Apex Legends best weapons tier list – Our rankings for the best guns in Apex for Season 19

Want the best weapons in Apex Legends? Respawn Entertainment Studios’ battle royale has a large arsenal of weaponry available to players. From sniper rifles to SMGs, there’s no shortage of ways to dispatch enemy teammates in this game. But not all weapons are made equal.

With an ever-changing meta, new seasons, Legend reworks like Revenant Reborn and a plethora of special events like the now concluded Death Dynasty event, the Halloween Doppelganger event, or the upcoming Uprising event and its event skins, it can be pretty hard to keep track of the best options available. Here then, we’re going to go over the best weapons in Apex Legends at the moment, while also ranking the full arsenal in a tier list.

Apex Legends weapons tier list

Here’s a full breakdown of the best weapons in Apex Legends, ranked from S tier to D tier. Keep in mind that everything following is still our opinion. If you find that a certain weapon works well for you, don’t be afraid to use it!

Tier	Weapons
S Tier	R99, R-301 Carbine, Volt, Longbow, Wingman, Nemesis Burst AR
A Tier	Kraber 50.cal, Charge Rifle, Peacekeeper, HAVOC, C.A.R, M600 Spitfire
B Tier	VK-47 Flatline, Triple Take, Sentinel, Mastiff, Alternator, L-Star, Mozambique, G7 Scout
C Tier	Rampage, RE-45 Auto, Hemlok Burst AR, Devotion, EVA-8 Auto, 30-30 Repeater
D Tier	Prowler Burst PDW, P2020, Bocek Compound Bow

Let’s go through each tier and the weapons in it to get a better sense of why we’ve ranked them as we have. If you’re looking for the best-of-the-best, we’ve covered our top picks for each weapon class further down in the guide.

How we’ve chosen our rankings

There are a couple of things worth keeping in mind about our tier list. First of all, the pros and cons for each weapon are relative to others within that weapon class, rather than overall. Yes, a sniper rifle has a terrible rate of fire compared to an SMG, but that’s not relevant in the same way that the Longbow’s rate of fire relative to the Sentinel’s is.

Second, it’s worth reiterating that a gun being low on this list doesn’t mean you should necessarily avoid it. These are our picks for the best weapons in Apex Legends, but that hardly makes them law. Apex doesn’t really suffer from any truly awful weapons, and with enough practice, even a D-tier pick is a viable choice. While the EVA-8 shotgun might only be C-tier for example, in the hands of an experienced player, consecutive hits and fast movement can easily overpower someone wielding a Peacekeeper. You may yet find that different guns work for you, so use this as a guide, but do also experiment when you want to.

S-tier Apex weapons – The BR match winners

S tier represents the apex (pun intended) of guns in Apex Legends. These are the weapons that prove truly exceptional within the current meta, outperforming to the degree that they can close skill gaps between players in the right circumstances.

R-99 SMG

The R-99 is perhaps the most versatile SMG in-game right now. While it doesn’t have the raw damage of something like the Volt, it’s extraordinary rate of fire and low recoil allow it to overwhelm most targets in a couple of seconds or less. The excellent handling and target acquisition grant a vital initiative advantage in the opening moments of an engagement. To top it all off, the R99 devastates at close range, but maintains amicable capabilities for an SMG at mid-range, too. It’s only real downside is a fairly small magazine which leaves it struggling in numerically asymmetric encounters.

R-301 Carbine AR

Assault rifles are an exceptionally versatile class of weapon in Apex, but it’s taken to the extreme with the R-301. This AR has solid damage and solid handling. In concert with almost non-existent recoil which allows it to perform well at close, mid and even mid-long range, it’s a highly flexible weapon. On body shots it can comfortably knock in less than a full clip, and on consistent headshots most enemies will be downed before they’ve got any hope of retaliating. The R-301 arguably benefits greatly from upgrades, and if there’s one downside to the weapon it’s probably the shoddy ironsights which limit its effectiveness at longer ranges. It’s also currently only craftable this season, meaning you’ll need to get it from a Replicator and can’t find it as random loot in weapon crates or on the floor.

Volt SMG

The Volt is an energy weapon, and it’s been popular for a while with good reason. While it’s not as quick as the R-99, it’s got a better overall range, allowing it to compete closer to the ARs in terms of versatility. It also boasts a strong damage output. Though the weapon suffers from slightly difficult recoil under sustained fire, it’s still easy enough for new players and veterans to use comfortably within moments of picking it up.

Longbow DMR

The Longbow sniper rifle might seem an odd choice for S-tier at a glance – after all it’s one of only a few snipers that can’t one-tap on a headshot. However the Longbow has a distinct advantage: its superior fire rate. Able to fire multiple shots in a clip in rapid succession for a sniper, the Longbow retains efficacy at mid range as well as long range, and is a more useful suppression tool than a Sentinel or Charge Rifle. It’s also got great handling and pretty manageable recoil, making it flexible in a way that other snipers can’t easily compete with.

Wingman pistol

Pistols aren’t often a go-to choice for players approaching the late game, but this sentiment tends to differ where the Wingman is concerned. It’s slow firing, and a poor choice at close range. But that’s because this hand cannon is effectively a compact sniper rifle. It’s got unparalleled range and damage for its class, and in precise hands a headshot can crack most shields in an instant.

This is even further elevated by the fact that we currently have a red-grade Wingman for the duration of Season 19 Ignite. It now comes with a Digital Threat holosight, and two new attachments. The Skull Piercer Elite completely ignores damage reduction bonuses provided by helmets. The Boosted Loader attachment boosts reload speed and overflows the magazine if you reload while the current clip is almost empty. Though it’s not as easy for a newer player to master, anyone who can hit their shots and grab one from a Care Package will likely find this among the best weapons in Apex Legends right now.

Nemesis Burst AR

The Nemesis is an energy rifle which fires in bursts. The burst fire does mean a slower fire rate overall, which can leave it at a disadvantage in close range. Luckily, the current meta favours mid-range weapons pretty significantly, and burst-fire allows the Nemesis better accuracy and more predictable recoil than some of its contemporaries. This makes it a fantastic choice for controlling areas and managing flanks, improved further by its pretty excellent damage.

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Did you know?

The Nemesis Burst AR is the most recent weapon to be added to Apex Legends. It goes to show just how rarely Respawn do this though – as it was added all the way back in Season 16!

A-tier weapons – The deadly contenders

Weapons in A-tier aren’t quite as exceptional as their S-tier counterparts, but don’t let that fool you into thinking they’re bad, or even fall outside of contending for the best weapons in Apex Legends. All the weapons here have some limitations, but most also find circumstances under which they are virtually unmatched.

Kraber 50.cal sniper rifle

The Kraber is two things: slow and devastating. When we say devastating, we really mean it, too. A headshot with the Kraber is a guaranteed kill in most situations, and a good marksman can bring down any opponent from range in an instant. This makes it a terrifying support and elimination weapon. The balance and drawback comes from the Kraber’s abysmal fire rate. With one shot at a time, it will destroy whatever you aim it at, but if you miss, your opportunity for a follow-up attempt will usually be gone long before you reload.

Charge Rifle sniper

This energy rifle sniper finds itself in a similar spot to the Kraber. The Charge Rifle deals an enormous amount of damage, even on body shots, but its slow to fire and needs time to charge on a shot. It’s gotten a bit of love this season though, and it’s now a little faster and a little easier to use. Combined with manageable recoil and a potent reputation, it serves perfectly in a long and mid-range support role, keeping enemies pinned and paranoid.

Peacekeeper shotgun

The Peacekeeper is often a go-to choice for shotgun enthusiasts, and with good reason. This weapon can put out a massive amount of damage, in a fairly concentrated spread, granting it the stopping power to outperform virtually anything at point-blank range. A headshot basically guarantees a victory in CQC engagements. It’s only real downside is a very slow rate of fire, which punishes missed shots severely. Still, it remains a great pick for those confident in how to use it.

HAVOC ER

The Havoc energy rifle is a gun best-suited to close and mid-range. It’s got a brief charge time which holds it back in higher skill engagements, and its heavy recoil make it ineffective at longer distances. This is countered however by a rapid rate of fire and exceptional damage. What puts it in A-tier is the damning degree of screen shake being hit with this weapon causes. Under sustained fire, countering a skilled HAVOC user tends to be more difficult than most other weapons. It also benefits immensely from the Turbocharger attachment, making a high-level version of this gun an excellent choice for the endgame.

C.A.R SMG

The C.A.R does close range combat, and that’s it. At mid and long range you’ll have no luck with this gun. That being said, it does close range combat better than almost any other weapon can. With a disastrous rate of fire and greatly expanded capacity through upgrades, a good C.A.R can deliver higher DPS than even the R-99, only outmatched in time-to-kill at point blank by the Peacekeeper. It’s only other real downside is a small mag, but that tends to stop mattering when the person you were fighting is already dead by the time you reload.

M-600 Spitfire LMG

LMG’s are in a rough spot within the current meta due to generally underperforming versatility. The Spitfire nonetheless works hard to keep the aggression-v-defence scale well balanced. With a hefty magazine, manageable recoil, high damage, and solid, consistent rate of fire, the Spitfire is the pinnacle of suppressive fire. It still lacks versatility, but that DPS closes the gap enough for it to remain viable as an option at longer and shorter ranges, particularly from a support standpoint.

B-tier weapons – The average of excellence

Weapons in B-tier are still good, but they’re much more middle of the pack, and they don’t particularly qualify for the best weapons in Apex Legends. Here you’ll find guns which are generally good, or which excel in very niche circumstances, but are going to demand some skill and experience to shine.

VK-47 Flatline AR

The Flatline is a heavy AR, dishing out excellent damage per hit for a weapon of its class. This is offset by substantial recoil and a slower rate of fire. On consistent headshots, it’s got the DPS to match up to or even surpass its peers, but the struggling versatility holds it back in the current meta, especially when so many other options can provide equally competent mid-range damage.

Triple Take sniper rifle

The Triple Take is a very unique sniper rifle, firing three shots out instead of one. This makes it a powerful crowd control tool with a lot of DPS potential. Combined with great handling, it’s consistently good at mid range as well as long range. It’s let down though by a middling rate of fire and damage per shot which leaves something to be desired. In the current landscape, this makes it a fairly easy weapon to counter, reducing its duelling and support capacity.

Sentinel sniper rifle

The Sentinel is largely an opposite to the Triple Take. It’s got fantastic damage which allow it to bring down enemies in one or two good hits, and that have kept it as a pretty feared weapon for a long time. Even better, it’s got some of the best range of any weapon, able to hit targets from leagues away with consistent accuracy. Where it falls behind are a slow rate of fire and poor handling. And since it can’t quite compete with the Kraber on raw damage, it finds itself relegated to B-tier.

Mastiff Shotgun

The Mastiff is effectively an even more extreme version of the Peacekeeper. It can deal immense, one-shot damage to a target on a good shot at close range, but that’s traded off with a very, very slow rate of fire. The Mastiff is consequently even less versatile the rapid combat situations of close range fights than its older cousin, and thus a more niche option.

Alternator SMG

The Alternator finds itself caught halfway between the pistol and SMG classes, but it does technically fall into the latter. It’s got middling damage, middling rate of fire, and a middling sized magazine. But combined with great handling, that’s still enough for it to succeed in many encounters thanks to a lack of serious flaws. The Alternator is particularly favourable in early game encounters, as it performs adequately even without significant upgrades.

L-Star ER

The L-Star would normally find itself lower on this list. It has unmatched rate of fire and great stability, but suffers from pitiful damage, rapid overheating, and poor range. In Season 19 however, its paired with the Wingman as a red-grade weapon. This means its always guaranteed to be fully upgraded, something the L-star benefits greatly from. With enhanced characteristics and buffs across the board, its time in the spotlight is just enough to counter its many flaws and earn it a spot as a generally viable weapon.

Mozambique shotgun

The Mozambique is a shotgun pistol. It’s a challenging weapon to learn, but rewarding to master. With a tight spread, excellent rate of fire, and excellent target acquisition, the Mozambique is standout in the early game, easily able to take down the unprepared or the less skilled. Like most shotguns though, it’s reliant on a steady hand, and low overall damage keeps it fairly limited in its utility outside of close-range engagements.

G-7 Scout DMR

The G7 is a weapon which once took full advantage of attachment upgrades. At its base, the Scout is solid, but not spectacular. A reasonable rate of fire and good damage still let it compete in mid-range. It’s also easy to use, doesn’t suffer much recoil, and has a sizable magazine. Previously, it would have been a tier higher – and we’d still argue it contends for a spot as the best of its weapon class – but the gun has since lost the Hop-Ups attachment that could transform it into a two-shot burst fire weapon. As Marksman weapons aren’t known for their high fire rate, this really helped it stand out. Now, it’s a brilliant choice for those in search of a weapon with a little more control and accuracy than an AR or SMG, but not strong enough to counter many of its contemporaries.

C-tier weapons – The struggling stars

C-tier weapons tend to have more disadvantages than advantages. This doesn’t mean they’re useless, and some players may find favour with them, but generally speaking they require more dedication and experience to make work, and most could benefit from having some work done to improve their overall stats.

Rampage LMG

The Rampage doesn’t quite live up to its name, and since exiting the red-grade tier it’s lost a lot of contention for a spot among the best weapons in Apex Legends. Eve though it uses heavy ammo instead of thermite grenades these days, this LMG deals a lot of damage per hit, enough to send anyone even grazed by it diving for cover. Unfortunately for the Rampage, a very slow rate of fire leave it a pretty sluggish and unwieldy weapon. This, alongside a slow reload and difficult recoil largely negate the advantage of its excellent range, as well, keeping it from performing in the hands of all but those absolutely confident in their skill with this weapon.

RE-45 Auto pistol

The RE-45 is a machine pistol, and that means it’s a great up close sidearm. With a very high rate of fire and good handling, it can serve as a great finisher weapon in the early game. Unfortunately it lacks the damage or the upgrade potential to remain relevant, and more often than not it’s a safer bet to switch it out for something with superior range and DPS.

Hemlok Burst AR

The Hemlok is in a difficult place at the moment. It’s got fantastic accuracy, but its damage only shines at higher upgrades, and its poor ironsights leave it ineffective at its preferred middle range. Easy to handle recoil keeps it in fights longer, but its damage just can’t match up to newer guns which do the same thing like the Nemesis, especially in the wake of a recent minor nerf. Due to its slight irrelevance, it finds itself down here.

Devotion LMG

The Devotion is an energy LMG. It’s got a truly amazing DPS, and if it weren’t for its terrible recoil it would be nearly unmatched in fear factor at mid and long-range. However the Devotion is held back enormously by a charge-up period that brings it to full capacity. This windup is long enough to mitigate most of the gun’s exceptional qualities, leaving it viable exclusively within planned and prepared engagements – something rarer than ever in the current meta.

EVA-8 Auto shotgun

The EVA-8 Auto shotgun is the fastest shotgun in Apex, and that counts for a lot in a mode as quick as this. When utilised by a skilled player, it’s horrendous play to try and counter. That being said, it really only excels in the hands of experts, as individual shots deliver disappointing damage unless they’re consistently headshots. Misses with this weapon, combined with a significant recoil leave the EVA-8 as a bit of a gamble. Consistent hits guarantee victory, but one or more misses lock you in for failure.

30-30 Repeater rifle

The 30-30 is excellent in the early game. Even without a single upgrade, its got good range, good damage, good stability, and good rate of fire. Unfortunately the weapon doesn’t benefit as much as some other weapons as it upgrades unless you’re able to pick up a Skullpiercer. ARs and burst rifles often outperform it in mid-range, and it takes a lot of experience with the weapon to use it at long range. It’s a good weapon to use in a pinch, but its lack of versatility and upgradability let it down a bit.

D-tier – The bottom of the barrel

The D-tier weapons are those that, while still usable, really suffer under the current meta and their own design constraints. Far from the best weapons in Apex Legends, these are guns which only work when a player is absolutely certain of their skill.

Prowler Burst PDW

The Prowler looks a lot like a C.A.R at a glance, but that’s unfortunately where the similarities end. The gun is designed for close range, but uses burst fire, massively reducing its fire rate and DPS potential. In specific mid-close range engagements, it can work within its niche to provide superior target acquisition, but situations like this rarely stay static for long, and against faster guns the Prowler rarely comes out on top.

Bocek Compound Bow

The Bocek bow is actually favoured by a good number of players, and with fair reason. Precision hits and great handling give it some fantastic versatility. Unfortunately it’s still a bow at the end of the day, and more than any other weapon class, it suffers greatly with each and any missed shot. Unless you’re certain you can hit consistent headshots, you’ll find that the fast pace of current Apex matches, the varied abilities of Legends, and the plethora of mid and close range counters make the Boeck a disadvantaged weapon.

P2020 pistol

The light pistol and smallest sidearm, the P2020 is unfortunately as weak as it gets. It’s got middling range, poor damage, and mediocre handling given its size. While its rate of fire is decent and it can find use as a potent precision tool at high upgrades, it’s simply too far outshone by its many competitor weapons.

What do we think the best guns in Apex Legends are?

Here are our picks for the best weapons in Apex Legends for each weapon class.

• SMG – R-99
• Assault Rifle – R-301
• Sniper Rifle – Longbow
• Marksman Rifle – G7 Scout
• Shotgun – Peacekeeper
• LMG – M-600 Spitfire
• Pistol – Wingman

Right now, these weapons find themselves in really great positions. Whether its due to overall great design, fantastic DPS, or excellent versatility, they’re best suited to face the current challenges of the Season 19 meta.

What’s the best gun in Apex overall?

Maybe you’re not satisfied with the best weapons in Apex Legends by class, and want to know which of even that eclectic group truly reigns above them all. We’ve got your answer, or as close to a good answer as you can get. With so many weapons and weapon classes, it needs acknowledging that no one gun is truly superior to all the others. Every class and weapon will find situations and circumstances where it’s utility shines.

If we had to pick one favourite, it’d probably be the R-301 Carbine. ARs boast a great balance between damage and rate of fire. The R-301 has both, but also carries long range, low recoil, and handling bonuses that make it one of the most versatile and deadly weapons in Apex.

That covers everything we’ve got for the best weapons in Apex Legends. Remember though that the gun alone doesn’t determine your success. If you want a breakdown of the best Legends in Apex to determine which characters are right for you, or a closer look at the newest character on the scene, Apex Legend Conduit, we’ve got you covered. If you want our insight into what we might expect from the Season 20 release date meanwhile, we can help you out there, too.

What’s the best gun class in Apex Legends?

Assault rifles are arguably the best gun class in Apex Legends, as they strike an excellent middle ground between damage, range, magazine size, recoil, and handling. This makes them highly versatile.

How many guns are there in Apex Legends?

There are a total of 29 guns in Apex Legends, as of Season 19.

What’s the best sniper rifle in Apex Legends?

The best sniper rifle for beginners is the Longbow, due to its high rate of fire and good handling. For more experienced players with good accuracy, the best sniper rifle is the Kraber 50.cal, due to its immensely high damage and impact.