The best guns in Apex Legends, ranked

The Apex Legends weapon pool has gone through quite a few changes over the last several seasons. With the constant reshuffling of supply drop weapons and the general floor loot pool, it’s tougher than ever to know which gun you should choose. As such, our tier list has gone through quite a few changes. We’ve placed every gun in the game into a tier and given our reasoning as to why you should—or shouldn’t—use it.

Just like our character tier list, the order of weapons in each tier isn’t as important as the tiers themselves. Supply drop weapons have been placed in their own category near the end, and their order does matter—but we’ll get to that later.

Without further ado, here’s every gun in Apex Legends ranked from best to worst.

These rankings are current as of season 17, Arsenal.

Full Apex Legends weapons tier list for season 17

Assault Rifles

Nemesis Burst AR – S tier

Introduced in Season 16, the Nemesis ranks as one of the best guns in the entire game, able to perform well at any range regardless of attachments. The unique trait of the Nemesis is its energy meter, which charges up with each burst fired, filling up to 100 percent with the last shots in a magazine and granting its fastest fire rate in just one mag. With little recoil, large potential for burst damage, and an increasing fire rate the longer a fight goes on, we find the Nemesis to be the number one pick for players of all types, new and returning to Apex Legends.

HAVOC Rifle – A tier

The HAVOC is a hard-hitting assault rifle that rewards proactive players when engaging in fights. Although some players may turn away due to the large and unstable recoil pattern, the HAVOC’s high damage output makes up for the difficulty in use. The Turbocharger hop-up gets rid of the fire delay entirely, allowing players to gain the hard-hitting damage of the weapon instantly, and promotes getting the fire strike in any gunfire.

VK-47 Flatline – A tier

The Flatline is one of the best guns for any player to pick up in Apex. This easy-to-find gun boasts high damage, decent fire rate, and the ability to fire in fully automatic and semi-auto modes. Season 16’s nerfs to assault rifles increased the hipfire spread to all weapons in the class, keeping its identity clear as a proficient mid-range option. The Flatline holds its value after all four years as one of the core weapons that any player can pick up and master with enough time investment and practice.

R-301 Carbine – B tier

The R-301 has been a staple of Apex Legends, but received significant nerfs in season 16 that took down the power of the beloved assault rifle. While it performs very well at long range with single shots, the loss of the Anvil Receiver took away most of the R-301’s long range threat. Season 16’s patch notes also hurt the assault rifle at close range, deceasing its damage by one from 14 to 13 and increasing the hipfire spread in all situations. The R-301 is still very consistent in most situations, but we suggest carrying a powerful sidearm to augment its new close-range weaknesses.

Light Machine Guns (LMGs)

Rampage LMG – S tier

The Rampage stands at the top for its ease of use and the sheer versatility in its kit. Although its base fire rate is the slowest of all LMGs, it compensates with its very low recoil and large magazine size, allowing players to keep the pressure on their enemies longer than other guns. Using a thermite grenade increases the fire rate by 30 percent for two and a half minutes (or until you shoot through the charge-up, with each bullet taking away about three and a half seconds), while allowing the Ramage to be the only gun capable of breaking doors, further pressuring enemies to find new cover or be shot down. We find the Rampage to be the best LMG for new and returning players alike for its versatility in any situation, close range or at long distances.

Devotion LMG – A Tier

The Devotion took a hit at the beginning of season 13 when the devs released wide-ranging nerfs to LMGs. Almost every facet of this legendary gun was tuned down, including its damage per bullet, headshot multiplier, reload time, holster time, and more. Despite greatly benefitting from the Turbocharger hop-up, the Devotion only performs at its best when fully equipped with all compatible attachments, and not every match will guarantee this result. However, if you can assemble all the parts together (of if you can simply create a Gold version of the weapon, like Ballistic), the Devotion is one of the most fearsome guns to fight against, capable of downing entire squads with just one magazine.

M600 Spitfire – B tier

The Spitfire embodies the highs and lows of the entire LMG class through its core design. While boasting the highest base fire rate and magazine size, it suffers from the worst hipfire in the entire game, an issue that cannot be fixed as the Spitfire is incompatible with the barrel stabilizer attachment. Although the Spitfire still serves its purpose as a consistent source of damage and fire in a fight, it is ultimately outclassed by the other LMGs, and players should consider swapping it when the chance presents itself.

Pistols

Wingman – S tier

The friend of high-ranking and pro players alike, the powerful Wingman pistol deals high damage but has equally high recoil and requires precision aim to work well, particularly at mid range. While it was swapped to sniper ammo and attachments at the beginning of season 14, the change had no effect on its damage potential or handling, only requiring players to be wary of their ammo when using the gun.

What did affect its ranking on our list was the addition of the Skullpiercer Rifling hop-up, which was added back to floor loot in season 14. If you can find it, it turns the Wingman into a headshot powerhouse, dealing the highest single shot damage out of all non-sniper guns in the game at 99 to enemies with base level one helmets. This allows skilled players to effectively two-shot enemies if their aim is true. We find the Wingman to still stand at the top of its class, and is the best pistol choice in all of Apex.

RE-45 Auto – B Tier

Despite losing the Disruptor Rounds hop-up after leaving the care package, the RE-45 gains the ability to use Hammerpoint Rounds, giving it a specific use in finishing off fights with 35 percent increased damage to unshielded targets. With the addition of laser sights, the RE-45 serves as a good substitute for the R-99 in a pinch, boasting superior recoil and weapon swap speed due to its pistol class. If you like running two close-range weapons in your arsenal, the RE-45 is the gun for you.

P2020 – C tier

Ah, the P2020. What is there really to say about it? It’s designed to be used as you hit the ground to take out foes in early fights. But if anyone around you finds just about any other gun, you’re in trouble. Despite gaining Hammerpoint Rounds as an option to finish off fights, the P2020 shares all of its compatible attachments with the RE-45, leaving it as the inferior option in the pistol class. We find the best use for the P2020 to hold onto attachments for a better gun in the secondary slot.

SMGs

R-99 – S tier

The R-99 has regained its position as the supreme close-range rapid-fire gun with the season 16 damage buffs, despite a hit to its magazine size in season 17. The R-99’s high rate of fire means enemies who get too close are shredded before they can even get a few shots off, particularly if they’re packing a shotgun or a marksman weapon. It’s fairly easy to handle, but it does have stronger recoil and a larger spread than the R-301, so it takes some practice before you can really hit your shots. Thankfully, it can use the laser sight attachment, which decreases hipfire spread and helps significantly in extremely close-range situations. Just be aware that due to its high rate of fire, this gun eats ammo, requiring more backpack space or an assault legend to best compliment the gun.

Volt SMG – A tier

The Volt is the most stable submachine gun, as its power lies in low recoil, quick handling, and incredibly low bullet drop thanks to its classification as an energy weapon. Pretty much anyone can pick it up and use it effectively right off drop, even if you don’t have any attachments. The addition of laser sights gives it even more power in late-game close-range fights, keeping the Volt as one of the best SMGs in any situation.

Prowler Burst PDW – A tier

Previously, the Prowler was a trusty, if sometimes hard-to-use, sidearm that could quickly finish low-health opponents with its five-round burst fire. Now, the Prowler is a monster. Assuming you hit almost every shot in its base magazine—four rounds of five bullets—you used to be able to down someone with a red shield with one complete mag, assuming you hit 17 of those 20 bullets. Season 16’s buffs increased its overall damage by one, giving the Prowler a core identity as the hardest hitting SMG, despite the lower comparable fire rate.

C.A.R. SMG – B tier

The C.A.R. once sat comfortably in S tier, but a substantial nerf brought it back down to Earth. Starting in season 14, the C.A.R. could no longer use any kind of barrel attachments, including barrel stabilizers and laser sights. While the gun didn’t have a high amount of recoil to start with, there’s now no way to improve the recoil it does have, which greatly reduces its mid-range efficacy. Additionally, season 16’s nerfs reduced the magazine size, making it the smallest SMG in base mag size, requiring skilled players to hit every shot to make the most of the weapon.

Alternator – B tier

The Alternator returned to floor loot a few seasons ago with something of a whimper. Robbed of Disruptor Rounds, there’s no reason to pick it over the C.A.R., the R-99, or just about any other auto-fire weapon. It’s a perfectly serviceable gun, but its slower rate of fire and chunky handling prove there are much better SMGs in the game.

Marksman rifles

G7 Scout – A tier

Returning from the care package, the G7 Scout retained its core identity as a mid-range monster, able to dish out surprising amounts of burst damage from far away, while boasting a large magazine size to keep up the pressure. Capable of taking the Double Tap hop-up, the G7 Scout stands as the best marksman rifle in any situation, with great all-around stats, little recoil, and the fastest fire rate in class.

30-30 Repeater – B tier

Fuse’s good ol’ standby the 30-30 Repeater is good, but not good enough to break into our A tier. It’s a solid mid to long-range gun, but it suffers during short-range fights. It got a buff in the form of Skullpiercer Rifling, which it can now use, and Dual Shell, which was integrated into the base 30-30. Even so, its biggest shortcoming is its slow rate of fire, which pales in comparison to other midrange precision weapons like the G7. The 30-30 is situationaly good, but there are generally better options.

Triple Take – B tier

The Triple Take received substantial buffs in season 17, with decreased hipfire spread and a complete overhaul to its ammo economy, now only using up nine ammo in a full clip compared to its previous 27 and each shot only costing one energy ammo instead of three. Despite the quality of life changes to the Triple Take, its core identity as a hard-hitting marksman rifle is still outclassed by its contemporaries, but it can now work in more situations than in previous seasons.

Shotguns

Peacekeeper – A tier

The Peacekeeper got a small buff at the beginning of season 13 that increased its limb damage from 0.8 to 1.0. While small, this helped balance out the shotgun’s inconsistent damage and lifted it firmly into our A tier. It’s been put back into floor loot for the rest of season 15, meaning all shotguns are once again freely available. While the Kinetic Feeder hop-up’s lack of availability right now hurts it, the Gold shotgun bolt effectively fulfills the same role, and the Peacekeeper is still a more user-friendly and reliable alternative to the Mastiff.

EVA-8 Auto – A tier

It wasn’t too long ago that the EVA-8 was near the very bottom of our rankings. Even a high rate of fire and ease of use couldn’t offset its low damage. In season 14, Respawn introduced sweeping improvements to the shotgun, including the ability to use standard stocks, a fire rate increase, and bigger buffs from shotgun bolts. The result is an absolute powerhouse of a gun, especially when used with the returning Double Tap hop-up. The Double Tap’s rarity was changed from epic to legendary in season 15, which is a slight indirect nerf, but it’s not enough to make the EVA-8 any less powerful.

Mastiff – B tier

The Mastiff is taking yet another tour outside the care package: it was put back into floor loot as of the start of season 15. This move was accompanied by a variety of nerfs, the most impactful of which was a widening of its blast pattern. The already difficult-to-use Mastiff is now even harder to land shots with if you’re more than a few feet away from your target. It’s also lacking its signature Dual Shell hop-up, which makes reloading a chore. There’s less of a reason to use the Mastiff now over its hop-up-using, stock-taking EVA-8 cousin.

Mozambique Shotgun – B tier

Despite the recent astronomical buffs to the EVA-8, the Mozambique is still a viable little shotgun, especially during the early game. It received the same buff that the Peacekeeper did at the beginning of season 13—a small damage increase to limb shots—which made it a decent choice. The Mozambique is no longer the laughingstock it used to be, as Hammerpoint Rounds gives it a clear identity away from the other shotguns. Instead of starting fights, the Mozambique can be used to finish off weakened opponents with its surprising burst potential, despite being directly outclassed by the other shotguns.

Sniper Rifles

Longbow DMR – A tier

The Longbow is currently the best non-supply drop sniper rifle in the game, especially with the return of the powerful Skullpiercer Rifling to floor loot. The faster rate of fire and lack of a bolt to pull make it more user-friendly than the Sentinel, and it can even be used at mid-range with a 2x or 3x scope. Unfortunately, its bullet drop is high, meaning if your target is extremely far away, you really have to lead your shot. While its per-bullet damage is also lower than the Sentinel, the Skullpiercer helps significantly, granting an enormous 35 percent increase to headshot damage. Even if it’s tricky, it’s better to land more shots at low damage than to miss several at high damage.

Sentinel – A tier

The Sentinel does more raw damage than the Longbow, but its recoil is worse and its rate of fire is slower. It’s generally thought of as only a long-range weapon, meaning it doesn’t have quite as much versatility as the Longbow, which can double as a mid-range DMR. The integration of Deadeye’s Tempo didn’t do much to help it, but what did help was a buff at the start of season 15’s Spellbound event that reduced the number of shield cells required to charge it from two to one. This removes much of the opportunity cost around amping the Sentinel, allowing players to more freely charge it without burning through shield cells as quickly. At this point, whether you run with a Sentinel or a Longbow is mostly personal preference.

Charge Rifle – B tier

The Charge Rifle provides a unique niche in sniper rifles, being the only hitscan gun, with all shots landing perfectly at the center of a player’s reticle. Although the Charge Rifle only needs two attachments to perform at its full potential, it crucially does not take extended sniper magazines, leaving it at the lowest shots of any sniper rifle, with season 17’s nerfs removing one shot from the magazine. The decreased spawn rate, high ammo usage, low burst damage compared to other snipers, and visibility across the map when using it puts the Charge Rifle as the lowest sniper rifle. If you want to use this gun, be aware of the amount of ammo you have left and any squads watching your position as you fire.

Supply drop weapons

As previously mentioned, these weapons are ordered in terms of power and effectiveness.

Kraber .50-Cal Sniper

Yes, the Kraber got a nerf. Its headshot multiplier was reduced from 3.0 to 2.0, and its damage was reduced from 145 to 140. When combined with the recent buffs to helmets, this means that hitting a headshot with a Kraber no longer results in a guaranteed down. It’s a pretty big nerf for the infamous sniper rifle, which remains powerful but no longer quite as destructive. Players will want to coordinate with their team to push the health advantage when landing a shot, as the instant-down potential of the Kraber is less potent than in previous seasons. It is, however, still a monster when it comes to opening damage, and one shot can still completely change the course of a fight.

L-STAR EMG

The L-STAR received major buffs with its season 17 move to the care package, being the only gun in Apex Legends to currently have the Disruptor Rounds hop-up, increasing damage to shields by 60 percent. Additionally, the L-STAR received projectile passthrough, allowing its shots to hit multiple enemies at 60 percent of its original damage. Pre-equipped with 324 ammo, players can take full advantage of the unique overheat mechanic to provide covering fire for the team, starting engagements without needing to reload the gun. The L-STAR’s recoil and difficult spray pattern make it a tough gun to use, but we find it best suited for players who don’t mind getting up close and personal with their enemies.

Bocek Compound Bow

The Bocek rose from several seasons’ worth of nerfs to become a viable weapon once again inside the care package. It now has both Shatter Caps and Deadeye’s Tempo built in, allowing players to use it effectively at both short and mid range. Compared to the other care package weapons, the Bocek is relatively silent and comes with a large ammo reserve, allowing players to stealthily poke teams from afar without as much fear of being spotted. Players with great aim will be able to get the most use out of it, but the general player base may continue to skip it.

Hemlok Burst AR

The Hemlock comes pre-equipped with the Boosted Loader attachment, allowing for faster reloads and nine additional shots in the next magazine when reloaded with a few shots left. Despite buffs to all aspects since its move to the care package, the Hemlok still lacks the stopping power of its contemporaries in the mythic tier of weapons. Players who already have fully kitted weapons may pass up the Hemlok, but if you need to change your loadout for a nearby fight, the Hemlok still shows its value as one of season 17’s care package weapons..

We’ll keep this list updated as guns are buffed and nerfed and the game’s seasons change.