There are eight main types of guns in Apex Legends, plus melee weapons, ordnance, and hop-ups that can modify your weapon. Use this guide to learn more about each gun category, see recommended weapons, and learn how to use weapons in-game.
Guns are the main type of weapon in Apex Legends. They’re split into eight main categories.
Assault rifles
Submachine guns (SMGs)
Light machine guns (LMGs)
Marksman
Sniper rifles
Shotguns
Pistols
Akimbo weapons
Here’s a quick guide on what to use different guns for.
Your best all-rounder weapon. They’re suitable for close and mid-range combat.
HAVOC Rifle
VK-47 Flatline
Hemlok Burst AR
R-301 Carbine
Nemesis Burst AR
Best for quick combat. Their magazines carry higher amounts of ammo, so you can cause a lot of damage quickly.
Alternator SMG
Prowler Burst PDW
R-99 SMG
Volt SMG
C.A.R. SMG
LMGs cause more damage than SMGs per shot, but are slower to use.
Devotion LMG
L-STAR EMG
M600 Spitfire
Rampage LMG
Marksman weapons are between ARs and sniper rifles. They can deal high damage, but are faster to use than snipers.
G7 Scout
Triple Take
30-30 Repeater
Bocek 2.0
Best for long-range combat. Use them to accurately fire at enemies when you’re far away.
Charge Rifle
Longbow DMR
Kraber .50-Cal Sniper
Sentinel
Highly powerful guns made for close-range combat.
EVA-8 Auto
Mastiff
Mozambique Shotgun
Peacekeeper
Light, fast guns that don’t cause a lot of damage.
RE-45 Auto
P2020
Wingman
Two matching guns that take up one weapon slot. Picking up an eligible pistol activates akimbo.
P2020
Mozambique Shotgun
Wingman
What type of ammo does my weapon use?
There are different types of ammo in Apex Legends with different qualities. Each weapon uses a specific type of ammo, and you need to have that ammo available to use your weapon. Your weapon will be color-coded to match the type of ammo it uses: check the bottom-right of your screen in a match to see your equipped weapon’s color.
Column 1
Column 2
Light ammo
Higher fire rate, but less damaging.
Heavy ammo
Lower fire rate, but more damaging.
Energy ammo
Bullets are faster and drop less after fire.
Shotgun shells
Ammo used by shotguns.
Sniper ammo
Ammo used by sniper rifles.
Mythic ammo
Ammo used by high-value Crate weapons.
Arrows
Arrows can be picked up from the floor and used with specific bow weapons.
Some types of ammo, like Mythic ammo and energy ammo, come with the weapon.
Mythic ammo can’t be replenished or dropped.
Energy weapons come with a stockpile of ammo which regenerates over time.
What’s the best gun in Apex Legends?
Different types of guns have different strengths and weaknesses, like being faster to load, causing more damage, or being easier to control.Weapons also perform differently at different ranges. For example, you’ll want a sniper for long-range combat.Try to play with lots of weapons to find what you’re comfortable with and which guns work best in different scenarios. Remember, you might not always find the weapon you want. New to Apex Legends? Check out our tips for beginners.
What are the best weapons for beginners?
If you’re new to Apex Legends, try getting used to assault rifles and submachine guns first.
Assault rifles are more well-rounded than other weapon types and can be used in different types of combat.
Try the R-301 Carbine. This assault rifle uses Light Rounds, meaning it has a higher fire rate and a faster reload speed.
Submachine guns fire fast and wide, meaning your aim doesn’t have to be as accurate.
Try the Volt SMG. This weapon has a fast reload speed and uses Energy Rounds, which have a lower projectile drop (how much your bullet drops after you fire your weapon).
You can see your weapon level for individual guns in the Legend Locker section under the Weapon tab. Here you’ll find stats on how you’ve used the weapon so far. Once you’ve reached level 20 on a weapon, you’ll unlock trials, which are objectives to complete to improve your weapon level.Complete all trials and reach weapon level 100 to become a weapon master and earn a special reward.
Where can I find high-value guns in Apex Legends?
In Core modes, Strongholds are vaulted structures that drop into the game and contain massive loot rewards. Strongholds are protected by cover and Hardlight. To loot them, you have to occupy the area surrounding the Stronghold, which will earn progress towards unlocking it. When you’ve opened a Stronghold, you can find rewards like Crate weapons (items that don’t regularly spawn), Gold Guns, and corrupted attachments.
How do I customize weapons?
You can add charms and skins to your weapons. You won’t start a match with your weapon, but this will customize how they appear in-game after you find and equip them.
1
Go to the Loadout tab.
2
Select the weapon type you want to customize. There will be a red dot indicating any new customizations you’ve unlocked.
3
Select Charms to switch to looking at charms, then select Skins to switch back.
4
Scroll down and select the customization to try it on.
5
Select Equip (or double-click) to customize the weapon, or Unlock to acquire it with Crafting Materials.
What are hop-ups?
Hop-ups are attachments that significantly improve your weapon. How hop-ups work depend on the game mode you’re playing.
When you view an attachment, a green or red arrow shows you how it impacts your weapon stats.
To learn more about what’s different between Core and Freestyle modes, check out our game mode guide.
Core
Core
Freestyle
Freestyle
In Core modes like Ranked and Unranked, hop-ups are automatically attached to weapons, but their effects aren’t active until you unlock them.
Dealing damage with a weapon, upgrading it at arsenals, crafting at Replicators, and dealing general damage will help you gain points that unlock hop-ups.
Once you’ve gained enough points, the hop-up will automatically unlock. Once a hop-up is unlocked, it’ll stay unlocked for anyone who picks up that weapon.
Hop-ups can’t be transferred between weapons.
In Freestyle modes like Wildcard and Mixtape, all weapons are fully kitted, meaning they have default hop-ups of the same rarity as the weapon. There aren’t any locked hop-ups in Freestyle modes.
Weapons level up as you earn EVO. When your weapon upgrades, its hop-ups will too.
Corrupted attachments are a type of attachment you can add to weapons. They’re powerful, but come with drawbacks.Corrupted attachments include:
Headseeker Barrel
Tactical Laser
Overflowing Magazine
Agile Standard Stock
Rapid Sniper Stock.
You can only add one corrupted attachment at a time to a gun.
What other types of weapons can I use?
Apart from guns, you can also use melee weapons or ordnance in Apex Legends.
Melee weapons in Apex Legends are cosmetic. No matter what melee weapon you’re using, your Legend will still punch or kick their enemy.
Heirlooms change the skin of your melee weapon.
Artifacts are a type of customizable melee weapon.
You need Heirloom Shards to earn Heirlooms and Exotic Shards to customize your Artifact. Learn more about Apex Legends currencies.
Ordnance is a type of throwable weapon, like arc stars and grenades. They take up a slot in your inventory. Make sure to keep some ordnance handy to get enemies out from cover, deal damage from afar, or buy yourself time if you need to retreat.
Still having issues?
Get in touch with our customer support team for more help.
