Look, I get it. You just reached the Merchant in Chapter 8 of the Resident Evil 4 remake, and you see that sleek-looking VP70 sitting there for 10 Spinels. You're probably thinking, "Ten Spinels? That's it?" But then you see the stock costs another 12. Suddenly, your hard-earned blue gems are looking a little thin.
Most players skip it. They stick with the Red9 because they like the "thunk" it makes, or they cling to the SG-09 R because they’re chasing those juicy 5x critical headshots. Honestly? They’re missing out. The Resident Evil 4 Matilda is basically a pocket-sized submachine gun that uses the most common ammo type in the game. But there’s a catch. If you don't know how to handle it, this gun will leave you clicking an empty chamber while a Chainsaw Sister is sprinting at your face.
The Burst Fire Trap (And How to Avoid It)
The Matilda is a weird beast. In the original 2005 game, you had to beat the whole story once to even look at it. In the remake, it shows up midway through your first run. Without the stock, it's just a mediocre handgun with a big magazine. It's fine, I guess. But once you slap that stock on? It gains a three-round burst.
That burst fire is where the magic happens. It’s also where the disaster starts.
If you just hold the trigger down, you'll burn through a 30-round magazine in seconds. You’ve seen the ammo drops. Handgun bullets are everywhere, sure, but they aren't that common. The trick is trigger discipline. You can actually fire single shots or two-round bursts if you’re quick with your finger. This makes it way more versatile than the TMP because each individual bullet still carries the "handgun" stagger multiplier.
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Stat Breakdown: It’s Not Just a Peashooter
People love to call the Matilda weak. They’re wrong. Well, mostly.
If we're talking raw damage per bullet, the Red9 wins with its massive 4.05 (or 4.45 depending on the patch/version stats) firepower. The Matilda sits at a more modest 2.0 damage when maxed out. But here is the thing: the Matilda's rate of fire is essentially "as fast as you can click." When you factor in the three-round burst, the burst-DPS is actually higher than almost any other handgun.
- Firepower: 2.0 (Maxed)
- Ammo Capacity: 60 (Standard Max) / 120 (Exclusive)
- Reload Speed: 1.40
- Fire Rate: 1.63 (Fastest in class)
When you hit that Exclusive upgrade, the capacity jumps to 120 rounds. That is literally more than the Chicago Sweeper starts with. You basically stop playing Resident Evil and start playing a high-speed shooter.
Why the Stock is Non-Negotiable
You’ll see some "pro" guides saying you can save space by leaving the stock in the box. Don't listen to them. Without the stock, the recoil on the Matilda is bouncy and unpredictable. The stock doesn't just give you the burst fire; it stabilizes the reticle so you can actually land all three shots of a burst into a Zealot’s eye socket from across the room. It takes up a lot of space—nine slots total with the gun and stock—but the utility is worth the inventory Tetris.
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The Cat Ears Meta
We have to talk about the "Cat Ears." If you’ve managed to S+ Professional mode (kudos to you, that’s a nightmare), you get the infinite ammo accessory. This is where the Resident Evil 4 Matilda becomes arguably the strongest weapon in the game.
With infinite ammo, the Matilda’s one weakness—ammo consumption—is gone. It suddenly has better accuracy than the TMP, higher damage per second than the Blacktail, and enough magazine depth to never stop firing during the entire Del Lago or Salazar fight. It turns the game into a joke. Even without the Cat Ears, if you're using the Handgun Ammo Charm and the Leon w/ Rocket Launcher charm, you can usually craft enough bullets to treat it like a primary weapon.
Matilda vs. The Big Three
How does it actually stack up when you’re staring down a Garador?
- vs. Red9: The Red9 is for the "one shot, one kill" crowd. It’s reliable but slow. If you miss a shot with the Red9, you’re vulnerable. If you miss with the Matilda, you’ve got 59 more bullets ready to go instantly.
- vs. Blacktail: The Blacktail is the "balanced" choice. It’s small and fast. The Matilda is basically the Blacktail's angry older brother. It’s less "precise" but has way more raw stopping power in a pinch.
- vs. Punisher: No contest. Unless you really, really love shooting through wooden shields, the Matilda outperforms the Punisher in every combat scenario.
How to Get the Most Out of Your Spinels
If you’re going to commit to the Matilda, you need to commit early. Don't half-heartedly upgrade it while also dumping money into the Sentinel Nine. Pick a lane.
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The most efficient way to run this gun is to save your Spinels through the Village. Do the "Blue Medallions" and the "Pest Control" requests. By the time you hit the Castle, you should have enough to buy the gun and the stock immediately.
Real-World Strategy: The "Stagger-Dump"
The best way to use the Matilda isn't to just spray. Hit an enemy in the knee with a single shot to get that stagger. Once they're hunched over, move in and dump a 3-round burst into their head. It’s more ammo-efficient than a shotgun and faster than a melee kick in high-density areas.
Actionable Tips for Your Next Run
- Map your trigger: If you're on PC, practicing the "rhythmic click" can save you hundreds of rounds over a playthrough. You don't always need the full 3-round burst for a crow or a crate.
- Priority Upgrades: Focus on Capacity first. The reload speed is already decent, and the damage matters less than having a massive reservoir of bullets to lean on when things get messy.
- Inventory Management: Since the Matilda + Stock is long, try rotating it vertically on the left side of your case. This usually leaves a perfect 2x3 or 2x4 slot for your knife and herbs.
- Pair with the Primal Knife: If you're using the Matilda, you're going to be in "close-quarters" more often because of the burst nature. Having a knife that doesn't break is the perfect safety net for when you inevitably run dry mid-fight.
Honestly, the Matilda is the most "fun" gun in RE4. It changes the pace of the game. It’s not just a tool; it’s a playstyle. Give it a shot on your next New Game Plus, or if you're feeling brave, make it your primary on a Fresh Professional run. Just... maybe bring some gunpowder. You’re gonna need it.
To get the absolute maximum performance, make sure you're hunting down the Gunpowder and Resources (S) in the early chapters to stockpile ammo before the Castle difficulty spike.