Guns are the main type of weapon in Apex Legends. 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
Hemlock 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
What are Care Package weapons?
Care Package weapons (also known as supply drop weapons) are Mythic-tier weapons that can only be found in Care Packages.They come with a limited amount of ammo that can’t be replenished and are often equipped with their best attachments. Attachments can’t be removed.
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).
Weapon mastery
Want to improve your weapon skills? 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.
How to customize your 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.
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.
Ammo types
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.
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 Care Package weapons. This ammo only comes with the weapon and can’t be replenished or dropped.
Arrows
Arrows can be picked up from the floor and used with specific bow weapons.
Melee weapons
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
Ordnance is a type of throwable weapon, like throwing 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.
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