds to prepare for the final bosses.
General Tips and Tricks
- Examine Everything: Some treasures, like the Angie's Doll or the Crystal Cube, must be examined and rotated to break them open and reveal their true treasure inside. Always use the "Examine" function on new treasures.
- Map is Key: Your map is color-coded. A red room means there are still items to find. A blue room means you’ve collected everything. Be meticulous and leave no drawer unopened.
- Animal Treasure: Don’t forget to shoot down the Crows and Goats you see. They drop Crystal Skulls and Lei, providing a nice, consistent trickle of income.
- Prioritize Upgrades: A general upgrade priority is: Firepower > Reload Speed > Rate of Fire > Ammo Capacity. More damage per shot is more resource-efficient.
By following this strategic selling order, you transform from a desperate scavenger into a calculated treasure hunter. You’ll ensure that your firepower scales perfectly with the increasing threats of the village, turning the terrifying creatures of the night into lucrative opportunities on your path to saving Rosemary.
