Pilots, loot goblins, and chaos connoisseurs! I’ve spent more time in the Outlands than is legally sane, and I’m here to deliver the only weapon tier list that matters. We’re talking about the meta that makes plonkers rage-quit and leaves full squads reduced to death box confetti. Strap in — this is going to be a bumpy ride through ballistic madness.
Let’s be real: the gun catalogue in Apex is more overwhelming than a triple-stack Predator push. Buffs, nerfs, care-package vacations — everything changes faster than Octane on stim. But after absorbing more ammunition than a firing range dummy, I’ve forged this ranking based on raw, naked, no-attachment performance. No hop-ups, no gold stabilizers, just pure, unadulterated firepower. Pull up a chair and prepare to have your loadout choices violently validated.
S-Tier: The “Delete Enemy” Club 🏆
These tools of destruction are so powerful they should come with a therapist hotline. If you’re not running one of these, are you even trying to win?
R99 — The Blender with a Trigger
Sweet mother of fire rate, the R-99 is a mechanical cheetah on methamphetamine. Its recoil might look like an angry snake, but once you tame it, you can vaporise a purple shield in under three seconds. I’ve literally watched enemies turn into loot boxes before they could say “Mozambique here.” If you hear this buzzsaw, just accept your fate.
Peacekeeper — The Boomstick of Decision
This is not a shotgun; it’s a close-range delete button. Two well-placed clicks and even Gibby’s arm shield evaporates like morning mist. The choke lets you deliver hate mail at medium range too. Miss a shot though? You’ll have enough time to question every life choice while they beam you. Pro tip: pray to the pellet gods before every engagement.
R-301 — The Swiss Army Predator
The R-301 is the ex-girlfriend you can’t stay mad at — reliable, smooth, and always ready to ruin someone’s day. Its recoil is so gentle a newborn deer could control it. It melts faces at any range, and in skilled hands, it becomes a laser pointer of doom. If you sleep on this gun, you deserve the bronze rank.
CAR — The Ammo Vacuum of Chaos
Imagine an R-99 that also eats both light and heavy ammo like a greedy toddler. You’ll never run out of snacks, and your enemies will never run out of pain. The CAR’s flexibility makes it a backpack’s best friend. It’s an absolute powerhouse that leaves Wraith mains phasing into the afterlife.
A-Tier: The “Almost Godlike” Battalion 💥
These beauties will still make you feel like a pro, but they have that one tiny quirk that keeps them out of S-tier Valhalla.
EVA-8 — The Buff That Broke Reality
Season 14 turned this shotgun from a pea-shooter into a room-clearing monstrosity. Hip-fire like a maniac because ADSing just blocks your view and your enemies won’t wait. The EVA-8 is now an automatic “oops, full squad wiped” machine. I’ve seen it turn doorways into meat grinders.
Wingman — The Skill-Flex Cannon
A fan favourite since launch, the Wingman is a revolver that hits harder than an existential crisis. Land your shots and you’re a god; miss and you’ll be the meme of the match. It’s been nerfed more times than I’ve had hot dinners, but a cracked player with a Wingman remains the scariest thing in the arena.
Spitfire — The “Oops, All Bullets” Experience
With a mag size that seems to expand into another dimension, the Spitfire is perfect for those who believe aiming is optional. Spray-and-pray takes on a terrifying new meaning when you can wipe an entire squad without reloading. It’s the audio cue that makes confident squads suddenly become pacifists.
Hemlock — The Undercover Murderer
This burst-fire assassin holds the highest DPS of any assault rifle. People ignore it because burst isn’t “sexy,” but those people get turned into loot confetti at mid-range. Learn the rhythm, and even close-range hip-fire will make SMG users weep.
Prowler — The Pouncing Predator
Another burst-fire beast, the Prowler’s hip-fire accuracy is so good it’s practically aimbot. It chews through shields with a vicious five-round burst that feels like getting punched by a squad of Pathfinders. Once you master the timing, you’ll question why it was ever in the care package.
Flatline — The Untouched Classic
The Flatline hasn’t changed because perfection shouldn’t be tampered with. It hits like a freight train and has that classic “I’m here to ruin your day” assault rifle feel. This heavy hitter is a timeless reminder that sometimes simpler is scarier.
Alternator — The Slow Dancer of Doom
Slow fire rate, blessed recoil, and headshot damage that’ll make you gasp. The Alternator is the SMG that pretends to be a laser at mid-range. Disrespect it, and you’ll be crawling behind cover wondering what just two-tapped your helmet off.
Volt — The Smooth Operator
Finally free from the care package prison, the Volt is the kindest SMG to newcomers and a scalpel for veterans. Its recoil is buttery, its iron sights are stellar, and it sits in the fire rate sweet spot that says “you’re already dead, you just don’t know it yet.”
B-Tier: The “Fun but Frenetic” Firearms 🤔
These guns can pop off, but they demand a little more from you or the situation. Pick them when you’re feeling spicy.
30-30 Repeater — The Cowboy’s Gamble
Landing a charged headshot with this thing feels like winning a duel at high noon. Problem is, outside of mid-range, it’s about as useful as a screen door on a submarine. Still, the satisfaction factor is off the charts; just account for that leisurely bullet drop.
G7 Scout — The P2020’s Steroid-Infused Cousin
Fast fire rate for a marksman rifle makes it a zoning tool that screams “stay over there.” It’s great for peppering far-off Wraiths and evolving your Evo shield. It won’t carry a fight on its own, but as a support weapon, it’s a pesky deterrent.
Charge Rifle — The Evo Farmer Supreme
This hitscan laserbeam is literally an upgrade point printer. No bullet drop, no velocity, just pure irritation delivered in a continuous beam. In the rare long-range poke battle, the Charge Rifle is king. Shame that most fights collapse into close-quarters chaos before you can bask in its glory.
Havoc — The Grasshopper of Potential
With a Turbocharger, the Havoc ascends to godhood. Without it? You’ll be waiting longer than a banner respawn for the wind-up to finish. Once it’s spinning, the DPS is bonkers, but those early seconds in a skirmish are an eternity. Choose wisely, or get deleted during the warm-up.
Sentinel — The Amp’d-Up Headshot Machine
Drinking your own shield cells for a temporary damage boost is the adrenaline spike we live for. Landing that amp’d Sentinel headshot is pure ecstasy. Miss, and you’ll be standing there with an empty shield and a face full of SMG lead. High risk, massive serotonin.
Longbow — The Forgiving Sniper
Newbies, this is your sniper soulmate. Fast fire rate and a generous mag size let you miss shots without crying. Heavy bullet drop is the price you pay, but at least it doesn’t punish you like the Sentinel. It’s a solid poking stick for mid-to-long harassment.
C-Tier: The “Clown Car” Contingent 🤡
You can get kills with these, but you’ll probably work twice as hard. Usually reserved for challenge runs or moments of sheer madness.
Triple Take — The Confused Shotgun-Sniper
Once glorious, now nerfed into a fuzzy triangle of sadness. Its spread can surprise at close range, but you’re better off throwing rocks at distant targets. Ironically, the weapon with “triple” in its name gives you only a fraction of the satisfaction.
Devotion — The Spool-Up Sob Story
Long wind-up, abysmal iron sights that block the sun, and hip-fire that fires in interpretive dance patterns. By the time the Devotion reaches full speed, your squad has already respawned you twice. It desperately needs love, because right now it’s just a noisy ammo disposal unit.
L-STAR — The Overheated Relic
Even after buffs, this LMG kicks like a mule on caffeine and drains energy ammo faster than an LTM loot goblin. You can make it work close-range on controller, but why suffer when the Volt exists? It’s the frantic choice for those who enjoy reloading during a firefight.
Mozambique — The Meme That Fights Back
Surprisingly, it’s no longer the absolute joke it once was. Decent damage, okay range, but it still feels like a sidearm desperately pretending to be a real shotgun. Fun for humiliating opponents, not for serious play. “Mozam here!” still triggers PTSD flashbacks.
RE-45 — The Overgrown Peashooter
The tiny mag size means you’ll be reloading mid-fight more often than you’ll be shooting. At close range it can clutch, but any SMG will outshine it. It’s the gun you keep until you find literally anything else, then drop it like a bad habit.
D-Tier: The Soggy Bottom of the Barrel ☠️
We have reached the nadir. The weapon you ping only to trick your friends into wasting inventory space.
P2020 — The Congratulations, You’ve Hit Rock Bottom
The universally agreed-upon worst gun in Apex Legends, and it’s intentional. Respawn crafted this pistol to teach you desperation. You land on it, fire two sad pops, and immediately start praying for a Mozambique. It occupies a soft spot in our hearts, right next to the void where our dignity used to live. The P2020 isn’t a weapon; it’s a motivational poster to find literally anything else. Crown it the undisputed king of garbage tier.
So there you have it, legends. A tier list forged in the fires of countless drops, hot zones, and rage-induced tea breaks. Whether you’re a scared rookie or a cracked predator, remember: the best gun is the one that fits your chaotic soul. Now get out there and make the Outlands weep.