All Goats Of Warding RE8 Locations And Rewards
Tracking down collectibles in survival horror games adds an extra layer of challenge and satisfaction for completionists. In Resident Evil Village, players encounter small wooden carvings known as Goats of Warding scattered throughout the game's atmospheric environments. Finding and destroying every single goat requires a keen eye, thorough exploration, and careful timing during specific story events.
What Are Goats of Warding in Resident Evil 8?
Goats of Warding are carved wooden totems hidden across the terrifying regions of the village, castle, reservoir, and factory. When players get close to one, they can often hear a distinct wooden bobbing sound that signals its nearby presence. Destroying a goat using a knife or firearm permanently records it to your save file, meaning you do not need to collect it again in subsequent playthroughs.
While these collectibles do not provide immediate gameplay buffs or special weapon unlocks upon destruction, they play an essential role for achievement hunters. Tracking them down encourages players to examine every hidden corner and secluded pathway during Ethan Winters' harrowing journey.
Key Locations Across the Village and Castle
The first few Goats of Warding appear early in the game within the central village area, including a prominent shrine near the Maiden of War statue and the roof of the church. As you progress into Castle Dimitrescu, additional totems are concealed behind ladders in the distillery and tucked away inside the attic. Some totems are easy to spot, while others require careful aiming before leaving an area permanently.
Other village areas like the Fallow Plot and the Lone Road also contain hidden wooden totems that can easily be overlooked during intense combat encounters. Returning to previous areas after acquiring key items allows you to clear remaining collectibles before moving onward to major boss arenas.
Finding Goats in Late-Game Regions
As the story moves toward House Beneviento, Moreau's Reservoir, and Heisenberg's Factory, locating totems becomes significantly trickier. For instance, one goat outside House Beneviento sits near a cliff edge behind a fence, while another in the reservoir rests on a wooden pole in the water. In Heisenberg's Factory, players must even shoot a totem while riding a moving elevator between floors.
The final Goats of Warding are located near the Stronghold staircase, inside ventilation ducts, and within the endgame sequence. Missing a goat in temporary locations like the moving elevator means you will need to start another playthrough to destroy it.
In-Game Rewards and Achievements Unlocked
Destroying your very first Goat of Warding unlocks the Cynic achievement, giving players an early taste of success. Once you destroy all 20 Goats of Warding in the base game, you earn the prestigious Heretic achievement alongside a valuable reward.
Completing this collection awards 16,000 Challenge Points (CP), which can be spent in the Extra Content Shop. These points allow you to unlock bonus items, elite weapons, infinite ammunition upgrades, and additional game modes. Mastering the locations of these totems ensures you maximize your rewards for future high-difficulty playthroughs.