Apex Legends Best Weapons Tier List: gun stats and damage
The Apex Legends Weapon Tier List splits all the guns in five tiers based on their performance. Find out the best guns by type and compare their damage stats.
There are six main weapon types in Apex Legends: sniper rifles, assault rifles, light machine guns, sub machine guns, shotguns, and pistols.
Each weapon can be useful in a specific situation (for example, shotguns in close quarters combat), and everyone has their own preferences and playstyle, but ultimately some guns are better than others.
Finding out the strongest weapons in the game requires time and practice, but one can speed up the learning process by examining and analyzing the stats of each gun.
I hope this tier list will simplify your in-game choices as it indicates the best and worst guns you can loot during your adventures, their damage values, ammo type, mag size, and compatible attachment slots.
Note: The damage comparison chart displayed after the tiers is a very useful resource for a quick look to the damage values of each weapon and their potential DPS.
Latest update: Patch 1.1.1 - April 16th, 2019
More Apex Legends articles:
Quick Links
Tier S
Kraber .50-cal SR
Devotion LMG with Turbocharger
M600 Spitfire
Wingman
Mastiff
Kraber .50-cal SR
Name: Kraber .50-cal SR
Weapon type: Sniper Rifle (bolt-action)
Bodyshot: 125
Headshot: 250
Multiplier: 2x
Attachments: Legendary weapons are already fully equipped
Mag size: 4
Ammo type: An unique ammo that can’t be replenished
Recoil: Low
The Kraber completely outclasses all the other sniper rifles. The magazine has just 4 rounds, but the massive damage pretty much guarantees a kill with most hits.
It comes equipped with a 6x-10x variable scope for great accuracy. As a legendary weapon, it uses unique not replenishable ammo and has no attachment slots available.
I understand that this is a gun we will rarely find in our games, and that the developers overpowered it to balance its rarity, but it might not be a great idea in a competitive environment and once ranked play will be added to the game.
As a bolt-action sniper rifle, the Kraber loses its usefulness in the late game as the space inside the final circles is very limited.
Notes:
The two legendary weapons currently available in Apex Legends - the Kraber and the Mastiff - are real monsters, so their drop rate is very low to balance their numbers in a match. You can find them only via airdrops.
Lifeline’s ultimate ability Care Package can drop everything that can be found in a standard airdrop, except for the Kraber and the Mastiff.
Devotion LMG
Name: Devotion LMG
Weapon type: Light Machine Gun (increasing fire rate)
Bodyshot: 17
Headshot: 34
Multiplier: 2x
Attachments: Barrel, Stock, Optic, Hop-Up
Mag size: 44
Ammo type: Energy (yellow)
Recoil: Vertical + Curve
The Devotion starts with a slow fire rate which increases over time, reaching its power peak after a few seconds.
The Hop-Up attachment (Turbocharger) reduces the autofire spin-up time, which makes the weapon stronger in a shorter amount of time: for this reason, I have placed the Devotion without Turbocharger among the tier 1 weapons.
The biggest issue with this gun is that the ammo runs out really quickly, so I recommend you to be careful and use a secondary weapon with another kind of ammo type. The Devotion works best at short and medium distances.
M600 Spitfire
Name: M600 Spitfire
Weapon type: Light Machine Gun (full-auto)
Bodyshot: 18
Headshot: 36
Multiplier: 2x
Attachments: Barrel, Stock, Optic, Mag
Mag size: 35
Ammo type: Heavy (green)
Recoil: Vertical zigzag
I consider the Spitfire a more competitive version of the Devotion because it does a great job even with no attachments. Once fully upgraded, it becomes precise also at a long range.
It is an amazing weapon even in the hands of a new player, so I suggest picking it whenever possible.
Wingman
Name: Wingman
Weapon type: Pistol (slow firing revolver)
Bodyshot: 45
Headshot: 90
Multiplier: 2x
Attachments: Optic, Mag, Hop-Up
Mag size: 4
Ammo type: Heavy (green)
Recoil: Vertical
We might compare the Wingman to a boosted version of the Desert Eagle in CS:GO, or to the Hand Cannons in Destiny 2 (which are great PvP weapons).
This revolver requires an experienced player with a good aim, but in the right hands is able to devastate the opponents with its 90 headshot damage. The Hop-Up attachment (Skullpiercer) increases the headshot damage to 105.
Most players are not able to exploit it, so you will find it easily in your games. With a magnified optic, it becomes a solid weapon even at longer distances.
Mastiff
Name: Mastiff
Weapon type: Shotgun (semi-auto)
Bodyshot: 144
Headshot: 288
Multiplier: 2x
Attachments: Legendary weapons are already fully equipped
Mag size: 4
Ammo type: An unique ammo that can’t be replenished
Recoil: Very low
The legendary Mastiff is the only shotgun in the game with a 2x headshot multiplier. It is the king of close quarters combat, and it insanely boosts your chances to win the game once you reach the final circles; no shotgun can be compared to it.
Everything I have explained on the Kraber regarding attachments, ammo type, rarity, ways to drop, and excessive strength in a competitive environment, can be said also about the Mastiff.
Tier 1
Triple Take with Precision Choke
Longbow DMR
Devotion LMG without Turbocharger
R-99 SMG
Hemlok Burst AR
R-301 Carbine
Peacekeeper
Havoc
Triple Take
Name: Triple Take
Weapon type: Sniper Rifle (triple barrel)
Bodyshot: 69
Headshot: 138
Multiplier: 2x
Attachments: Stock, Optic, Hop-Up
Mag size: 5
Ammo type: Energy (yellow)
Recoil: Vertical + Left
The Triple Take is a very odd sniper rifle because it shoots three 3 linear rounds horizontally. It can be used as a pseudo-shotgun at closer ranges.
The Hop-Up attachment (Precision Choke) is indispensable to make the weapon reliable at longer ranges: without it, it is almost impossible to snipe people after a certain distance, so the raw gun without the attachment is placed in tier 2.
Longbow DMR
Name: Longbow DMR
Weapon type: Sniper Rifle (semi-auto)
Bodyshot: 55
Headshot: 110
Multiplier: 2x
Attachments: Barrel, Stock, Optic, Mag, Hop-Up
Mag size: 6
Ammo type: Heavy (green)
Recoil: Left
The Longbow is one of the most reliable sniper rifles in the game. It deals almost twice the damage of the remaining sniper rifle, the G7 Scout.
Differently from the Triple Take, it doesn’t require a special attachment to become effective. The Skullpiercer Hop-Up is still welcomed to raise the headshot damage.
R-99 SMG
Name: R-99 SMG
Weapon type: Sub Machine Gun (rapid-fire - auto)
Bodyshot: 12
Headshot: 18
Multiplier: 1.5x
Attachments: Barrel, Stock, Optic, Mag
Mag size: 18
Ammo type: Light (brown)
Recoil: Vertical + Right
The R-99 is the gun with the best DPS in the game, second only to the Mastiff. Due to the high fire rate, it works only at a close range, and it can get out of ammo very fast. Pretty much like the Vector in PUBG, this SMG requires an extended mag.
Hemlok Burst AR
Name: Hemlok Burst AR
Weapon type: Assault Rifle (3-round burst)
Bodyshot: 18
Headshot: 36
Multiplier: 2x
Attachments: Barrel, Stock, Optic, Mag
Mag size: 18
Ammo type: Heavy (green)
Recoil: Vertical + Left
The Hemlok is a precise assault rifle that excels at a medium distance. It has a potential 108 damage per burst if you can headshot the target. The single-shot mode makes it viable also at longer ranges.
R-301 Carbine
Name: R-301 Carbine
Weapon type: Assault Rifle (full-auto)
Bodyshot: 14
Headshot: 28
Multiplier: 2x
Attachments: Barrel, Stock, Optic, Mag
Mag size: 18
Ammo type: Light (brown)
Recoil: Vertical + Right
The R-301 Carbine is an easy-to-use assault rifle loved by most players for its flexibility. It becomes extremely stronger with the proper attachments.
Peacekeeper
Name: Peacekeeper
Weapon type: Shotgun (lever action)
Bodyshot: 110
Headshot: 165
Multiplier: 1.5x
Attachments: Optic, Mag, Hop-Up
Mag size: 6
Ammo type: Shotgun (red)
Recoil: Very low
The Peacekeeper is the best shotgun in the game due to the massive damage inflicted (without considering the legendary Mastiff).
Its Hop-Up attachment (Precision Choke) is a real game-changer as it drastically reduces the pellet spread: the gun won’t turn into a sniper rifle, but it definitely helps when shooting at people from a medium distance.
Havoc
Name: Havoc
Weapon type: Assault Rifle (full-auto)
Bodyshot: 18
Headshot: 36
Multiplier: 2x
Attachments: Stock, Optic, two Hop-Ups
Mag size: 32
Ammo type: Energy (yellow)
The HAVOC Energy Assault Rifle is the first weapon in Apex Legends compatible with two Hop-Up attachments:
The Turbocharger completely eliminates the auto-fire charge time, boosting the DPS potential of the gun.
The Selectfire Receiver enables the Hitscan Charge Beam fire mode.
The beam consumes 5 rounds (out of 25) for each shot, and it hits the target pretty much instantly.
It is affected by damage falloff (certainly for balance reasons), so from a long distance the damage is very low: 45.
The Havoc can adapt to multiple situations, but it performs the best in close quarters combat.
Tier 2
Triple Take without Precision Choke
RE-45 Auto
Prowler Burst PDW
VK-47 Flatline
G7 Scout with attachments
RE-45 Auto
Name: RE-45 Auto
Weapon type: Pistol (full-auto)
Bodyshot: 11
Headshot: 16
Multiplier: 1.5x
Attachments: Barrel, Optic, Mag
Mag size: 15
Ammo type: Light (brown)
Recoil: Vertical + Right
The RE-45 can be used for bodyshots at a close distance.
Prowler Burst PDW
Name: Prowler Burst PDW
Weapon type: Sub Machine Gun (5-round burst)
Bodyshot: 14
Headshot: 21
Multiplier: 1.5x
Attachments: Stock, Optic, Mag, Hop-Up
Mag size: 20
Ammo type: Heavy (green)
Recoil: Vertical + Left
The Prowler is an average SMG, but it becomes exponentially stronger with the full-auto Hop-Up attachment (Selectfire Receiver).
VK-47 Flatline
Name: VK-47 Flatline
Weapon type: Assault Rifle (full-auto)
Bodyshot: 16
Headshot: 32
Multiplier: 2x
Attachments: Stock, Optic, Mag
Mag size: 20
Ammo type: Heavy (green)
Recoil: Diagonal Left
The Flatline is not a bad weapon, but it is a subpar choice if compared to all the other Assault Rifles. Use it only if you can’t find anything better.
Tier 3
G7 Scout
EVA-8 Auto
G7 Scout
Name: G7 Scout
Weapon type: Sniper Rifle (semi-auto)
Bodyshot: 30
Headshot: 60
Multiplier: 2x
Attachments: Barrel Stock, Optic, Mag
Mag size: 10
Ammo type: Light (brown)
Recoil: Vertical
The G7 Scout is a hybrid sniper rifle. It isn’t very strong at a long range because it lacks damage, so you will mostly use it as a mid range weapon.
I believe many players love this gun, and actually it is rather flexible, but it excels in nothing so is overshadowed by other options.
If fully equipped, it shines during mid range encounters, achieving a spot in tier 2.
EVA-8 Auto
Name: Eva-8 Auto
Weapon type: Shotgun (semi-auto)
Bodyshot: 63
Headshot: 90
Multiplier: 1.5x
Attachments: Optic, Mag
Mag size: 8
Ammo type: Shotgun (red)
Recoil: Very low
Honestly, the EVA-8 isn’t a bad shotgun, but its damage can’t be compared to the Peacekeeper. Considering that they are both standard drops, I would suggest the EVA-8 only to those looking to learn their first shotgun as its quick rate of fire makes it easy-to-use even for a new player.
Tier 4
P2020
Alternator
Mozambique
There is not much to explain about the tier 4 weapons. Pick them if that’s the best you find on your drop location, but replace them as soon as possible without second thoughts.
P2020
Name: P2020
Weapon type: Pistol (semi-auto)
Bodyshot: 12
Headshot: 18
Multiplier: 1.5x
Attachments: Optic, Mag
Mag size: 10
Ammo type: Light (brown)
Recoil: Vertical
Alternator
Name: Alternator
Weapon type: Sub Machine Gun (slow-fire - auto)
Bodyshot: 13
Headshot: 19
Multiplier: 1.5x
Attachments: Stock, Barrel, Optic, Mag
Mag size: 16
Ammo type: Light (brown)
Recoil: Vertical
Mozambique
Name: Mozambique
Weapon type: Shotgun (semi-auto)
Bodyshot: 45
Headshot: 66
Multiplier: 1.5x
Attachments: Optic, Mag
Mag size: 3
Ammo type: Shotgun (red)
Recoil: Very low
Weapons’ damage comparison
The graph above has been realized by u/H16658050N. It shows the damage values of each weapon in Apex Legends.
Even if there isn’t a lobby system yet, he has been able to gather the data using the tutorial level. In this map, there is a practice range with all the guns currently available in the game and a series of shooting targets. Attacking them shows the damage values, so you can use this level for your own tests as well.
The bars represent the damage of each weapon. They are divided into two colours: the lower section indicates the damage inflicted to the body, the upper one marks the damage to the head. In most cases, headshots have a 2x damage multiplier.
The green curve shows the DPS (Damage Per Second) of each weapon. Note that it considers only bodyshots, no attachments have been used, and the damage has been calculated manually (human mistakes are always possible).
Note: the damage graph is based on the weapon stats at the game release. It is not updated with successive balance patches.
More Apex Legends articles:
Header and gun images: Respawn
