Apex Legends is Respawn Entertainment's free-to-play battle royale set in the Titanfall universe, featuring unique hero characters called Legends with distinct abilities. The game's movement system — slide-jumping, wall-bouncing, and zipline tricks — creates the fastest-paced BR experience available. With 60-player lobbies of 3-person squads, a best-in-class ping system, and seasonal content updates adding new Legends, weapons, and maps, Apex remains one of the top competitive shooters since its 2019 launch.
Your choice of weapons defines your damage output and playstyle. This guide ranks every major option, explains what makes each one strong, and tells you which builds they pair best with.
Weapons Rankings
| Weapon | Tier | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| R-301 Carbine | S | All Legends, all playstyles | The most versatile assault rifle with virtually no recoil and high DPS. |
| Wingman | A | Wraith, Pathfinder — aggressive fraggers | A high-skill hand cannon dealing 45 body / 97 headshot damage per shot. |
| Peacekeeper | A | All Legends for close-quarters secondary | A lever-action shotgun dealing up to 99 damage per shot at close range. |
| Flatline | B | Experienced players who can control recoil | A heavy ammo assault rifle with high damage per bullet but more recoil than the R-301. |
| Kraber | B | Any Legend with good aim (care package weapon) | The legendary airdrop sniper dealing 140 body / 280 headshot damage with 4 rounds. |
S-Tier: R-301 Carbine
The most versatile assault rifle with virtually no recoil and high DPS. Effective at all ranges from hip-fire to long-range with a 3x scope. The best weapon for players who prioritize consistency. Rarely out of meta.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | S |
| Best For | All Legends, all playstyles |
| Key Mechanic | legend abilities |
| Recommended Role | Wraith |
How to get it: Available from mid-game onward. See our walkthrough for the exact progression point.
Best builds using R-301 Carbine: Pairs naturally with Wraith thanks to stat scaling synergies.
A-Tier: Wingman
A high-skill hand cannon dealing 45 body / 97 headshot damage per shot. Six rounds with devastating accuracy for players who can hit their shots. The most rewarding weapon in the game mechanically. Boosted headshot multiplier with Skullpiercer hop-up.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Wraith, Pathfinder — aggressive fraggers |
| Key Mechanic | ping system |
| Recommended Role | Pathfinder |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Wingman: Pairs naturally with Pathfinder thanks to stat scaling synergies.
A-Tier: Peacekeeper
A lever-action shotgun dealing up to 99 damage per shot at close range. Choke mechanic tightens the spread when ADSing briefly. Dominant in close-quarters fights and pairs perfectly with any mid-range primary. The pump animation between shots rewards accuracy over spam.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | All Legends for close-quarters secondary |
| Key Mechanic | armor swapping |
| Recommended Role | Octane |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Peacekeeper: Pairs naturally with Octane thanks to stat scaling synergies.
B-Tier: Flatline
A heavy ammo assault rifle with high damage per bullet but more recoil than the R-301. Harder to control but kills faster if you can manage the spray. The hipfire is excellent for close range. Ground loot only (not in crafting rotation).
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Experienced players who can control recoil |
| Key Mechanic | ring positioning |
| Recommended Role | Bangalore |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Flatline: Pairs naturally with Bangalore thanks to stat scaling synergies.
B-Tier: Kraber
The legendary airdrop sniper dealing 140 body / 280 headshot damage with 4 rounds. One-shots any helmet to the head. Only found in supply drops and extremely rare. The most impactful weapon when it appears — a Kraber pick can win a game.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Any Legend with good aim (care package weapon) |
| Key Mechanic | replicator crafting |
| Recommended Role | Lifeline |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Kraber: Pairs naturally with Lifeline thanks to stat scaling synergies.
Weapons Progression Path
The order you should acquire weapons as you progress:
- Starting gear → Enough to clear Kings Canyon
- Wingman → Your first real upgrade, available early
- Peacekeeper → Mid-game upgrade with good scaling
- R-301 Carbine → Best-in-slot, aim for this by late game
- Upgrade to max → The power spike from max upgrades is enormous
Weapons Tips
- Always upgrade your primary weapon before diversifying — one strong option beats three mediocre ones.
- Match your weapons to your build's stat priorities for maximum scaling.
- Armor swap instead of healing after knocking an enemy — it takes 1 second vs 5 seconds for a Shield Battery, and you get full shields immediately.
- Check our tier list for how weapons rankings affect overall build effectiveness.
More Apex Legends Guides
- Apex Legends Apex Legends Overview
- Apex Legends Best Builds
- Apex Legends Tier List
- Apex Legends Walkthrough
- Apex Legends Beginner's Guide
- Apex Legends Tips & Tricks
- Apex Legends Combat Guide
- Apex Legends Boss Guide
- Apex Legends Maps & Locations
- Apex Legends Crafting Guide
- Apex Legends Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Apex Legends, check out these related guides:
- Counter-Strike 2 Weapons Guide — fps game with similar mechanics
- Rainbow Six Siege Weapons Guide — fps game with similar mechanics
- Destiny 2 Weapons Guide — fps game with similar mechanics
