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Resident Evil Licker

Resident Evil's Licker is a terrifying foe that’s sure to leave you trembling as you fight for survival in the perilous Raccoon City.

Resident Evil Licker in front of a screenshot of a licker on the ceiling

What is a Resident Evil Licker? Undoubtedly, Resident Evil Lickers are one of the most iconic enemies to appear in Capcom’s horror series. You immediately know if you’re in the presence of a Licker due to just how abhorrent they are, and their nature matches their ghastly appearance. Since 1998, these creatures have been causing havoc for your favorite Resi survivors, but while they’re incredibly dangerous, there are ways to make them less of a threat.

While Lickers are an iconic monster, they don’t quite reach the height of Resident Evil’s Mr X, Resident Evil’s Nemesis, or Resident Evil’s Wesker, all three of which are at the top of their game, serving as primary antagonists. Then there’s Resident Evil’s Lady Dimitrescu, who, for all of her grace and decorum, is also a pretty vile creature when you get past her initial appearance.

Here’s everything you need to know about Resident Evil’s Licker.

A Resident Evil Licker lunging at Claire Redfield as she uses a knife to defend herself

What is a Resident Evil Licker?

The Licker is an iconic enemy from the Resident Evil franchise, though unfortunately for Resident Evil’s Claire and Resident Evil’s Leon, they’re the first two protagonists from the series that encounter this monstrosity. Oh, and should you wonder how it got its name, it’s due to its incredibly large tongue.

Sound is your enemy when it comes to Lickers, as they can hear a pin drop and detect exactly where it fell, meaning your footsteps are essentially you screaming, ‘Hey, look at me, yoohoo.’ So, while running is your first instinct, it’s not the best on this occasion, as not only can Lickers hear you, but they move at alarming speeds, and the last thing you need is to have numerous ones pursuing you, which can happen.

Instead, we suggest you approach each corridor and room with caution, keeping a big gun on hand to deal with them swiftly should they detect you. Yes, the sound of your firearm may attract more that are nearby, but if you have the magnum, grenade launcher, or shotgun at your disposal, you can deal with them with no problem. However, you might need something with a bit more kick in later games. Regardless of which game it is you’re playing, Lickers hit hard, so make sure you have some healing items on hand.

The truly strange thing about Resident Evil Lickers is that not even Umbrella can tell you what causes a zombie to mutate into one – it’s an utter mystery.

What does the Resident Evil Licker look like?

The best way to describe the appearance of a licker is as an inside-out human with sharp claws, a long tongue, and an overly large brain, and yes, that’s just as terrifying as it sounds. However, make no mistake, they don’t walk around like a human. Rather, they tend to move at high speed on all fours.

They are horrific beasts, killing machines that don’t hesitate to make you their latest victim.

Claire Redfield crawling away from an enraged Resident Evil Licker that's ready to pounce

Resident Evil Licker appearances

Unsurprisingly, an iconic Resident Evil monster like this is present in plenty of the videogames, as well as a few appearances in the Resident Evil movies. In fact, when it comes to Resident Evil games, the Resident Evil Licker appears in:

  • Resident Evil 2
  • Resident Evil 2 Remake
  • Resident Evil Survivor
  • Resident Evil: Code Veronica
  • Resident Evil Outbreak
  • Resident Evil Outbreak File 2
  • Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles
  • Resident Evil 5
  • Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles
  • Biohazard Survival Door
  • Biohazard Outbreak Survive
  • Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City
  • Teppen
  • Resident Evil 3
  • Resident Evil Resistance

As for movies, you can spot the Licker in:

  • Resident Evil
  • Resident Evil: Apocalypse
  • Resident Evil: Retribution
  • Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City
  • Resident Evil (Netflix)
  • Resident Evil: Damnation

There you have it, everything you need to know about Resident Evil Lickers. If the thought of these creatures is too much for you, yet you want some scares, check out our FNAF games and horror games lists. The latter features titles from all sorts of genres, such as Japanese horror, indie, aliens, survival, and more.