Apex Legends: The complete weapons guide

Apex Legends currently features 20 weapons and this number will increase over time as Respawn Entertainment adds new ones. Players should know the characteristics of all weapons to make the most of them. Damage and Damage Per Second (DPS) are important statistics but there are other factors to consider. In this article, we will review each weapon in depth to provide you all the information there is to know about them.

Apex Legends weapons general information

Weapon Type

There are 6 types of weapon in Apex Legends: assault rifles, shotguns, light machine guns, sub machine guns, snipers and pistols.

Weapons also use different kind of ammunitions: light, heavy, energy, shotgun shells and unique. All ammunitions are available to loot except the Unique type, which is what legendary weapons use.

Weapons: Movement and targeting

As you may have noticed, you will move faster in Apex Legends if you put away your weapon when running. This is true for all types of weapons.

However, if you are aiming with a weapon, you will move at different speed whether you are using a pistol or an assault rifle. This means that it will be easier to shoot you if you are using specific weapons (such as a sniper for example).

Draw time

Similarly, you cannot draw your weapon instantly. A small delay is necessary to equip a weapon and this “draw time” varies per weapon. Pistols are quick to draw whereas heavy machine guns are not.

Full and partial reloads

Weapons can either be partially reloaded or full reloaded. A partial reload is usually much faster than a full reload and should be preferred whenever you have the chance. If your magazine is empty when you reload, you will lose precious seconds that might change the outcome of your fight.

You should never end up with an empty magazine unless you need the last bullets to kill your enemy.

Locational weapon damage

Weapon damage in Apex Legends is divided into 3 parts: head, body and legs. Obviously, headshots will inflict more damage than body shots and even more than legs shots.

Fire modes

Most automatic weapons have 2 fire modes: single and automatic. A few specific weapons can be set in burst and single mode but not in automatic. A hop-up called the “Selectfire Receiver” can be picked up to unlock a new fire mode on the Prowler (Full auto) and the Havoc (Single).

Assault Rifles

Assault Rifles in Apex Legends are somewhat heavy weapons that can be used in single and automatic or burst fire modes. The draw time of an assault rifle is 0.6 seconds which is quite slow. When using an assault rifle while aiming down sight (ADS), your movements are slowed by 50% which makes you an easy target.

Havoc

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Havoc analysis

The Havoc is one of the most peculiar weapon in Apex Legends. It is also one of the hardest to use reliably because of its initial charge time. The Havoc’s damage is significant but the inability to fire instantly is very troublesome. In a one on one situation, you will be at a disadvantage unless you have the Turbocharger mod.

Another particularity of the gun is that it is currently the only hitcan weapon of the game, meaning the bullet will hit its target without any travel time. If you manage to get your hands on a Selectfire Receiver, the Havoc can be used as a sniper replacement (although you will still have to wait 0.5 seconds to shoot).

The Havoc is a complex weapon that many players will not bother picking. Others will try to make it work, especially if they can loot a Turbocharger.

Havoc rating: 4/10 (7/10 with Turbocharger)

VK-47 Flatline

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VK-47 Flatline analysis

The Flatline is the most straightforward assault rifle on Apex Legends. This weapon is average in every way with decent damage, average magazine size and a full automatic fire mode. It’s a good weapon to loot in the early game but its damage is limited by its fire rate and there are other guns that are overall better once you find the correct accessories.

The Flatline’s horizontal spread is also quite disturbing and will most likely affect your accuracy.

Flatline rating: 4/10

Hemlok Burst AR

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Hemlok Burst AR analysis

The Hemlok lacks the ability to be used in full automatic and that cannot be changed with hop-ups. This one major flaw makes it unusable to many Apex Players who dislike the burst mode.

Its overall Damage Per Second is relatively low but a full burst will definitely be felt if you manage to get all 3 bullets on target. There is an important delay between bursts and you should use the Hemlok next to cover if you can. You will most likely lose against a good opponent equipped with an automatic weapon in a one on one situation otherwise.

The Hemlok Burst AR will be ignored by most players who will instead look for an automatic weapon first and foremost.

Hemlok rating: 5/10

R-301 Carbine

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R-301 Carbine analysis

La R-301 Carbine is very popular among Apex Legends players. The R-301 is both accurate, powerful and it can be improved in many ways with its many accessory slots. Its spread is very good and the recoil is easy to control. It can be used up to medium range and it has no real weakeness once you upgrade its magazine size.

R-301 rating: 7/10

Sub Machine Guns

Sub machine guns in Apex legends either use light or heavy ammunitions. You will need 0.35 seconds to draw your SMG and will only lose 14% of your mobility while Aiming Down Sight (ADS).

Alternator

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Alternator SMG analysis

The Alternator SMG is an early game weapon. Its DPS is not great by any means but it is definitely not the worst weapon you can get right after the initial drop either. It resembles the Flatline in many ways and has a similarly low fire rate. Its recoil can be controlled and it will not eat through your stacks of light ammo like other guns.

Alternator rating: 3/10

R-99

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R-99 analysis

The R-99 is a very popular weapon among streamers and pro players. Its high fire rate is terrific and makes it a devastating short range weapon. You can upgrade it with different types of accessories but the most important are probably the magazine and the barrel to improve its recoil.

The spread of the R-99 is mostly vertical and you will have to compensate a lot if you want to hit your shots, especially at medium range.

R-99 rating: 8/10

Prowler Burst PDW

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Prowler Burst PDW analysis

The Prowler Burst PDW is a burst SMG that is average at best without accessories. Once equipped with a Selectfire Receiver, it can be switched to the automatic fire mode to become a completely different gun. Its DPS is more than doubled in full automatic and its spread is very interesting without any horizontal movements.

With an extended magazine to fix its low ammo capacity, the Prowler becomes one of the best weapon in Apex Legends.

Prowler rating: 5/10 (9/10 with Selectfire hop-up)

Light Machine Guns

Light Machine guns are the heaviest type of weapons in Apex Legends. They can only be used in the full automatic fire mode. There are currently only 2 LMGs in the game and they both go through their ammunitions at an alarming rate. The draw time of these weapons is 0.7 seconds. The Aim Down Sight penalty is at 59% which is a big detriment to your mobility while aiming.

Devotion

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Devotion analysis

The Devotion is a very powerful weapon once it is fully charged and maximum fire rate has been reached. A Turbocharger mod can be added to this LMG to remove its charge time.

One of the main issue with the Devotion is its ability to eat through your supply of energy ammo. When the game launched, energy ammo was scarce and even though it is better now, it can still be an issue. It is often best to stock up on this type of ammo as much as you can and this will in turn fill your inventory space which can be a problem.

In close range, the Devotion is one of the best once its achieved its maximum fire rate but you will also be an easy target as you will move very slowly while shooting.

Devotion rating: 5/10 (8/10 with Turbocharger)

M600 Spitfire

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M600 Spitfire analysis

The Spitfire is a death dealing machine in all its glory. It will eat through your heavy ammo stacks the same way it will with your enemies. This machine gun inflicts heavy damage and its strength comes from its magazine size that can be upgraded to 60 with a level 3 Extended Mag.

The barrel and stock accessories are also very helpful to transform the Spitfire into a very accurate and low recoil death machine.

Spitfire rating: 7/10

Sniper Rifles

Sniper rifles are very cumbersome weapons that can only fire shot by shot. They can use either energy, heavy, light and unique ammunitions. The draw time is different for each sniper rifle but is overall slow. The Aim Down Sight (ADS) movement penalty is at 64% which is the worst in Apex Legends.

Triple Take

Triple Take analysis

The Triple Take is a peculiar sniper rifle that fires 3 bullets that spread horizontally. While this can be good at close or medium range, its efficiency goes down as you get farther from your target.

Some players use the Triple Take as a shotgun of sorts as it does good damage if you can land the 3 bullets in a single blow.

The Triple Take becomes a real sniper rifle when you equip it with Precision Choke Hop-up which completely removes the horizontal spread so that the 3 bullets will hit wherever you aim.

Triple Take rating: 4/10 (6 with Precision Choke)

Longbow DMR

Longbow DMR analysis

The Longbow DMR is one of the best sniper rifle in Apex Legends. Its fire rate is quite slow but its damage make up for it. With a Skull Piercer mod, all headshots will deal 50% more damage, enough to cancel the damage reduction from epic and legendary helmets.

Longbow DMR rating: 7/10 (8 with Skull Piercer)

G7 Scout

G7 Scout analysis

The G7 Scout is a light sniper rifle. Its damage is somewhat weak but its fire rate is very interesting. The G7 Scout can be deadly at close or medium range with a Holo or a x2 optic but is usually not as good as a regular automatic weapon in close quarters. The bullet drop is significant at long range which makes it difficult to use for long range fights.

G7 Scout rating: 6/10

Kraber 0.50 CAL

Kraber 0.50 CAL analysis

The Kraber legendary sniper rifle is the complete opposite of the G7 Scout. It is the heaviest of the sniper rifle, is excessively slow to draw and reload and it can inflict an incredible amount of damage with a single shot (assuming you don’t miss!). A Kraber in the right hands can be devastating but is really hard to use.

Kraber rating: 7/10

Pump-action weapons

Pump-action weapons use shotgun shells except for the Mastiff which uses unique ammunitions. You will need 0.45 seconds to draw shotgun. The Aim Down Sight (ADS) movement penalty is at 9% which is incredibly low. The Mozambique has no movement penalty while aiming.

Mozambique

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Mozambique analysis

The Mozambique is one of the worst weapons in Apex Legends but it does have a few things going for it. Its damage are decent, so is its fire rate and its triangle looking spread at close range. The main issue comes from its ridiculous magazine size which can only hold 3 ammos.

Only a madman would keep the Mozambique following the initial drop but it can be useful in the very first encounter with another team.

Mozambique rating: 2/10

Eva-8 Auto

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Eva-8 Auto analysis

The Eva-8 is often ignored by Apex Legends players who would rather use the Peacekeeper. Despite this, the Eva-8 shotgun is a good weapon in close quarters. Its fire rate is very good for a weapon of its type and it inflicts heavy damage. Missing your shot with the Eva-8 is not as bad as slower weapons and its spread is minimal at close range.

Eva-8 rating: 6/10

Peacekeeper

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Peacekeeper analysis

The Peacekeeper is one of the most appreciated weapon in Apex Legends. Despite its low fire rate, it inflicts heavy damage and it can be devastating in close quarters combat. Its spread is very good at close range and good enough at medium range. It can also be used with a Precision Choke to unlock a charge mode that makes it usable at all distances.

Peacekeeper rating: 7/10

Mastiff

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Mastiff analysis

The Mastiff is a shotgun that can deal massive amounts of damage at very close range. Its fire rate is better than the Peacekeeper’s but its spread makes it close to unusable at medium range. Indeed, its spread is only horizontal (similar to the Triple Take) and you will miss most of your bullets if you are too far away from your target.

Mastiff rating: 7/10

Pistols

Pistols are light weapons that shoot in single mode or in automatic mode for the RE45 Auto. They either use light or heavy ammunitions. The draw time for pistols is only of 0.25 seconds which is very low. There is no Aim Down Sight (ADS) movement penalty except for the RE45 (5%). Pistols are great to use if you want to keep on the move while shooting.

P2020

P2020 analysis

The P2020 is in contention with the Mozambique for the title of the worst weapon of Apex Legends. It inflicts very little damage. Its only perk is its accuracy.

This gun will not help you win many fights and should be dropped as soon as possible.

P2020 rating: 1/10

RE 45 Auto

RE45 Auto analysis

The RE45 auto is a peculiar pistol that is decent in the early game. It shares many characteristics with light SMGs. Its fire rate is good thanks to its automatic mode and so is its DPS.

This weapon is only reliable at close range but is not as good as other close range options.

R45 rating: 3/10

Wingman

Wingman analysis

The Wingman is a great weapon if you can land your shots reliably. It is one of the most used weapons among pro players and streamers who even call it “broken”. The Wingman does immense amounts of damage and can destroy your opponents if you headshot them, especially since it can be equipped with a Skull Piercer mod which further increase the damage done to the head.

The Wingman is reliable at any range, provided you can compensate for the bullet drop at long range.

Wingman rating: 7/10