Weapon Tier List
This tier list ranks weapons based on overall effectiveness, ease of use, and versatility across all ranges.
| Tier | Weapons | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| S | R-301 Carbine, R-99 SMG, Kraber .50-Cal, Mastiff Shotgun, Wingman | Best-in-class. High damage, manageable recoil, versatile. Kraber is care package only. |
| A | VK-47 Flatline, Volt SMG, Devotion LMG, Havoc Rifle, G7 Scout, Longbow DMR, Peacekeeper | Excellent weapons with clear strengths. Some require practice or specific attachments. |
| B | Spitfire, Prowler Burst PDW, Hemlok Burst AR, Triple Take, 30-30 Repeater, Sentinel, Charge Rifle, L-STAR EMG, Eva-8 Auto, RE-45 Auto | Solid weapons in the right situations. May have specific use cases or require more skill. |
| C | P2020, Mozambique Shotgun, Alternator SMG | Weak without hop-ups or attachments. Usable early game but quickly replaced. |
Weapon Types Explained
Assault Rifles (AR)
Weapons: R-301 Carbine, VK-47 Flatline, Hemlok Burst AR, Havoc Rifle
The most versatile weapon class. Effective at medium to long range, with decent close-range performance when fully kitted. Should be your primary weapon in most loadouts.
Submachine Guns (SMG)
Weapons: R-99, Volt, Prowler Burst PDW, Alternator
High rate of fire, high DPS at close range. Less effective at medium/long range due to damage falloff and spread. Perfect secondary weapon for close-quarters combat.
Light Machine Guns (LMG)
Weapons: Spitfire, Devotion, L-STAR EMG
Large magazine sizes, sustained fire, and high damage output. Slower movement speed while aiming and longer reload times. Great for suppressive fire and team fights.
Marksman Weapons
Weapons: G7 Scout, Triple Take, 30-30 Repeater, Sentinel
Medium to long-range weapons with higher damage per shot than ARs. Require more precision and good aim. Can use double-tap triggers for faster follow-up shots.
Sniper Rifles
Weapons: Longbow DMR, Charge Rifle, Kraber .50-Cal
Long-range precision weapons. High damage per shot, especially headshots. Slow rate of fire and require good positioning. Kraber is care package only and can one-shot most enemies with a headshot.
Shotguns
Weapons: Peacekeeper, Mastiff, Eva-8 Auto, Mozambique
Devastating at close range, ineffective at medium/long range. Essential for building pushes and close-quarters combat. The Mastiff and Peacekeeper are the strongest options when kitted.
Pistols
Weapons: Wingman, RE-45 Auto, P2020
The Wingman is one of the best weapons in the game — high damage, accurate, and effective at medium range with the right attachments. The RE-45 and P2020 are weak without hop-ups but can be effective early game or as a finisher weapon.
Damage Stats Reference
Key damage stats for the most popular weapons. Headshots deal 2x damage (1.5x for LMGs and some weapons).
| Weapon | Type | Body Damage | Head Damage | Mag Size | Fire Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R-301 Carbine | AR | 14 | 28 | 18 (28 kitted) | 834 RPM |
| VK-47 Flatline | AR | 19 | 38 | 20 (30 kitted) | 600 RPM |
| R-99 SMG | SMG | 11 | 22 | 18 (27 kitted) | 1080 RPM |
| Volt SMG | SMG | 13 | 26 | 19 (28 kitted) | 720 RPM |
| Wingman | Pistol | 45 | 90 | 6 (12 kitted) | ~156 RPM |
| Peacekeeper | Shotgun | 10×11 (110) | 15×11 (165) | 6 (8 kitted) | ~78 RPM |
| Mastiff | Shotgun | 8×8 (64) | 12×8 (96) | 6 (8 kitted) | ~80 RPM |
| Longbow DMR | Sniper | 55 | 110 | 5 (10 kitted) | ~44 RPM |
| Kraber | Sniper | 145 | 290 | 4 | ~24 RPM |
| G7 Scout | Marksman | 30 | 60 | 10 (20 kitted) | ~192 RPM |
| Spitfire | LMG | 18 | 36 | 35 (55 kitted) | 540 RPM |
| Devotion | LMG | 17 | 34 | 44 (64 kitted) | 900 RPM (spool up) |
What Is a Hop-Up in Apex Legends?
A hop-up is a special weapon attachment that modifies a weapon's behavior or adds unique functionality. Unlike standard attachments (scopes, magazines, barrels, stocks), hop-ups are rarer and provide significant gameplay changes that can transform a weapon's effectiveness.
Hop-ups are found as ground loot, in supply bins, and from care packages. They come in different rarity tiers and are specific to certain weapons. Equipping a hop-up can turn a mediocre weapon into a powerhouse.
All Hop-Ups Explained
| Hop-Up | Compatible Weapons | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Turbocharger | Devotion, Havoc | Removes the spin-up time, allowing instant full-rate fire. Transforms both weapons into top-tier options. |
| Skullpiercer Rifling | Wingman, Longbow | Increases headshot damage multiplier from 2x to 2.5x. Makes the Wingman even more devastating for accurate players. |
| Hammerpoint Rounds | P2020, RE-45, Mozambique | Increases damage to unshielded targets by 35%. Turns weak weapons into excellent finisher tools. |
| Anvil Receiver | R-301, Flatline | While aiming down sights, switches to semi-auto 2-round burst with increased damage. Great for medium-range precision. |
| Double Tap Trigger | G7 Scout, Triple Take, 30-30 Repeater | Fires a 2-round burst with each trigger pull. Increases DPS and makes follow-up shots faster. |
| Boosted Loader | Hemlok, Sentinel | First 4 rounds of each magazine are pre-charged, dealing increased damage. Great for opening fights. |
| Shrapnel Rounds | Mastiff, Eva-8 | Pellets leave a damaging area on the ground for a short time. Adds area denial to shotguns. |
| Disruptor Rounds | Alternator, RE-45 | Increases shield damage by 50% but reduces health damage. Great for breaking shields quickly. |
| Precision Choke | Peacekeeper, Triple Take | Tightens the pellet spread when aiming down sights, increasing effective range. |
| Selectfire Receiver | Prowler, Havoc | Switches the weapon's fire mode (burst to full auto or single to charged shots). |
Attachment System
Weapons in Apex Legends can have up to 5 attachment slots. Attachments come in 4 tiers, with higher tiers providing better stats.
1. Optic (Scope/Sight)
Determines your aiming magnification. Options include: HCOG Classic (1x), Holo (1x), Digital Threat (1x, highlights enemies in smoke), 2x HCOG Bruiser, 3x HCOG Ranger, 2-4x Variable AOG, 4-8x Variable Sniper, 6x Sniper, and 10x Sniper (Kraber only). Choose based on your weapon's effective range.
2. Magazine (Extended Mag)
Increases magazine capacity. Tiers: White (+5-10 rounds), Blue (+10-15), Purple (+15-20), Gold (same as Purple but auto-reloads weapon when holstered). Always equip a magazine — more rounds = more time shooting before reloading.
3. Barrel Stabilizer
Reduces weapon recoil (both vertical and horizontal). Tiers: White (reduces recoil slightly), Blue (moderate reduction), Purple (significant reduction), Gold (same as Purple but hides muzzle flash). Essential for controlling high-recoil weapons like the R-99 or Flatline.
4. Stock
Improves weapon handling: reduces aim drift, increases aim-down-sight speed, and reduces movement penalty while aiming. Tiers: White, Blue, Purple, Gold (same as Purple but allows faster weapon swap). Stocks are available for ARs, SMGs, LMGs, and sniper rifles. Very important for weapons you aim down sights with frequently.
5. Hop-Up (Special Slot)
Only available on certain weapons. Provides unique gameplay modifications. See the Hop-Ups section above for a complete list. Hop-ups can dramatically change a weapon's effectiveness and should be prioritized when found.
Best Weapon Combinations
The ideal loadout pairs a close-range weapon with a medium/long-range weapon to cover all engagement distances.
R-99 + R-301 Carbine
The classic meta loadout. R-99 melts enemies at close range with its high DPS, while the R-301 handles medium range with accuracy and consistency. Both use light ammo, simplifying inventory management. Requires good recoil control for the R-99.
R-99 + VK-47 Flatline
Aggressive loadout with high damage output. The Flatline hits harder than the R-301 at medium range, and the R-99 handles close quarters. Uses different ammo types (light + heavy), requiring more inventory management but offering variety.
Volt SMG + G7 Scout
Great for players who prefer medium-range engagements. The Volt is a forgiving SMG with manageable recoil, and the G7 Scout provides accurate medium-range damage with a fast fire rate. Both are relatively easy to control, making this a great beginner-friendly loadout.
Wingman + Mastiff Shotgun
The "shotgun/pistol" combo favored by aggressive players. The Wingman deals massive damage at medium range (especially with Skullpiercer), and the Mastiff destroys enemies at close range. Both require precision and good aim, but reward skilled players with high kill potential.
R-301 + Longbow DMR
For players who like to engage at range. The R-301 handles close/medium range, while the Longbow picks off enemies at long range with high damage. Great for teams with a dedicated sniper, but requires good positioning and awareness to avoid being caught in close quarters.
R-301 + Volt SMG
The most forgiving loadout for new players. Both weapons have manageable recoil, consistent damage, and are effective in most situations. The R-301 for medium range and the Volt for close range. Easy to find ammo for both, and both are common ground loot.
Recoil Control Tips
Mastering recoil control is one of the most important skills in Apex Legends. These tips will help you keep your shots on target.
Pull Down While Shooting
All weapons in Apex Legends have vertical recoil — the crosshair climbs while firing. Counteract this by gently pulling your mouse (or right stick) downward while shooting. The amount of pull needed varies by weapon: the R-99 needs more pull than the R-301. Practice in the Firing Range to get a feel for each weapon's recoil pattern.
Compensate for Horizontal Recoil
Some weapons also have horizontal recoil (side-to-side movement). The Flatline pulls slightly to the right, while the Hemlok has a more complex pattern. Learn each weapon's specific pattern and compensate by moving in the opposite direction. Barrel stabilizers significantly reduce both vertical and horizontal recoil — always equip one if available.
Use Burst Fire for Medium Range
At medium to long range, firing in short bursts (2-5 rounds) is more accurate than holding the trigger. This allows the recoil to reset between bursts and keeps your crosshair on target. This is especially important for weapons like the Flatline, R-301, and Spitfire. At close range, full auto is usually better.
Crouch While Shooting
Crouching (pressing the crouch button while firing) reduces weapon spread and recoil slightly, making your shots more accurate. It also makes you a smaller target. Try crouching in medium-range gunfights — you'll notice the difference in accuracy. You can also combine crouching with sliding for aggressive repositioning.
Practice in the Firing Range
The Firing Range is the best place to practice recoil control without the pressure of a real match. Pick up a weapon, equip attachments, and fire at the dummies from different distances. Focus on keeping your crosshair on target while pulling down. Spend 10-15 minutes warming up in the Firing Range before playing matches — you'll see immediate improvement.